Lebanon Area Homeschoolers
Fine Arts Department

Fine Arts is a founding member of Lebanon Area Homeschoolers, Inc., a not-for profit Christian-based organization acting as a platform of support to strengthen and unite homeschooling activities for students in and around the Lebanon area.

Fine Arts program provides a time and place for scheduled classes and activities in the areas of drama, music, art, creative arts, home arts and performing arts.  Classes are held throughout the school year for the entire family. Parents are always welcome, but are not required to attend class sessions or remain on-campus if their children are in grades four or higher.

Fine Arts classes are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of most months of the school year at a church in Lebanon. The fee to participate in the Fine Arts program is $24 per family each semester.  This fee helps cover the expense of building rent, photocopies, administrative office supplies, etc. 

Some classes require the purchase of additional supplies.  Supplies requested by the class teacher are listed on the class schedule.  Some classes have an additional fee to cover the expense of supplies purchased by the class teacher. Some class fees reflect a room usage fee, to help pay for the utilities and rent for the room. Some classes include the fee to hire outside instructors.  See the Fine Arts links on this website to view the class schedule and to enroll on-line. 

A Fine Arts Presentation Night is coordinated at the end of most semesters for students to perform musical selections, drama skits, and display completed art projects.  This is an exciting family night for the students and parents to recognize and appreciate the efforts of the students and teachers and to celebrate the skills achieved during the semester.

Parent teachers are not compensated for their teaching.  In gratitude to class teachers and assistants, the Fine Arts enrollment fee is waived for families who offer instruction and assistance in the Fine Arts program.  Occasionally, professional instructors are invited to teach a Fine Arts class.  The fees for the classes taught by these instructors reflect the fee charged by the instructor.  Anyone wanting to volunteer to teach a Fine Arts class should contact the program director.

Click here to see the 2012 Spring Schedule

 

 

Fine Arts Drama Department

The purpose of the LAH Drama Department is to provide opportunities in classes, stage productions, and other performances in order to teach the students presentation skills that will enable them to be effective, lifelong communicators of the message of the Kingdom of God.

The Drama Department will promote activities that teach acting skills through memorization, public speaking, self-expression, knowledge of sets, props, and sound equipment, posture, poise, and voice projection. Students will experience teamwork, responsibility, commitment, and wholesome fun. Drama strives to present productions that provide an uplifting, wholesome, and moral message for audiences that may deal with issues society faces and give alternative solutions, minister for the Kingdom of God, promote the idea of homeschooling, and showcase the abilities and talents of homeschool students.

Most Drama rehearsals take place outside of the Fine Arts sessions. For a complete rehearsal schedule, email the Fine Arts Director, using the Fine Arts contact link. Students participating in the Drama productions must enroll in the Fine Arts program.

The Drama Department exists because of volunteers contributing time, energy, talent, and monetary resources to the effort. Cooperation in working in a group, commitment, dependability, and good attitudes are required by all participants to make a production successful. In order to participate in the Drama production, a parent from each family must commit to serve in a volunteer position. All students are required to participate in a Drama fundraiser.

Fine Arts Music Department

The Fine Arts Music Department offers many musical opportunities for students to encourage them to develop a talent for and love of music that will foster their ability to enter into life-long ministry opportunities.

A Children’s Choir and LAH Choir are available, with many festival and performance opportunities. The LAH Praise Band encourages students to build leadership skills in leading and participating in worship. Students are encouraged to develop keyboard, vocal and instrumental talents by participating in classes to encourage them to take musical selections to festivals. Students are also encouraged to join other students in small ensembles for ministry and festival opportunities.

LAH CHOIR
LAH Choir consists of 30-50 students in grades 7-12.

Some of the goals of the LAH Choir are to:

• Give students an opportunity to sing with other students

• Allow students to combine their voices with others in at least 4-part harmony

• Learn to follow the direction of the director

• Develop lifelong musical skills

• Participate in ministry and performance opportunities with other students

• Allow students an opportunity to participate in festivals in the region in order to:

  • Get outside feedback from adjudicators

  • Experience the thrill of performance and satisfaction of participation

  • Fellowship with students from other choirs in other areas in celebrating musical accomplishments

LAH Choir students are expected to participate in the outside festivals and performances.  Opportunities for carpooling will be encouraged, but it is the responsibility of each parent to make sure their child attends these performances.  Students who are unable to participate in these outside performances can still participate in the choir, but need to indicate at the beginning of the semester that they will not be attending the outside festivals.

