by Irene Jover | Jul 26, 2018
I would like to take this opportunity to greet you and explain what will be happening in our music classes during this second half of the school year. First of all, I would like to share with you that you have exceeded my expectations! The FV community is excellent and I have felt right at home from the start. The students are willing and able to continue learning and we will try to make the transition to a new teacher as smooth and subtle as possible.
Broadly speaking, the methodology we will be applying in music class is active, flexible and, where possible, individualized and based on games and experiments, especially in preschool and primary.
We seek to develop musical sensitivity and awaken students’ interest in music from an early age. Preschool and primary students will learn some of the basic elements of music such as rhythm and melody using various methodologies (Kodaly, Willems, Orff, for instance). In all of the sessions we will try to combine and cover song, movement, rhythm, creation, and introduction to small percussion.
Primary students will continue to experience music in an active way and once they begin to internalize it, we will also introduce some more theoretical concepts.
In the middle years, the subject will be divided more clearly into several blocks: Music Theory and Practice (Solfeo and History of Music), Composition and Musical Creation (introduction to creation and musical notation softwares) and Band Music. We will continue focusing on the students´ interests and experimentation, leaving ample room for improvisation and creativity.
The two years of the Diploma Program are the culmination of musical studies at the school and will involve working on aspects of composition, interpretation and critical analysis of music, exposing students to the shapes, styles and functions of music in different historical and sociocultural contexts.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, I would love to hear from you!
by Ariadna Lopez Vargas | Jul 2, 2018
“Music is a universal language and it is always connecting us” by Anonymous
For me, as a student and young person, participating in the Huntsville Alabama Music Camp was a totally enriching experience in every way, not only because of the technical learning that it provided to me, but also because of the opportunity to expand my mind getting to know the culture, the place and the exceptional good reception that these people gave me.
The camp lasted about a week, however, my stay was 13 days and it was as Miss Susan says… “every day I learn something new”. I learned a lot every day I spent there. The camp was held in Huntsville Alabama, in a Methodist church that was spacious enough to house rehearsals, master classes and workshops of more than 8 different orchestras. The organization was always very professional and the directors, composers, instrumentalists and teachers worked in a strictly professional and committed way which allowed us to have very good results at the end of the camp.
The second week was much quieter and we spent it in Nashville, Tennessee, where we were with another family that was just as friendly and hospitable as the family that awarded us a place to stay in Huntsville. In Nashville we visited downtown, museums, and other touristic places which were very fun and enjoyable. In summary, it was a very nice experience.
by Stephanie Nuñez Jiménez | Jun 25, 2018
As yearly tradition dictates, Costa Rica celebrates and breathes its “Civic Week” in commemoration of its independence in the month of September.
The Civic Week is the appropriate framework for the development of commemorative civic events related to the anniversary of Costa Rican Independence. The focus of these activities is a series of civic celebrations highlighting the topic of values duly authorized as formative events within the educational process.
This year, big and small will join the party, with dances and costumes, patriotic corners, music and traditional food. There will be activities such as the torch run, the lantern parade and the evening participation in the civic week, culminating in the display of the September 15th parade, when drum rolls resound and the streets fill up with colorful parades reflecting the joy with which Central Americans began their path of freedom.
by Jose Arturo Calvo Gonzalez | May 24, 2018
From May 8-11, Futuro Verde witnessed a true display of artistic expression. Students from almost every grade stepped forth and brought their talents to the stage during the audition process, leaving the jury panel in awe and wonder. Who needs American Idol?
This year we had participants showcase their many abilities in musical performances, plays, and energy-packed-choreographies. We are looking forward to the main event, which will be taking place on Friday, June 15 where the student community and guest jurors will be excited to enjoy, comment, and choose the best performances.
There will be a dress rehearsal on Wednesday, June 6 in order to tune up any fine details before the big day. If you have any questions, please contact any of the FVGT committee members for more details. Remember the key to a successful performance is PRACTICE. Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes consistent.
Also, please do not hesitate to schedule a hearing before the dress rehearsal with the committee member most adequate to assist in the process (for Music: Arturo; for Visual Arts: Khalida; Literary Arts/Drama: Izaura).
All the best to all participants. Happy practicing!
by Katie Chiaverini | Apr 28, 2018
Living things grow and change. Futuro Verde first and second graders are seeing that first-hand through our new addition…the chickens. We started out with just two hens in hopes that we could see the whole life cycle over time. Now, with support of Futuro Verde staff, the environmental education program, and high school students, we have been able to create a larger, safer area for more chickens. The first and second graders get to visit the ten chickens, a mix of ages and types, including a rooster, and two little chicks several times a week.
According to Mark Ritchie, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the International Development Studies Institute, ¨Experiential learning — learning by doing with reflection — presents the educator with a tool that can both engage the learner with complicated material, and help illustrate the complexity of real world ecological and human systems.¨ This is exactly what I am seeing in our students – engagement paired with learning complicated science standards! Usually, the first question of the day is “when do we get to see the chickens?!”
The students are responsible for providing fresh water, leftover food from the kitchen, and cracked corn for the chickens. We are learning what items they like best through observation. The students are also learning how to safely handle the chickens by staying calm and waiting for the chickens to approach them – patience is often a difficult feat for such young children but they are succeeding! Through observation and reflection, we are looking at body parts and their functions, patterns of behavior, inheritance of traits, the stages of development within the life cycle and applying critical thinking skills. These are complicated topics for six to eight-year-olds, but when using the basic steps of experiential learning: Act, Reflect, Reframe and Apply, the students are able to grasp these concepts and problem solve any issues that might arise with the chickens. Beyond the science standards, the language development that comes from this hands-on experience is amazing – vocabulary development which begins orally in the interactions with the chickens to written application in their journal reflections.
If you run into a Futuro Verde first or second grade student, ask about the chickens…I am sure they will have a lot to talk about!
by Stuart Millar, IB coordinator | Apr 27, 2018
“I didn’t like it … I LOVED it!” is something you often hear Simon Cowell say on Britain’s Got Talent. It was the same for us with our first FVGT last year! Magicians, singers, dancers, and even juggling teachers. We had it all!
Now get ready for a whole week of talent. Literary and visual art entries will be on display during the week, with the culminating event being Futuro Verde’s Got Talent on Friday 15/6/18. Students will be able to enter Costa Rica’s student arts festival, assuming they meet all the event requirements.
Here are the important dates and information:
- May 3rd: last day to register for auditions
- May 8th – 11th: FV’s Got Talent auditions
- May 14th: registration for FEA
- June 1st: last day to submit Visual and Literary Arts
- June 11th -15th: talent week (Visual and Literary Arts exhibition)
- June 15th: Futuro Verde’s Got Talent!
The show will have the following categories:
- Preschool to 2nd grade
- 3rd grade to 6th grade
- 7th grade to 11th grade
Inspire and motivate your children to get involved. It’s going to be great fun!
