Calling All Louisiana Schools: Join the LAA+ Network in 2016
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts is pleased to announce that Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) is now accepting applications for the 2016/2017 academic year. LAA+ is a network that provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula in ways that nurture the whole student. At the center of this program is the use of the arts in every subject, in every classroom.
Louisiana A+ Schools values the arts as
essential to the learning process.
Joining the A+ Network requires a significant time and resource commitment from a school's entire staff. We anticipate adding 3-10 schools for the 2016/2017 school year.
The deadline to submit a Letter of Interest is January 15, 2016.
Rodrigue Family Visits 2 LAA+ Schools
Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue and Wendy Rodrigue, widow of George Rodrigue, visited Ridge Elementary School and J. Wallace James Elementary School in the Lafayette area to see arts-integration in action in the classrooms. Both of these terrific schools are part of our network of 16 Louisiana A+ Schools across the state.
Wendy Rodrigue reads to children at J. Wallace James Elementary School.
(Photo credit: Paul Lieu, The Advertiser)
Jacques Rodrigue gets creative with students during an ornament making project.
(Photo credit: Paul Lieu, The Advertiser)
The family toured the schools, visited with students and teachers, and saw examples of how the arts are integrated into each subject. Wendy Rodrigue read George Rodrigue's "Are You Blue Dog's Friend?" and "Why Is Blue Dog Blue?" to students, and Jacques Rodrigue led them in a George Rodrigue-themed ornament activity inspired by his Blue Dog series.
Jacques and Wendy were also excited to announce the 2016 application period for LAA+ Schools and to share how a recent independent study by Centers for Research on Creativity proved that the A+ Schools method is transforming classrooms across Louisiana.
