April 15, 2016

Issue 2

The CAA Palette is an open forum for news and student expression.

A student editorial board makes all content decisions.

• Contact: Clint Balsar, Adviser
• balsarc@davenportschools.org
• 563-326-7201

The Story Behind the Palette

by Brighton Hall

Many people wonder how we get the CAA Palette ready in time by the end of the week. It’s not easy to get in contact with our beats and write a story in time. When we first started working on journalism in Communication & Media Arts, we had to find our beats. Beats are the areas and people of which you are in charge of. Each of us chose different divisions of the Creative Arts Academy and Sudlow Intermediate to interview so we could write our stories. Each of us also has a job for the newspaper: editor-in-chief, AP style editor, layout editor, photo editor, and adviser. Emily Tucker is the photo editor of the CAA Palette. “I think that it is a great job for me and it’s really fun,” Tucker said. “I think I’m the perfect person to be the photo editor. I know that journalism will help me someday. I want to get a job that involves being a photo editor or a writer, so journalism will be beneficial to my future.” “It’s very hard work, but it’s kind of like having a job, so it’s exciting;” says Gracie Richards , the AP style editor. “I love being a part of our newspaper.” Even after the newspaper is set up and ready, there are still errors and mistakes that need to be edited. “We’re always finding something to fix,” Richards says. “Sometimes it’s annoying, but it means that we’re becoming better and better journalists.” As the students continue to work on the CAA Palette, they learn more and more about journalism. “I feel that journalism will be very beneficial in my future,” Tucker said.

Glory That is Visual!

by Gracie Richards

Students in the Creative Arts Academy from Central High School did well in the 2016 All-State Competition for Visual Arts. These students and teachers will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the Des Moines Art Center, April 30. Teachers Joanne "Kit" Sayles, Renee Ott, Ellen Craig, and Clint Balsar all assisted students in entering this competition and the portfolio scores have placed the school 3rd in the state of Iowa.

“The All-State Competition is a challenging and prestigious contest, so of course I'm proud that Creative Arts Academy and Central students did so well,” Balsar says. “Of course, coming off of a first place team ranking last year, although I'm still proud of all our students in the third place team ranking, it’s tough to go down in the ranks.”

New York, New York

by Soli Augspurger

Connie Bracey and Ron May recently got the opportunity to take T.J Green, Jack Theilling, and Meghan Keeney, three theater/music students to New York. They were away from April 1 to April 5. They attended the Broadway Summit and even a few Broadway shows.

The students were able to go to eight workshops over the course of their stay: Acting Techniques, Combat Choreography, Song Writing, Mock Auditions, Musical Ensemble, Acting Improvisation, Learning Choreography, and discussion with Broadway performers in Something Rotten. Everyone was able to go to the Broadway show Something Rotten. It tells the story of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, two playwrights stuck in the shadow of William Shakespeare. When they find out about the next big thing in theatre, the brothers start writing the world’s first musical! The teachers and students also attended An American in Paris and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Bracey says “The students were grateful for the opportunity to go to the workshop and do other things in New York. The students also really enjoyed the Broadway and off Broadway shows they saw.”

8th Grade CAA students get to take electives next year

by Jace Johnson