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Lawndale 05_30_13

Page 4 May 30, 2013 Arts Takes Center Stage in Hawthorne Joe’s Sports their Arts Strategic Plan during the Board’s securing funding would be a major challengeIn his strategic plan, Markarian identified thatcertainly we want to increase access.”The Hawthorne School Board discussedBy Dylan Little St. Mary’s Toliver Captures provided an overview of what the district local businesses or non-profits and applyingin expanding arts education. He mentionedmaking use of fund raising, partnerships withMay 22 meeting. Assistant Superintendentof Educational Services Brian Markarian Masters Triple Jump be found in every Hawthorne classroom. sustain arts education,” said Markarian. “We“We need to secure resources to expand andfor arts grants.has accomplished and what challengesremain before meaningful art education can Arts are in the core requirements for can have the greatest plan laid out, but if we elementary school curriculum by law, but can’t find the resources to make it happen, we Markarian said that education in arts is probably aren’t going to have much success. valuable enough that even if the district We know we need to dedicate the time and wasn’t required to teach the arts, the district effort.” would continue to do so. Another goal Markarian identified for a “Arts are core . . . and we could swap out successful arts program is to raise awareness core with the word critical,” said Markarian. of arts education. Reminding the public about “Even if it wasn’t in legislation we know the how beneficial arts education is should help arts or critical and making sure students are justify the expense of these programs. exposed to the arts is part of our mission.” “We should be constantly highlighting To explain why the district needs an the positive attributes of arts education and Arts Strategic Plan, Markarian had to showcasing student achievement in the arts,” explain why arts are important to students. said Markarian. He said the benefits of arts education are While the district has made progress in St. Mary’s Academy’s Sierra Peterson qualified for Friday and Saturday’s California State Track and Field Championships after finishing many. Markarian cited research that shows improving their arts programs, there is still fifth in the 200-meter dash at 23.96 seconds in last Friday’s CIF-Southern Section Masters Championships. Photo by Joe Snyder arts education leads to better engaged and more work to be done. ultimately more successful students. One “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but By Joe Snyder home Herrera, singles by Monte Huerta and major bonus of arts education is that studies it’s necessary work to provide our kids with St. Mary’s Academy’s girls’ track and Lorenzo Dumas, and then walks to Nunu show a correlation with a background in a rich, well rounded educational experience,” field team from Inglewood qualified three Herrera and Gonzales that pushed home Villa arts and success in college. said Markarian. athletes and their 4x100-meter relay team and Huerta. The Tigers added two runs in “We know the arts can motivate,” said The remaining work will have to be done to Friday and Saturday’s California State the second, including a double scoring Rojas Markarian. “We see positive increases in without the help of the district’s arts coach Championships after top finishes in last and Tony Yanez. every area connected to increased exposure to as Zakkai will no longer be working with Friday’s CIF-Southern Section Masters Starting pitcher Gonzales pitched two perfect arts. There is more and more research coming the district. She sees a bright future for arts Championships at Cerritos College. The innings, but the Orioles (9-6) scored twice out really defining that relationship between in Hawthorne School District and said she top Belles’ performer was the championship in the third as Robert Ariga singled and then arts education and academic achievement.” was honored to work with the district. During from triple jumper Rachel Toliver at 39 feet, stole second and third bases before scoring As important as arts education is to a her work in teaching the district about arts 3.25 inches. Toliver jumped 40-0.5 inches on a sacrifice bunt from Torres Perez. Chris student’s success, in a landscape of declining education she saw how capable Hawthorne’s in winning the Division IV title on May 18 Lopez then walked and scored on a double education budgets it is often the first program leadership is. at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. St. by Danny Perez. The Orioles added another to be cut. However, instead of cutting in “Making a difference in students’ lives takes Mary’s also advanced Kayla Phillips in the run as Stone Keinbiena scored on an error. Hawthorne, the district looked to outside vision, courage, leadership, resourcefulness triple jump at 39-3.25. For the Tigers, Dee Herrera had two organizations to help keep arts education and sustained practice,” said Zakkai. “All of Junior standout Sierra Peterson made doubles, drove in two runs and scored two. funded. In 2011 the district partnered with which have been in evidence during the rich the State meet after placing fifth with a Payan went two for three. Ariga went two Arts for All, an LA County organization that collaboration between the Hawthorne School time of 