An eighth grade in a class by itself
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/3752/1/An-eighth-grade-in-a-class-by-itself/Page1.html
By Wiley Henry
Published on 05/7/2009
Stephanie Williams’ eighth-grade performing arts class learned something about the vicissitudes of life after writing the lyrics to their latest CD and video, “Life Is Not Easy!”
Stephanie Williams’ eighth-grade performing arts class learned something about the vicissitudes of life after writing the lyrics to their latest CD and video, “Life Is Not Easy!”
Last Friday, the budding stars at KIPP DIAMOND Academy premiered their video in an auditorium surrounded by classmates and parents during the DIAMOND Academy Awards.
They wore exquisite formal and semi-formal attire. And, for the third year, Williams’ performing arts students walked down the Hollywood-style red carpet.
The awards program was the finale of a songwriting workshop conducted by Chuck Parr and Shelby Johnson of Opera Memphis. Arts Memphis provided funding for the activities.
The students decided to write about the struggles that teenagers grapple with on a daily basis: drugs, gangs, peer pressure, prejudice and poverty.
The alternative, Williams said, is college, ambitions, goals, integrity and aspirations, which students interpreted in song, rap and dance. They also edited the film for final production.
Consider the chorus to “Life Is Not Easy!”:
Life isn’t easy/ It’s about what you choose/ Just do your best/ And you’ll never lose/ The dream that you desire/ It’s in the palm of your hand/ Just reach out and take it/ And your journey will begin
“Some of the kids come from broken homes,” said Williams, KIPP’s performing arts teacher. “They write their own musical compositions based on their life experiences.”
The six-minute video motivates students, helps to build self-esteem, and improves critical thinking, word building and language arts skills, she said.
“They are DIAMONDS in the rough,” said Williams, which is part of the school’s name that stands for Daring Individual Achievers Making Outstanding New Dreams.
In verse three in the theme song, the eighth graders underscore the importance of education.
The right education will expand your mind/ It’ll take you to higher places and you’ll find/ That there is a world of possibilities/ We all know ‘bout ignorance, a curable disease/ Stay tight, think right, trust your inner voice/ Which university should be your only choice/ So we’ll leave KIPP Academy, go out and lead the world/ It’s our job to do the work for every boy and girl
This year, the DIAMOND Academy Awards were presented to the following winners:
• Best Actress: Terranye Pettigrew, 13
• Best Actor: Cameron Aldridge, 13
• Supporting Male Role: Charles Reynolds, 14
• Supporting Female Role: Rocquel Crutcher, 14
• Best Impromptu Acting for a Female: Jennifer Banks, 14
• Best Impromptu Acting for a Male: Derek Johnson,13
• Best Original Lyrics by a Male: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Best Original Lyrics by a Female: Jazzarei Sharp,14
• Female Leadership: Victoria Carpenter,14
• Male Leadership: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Female Set Design: Victoria Carpenter,14
• Male Set Design: Charles Reynolds, 14, and Danesha Barlow, 14
• Female Costume Design: Shaniece Moore,14
• Male Costume Design: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Assistant Producer: Jazzarei Sharp, 14, and Jaylen Sharp, 13
• Best Female Rap Artist: Ashique Bolden,14
• Best Male Rap Artist: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Shining Star Awards: Bryanna Wallace,14, Calisha Mack,13, Kanesha Brown, 14, and Brandi Borum, 13.
• Scholarship Award: Kanesha Brown, 14
• Teamwork Award: Shamprea Lewis,13
• Perseverance Award: Bryanna Wallace, 14
• Integrity Award: Brandi Borum,14
• Fun Award: Michael Kendrick, 14.
In 2007, the school won 1st place in the Middle School Division of the Indies Film Festival for “Teenage Life.” The video also was featured in the best of the T-Tauri Film Festival in Batesville, Miss.
Last year, “My Destiny, My Choice,” the school’s second eighth-grade video, was featured in the best of the T-Tauri Film Festival in Batesville, Miss., and featured as well in the Indie Film Festival.
KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), located at 2110 Howell Ave., is one of 57 charter schools across the country that focuses on college preparatory instruction. Approximately 250 students are enrolled in grades 5-8.
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Stephanie Williams’ eighth-grade performing arts class learned something about the vicissitudes of life after writing the lyrics to their latest CD and video, “Life Is Not Easy!”
