VAPA BLOG
Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA)
College and Career
About the VAPA DEPT BLOG
Through our blog, we hope to enrich and elevate the arts in West Contra Costa Unified School District. Through public understanding of what art is and how art works in our communities. Through teacher and student interviews, spotlights on Arts events, exhibits, and performances, and other content, our VAPA BLOG celebrates the diverse and dynamic landscape of the arts across our district. The blog is updated with new content monthly.
VAPA Department Highlights- COMING SOON
Our Mission
Our students, through high expectations and continuous growth, develop aristically, confidently, creatively, while developing strong connections and relationships.
Contact Information
How to get in touch with us.
Chris Read, VAPA Coordinator
Phone Number
(510) 307-4503
Email Address
Website:
What is VAPA?
Visual and Performing Arts
VAPA stands for Visual and Performing Arts.
WCCUSD has a VAPA Department that includes all art TK-12th teachers in our district who teach either Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, or Media Arts. Chris Read is the VAPA Coordinator who coordinates all VAPA programs, and supports and works with principals, teachers, community partners, families, and students. He also oversees the VAPA Plan for WCCUSD and is currently busy trying to hire VAPA Teachers or VAPA Instructional Aides from Prop 28 funds.
Prop 28 Proposition 28 is the largest school investment in arts and music in our nation’s history. California law mandates standards-based instruction in grades K-12 in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.
The VAPA Department is working hard to update our VAPA Plan to ensure that we are implementing a robust and equitable arts education for all of our students.
We believe that the ARTS belong to all the students of
West Contra Costa Unified School District!
Elementary Band & Orchestra are rolling out instruments
Over 1,000 instruments have been picked up by our elementary band and orchestra music teachers to go out to our WCCUSD students. Music teachers have been encouraging 4th - 6th grade students to sign up for band and orchestra at ALL of our elementary school sites. We have a lot of interest this year, so instruments are going fast!
Thank you to Bertha Rohrbach and Francie Kunaniec from Library Services for helping to scan over a thousand instruments so they can be lent to our students.
Thank you to our Elementary and K-8 Band Teachers: Claire Helmberger, Eric Lim, Christian Manzana, Kirill Kouznetsov, Eric VonBuchau, Glen Lienhart, Christine Vlught, Joan Hadeishi, Walter Gray, Jane Magid, and Alli Torf for picking up the instruments and preparing to distribute them to all of our students who signed up.
Support your school's music program and teacher by thanking them for all they do!
Get to know our elementary Band and Orchestra teachers
Jane Magid
(Mira Vista, Fairmont)
Glen Lienhart
(Ellerhorst, Collins,
Coronado, Downer, Dover)
Alli Torf
(Stewart k-8, PVHS)
Erik Von Buccho
(Lake, Bayview, Montalvin
Shannon, Peres k-8)
Joan Hedaschi
(Hanna Ranch, Lupine Hills,
Ohlone)
Claire Helmberger
(Highland, Valley View)
Christian Manzana
(Harding, Madera,
Washington, Kensignton)
Not pictured:
Walter Gray (Stege, Nystrom, King, Ford, Lincoln)
Eric Lim (Chavez, Grant, Verde, Michelle Obama, Riverside)
Kirill Kouznetsov (Murphy, Verde, Ford, Peres, Dover)
Christine Vlught (Olinda, Valley View, Highland, Tara Hills, Sheldon)
Ritchie Cook (Mandarin School)
Art of the Week
Ms. Maria Saltveit - Kindergarten - Fairmont Elementary School
My kindergarteners and I created a living wall that displays the butterfly life cycle we've been learning about.
We're also watching some swallowtail caterpillars go through the cycle in our classroom!