FALL 2025

A newsletter for educators bringing arts-integrated programming

into the classroom

Good Morning Educators,

Welcome to the very first Arts for Learning WNY Teacher Newsletter! Each quarter, we plan to share ways our Teaching Artists can spark creativity in your classrooms - through arts-integrated workshops that bring lessons to life and inspire students in new and meaningful ways.

You’ll also find highlights from our exciting programs happening across schools in Western New York, along with opportunities to bring these experiences into your own classroom.

We are excited to partner with you in making learning vibrant, engaging, and memorable for your students!

Allison Rabent

Director of Programs

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IN-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Now in its fifth year, RAISE (The Responsive Arts in School Education project) is a multi-state, five-year project designed to meet the urgent needs of young learners by forging a new model of collaboration between Teaching Artists and school support teams. Together, they create in-depth, customized, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive arts-in-education residencies.

Through this initiative, Arts for Learning WNY has partnered with BPS #95 Waterfront Elementary School to provide arts-integrated residency programs for two grade levels. Led by Master Teaching Artists Melissa Kate Miller, Kristin Brandt, and Cassondra Argeros, each residency weaves social-emotional learning and healing-centered engagement into the core curriculum.

Learn More…

ARTS INTEGRATION IN ACTION

Bringing National Best Practices Home to Western New York Classrooms

This September, our Director of Programs, Allison Rabent, traveled to Denver, CO to attend the annual Arts Education Partnership (AEP) conference. Conference sessions explored innovative, data-driven strategies to strengthen arts integration across all core academic subjects. From creative approaches to literacy and math to arts-based methods that build social-emotional learning, the sessions highlighted how the arts can meaningfully deepen student engagement and achievement.

WHAT EDUCATORS ARE SAYING

"My students LOVED working with Kristin. Her energy and enthusiasm really motivated them to try things they have never tried before such as tableaus and shared journal writing. Having a different medium for learning has had a positive impact on my learners, especially those that struggle with pencil & paper assignments. Kristin brought movement and art into the classroom in a way that I never could, thus creating new and memorable learning opportunities for our sixth-graders. We are so thankful for this program and Kristin- you have enriched our education in a positive way."

- Marisa Kling, Holland Central School District

Marisa’s sixth-grade class incorporated a customized, arts-integrated Tableau program connecting ELA and Theatre with Master Teaching Artist Kristin Brandt

BRING A PROGRAM TO YOUR CLASSROOM

Interested in bringing arts-integrated programming into the classroom? Contact us today and we'll help you identify the type of program that meets your school’s curricular and budgetary needs!

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SUPPORT ARTS FOR LEARNING WNY

Every child deserves the chance to grow through the arts. Your support keeps our programs free or low-cost for schools, ensuring all students have access to arts-integrated programming. Please consider giving today.

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