An eighth grade in a class by itself
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| Terranye Pettigrew escorts Cameron Aldridge. Cameron won Best Original Lyrics by a Male and Terranye won Best Actress. (Photos by Wiley Henry) |
Stephanie Williams’ eighth-grade performing arts class learned something about the vicissitudes of life after writing the lyrics to their latest CD and video, “Life Is Not Easy!”
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| Charles Reynolds is escorted by Danesha Barlow, who won best Male Set Design. |
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| Jazzarei Sharp is escorted by her brother, Jalen Sharp. Jazzarei won Best Original Lyrics by a Female and both Jazzarei and Jalen won the Assistant Producer award. |
They wore exquisite formal and semi-formal attire. And, for the third year, Williams’ performing arts students walked down the Hollywood-style red carpet.
The awards program was the finale of a songwriting workshop conducted by Chuck Parr and Shelby Johnson of Opera Memphis. Arts Memphis provided funding for the activities.
The students decided to write about the struggles that teenagers grapple with on a daily basis: drugs, gangs, peer pressure, prejudice and poverty.
The alternative, Williams said, is college, ambitions, goals, integrity and aspirations, which students interpreted in song, rap and dance. They also edited the film for final production.
Consider the chorus to “Life Is Not Easy!”:
Life isn’t easy/ It’s about what you choose/ Just do your best/ And you’ll never lose/ The dream that you desire/ It’s in the palm of your hand/ Just reach out and take it/ And your journey will begin
“Some of the kids come from broken homes,” said Williams, KIPP’s performing arts teacher. “They write their own musical compositions based on their life experiences.”
The six-minute video motivates students, helps to build self-esteem, and improves critical thinking, word building and language arts skills, she said.
“They are DIAMONDS in the rough,” said Williams, which is part of the school’s name that stands for Daring Individual Achievers Making Outstanding New Dreams.
In verse three in the theme song, the eighth graders underscore the importance of education.
The right education will expand your mind/ It’ll take you to higher places and you’ll find/ That there is a world of possibilities/ We all know ‘bout ignorance, a curable disease/ Stay tight, think right, trust your inner voice/ Which university should be your only choice/ So we’ll leave KIPP Academy, go out and lead the world/ It’s our job to do the work for every boy and girl
This year, the DIAMOND Academy Awards were presented to the following winners:
• Best Actress: Terranye Pettigrew, 13
• Best Actor: Cameron Aldridge, 13
• Supporting Male Role: Charles Reynolds, 14
• Supporting Female Role: Rocquel Crutcher, 14
• Best Impromptu Acting for a Female: Jennifer Banks, 14
• Best Impromptu Acting for a Male: Derek Johnson,13
• Best Original Lyrics by a Male: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Best Original Lyrics by a Female: Jazzarei Sharp,14
• Female Leadership: Victoria Carpenter,14
• Male Leadership: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Female Set Design: Victoria Carpenter,14
• Male Set Design: Charles Reynolds, 14, and Danesha Barlow, 14
• Female Costume Design: Shaniece Moore,14
• Male Costume Design: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Assistant Producer: Jazzarei Sharp, 14, and Jaylen Sharp, 13
• Best Female Rap Artist: Ashique Bolden,14
• Best Male Rap Artist: Cameron Aldridge,13
• Shining Star Awards: Bryanna Wallace,14, Calisha Mack,13, Kanesha Brown, 14, and Brandi Borum, 13.
• Scholarship Award: Kanesha Brown, 14
• Teamwork Award: Shamprea Lewis,13
• Perseverance Award: Bryanna Wallace, 14
• Integrity Award: Brandi Borum,14
• Fun Award: Michael Kendrick, 14.
In 2007, the school won 1st place in the Middle School Division of the Indies Film Festival for “Teenage Life.” The video also was featured in the best of the T-Tauri Film Festival in Batesville, Miss.
Last year, “My Destiny, My Choice,” the school’s second eighth-grade video, was featured in the best of the T-Tauri Film Festival in Batesville, Miss., and featured as well in the Indie Film Festival.
KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), located at 2110 Howell Ave., is one of 57 charter schools across the country that focuses on college preparatory instruction. Approximately 250 students are enrolled in grades 5-8.