SBU Festival

LAH Choir students are encouraged to participate in the SBU music festival at SBU in November . All musical entries are performed before judges, according to the ASCI guidelines. The fee to participate is usually $12 per student, which includes the entry fee for the academic competition held the following day (for those students interested in competing), lunch during the academic competition, t-shirt, certificates, and medals. Students are encouraged to take individual solo and ensemble entries in keyboard, instrument, and voice to this event.

NFMC Festival

LAH Choir students are expected to participate in the NFMC music festival held each year in March. The choir will perform two numbers in contrasting styles according to the guidelines of the National Federation of Music Clubs. One judge will adjudicate the choir and offer comments and a rating for the choir. There is no student fee to participate in this event. Students are also encouraged to take individual solo and ensemble entries to this event, judged according to the NFMC rules; there is a fee to participate in solo and ensemble events, and students will need to register in January.

LAH Choir Christmas Caroling

Each year in December, the LAH Choir enjoys a Caroling Day in downtown Lebanon.

LAH Cookbook

All students in the LAH Choir will actively sell LAH cookbooks. The proceeds will be used to purchase choir music, pay festival fees, pay for workshops with instructors, purchase choir shirts, and establish a fund for future choir activities.

Fine Arts - Art Department

The Fine Arts Department encourages the development of artistic style and skill using a variety of art media. If possible, parent volunteers teach the classes, but many times an outside artist is hired to teach these important classes.

It is hoped that after several years of taking classes in the Fine Arts program, a student will have had an opportunity to take classes utilizing many of the following media: watercolor, chalk pastel, oil painting, drawing, pottery, sculpting, charcoal, etc.

Fine Arts Presentation Night

A Fine Arts presentation night is held at the end of most semesters to showcase the art, drama, and music achievements of the students for the semester.
   
 
Lebanon Area Homeschoolers Fine Arts

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have classes for students younger than grade 4?

Yes. Most semesters we offer classes for the entire family.

Do I need to stay on-campus for my younger children?

Yes. If your children are younger than grade 4, you will need to stay on campus. If you are enrolled in an art class, or teaching a Fine Arts class, your children may attend the children’s play class classes during the hours they are available.

Can my children attend childcare while I attend an art class?

Yes! We encourage parents to take the wonderful art classes, and you may check your child into a children’s play class during the available hours while you take an art class.

Can my young children attend children’s play class or take classes while I go shopping or run errands?

No. You must remain on campus if your children are younger than grade 4. Please join the other moms in or enroll in one of the art classes. If you have a trusted friend who is staying on campus, and agrees to be responsible for them in case they have needs while they are attending class, then you may make personal arrangements for that, and indicate it on the sign-out form.

Can I drop off my children for Fine Arts?

Yes. Students in grades 4-12 may attend Fine Arts without their parent remaining on campus. Students in grades 4-12 should bring a sack-lunch, and can be dropped off at the beginning of the day and picked up at 3:30 p.m.

Do I need to come to Lebanon on Fine Arts days?

No. We have designed the Fine Arts program to assist parents in carpooling and ride-share options. Parents of students in grades 4-12 do not have to come to Lebanon, and are encouraged to make carpool arrangements with other parents in order to conserve fuel and time. Parents are encouraged to attend the Back-to-School Bash in August, to meet other parents from your area. Families in the LAH program come from a fifty-mile radius of Lebanon, and carpooling is an excellent way to be a good steward of your resources!

What if I am carpooling with another family, and some of our children are younger than grade 4? Can they still enroll in the program since the afternoon classes are only for grades 4-12?

If you have made arrangements to be responsible for the care of other children younger than grade 4, they may attend as any other Fine Arts student, but you will be responsible for overseeing their care, according to the guidelines of the program.

Is the Fine Arts program for everyone?

