PAGE Five presented an information session for gifted arts students and their parents on Monday, November 18 at the District Five Office to provide them with information about the Tri-District Arts Consortium (Tri-DAC) Summer 2020 Program. The program is a hands-on, three-week summer experience for rising sixth through rising ninth grade students who are gifted in creative writing, dance, music (vocal, strings and wind-percussion), theatre, and visual arts.
“Our Tri-DAC information session was well attended,” noted PAGE Five President Barb Waldman, “and provided an opportunity to hear from parents of former participants and for parents and students to ask questions about the program.”
Virginia Tate, Coordinator of Gifted Programs and Visual & Performing Arts Programs in District Five, explained the nomination, application, and audition process to those in attendance. Parents and teachers can nominate students and once notified of their nomination can apply online through the district’s website. A panel of three judges in each of the program areas then makes the selection after auditions. The auditions vary according to program and consist of a performance, improvisation, sight reading, portfolio and on-the-spot drawing or writing, and a personal interview.
Once accepted into the program, students attend classes taught by a mixture of public school teachers, college professors, and guest artists, who interact with students and share their experiences. Several former guests-in-residence are nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. The three-week experience culminates in a celebration featuring the work of students in all art areas.
According to its website, the Tri-DAC Consortium consists of three Midlands school districts – Lexington One, Lexington-Richland Five, and Richland Two. Since the pilot program in 1985 which enrolled 150 students, the program now serves 450 students in seven art areas. Palmetto Center for the Arts, Richland Two’s Fine Arts Magnet, serves as the host of this year’s summer program, which is financed by the three school districts and student tuition.
PAGE Five is a volunteer, non-profit support network for parents, educators, policy-makers, and residents of School District Five of Lexington and Richland counties who are interested in enhancing and advocating education for gifted and talented students in School District Five. Members of the organization promote education for gifted and talented students, disseminate information on and build awareness about gifted education, provide enrichment opportunities, and assist families with scholarships and tuition aid for gifted students.