After School Programs
MVCCT offers after school programs in area elementary schools to help enrich arts opportunities for young people. These programs take two forms: programs sponsored by PTAs and an Outreach program. We are currently working with Silverbrook, Stratford Landing, Lane, Woodlawn, Mount Vernon Woods and Woodley Hills elementary schools.
PTA Sponsored Programs
MVCCT currently provides after school arts enrichment programs in area elementary schools. Classes generally include:
- Introduction to Theatre Vocabulary
- Basic Acting Theory and Practice
- Improvisation and Theatre Games
- Voice and Movement
- A final class presentation for families and friends
Instructors
Our instructors are experienced, degreed children's theatre actors, directors and teachers.
Basic Arrangement
Class sessions are typically eight-weeks, and classes are divided into two or three groups:
- Option 1: 1-3rd grades and 4th - 6th grades
- Option 2: K-1st grades, 2nd - 3rd grades, 4th-6th grades
Classes are 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours long
Two classes are generally offered, back to back on a given day.
A PTA representative serves as liaison with MVCCT and this representative markets the class (creates the flyer and gets it distributed in take home back packs), and serves as registrar.
A one-hour class for an eight week session costs between $80 and $100 per student, and must have a minimum of 10 students to be held. Checks are written to the PTA of the school, and then the PTA issues a check(s) to MVCCT. It is preferable to receive half payment at mid-way point, and final payment at the end.
The PTA contracts with MVCCT who contracts with the teachers.
Outreach Program
For 2010-11, MVCCT is undertaking the fifth year of an After-School drama program in three area Fairfax County Public Elementary Schools: Woodlawn, Mount Vernon Woods, and Woodley Hills. The program is designed to serve students who would otherwise not be able to afford to participate in such a program.
Approximately 15 fifth graders in each school are selected by their teachers, guidance counselors and principal to participate in a 14-week process to create an original work based on a theme of importance to them such as bullying, accepting responsibility, gangs, etc. The students are chosen based upon their interest in participating and the school's belief that the program could be beneficial to their development and transition into adolescence.
The fifth year of the project begins in January 2011 and culminates in May with a showcase of all three productions in one evening in a festival atmosphere at Woodlawn Elementary School. In addition to the in-school program, students from the participating schools (those in the program and others) are encouraged to apply for summer camp scholarships, spring break camp scholarships, and are offered free tickets to MVCCT performances. The schools' principals and staff are giving MVCCT full support, engagement and cooperation.
This program is offered at no charge to the schools. This program is partially funded by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council of Fairfax County and cotnributions by MVCCT's individual and business contributors.
