Community Arts Academy News

The Community Arts Academy has been notified of its first grant towards the ambitious $25,000 "Arts 4 All" scholarship goal for the 2008-2009 school year. The Fred and Floy Willmott Foundation, a longtime supporter of the Community Arts Academy and its predecessor Community Girls Ensemble, will grant $5,000 toward creating 10 new scholarships for students who will be recommended by their school music teachers.

So far this year, CAA has also received $1,000 from the Daisy Marquis Jones Discretionary Fund, $500 from Canandaigua National Bank for our summer camp, $400 from Thrivent Financial in addition to $975 from our Annual Fund contributors. Senator Joseph Robach has pledged $1,000 for our “Sail the Seven Seas” camp plus another $2,500 for next year's camp. This financial backing will enable the CAA to fulfill its original goal to have 50% private pay students and 50% scholarship students. This is terrific news as we complete our sixth year of operation!

The Community Arts Academy is beginning its 5 year with 30 full and part-time students. We welcome Carolyn
Haygood, who is on the staff of PUSH Pins, the children's division of PUSH Physical Theatre as our Dance Director.
Frances Thorne is our new Art Director. Carla Stough Huffman is returning as our Drama Director and Gwen Snipes
is once again assisting with our extended Wednesday program.

We have a very capable staff, but we also have room for caring mentors, homework helpers and anyone who would
like to lend a hand and a heart! We are extremely flexible and would welcome people who could share one hour once a
week, once a month or once a YEAR! Our greatest need is on Wednesdays, when our program runs from 1:00 - 6:00. You
would be welcome for any one-hour span in that time frame. Share a craft, help with a kitchen project, read a story, work
in the computer room--whatever your interest, we would welcome you! Students are from 5 - 12 years old.

If you are interested in a paid position, we also have an opening for an associate teacher to assist with students'
arrival, departure, snack and homework, to mange behavior in a positive way, and to be a positive role model for urban
students. There is a flexible schedule up to 20 hours per week. Program hours are 3:00 - 6:00 Monday - Friday (with
a 1:00 start on Wednesday).

One last request is for a handy person to install some shelves and hooks in our office. Anyone who has ventured in knows that the office doubles as our storage room. We still have lots of available space, but need shelves to make it useable.

For more information about any of the above opportunities for service, please contact Donna Dyer at 473-7187 or stop
by the CAA office.

The Community Arts Academy Art Director, Aubrey Kirchoff, is a senior art education major at Nazareth College. She has already endeared herself to the students and has led them in creating imaginary sea animals and beaded African headpieces. In addition, Lisa Frauens will offer a recorder class on Wednesday afternoons, and we have hired Maria Fitchett (who previously worked with the Community Girls Ensemble) to also work on Wednesdays when most of the students attend the CAA from 1:00 ‑ 6:00 p.m. 

If you enjoy working with school age students, you may also enjoy volunteering at the CAA.  A smile, a hug, an extra pair of hands and a bit of one‑on‑one homework help from an interested grown‑up could really make a difference in our outreach program.  Please contact Donna Dyer at 473‑7187 for more information.   

Special thanks to all who supported the CAA Pizza, Pies and Cookie Dough Sale.  We raised almost $600 which will enable the staff to attend conferences to help us develop an even better after‑school program.

What is the Community Arts Academy (CAA)

• CAA was established to offer daily, structured and educational arts-based after-school activities in a safe and controlled environment.
• Music, dance, art, and drama activities draw from many traditions, thereby promoting understanding among diverse cultures and different age groups.
• There are opportunities to create and participate in performances for nursing homes and other venues throughout the community.
• The Community Arts Academy is a New York State registered after-school program.
• CAA operates five days per week according to the Rochester City School District calendar.  It runs from time of school dismissal until 6:00 pm.
• Each semester the students prepare for a dinner theater performance:

The Lion King                                January, 2003
Seussical the Musical                     June, 2003
The Jungle Book                             January, 2004
Peter Pan                                        June, 2004
When You Wish Upon A Star           January, 2005
The Wizard of Oz                           June, 2005

Click View Pictures, below, to see photographs of Community Arts Activities: 

Who may attend the Community Arts Academy?

·        Boys and girls in grades K-6 who are interested in the creative arts.

 Who runs the Community Arts Academy?

·        A Program Director assisted by teachers and certified aides experienced in working with elementary-aged children.

·        Staff trained in child development, cooperative activities and understanding child abuse.

·        Guest artists experienced in providing enrichment activities that address cultural and age diversity.

·        A Steering Committee made up of parents, community members, and parish members.

 Who funds the Community Arts Academy?

• The CAA has received grants from:

NYS Office of Child and Family Services
The Fred & Floy Willmott Foundation
Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word
Bethlehem Lutheran Church

What does it cost?  Is financial assistance available?

• The cost is $70 per week or $17 per day.

• The CAA has a contract with the Department of Social Services.  Speak to your advisor to see if you qualify for assistance.

Where is the Community Arts Academy located?

• The CAA meets in the lower level of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, at the corner of East Avenue and Goodman Street, across from the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

• The licensed, safe, and accessible space houses bright, spacious class areas, an outdoor play area, a large kitchen and a fully-equipped stage.

• Our convenient location near the Memorial Art Gallery, RMSC, Planetarium, and George Eastman House enable us to take full advantage of these cultural resources.

 What is the daily schedule?

3:00-3-45 pm         Children arrive and enjoy snack.

3:45-4:15 pm          Choice of supervised indoor or outdoor activities and/or
                              homework help.

4:15-5:30 pm          Scheduled Activities

          Monday        Art

          Tuesday        Instruments and Dance

          Wednesday    In the Kitchen

          Thursday       Singing and Drama

          Friday           Guest Artists and Field Trips

5:30-6:00 pm      Clean-Up, free choice while awaiting parents 

Is transportation available?
Parents can arrange bus transportation to after-school programs through the Rochester City School District by calling Ellen Cicero at 336-4000. Parent or authorized person must pick child up by 6:00 pm.

Staff Biographies

Director Donna Dyer 
B.S. Psych., A.A.S. Public Administration

Donna Dyer is a skilled administrator with a special interest in providing quality programs for children and youth. 

She has worked as a counselor and supervisor for various after-school and child care programs in both Rochester and New York City, and also worked for the New York City Child Welfare Administration.

Founder and Arts Director MaryAnn Hamilton,

B.S. Ed., M.S. Mus., D.M.A.

Molly Hamilton has enjoyed working with children for over 30 years!

As well as directing children’s choirs for many years, she has completed Level 3 certification in the Orff Schulwerk music education method.

 Molly developed the Community Arts Academy and its predecessor, the Community Girls Ensemble, to address the need for arts activities for urban students in Rochester.

Drama Director Carla Stough Huffman,

B.S. Child Dev./Psych. With Minor in Theater

Carla Huffman has been writing and performing since early childhood. She works with youth programs throughout the area, incorporating drama and creative writing whenever possible.

Heather Stevenson,
Dance Director

Heather Stevenson, director of PUSH Pins began her career as a small, yellow bumble bee (age 4). Since then, she has performed and taught her unique movement style all over the US and internationally and has worked with YARD (Youth at Risk Dancing), Border's Books, Barnes & Noble (teaching her Movement in Literature class), and in Public schools through Young Audiences.

As an educator she brings out the best in her students through challenges and gentle encouragement. As a performer, through respect for the characters she portrays, transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.