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The Best Form of Play is … Being in a Play!

6/14/2017

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​The Best Form of Play is … Being in a Play!
 
By Kara Martinez Bachman
 
There is a reason theatrical productions are referred to as “plays.” Surely, it is because in addition to being hard work, theater can also be a great form of play. Even one small moment in the limelight can serve to permanently fire the imagination and creative spirit of a child.
 
Although many kids prefer to spend their time in organized sports, there are many others who have never been able to grab onto sports as a pastime they can enjoy and excel at. If your child “doesn’t get into” sports, you may want to consider introducing him or her to another form of play: theater.
 
We all remember playing dress-up as children. We recall how much fun it was to pretend to be a princess, or a cowboy, or an alien from outer space. Participating in organized theater activities captures this playful element. What’s more, with every successive performance, our children are not only “playing,” but are perfecting a craft that may lead to a lifetime of enjoyment. Just as sports can teach kids how to follow directions, how to work as a “team” and how to perfect a skill set, so, too, can drama. Even more important, when a child receives the cheers and applause of an audience, it is every bit as satisfying as the cheers of spectators at a ballgame.
 
According to James Catterall, UCLA Professor, participation in drama aids in educational and social success. His book-with-a-very-long-title, Doing Well and Doing Good by Doing Art: The Effects of Education in the Visual and Performing Arts on the Achievements and Values of Young Adults (2009), shares the results of studies that trace how involvement in performing and visual art influences children. He says in the book: “Our analyses found substantial and significant differences in achievement and in important attitudes and behaviors between youth highly involved in the arts and those with little or no arts engagement.”  His study, which was a focal point of the book, showed that kids involved in theater, band, orchestra, chorus, dance, and other artistic pursuits had higher school achievement, lower rates of dropping out of school, and “better attitudes about school and community.” If this is true, then theater is definitely play with a purpose!
 
Theater is a year-round activity that can involve the entire family, from the oldest member to the very youngest. Many theaters and playhouses provide opportunities for youngsters to get involved. For those who are outgoing, taking a role onstage may be a possibility. When starting out, a child with little experience will need to begin with roles as an "extra" in the ensemble, or with small bit parts until he or she builds up enough maturity and acting chops to carry a more serious role. But with time, your child could develop dramatic skills that will delight audiences.
 
Perhaps you child is shy about being in the spotlight and would prefer to help behind-the-scenes by getting stage sets and props ready, helping with costumes, or assisting those who work in sound and lights. There really is an option for every personality and age. Community theater is a great activity for families, as it is something they can enjoy together for many, many years.
 
Many children begin their involvement in plays by enrolling in a summer or afterschool camp. Others choose to participate, beginning at the middle-school level, in drama classes or musical productions staged at school. By participating in school plays and theater camps, your child can become familiar with the rudiments of a stage show; this can help him/her transition more easily to involvement with community theater.
 
Pick up the phone and call a local theater and ask about how you can become involved. Just as “soccer moms” love to see their kids kick an impossible goal, you will enjoy seeing your “superstar” on a stage, delivering a line perfectly or posing as the perfect princess, clown, superhero, or dainty yellow flower.
 
Kara Martinez Bachman is a "theater mom" to a passionate 14-year-old who is obsessed with musical theater. She's an entertainment journalist, editor, and author of the humorous essay collection about the zanier sides of parenting and marriage, "Kissing the Crisis: Field Notes on Foul-Mouthed Babies, Disenchanted Women, and Careening into Middle Age." Find out more at KaraMartinezBachman.com.

 
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100% OF EXECUTIVE PREP ACADEMY OF FINANCE GRADUATES ACCEPTED TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

6/5/2017

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​100% OF EXECUTIVE PREP ACADEMY OF FINANCE GRADUATES ACCEPTED TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
 
First Graduating Class at Nonprofit Public Charter High School Supports a New Trend of Attainable Success: A College Education for All Students
 
JUNE 2, 2017 (LOS ANGELES) -  Executive Preparatory Academy of Finance (EPAF), a nonprofit public charter high school in Los Angeles is celebrating its inaugural commencement ceremony today for their first class of 33 graduating seniors. The special event will be held atop the Marriott in Marina del Rey at 6pm. In celebration of their incredible achievements, students will be surprised with a special congratulatory video tribute from some of their favorite celebrities including actors Taraji P. Henson and Kevin Hart along with former NBA star and education advocate Jalen Rose and more.
 
All of the Executive Prep graduates have been accepted to some of the top four-year universities and colleges in the country, including San Francisco State, CSU Fresno, Virginia State University, UC Santa Barbara, Spellman University and Azusa Pacific University among others. Counselors helped with early planning advice to guide students through the complicated application processes. Responsible student preparation along with scholarships, fundraising, student financial-aid programs and some corporate and  private donations, have made it possible for these students to continue their higher education.
 
CEO and founder of Executive Prep, Mr. Omar McGee, explained his reasons for launching a non-profit public charter high school: “My whole plan was to create an educational program that maintains a supportive environment for students throughout their high school careers. With mutual trust and respect from students and their parents, we were able to create a program that allowed them to take responsibility of their own lives and define what they wanted their futures to look like. And by bringing local community partnerships and corporate sponsors together with common goals, we have more resources to offer students than they would have normally. Together we created a winning plan for our students,” proudly boasts Mr. McGee.
 
“From the beginning Mr. McGee was always pushing us to accept new challenges and really focus on what we wanted our future lives to be like. Without having big dreams and goals, you can’t make a successful plan to reach them,” explains Isaiah Paysinger who was awarded a full ride to Howard University.
 
Many students from this graduating class of 2017 will be the first in their families to finish high school. For most, attending college wasn’t even a consideration before attending Executive Prep. The school’s focus on financial literacy has also taught crucial money management and life skills to prepare students for the future. The combined tactics has led to the ultimate goal of closing the achievement gap and disrupting the cycle of excessive inner-city high school drop-outs rates while increasing higher education. 
  

Although Executive Prep serves an all-minority low-income student population, with most falling below the poverty line, the supportive environment of teachers and staff, along with access and opportunity have proven to be the difference maker for his students. “Today is going to be very emotional for me,” says Mr. McGee. “These students have become like my own kids. I know each and every one of them and have seen them grow into responsible young adults. I wanted to give these kids a reason to believe in themselves and accomplish their dreams. I am just as proud as any parent.” 
 
About Executive Preparatory Academy of Finance
Executive Preparatory Academy of Finance (EPAF) is a Los Angeles based nonprofit public charter high school with a focus on closing the financial literacy gap within the minority community. Executive Prep Academy’s mission is to provide a high-quality and extensive college-preparatory educational experience to youth that results in our students succeeding in college, and ultimately in their professional careers.
 
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    Michelle Marts-Shannon

    Founder of Los Angeles Black Parent Magazine Online

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