September 1, 2011
Dear Parents and DSA Community Members,
Based on much thoughtful deliberation among DSA Administration and the Stagecraft and Design department faculty over several months, we have concluded that it is in the best interest of our students, the Stagecraft and Design department, and DSA as a whole to evolve the department into a high school-only program. This transition will happen over a three-year period, beginning with the 2012-13 school year.
Next year, we will accept only new 7th-12th graders into the program (no new 6th graders). For the 2013-14 school year, it will be only new 8th-12th graders, and in 2014-15, only new high school students in 9th – 12th grades. Please understand that no existing middle school students are being asked to leave the Stagecraft and Design program. The younger grades are simply being phased out. We will maintain approximately the same total number of students in the department by taking more students in the older classes. And this means that other departments that desire to do so will be able to take more young students.
There are compelling reasons driving this decision.
- First, it requires a fundamental baseline level of maturity for students to safely perform the activities involved in the various disciplines of Stagecraft and Design (Costumes, Scenic, Lighting, and Sound). Every day, in various locations throughout the school, these students are working with sharp tools, power tools, machines and electrical circuitry, moving large and heavy objects, working at heights from catwalks, ladders, genies, and more. Our experience has taught us that that the younger students’ often unbridled exuberance is not a good match for such activities. Generally speaking, they do not have the maturity, judgment, or even physical strength to perform this kind of work safely.
- Second, we visited several other arts schools around the country and have seen this to be a highly effective, proven model in other Stagecraft departments. We believe that it will create a framework for greater successes here at DSA.
- Third, the new format, will allow us to spend more focused, quality with the high school students since there will only be two classes (9th-10th grade, 11th -12th grade).
Rest assured that we will continue to provide a rich Stagecraft and Design curriculum that suits your middle school student during the 3-year course of this transition. There will be safe and age-appropriate learning activities to engage them in the disciplines of Stagecraft and Design.
Please feel free to contact any of us if you have questions or concerns about this change.
William Kohut Lara Kirksey, Keith Rice, Jonathan Howard, and Brian Billings
Principal Stagecraft and Design Department Faculty