No. The Fine Arts program is not for everyone. It is designed to introduce the arts to students younger than 7th grade to see if they have an interest in art, music, and drama by exploring many different aspects of these arts. The classes for students in grades 7-12 are for students who have discovered that they have an interest and passion for the arts. They can pursue those interests with other like-minded students.

Fine Arts is not for the following students:

• A student who discovers that they do not enjoy these classes. They should be encouraged to find other areas of LAH in which to put their efforts. We have found that students who enroll only because their parents make them, do not prosper in the Fine Arts program. We suggest that families who are enrolled in Fine Arts, who might have a child who does not enjoy all the classes, use the Fine Arts time to focus on that student, by spending special time with them doing other special activities such as park time, library time, or special activities together, rather than enrolling them in classes.

• Students who are not sufficiently mature to participate in class, or follow teacher direction will not enjoy the program, and will create an environment that inhibits other students from enjoying the class fully.

• Junior High and High School students who only want to socialize, but do not have an interest in art, music or drama, should not participate in Fine Arts. Fine Arts is not a program for students to just connect with other students. Although many friendships are made and encouraged, the focus of the program is on training in the arts.

• Students who do not wish to follow the rules should not enroll in Fine Arts. The behavior guidelines and dress code are put in place to enhance the Fine Arts experience. We do not provide staff to continually monitor students in their behavior and dress. We assume that students who enroll in our program have a sufficient level of maturity and character to follow the rules. If a student does not have the maturity required, then their parent should attend the classes with them to ensure compliance. Any student who does not voluntarily and readily comply to teacher requests or guidelines will be automatically dismissed from the program, and a meeting with parent, teacher, and Fine Arts leadership will be required for re-admittance.

How can I make sure my child is safe during their time at Fine Arts?

By making sure that your child has sufficient maturity to request assistance from parent volunteers, and by making sure that they understand the rules and guidelines, the Fine Arts environment should be very safe. It is assumed that a student who is mature enough to be dropped-off for the Fine Arts program, will follow the directives of their parent as to behavior, pick-up instructions, as well as having the ability to function well in the classroom.

For students in grades 4-12, there is no monitoring policy by staff to ensure that your child remains on campus once they are dropped off; students should be able to self-monitor their behavior. If it is determined that a student has left without parent knowledge or permission, they will be dismissed from the program. It is important that parents who allow their child to drive to class understand this policy, and work it out with their child.

The Fine Arts Department is not responsible for any problems that arise from the disobedience or misunderstanding of your child to follow the behavior guidelines, or to submit to your parental rules. Students younger than grade 4 should be checked in and out of their classes by the parent.

What do you do about behavior problems?

The classroom teacher is responsible for monitoring student behavior in the classroom, and if the student does not comply with the teacher’s requests, they will be taken to Fine Arts leadership, and the parent will be contacted. There is a zero-tolerance for misbehavior by students. Any student who does not immediately correct their behavior, as requested by the teacher, may be removed from the program.

Can my child change classes once the semester begins?

Yes. However, because many classes purchase their supplies based on the number of enrolled students, and because some classes have limits that might have kept another student from taking that class once your child enrolled, no refunds for class fees will be made after enrollment ends, and some classes might not be available after enrollment concludes.

Do I have to commit to a full year enrollment?

No. You may sign up in August for the first semester, and in January for the second semester. Although many classes are offered for the full year, there are also classes that are offered one semester only, and most classes can be joined at the second semester.

Do I have to enroll every child in every hour of classes?

No. The Fine Arts schedule is designed to be flexible in order to meet the needs of the parents and students. Families may choose to enroll in only morning, or only afternoon classes. Some families may choose to enroll all of the children except one, and some may choose for a child to take only one or two classes. However, if a student is on campus, they are expected to be enrolled in a class, attending study hall, or with their parent.

Can my child take only one semester of a full year class?

Most likely, yes. Some classes have a prerequisite. Some classes like choir are a full year class, and so students enrolling in second semester will miss the important concepts taught first semester, but as long as the student is willing to learn quickly, they can benefit from even one semester of this class. All new choir students are asked to commit to a full semester when they enroll. Because of limited class time, it is impossible to work one-on-one with new students, and they must be willing watch and observe (oftentimes feeling confused), until they get accustomed to the class and the songs. Students who commit to at least one full semester are usually comfortable and confident by the end of the semester.

