art/ noun  1. the expression of human creativity and imagination

“Art can be defined as the practice of becoming our most capable selves”.


Vision Statement:

The Dynamic Arts School starts with the core belief that every student is exceptional and has unique skills and abilities that can contribute to the health and vitality of their community. Our confidence in this knowledge creates a relationship of respect between school and student. The Dynamic Arts programs weave all subject areas through intrinsic interests and choices. From this place a joy of learning unfolds and creates an atmosphere where students are inspired to reach their full potential. Through student voices, deep learning, integrated practices, mentorships and appreciation a challenging and exciting in-depth academic landscape is exposed. By providing a colorful pallet of experiences and choices, The Dynamic Arts along with parents, teachers, mentors and the greater community support students in their design of a successful educational experience and a future vision.

Our Mission:

To create a learning environment that promotes the joy of learning as a valuable currency in supporting students as lifelong learners.

Intro

The Dynamic Arts School has a curriculum that can be implemented into schools everywhere. By using real world, relevant projects that are integrated into curriculum, student’s choice muscles and critical thinking skills are developed. This bold, innovative and creative foundation has strong roots and has evolved into a confident and daring model from experience, wisdom and the love of learning.

Our program in Washington State Public Schools has proven to students, teachers, parents and the community that learning through The Dynamic Arts platforms promotes the joy of learning and provides the bases for an intelligent, powerful and successful education.

Students are challenged and encouraged to master and incorporate knowledge and expertise that will prepare them for the 21st century.  

We know that classrooms no longer need to be only housed in schools. We also know that coming together as a learning community with a home base is an important part in nurturing students. Dynamic Arts (DA) uses the best of all worlds for its school by accessing the greater community, surrounding environments, and an exciting, leading edge campus. Our Dynamic Arts XQ Super School transforms traditional methods and creates a new landscape for relationship with school.  

Design

DA’s architects have designed domes, which are geodesic in nature. These structures called studios would be State certified and are designed to utilize environmentally sustainable concepts in energy and building. Some of the studios will be designed, constructed and reconstructed by the learners themselves each year. The opportunity to create and build portions of the school provides students with a unique ownership of their own education. This reconstruction of the studios offers excellent curriculum in science, math, physics, language arts and other platforms for in-depth studies. A landscape of gardens and outdoor learning projects surrounds each studio area. Pastures will be connected to the school for farm to table programs, promoting local sustainability and environmental stewardship. DA is a school where classrooms become forests, pastures, pottery studios, marinas, theaters, kitchens, laboratories, glass shops, fine and industrial art studios, gardens, museums, libraries, technology centers, music and multi-media studios and much more.

Implementation

When a student first comes to The Dynamic Arts they meet with one of the programs certified Concierge Coaches. Our coaches are trained personal development coaches specializing in high school age students. Their job is to listen, ask questions and then work with the student in the design of their projects and help challenge them to grow.

Student and coach spend important time together. This coach/student relationship supports and creates a foundational structure from which the student can rely and build upon. Trust and responsibility are a very important part of this co-creative connection. The student now has the opportunity to create their learning blueprints. Built into all blueprints is the attainment of high school graduation and unlimited possibilities beyond. This is accomplished by our exclusive method of Dynamic Credits. After students choose their project their coach helps to lay out the credits they will receive for the different learning elements within their choice. Projects do not have to be age specific. Using our method of Dynamic Credits a freshman may be able to receive part of a senior credit for a component in a project and part of a junior credit for another piece of the project. As their works are completed and successfully accomplished the credits are applied and filled in for graduation.

When students decide on how they want to approach their project they begin working with their teachers, peers and mentors to help them accomplish their vision.

Components

A key part to the DA campus and curriculum will be our Artists in Residence program. DA has developed relationships and support from artists, experts and professionals from the US and around the world who are keen to mentor and participate with our students. Our student body and the greater community will have amazing opportunities to experience masters at their crafts. Students will be able to work with renowned artists and experts as they share their knowledge and expertise with our learners. Workshops, lectures and projects designed to support them will create a powerful engine of enthusiasm. 

We feel it is absolutely necessary that our learners be given the opportunity to work with a diverse group of individuals. Creating and working on integrated projects with mentors from both inside and outside the US will give our students a broad perspective as they move into adulthood and beyond. For example one of our groundbreaking projects for the new DA school will be the development and construction of the global music website called Brain Power Rocks (BPR Studio’s). Students looking to incorporate this project into their plans will find themselves working with a wide variety of mentors and teachers. BPR Studios through music, foreign languages, multi media and social platforms brings the diverse voices of students everywhere together. Students will have the opportunity to study, learn and enjoy skills that will serve them throughout the world. 

Another important part of The Dynamic Arts XQ School design is to ensure that teachers and coaches have the very best training and support. We will be partnering with

The Evergreen State College that has agreed to help design the DA training and continuing education programs to support real world, deep learning education.

Enthusiastic, inspirational and committed teachers and coaches are at the roots of The Dynamic Arts. Making sure communication is transparent and aligned between all elements of staff and students is an important tenant in how we operate our school. We intend for all our staff, teachers, coaches and mentors to feel appreciated. We are keenly mindful that these individuals are what help make our school great.

Dynamic Arts intends to locate their first XQ School on the Kitsap Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. While primarily a rural area, Seattle is close by for the school to participate in projects related to an urban community. The Tacoma Public School District has offered to partner with The Dynamic Arts XQ Super School. The rustic and impressive area of the Olympic Peninsula is ripe with opportunities. Staff and students are fortunate to have the Olympic National Rain Forest, Hood Canal, Washington’s costal areas, fishing and fertile farming communities all at hand. These landscapes provide effective, rich and diverse areas for in-depth studies.

In conclusion

Our underlying philosophy to accomplish our educational objectives will begin with the use of The Dynamic Arts curriculum. This curriculum is a intrinsic choice, deep learning, integrated, project-based approach that uses the surrounding landscape, state of the art production and learning environments and the greater community at large. Visiting professional artists, experts and craftsmen create commissioned thematic work with coaches, teachers and students. Teamwork is required while mentoring students throughout the process of artistic production. This introduces students to the creative cycle of production. As students develop their confidence their skills increase. The students work shows evidence of curriculum as proofs of understanding. Products and performances exhibit these proofs. This alternative form of assessment and measurement of student learning is more relevant to prescriptive practices. A joyful and confident student is willing to share what they really know and can do. This provides an authentic assessment as compared to traditional classroom assessments and test scores. Art blurs the line between work and play and encourages learning from mistakes, which is true practice. This kind of apprenticeship in the Dynamic Arts develops practices of attainment that lead to an engaged, successful and confident learner. At this point students will also be asked to teach and share their knowledge and skills with one another. Their confidence allows them to take on the challenges of testing, demonstration, sharing and developing new experiences in creativity. Rigor and relevance have been accomplished. The joy for learning has blossomed. The seeds of life long learning are now planted and growing!