23.96. Peterson finished behind for two and scored one run for the Orioles. brings creative arts lessons to classrooms District and Arts for All.” champion Arianna Washington from Long Gonzales was the winning pitcher for the throughout the county. Markarian said The presentation closed with a performance Beach Poly (23.18), second place Brittany Tigers, with relief help from Anthony Curibe that Arts for All was a strong partner for from the district’s student band. The group of Brown (Claremont, 23.95), third place La and Yanez. He allowed two runs on two hits the district. violinists and cellists received a standing ovation Troya Franklin (Long Beach Jordan, 23.9) in three innings. Gonzales struck out two “We had certain things we wanted to do from the audience. Zakkai said performances and fourth place Eboni Sutherland (Corona batters and walked one. in arts education but we needed to find a like this one are an example of how arts Centennial, 23.92). After the Tigers had runners at first and strong partner,” said Markarian. “And Arts education provides an avenue to increasing a Peterson also ran in the second leg of the second base with no outs, Yanez proceeded for All is that partner for us.” student’s self-confidence. Belles’ 400 relay, which was second in 46.12. to strike out the side for the save in a game Becoming an Arts for All district involved “This is what the work is all about,” said Other runners included junior Allanah Hughes, stopped after five innings due to a two-hour training district leadership in introducing Zakkai. “It’s about you being able to put your sophomore Aliyah Hale and senior Toliver. time limit. The Tri Park Little League consists arts to the classroom through a series of skills and talents into practice.” Winning in a runaway was Long Beach Poly, of players from Hawthorne, Lawndale and profession development seminars. The For those wishing to see more student art timing 44.94--one of the top prep times in Gardena. district also hired arts coach Jennifer work and performances, Prairie Vista principal the United States this year. A’S DOWN INGLEWOOD Zakkai to teach arts strategies to teachers Chris Fagnano shared that her students as well All will compete in the California State The Tri Park Athletics defeated the North in nearly every school in the district. The as other Hawthorne, Lawndale, Wiseburn, Championships at Buchanan High’s Memorial Inglewood Dodgers 13-6 in District 37 Junior goal for the district is to provide some arts Lennox and Centinela Valley students would Stadium in Clovis (Fresno area) on Friday and Little League Interleague play last Thursday education to every student, even if it take be involved in the Take Part In Art festival held Saturday. Friday’s prelims will begin at 1 p.m. at Tri Park. Earl Gray sparked the A’s with wildly different forms. on June 1 at Dana Middle School from 10 a.m. Top finishers advance to the championship two hits and three runs batted in. Winning “We need to provide quality arts education to 2 p.m. The festival will include hands-on with the field events starting at 4 p.m. and pitcher Bryan Sanders struck out eight batters. to all students,” said Markarian. “It’s going art making booths, artist workshops, student the running events beginning at 6 p.m. With the bat, he had two doubles and drove to look different in different places, but artwork gallery and student performances. Red Sox Outlast Rangers: In a match-up in two runs. The A’s improved to 11-4 and between two Hawthorne Holly Park Junior are in second place in the district. Little League teams, the Red Sox outlasted With the leagues that ending this week, top the Rangers 12-10 last Thursday at Jim teams from each league will compete in the Thorpe Park in Hawthorne. For the Red Sox, District 37 Carl Magee Memorial Tournament James Lopez hit a two-run home run in the that starts on June 8 at Thorpe Park. bottom of the third inning. Dion Thompson WESTBROOK MAKES ALL-NBA went three for four and drove in two runs. TEAM Lamon Loig had a three-run homer. A four- Former Leuzinger High and Hawthorne run fourth inning was a key for the Red Sox. resident Russell Westbrook made second TIGERS ARE UNBEATEN team all-National Basketball Association, The Tri Park Junior Little League Tigers named last week. Westbrook continued to are unbeaten at 15-0 after defeating their lead the Oklahoma Thunder to a top seed rival Orioles 7-3 last Thursday at Jim Thorpe in the Western Conference, although they Park. The Tigers started fast, leading 7-0 were upset by the Memphis Grizzlies in the through two innings. They scored five runs conference semifinals. Westbrook did not play in the top of the first. After Brian Gonzalez in the series due to an injury. The Grizzlies walked but was caught stealing second base, also stunned the Pacific Division champion Max Rojas doubled. One out later, Anthony Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, but Payan singled and then took second on a were trailing the San Antonio Spurs three throwing error, as Rojas scored. games to none in the conference finals as of The Tigers went on to have four more press time. The Miami Heat’s LeBron James hits--a double by Dee Herrera driving home was unanimously named the league’s Most Payan, a single from Danny Villa bringing Valuable Player. •


Lawndale 05_30_13
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