Page 32 - Robins Region NCG 2019

Fine Arts

Thriving in

Houston County

Schools

Young Artists and Performers Enhance

Robins Region’s Cultural Offerings

ou can tell a lot about a guides the whole school system. We have a Houston County Galleria Mall. The day-long event
community by its commitment to tradition of supporting the fine arts and the features choruses from each of the 23 elementary
Y the arts. Thanks to the dedication benefits are apparent. In 2017, eight of our schools and is highly attended every year.
of the Houston County Board of Education, top ten students – five valedictorians and five “It’s an attractive and natural outreach
the Robins Region is a place where salutatorians – were actively involved in the to our parents and community,” Jacobsen
children can discover and explore visual arts. In 2018, seven of the top ten students said of the holiday-themed performance. “It’s
and performing arts. were involved in the arts and that number charming, successful and heartwarming.”
While other school systems around the increased to nine when including students Lake Joy Primary Music Specialist Faye
country are cutting back arts programming, who took AP Art History.” Boyer said, “The true impact of quality fine
Houston County is putting even more This commitment has paid off for the arts instruction not only showcases student
resources on the table to fund arts programs students and the community at large. performances and achievements to the
across all school levels. Throughout the school year, the district presents community, but also serves as an extension
Jan Jacobsen, Director of Gifted Education, the talents of the students directly to its to every other subject area, which ultimately
AP Coordinator, and Fine Arts Coordinator, stakeholders. For example, elementary school connects the community to students’ full
said 93 full-time teachers provide fine arts students perform annually in December at the educational experience.”
instruction to students at the district’s 23
elementary schools, eight middle schools, and
five high schools.
“Each elementary school has an art and
music teacher,” Jacobsen said proudly. “Our
middle schools offer art, band, and chorus,
while the high schools offer art, band, chorus,
and theatre.”
Jacobsen noted that the arts, both visual
and performing, are critical for student success.
Numerous studies throughout the years have
shown that students participating in the arts
have higher achievement across all subjects.
“Georgia’s Every Student Succeeds Act
supports the ‘whole child.’ Our district’s mission
is to produce high-achieving students,” she
said. “This focus drives decision-making and

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