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Collections Galleries - Paintings now in private, corporate, public holdings |
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THE AVENUE NEWS September, 1998 |
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Page 1A Local school exhibits exemplary programs By Jean A. Flanagan
Community is king at Chesapeake High School It's been called the best kept secret in Baltimore County. Nestled in the woods on the Back River Peninsula, along Turkey Point Road, Chesapeake High School is one of the county's few remaining neighborhood high schools. While the magnet programs in other schools draw students from all parts of the county, Chesapeake's student body come directly from Deep Creek Middle School. "This is a community school," says Principal George Dausch, III. "The majority of our students come from the Route 702 and Back River Neck Road corridor."
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Built in the mid-1970s when the open classroom style of teaching was in vogue, Chesapeake has cultivated an integrated learning environment. "There are aspects of the open classroom that nurture mixing and melding," Dausch says. "We have an exceptional staff who work closely with each other, as well as with the students." "I think Chesapeake epitomizes inclusion," remarks Assistant Principal Clare Pitz. "Even before the state mandated inclusion or mainstreaming, we were doing it." Pitz thinks the Chesapeake philosophy fits right in with the current trend in higher education. "We keep hearing about interdisciplinary education," she says. One particular area in which the open classroom works well is in the Art Program. The open environment allows students of varying artistic levels to interact with each other. It also encourages them to make connections between subjects and mediums. Art Department Director, Caroline Jasper explains, "We have three primary art tracks. Photography, Fine Arts, and Computer Art. Working in such close quarters the students share ideas." Mrs. Jasper and Principal Dausch agree that the art department could use facility improvements. "We had facilities experts here earlier this year." Dausch says. "They will tell us how we can improve and expand our facilities." |
Under Jasper's guidance, a number of Chesapeake students have gone on to pursue higher education in the arts, most with the help of scholarships. One such student, Patrick Wagner, who graduated in June, was recently notified that his status as a 1996 Maryland Distinguished Scholar in the Arts Semi-Finalist has been upgraded to a full scholarship. Wagner will use his $12,000 award at the Maryland College of Art and Design, where he is currently a freshman. Senior, Christopher Porter was awarded the 1997 Maryland Distinguished Scholar in the Arts Scholarship. His work was submitted last year. High schools in Maryland can nominate up to 5 candidates per year. Other Chespeake nominees Stuart Bera, David Bilodeau, E.J. Emerson, and Abigail Montalvo received honorable mention. The competition is open to eleventh graders only. Examples of Chesapeake student's work can be seen at Precinct 11 of the Baltimore County Police Department on Myrth Avenue in Essex. In a unique partnership, officials of the Essex Precinct began displaying the high school art in 1995. The precinct provides funding for matting and framing of five works. The pieces hang in the public area of the precinct for six months, after which they are replaced by other works by other Chesapeake students. The Program is appropriately called "We Were Framed". |
Chesapeake High School art teacher Caroline Jasper (back) with two of her students, Chris Porter (left) and Dave Bilodeau, who are National Art Honor Society vice president and president, respectively. |
copyright, Caroline Jasper |
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