Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Awards:

The Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Awards, given by Nebraskans for the Arts, recognize schools that have done an outstanding job of making the arts an essential part of education. The 2006 Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Award winners are Catlin Arts Magnet and St. Cecilia Cathedral School, both of Omaha.

The selection committee consisted of members of the Education Committee of Nebraskans for the Arts. These reviewers were very impressed with both Catlin Arts Magnet’s and St. Cecilia Cathedral School’s exemplary arts education programs.

The awards were given by First Lady Sally Ganem at a reception at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery in Lincoln on October 5. The awards were also celebrated on-site at each of the schools during September.

Clockwise from Top: VP of Education Charles Bethea; First Lady Sally Ganem, Catlin teachers Paula McDonald and Kori Abdouch; Catlin students Katie Pratt, George McClellan and Jackson Rose; St. Cecilia teachers Carol Walters and Frannie Fitzpatrick; Catlin teacher Teri Cambron

Catlin Arts Magnet was chosen for this award because of the school's impressive performance schedule, extensive interaction with arts professionals in the community, strong emphasis on integrating the arts in the classroom, solid academic record, and good use of technology in the classroom. 

St. Cecilia Cathedral School was chosen because the school works in all arts disciplines in a variety of ways, emphasizes integration in the classroom, enjoys strong parental and community involvement, measures the year-to-year impact of the arts, creates connections with other cultures, and has strong academic rankings.

“We were very pleased with the number of schools with strong arts programs that were nominated for this award,” said Nicole Palof, administrative director of Nebraskans for the Arts. “We are pleased to celebrate the achievements of all of these schools, particularly Catlin Arts Magnet and St. Cecilia Cathedral School, with this new award program.” Next spring, Nebraskans for the Arts plans to nominate both Catlin and St. Cecilia for the national Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network.

In addition to receiving a piece of original glass art from a Nebraska artist, both Catlin Arts Magnet and St. Cecilia Cathedral School will be receiving a week-long artist residency courtesy of Nebraskans for the Arts and the Nebraska Arts Council. Both organizations trust that this residency will help each school to continue the good work being done in the classrooms of these schools each and every day.

More about Catlin Arts Magnet:

Catlin Arts Magnet has a strong music program that includes instruction in piano and violin, as well as a wide variety of other instruments. The program offers frequent opportunities for the students to perform. Computer-assisted instruction is integrated throughout the music and art curriculum, as students are given opportunities to create movies and record original songs. By the time they reach 6th grade, all students have the opportunity to practice singing confidently in choral music and to perform in a theater production.

Visual art units at Catlin consist of instruction in fiber arts, painting, clay, printmaking, and sculpture. In addition to specific instruction in visual arts and music, the arts are integrated into all subject areas.

At Catlin, successful performance experiences strengthen each student’s self-esteem, and their ability to recognize and appreciate one another’s unique talents. Each person is respected as an individual while contributing to a final goal.

Jana Rose, parent of two Catlin students, stated, “I feel fortunate my children are surrounded every day by music, visual arts and theatre.”

Both Catlin Arts Magnet and St. Cecilia Cathedral School enjoy partnerships with Omaha area arts organizations such as the Rose Theatre, the Omaha Symphony, Opera Omaha, and the Joslyn Art Museum.

“Students attending Catlin come into contact with working artists and professionals who not only love the arts, but share that love with children,” said Scott Sturgeon, a classroom teacher at Catlin.

More about St. Cecilia Cathedral School:

St. Cecilia Cathedral School is proud of its tradition of musical excellence, begun by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters nearly one hundred years ago. This tradition of excellence is continued today in General Music instruction, which is required for all students from preschool to 8th grade. Band instruction is also offered through an affiliate organization, Music in Catholic Schools.

At St. Cecilia, theater instruction is given through an all-school operetta, which is worked on during music class and after school. All students in grades 3rd through 8th perform in the operetta. The theater arts are also integrated into the core curriculum in English, reading, and history classes.

An art specialist at St. Cecilia provides art instruction to every Kindergarten through 8th grade student. Artwork is displayed in a show in late April and placed throughout the school over the course of the school year.

“As a teacher of writing I am aided by having students with strong cultural backgrounds in the arts. They appreciate life and see beauty in more things than those students who lack such interests,” said Michael Kelly, 7th and 8th grade English teacher at St. Cecilia.

Honorable mentions for the 2006 Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Awards include Bancroft Elementary School, Brownell Talbot Lower School, Crestridge Magnet Center and St. Pius X/St. Leo School.

To find out more about nominating your school for the Creative Ticket Schools of Excellence Awards, contact Nicole Palof at 402/595-2125 or at npalof@nebraskansforthearts.org.


2006 Nebraska School Board for the Arts Award:

The 2006 Nebraska School Board for the Arts Award was presented to the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education on March 11 at the State Capitol in Lincoln. The award was presented as part of the Nebraska Art Teachers Association's Youth Arts Month celebration.

Roberta Wilhelm, President of the Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education, presented the award on behalf of the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Arts Council. In her comments, Wilhelm stated, "The school board has made it clear that the Omaha Public School system values the arts as a core academic area and as an integral part of a comprehensize education."

In reviewing the nominations for this award, our out-of-state panelists looked favorably upon OPS' strategy and execution of integrating all four major artistic disciplines- visual arts, music, theater and dance- into their programming. In addition, award criteria included active education reform efforts, the consideration of national arts education standards, the adoption of a district's own standards, and program assessment.

Accepting the award were Janelle Mullen, OPS Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Learning and Shirley Tyree, OPS School Board Vice President.

NAAE President Roberta Wilhelm poses with Brittney McDonald and her artwork, winner of a Youth Art Month Congressional Arts Caucus Honorable Mention for District 2; Shirley Tyree, OPS School Board Vice President; and Janelle Mullen, OPS Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Learning.

2005 Nebraska School Board for the Arts Award:

The 2005 Nebraska School Board for the Arts Award was presented to Kearney Public Schools in January by the Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education, in partnership with the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Association of School Boards. The award was presented at the Nebraska Arts Council’s Legislative Lunch in Lincoln. This award was presented in recognition of KPS support for and commitment to high-quality arts education. The recipient of this award was forwarded as the Nebraska state finalist for a national award presented jointly by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC and the National School Boards Association. Criteria for this award included:

• Superior programs of curriculum-based education in visual arts, dance, music and theater;
• The use of cultural resources including artist residencies and cultural institutions;
• Advocacy for the arts;
• Financial support of arts programs in the district.

From the pool of nominations submitted this year, two honorable mentions were given to Omaha Public Schools and Westside Community Schools in recognition of their work to fully integrate the arts in their schools.

The 2005 School Board for the Arts Award was presented to Kearney Public Schools. Final selection was made by an out-of-state juror who cited this school board's long-term commitment to the arts. In a letter of endorsement from the Nebraska Music Educators Association, Neal Schnoor wrote, "While other districts have chosen to make cuts, the Kearney School Board has held the line and even increased staffing and support of the arts in Kearney." In partnership with its community, Kearney Public Schools is spearheading the construction and development of the new, multi-million dollar Kearney Performing Arts Center, located at Central Elementary School, scheduled to open in 2006.

Roberta Wilhelm, President of the NAAE, presents Kearney Public Schools School Board
President Jim George and Superintendent Ken Anderson with the
2005 Nebraska School Board for the Arts Award.

Copyright © The Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education