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November 20, 2011
by: Michaela Gandy, Publications Intern, IDEAS Academy

Students attend Whitewater writing festival

Seven IDEAS Academy students attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater High School Creative Writing Festival Wednesday, November 16. Ali Chapman, junior, won the Drama/Screen Play Honorable Mention Award for her script, "Never Really Knew You".

The Festival gives students experience in exposing their writing to professional judging as well as to discussion and evaluation by an audience.

“It didn’t feel like you were being judged; the feedback given didn’t make you feel as if you lost,” said Davina Boykin, a freshman who entered three poems and attended six different workshops. “It was nice to see a college campus and how it works, also.”

About 800 students, teachers and writers from all over Wisconsin and Illinois participated in the event.

“Incredible, seeing so many people perform different arts, what they think and what they write, “said Stephanie Lesperance, a sophomore and first year participant in the Festival.

There are 11 different categories students can enter: Children’s Literature, Essay, Multimedia, Tales of Terror and Mystery, Poetry, Prose Poetry/Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, Science Fiction, Humor, Drama/Screenplay, and Song Lyrics. Students can also share their talents during open mic.             

Laura Obear, junior, was the only student from IDEAS to participate in the song lyrics workshop.

“I like that they judge on the writing. Yeah, I can play guitar and sing well, but I was judged on the lyrical content of my song,” Obear said.

IDEAS Academy is based on the community feel of a school, one that feeds off positive and critical feedback, so attending the Festival makes sense.

“[It is an] excellent idea for students to attend Whitewater. We work on these projects for a long time and get feedback from our community, but [we need] to go out further and get feedback from a different community’s aspect,” said Chapman.

Participants included:

Davina Boykin, freshman, Poetry, "Disguise", "Passersby", "Fight the Rain"  
Ali Chapman, junior, Drama or Screenplay, "Never Really Knew You."
Vanessa Diaz, senior, Science Fiction/Fantasy, "Memory"
Taylor Gebert, freshman, Science Fiction/Fantasy, "The Vampire Hangout"
Steph Lesperance, junior, Drama or Screenplay, "It's a Struggle"
Laura Obear, junior, Song Lyrics, "Tricks”
Cherokee Rieley, junior, Drama or Screenplay, "I Miss Them"


October 30, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

Karen Robison, Science Teacher

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Knowing is good, but knowing and acting is better.

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September 25, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell, Journalist

Peter Woods, Mathematic Teacher

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Education serves as the greatest tool we have for social change and, by being a teacher, I have a direct impact on the lives of students...

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September 19, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

Jenne Smith, Humanities Teacher

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Jenne Smith had already been accepted to law school when she realized teaching was where she was meant to be.

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August 4, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

National School Reform Faculty Training

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Five representatives from The Etude Group of charter schools recently attended Critical Friends Group Training in Bloomington, Ind.

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August 2, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

Tad Phippen Wente, Creative Writing

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Building something new is what makes us thrive! So creating a school has been continuously exciting and rewarding.

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July 18, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell, Journalist

Michelle Renzelmann-Ross, Writing Workshop Teacher

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I want to help kids think independently, question respectfully, set goals and accomplish them, and be a productive, good member of society.

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July 7, 2011
by: Jenne Smith

Humanities

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The Humanities curriculum at IDEAS Academy will consist of three separate course offerings: American Studies, Global Studies and an individualized Global Issues course.

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June 23, 2011
by: Leah Eilmus

Thank You

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A huge thanks to the following students and staffs for packing, labeling, and moving boxes at Étude all day on June 16th.

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June 23, 2011
by: Dollie Cromwell

TimeSlips Exhibit Opening

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John Michael Kohler Arts Center will debut its first student-created exhibit Sunday as part of its “Hiding Places: Memory in the Arts” multi-media event.

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May 21, 2011
by: Leah Eilmus

Folk Music Seminar

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American folk music encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as roots music. Roots music includes bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands,...

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May 11, 2011
by: Tad Phippen Wente, Creative Writing teacher

TimeSlips Seminar

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Today in the TimeSlips Seminar (this is a project we’re working on with JMKAC’s Connecting Communities) we enjoyed a visit from Tracy Cinealis, CSA, of Libby’s...

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April 17, 2011
by: Tad Phippen Wente, Creative Writing teacher

Poetry & Lyrics Seminar

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Poetry & Lyrics Seminar wrapped up its quarter today with a “Final Reading” in three categories: Poetry Out Loud (inspired by the National Endowment for the...

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April 1, 2011
by: Peter Woods

IDEAS Chemistry

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If the purpose of chemistry is to better understand the materials that make up our world and how they interact, then why not focus on those...

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January 28, 2011
by: L. Eilmus

Inquiry Class

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At IDEAS Academy, our aim is to produce students who are independent, contemplative, and articulate global citizens.

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January 26, 2011
by: L. Eilmus

Location

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IDEAS Academy is pleased to announce it will be located on the 3rd floor of the new Charter Campus at Central, 830 Virginia Ave.

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