If the full-year class relies on skills and projects begun during the first semester, then the student will be unable to sign up for the second semester only (for example: drama classes where parts have already been cast). Speak with the enrollment coordinator or class teacher with specific questions.

What if my child can’t find a class choice during a particular hour?

Students must be enrolled in a class or under the direct supervision of their parent during the Fine Arts day. There are many class choices, and students should be able to find a class, but if classes are filled and students do not want to enroll in an over-flow class like gym, then parents should make arrangements to pick up the student and plan an alternate activity like going to the park, the library, meeting with friends, running errands, or doing something special together. Families might choose to come to later classes, or leave early, if there is not a class choice during a particular hour.

Why are the class fees so much higher for the art classes?

If a parent volunteer is available, then there is no instructor fee associated with a class; the fee reflects only the supplies purchased for the class activities, or for the room usage. For many art classes, we rely on hiring outside art instructors; the fee reimburses them for their time and skill, and occasionally they include the cost of supplies with their fee.

Are Fine Arts families paid for their teaching services?

No. Fine Arts enrolled families are not reimbursed for their teaching services. All teaching by Fine Arts families is volunteered for the benefit of the program. In order to express our gratitude, the enrollment fee for families who teach during Fine Arts is waived. Outside art instructors, who do not have children enrolled in the program are paid for their professional services. If not for the generosity of our Fine Arts teachers, each class would have fees similar to the fees charged for the art classes if we had to hire teachers for all these classes.

What is the Fine Arts enrollment fee?

The family enrollment fee is used to reimburse the church for rent/usage, to pay expenses associated with the program, to pay for photocopies, to buy office supplies to administer the program, and to pay for and invest in supplies for the advancement of the Fine Arts program. The fee averages $4 per day per family. If a family has four children enrolled in the program for six hours, it averages 17 cents per hour per child to keep the Fine Arts program funded.

Can parents take the art classes?

Yes! Parents are encouraged to take the art classes, as long as there is room in the class. Having a parent fill up the class to the maximum actually keeps the fees lower for all the students. It is very rewarding for the adults to take these classes. It encourages the students to see parents attempting the same skills. It can also be very cost effective for the parent to take the class, and then teach the skill to their younger children, rather than have every child take each art class offered.

If my child attends Fine Arts all day, what do they do about lunch?

Classes break from 12:00 to 12:30 for lunch. Fine Arts students who stay all day should bring a sack lunch and drink. No food is available at the church. Food will only be allowed in the area designated for eating. No food or drinks (other than bottled water, with screw on cap) will be allowed in classroom spaces. Students may leave for lunch if they have parental permission.

What do I do if my child leaves something at the Fine Arts building?

Contact the classroom teacher to see if they placed the item in Lost & Found. If not, they can refer you to the appropriate Fine Arts person. If the item was placed in Lost & Found, then wait until the next class session to collect the item. Please do not contact the church regarding misplaced items, since this causes unnecessary effort for them to track things down. In the case of an emergency, Fine Arts leaders may be able to assist in finding the misplaced article. It is always helpful to label your child’s clothing and belongings so that they can be easily returned if misplaced.

If my child drives to Fine Arts, can they leave campus?

Students who drive themselves to class are considered to be sufficiently mature and trusted by their parent to follow their parents’ rules for leaving campus. If a student asks to leave campus, they will be asked, “What does your parent say?” If they do not know, we will say no, or tell them to contact their parent. Please be sure that you have clearly defined your expectations to your child.

Students who leave campus during a time when they are expected in a class, should sign out on the sign-out sheet, and then sign back in when they return. If a student leaves campus, they are expected to return in a timely manner for their next class. There is no monitoring policy to ensure that your child remains on campus once they are dropped off. If it is determined that a student has left without parent knowledge or permission, they will be dismissed from the program. It is important that parents who allow their child to drive to class understand this policy, and work it out with their child. The Fine Arts Department is not responsible for any problems that arise from the disobedience or misunderstanding of your child to follow the behavior guidelines or to submit to your parental rules.

FA Panel Members:
S Popejoy, D. Oberdieck, and D Hayes

Contact FA : fa@lebanonareahomeschoolers.com