Welcome to CUSD PReschool VAPA!
LEarn.Play.Grow
NEwsletter
Here You will find a digital Copy of the VAPA Parent NEwsletter, that you RECEIVED from your student’s preschool teacher.
Scroll your mouse over the image to click through to the next pages!
During the first semester each preschool class will get to EXPERIENCE an in-classroom VAPA Field Trip based upon the theme “Down on the farm”. During these EXPERIENCES students will RECEIVE a group music lesson followed by break out stations that incorporate music, dramatic play, art, and dance/movement.
Classroom Visits
Music
When you go to a farm you are GREETED with lots of noises. Students will get the opportunity to explore basic rhythm sounds and hand-held percussion instruments. Students will also bring to life the story The Wide-Mouth frog by creating sounds with their instruments that represent all the animals in the story.
Dramatic play
There are lots of chorse to get done around the farm. STudents will have the opportunity to explore these EXPERIENCES in dramatic play by REPAIRING a tractor, shoeing a horse, milking a cow, and selling their own crops at the farmer’s market.
Art
Down at the farm things can get a little messy, ESPECIALLY down in the pig pen. Luckily all that mud can be put to good use. Students will have the OPPORTUNITY to explore creating art using natural resources such as mud.
Dance/Movement
At the farm there is always lots going on and everyone is always on the move. Students can try their hand at experiencing those movements by dressing up as a ranch hand and riding around the farm on the horses. After their hard work they might decide to celebrate in dance.
Scroll your mouse over the image to click through to the next pages!
Calendars
Here You will find when your Preschooler’s class will be RECEIVING their classroom visit during the first SEMESTER!
You will not want to miss out on this special and fun day!
VApa Preschool TEam
Learn more about the Teachers that make up the VAPA Preschool TEAM!
Mrs. Amy Dolan
MIss Briana Ortega
VAPA Teacher director
VAPA assistant teacher
my name is Amy Dolan and I am the visual and Performing arts teacher director for clovis Unified’s child development Program. i have a degree in education and have been teaching for neary 15 years in the early education classroom.
This year, I am excited to be visiting all of our early education programs and getting the opportunity to introduce the students to musical instruments, extended dramatic play adventures, expanded art, and creative dance and movement.
my name is Briana Ortega and I am the Child Development Visual and Performing Arts Assistant Teacher. I am currently attending Fresno State University and will be finishing my bachelor's degree in Education this fall.
For the past six years, I have had the opportunity to teach music and build a music program for Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten students in Clovis Unified’s Expanded Learning Club. I also have a lifetime of music experience from participating in various choirs, bands, and drumlines. I am beyond thrilled to now be able to share my love for the arts and music to all our preschool students this school year.
Welcome Preschool Families,
Hello Preschool Families,
The BENEFITS of Vapa
Several research studies show that The visual and Performing arts are MASSIVELY beneficial to a child’s development in many ways.
What is VAPA?
VAPA stands for Visual and Performing Arts! That includes things like music, dance, drama, and
fine arts!
When a child enages in dance and movement it helps build spatial and social AWARENESS!
When a child engages in fine arts they benefit from building fine motor skills which is essential for writing!
When a child listens to or plays music they are learning numeracy, literacy, and social emotional skills that benefit them for a lifetime!
When a child engages in dramatic play they are promoting LANGUAGE development, social skills and confidence!
Click the headers below to find more information for each activity!
Want your preschooler to start becoming a star musician, but have no instruments? Try playing along to various rhythms using your own body. Try out Body percussion Play Along videos by simply searching “Body percussion play along” into youtube or google to DISCOVER hundreds of songs at various DIFFICULTIES to try out with your preschooler. In these videos you will follow the music using body movements that make sound such as clapping, snapping, stomping, and patting.
At-home VAPA ACTIVITIES
Does your student ever pretend to be a rockstar? Consider making them a band full of instruments by using things you could find around the house! Then let them put on the world’s best show!
Do you have a preschooler that loves to draw, paint, or color? Challenge them by giving them a music prompt for there next art session. IN THIS ACTIVITY YOU CAN CHOOSE MUSIC of any genre, with words or without, and you will have your kids paint what they hear! Let them explore what colors, shapes, and images the music makes them think of. You can also ask them to respond by drawing how the music makes them feel as well.