SELAH is working hard to produce a program for the upcoming 2013-14 school year that will provide educational enrichment opportunities for the entire family!  Below is a sample of classes offered this past year; next year's classes will be similar in nature.  Classes will remain meeting on Thursday's from September-November and January-May.  Please check back for registration information between June 15-August 15.

Believing that Shakespeare’s works were meant to be heard, not read, SELAH sponsored Spotlight Performers produced William Shakespeare’s classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. "Dream" has remained popular with theater enthusiast and audiences for centuries because it conforms to the highest standards of theatrical art. Abounding in romance, mirth, magic, music, melodrama, folklore, fantasy, poetry, and of course, memorable characters.  Students expanded on their first semester reading of the play to bring these elements to life! While digging deeper into theme analysis, character development and Elizabethan history and language, students acted as their own set designers, property masters, costumes designers, sound, light and special effect technicians. The semester study and production exercise culminated with two performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on April 25 & 26, 2013.

Art in the Classroom, in Exhibit, and on Stage!

SELAH is currently in their 4th semester of offering art classes to homeschool students.  In the fall semester of 2012, SELAH added a teen art class which brought great excitement from parents as well as students.  The focus last semester was on the elements of art. These building blocks of art include: color, value, texture, shape, line, and form. As the semester progressed, teacher Barb Czaja, built upon these elements by applying them to the principles of design: composition, balance, emphasis, unity, repetition, etc. Each class included a project of various media to develop and creatively apply the art skills being taught and demonstrated.

Examples from art history were shown to further the student's knowledge of art and visual understanding.  One very ambitious project involved the study of the art movement, Regionalism, that embraced rural America during the Great Depression era.

"In a time of despair across our nation, Regionalism took on an American spirit that helped pioneer a can-do attitude of pride and inspired optimism during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Regionalism, or the American Scene, focused on rural values, enshrining the Midwest values of the farmer, small-town America, and the working class folk. This art movement encompassed only a handful of artists and was clearly just an American art movement with its attention on the heartland of America. It promoted rural values as the essence of America, and was often seen as a rebellion against art from the East coast, which focused on the people of urban America and city life. Regionalism’s most prominent artists were Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry." 

Students were instructed to create their own murals in the style of Thomas Hart Benton, 1889-1975, who is known for his strong, colorful, larger-than-life paintings of landscapes, farmlands and people hard at work. The students paired up to create life-size murals by tracing themselves and painting their own interpretation of an heroic-type figure(s).  These "epic" size murals were used to grace the stage and performance hall at SELAH's Fall Variety show,

SELAH offers an exhibit of the students projects at least twice a year.  This is a great opportunity not only for parents to enjoy the work done in class beautifully displayed, but for the community at large to enjoy. Eagle Rock Community Church, (currently SELAH's meeting place) has even asked that the art be left on display for the weekend following our programs for their church members to enjoy!

Here at SELAH we feel that the study and display of art is an important element in the development of language arts.  We recognize that great art not only employs the visual senses, but creates inspiration, discussion, and possibly even debate!  In the following video montage, students are pictured creating their murals while utilizing the skills of communication and teamwork, other elements important to the SELAH mission.

Photo's by SELAH student Micah Romanek

As we continue our studies this semester, we are encouraged by the fresh new students enrolled in our program.  As it is one of SELAH's goals to "support the family unit through the direct involvement of each family member’s talents, interests and abilities" we are excited to see them already helping out in theater and art classes!  One student recently offered this testimony of her experience in art class:

"This is my first time being enrolled at SELAH, and as I am a lover of creativity, I decided to join art. In art we come across the very important things a person must know. From the elements of art: mixing colors, understanding colors, learning about how complementary colors work, to learning how to use a paint brush. It's been fun painting on acrylic boards, using different ideas to demonstrate a color wheel, and last week we even got to paint using complementary colors. It's really fun and relaxing. I can't wait for what's next."  Dominique Davie

"Note"able News from a Guitar Student:

Guitar Worship Class for me, after 3 weeks, is a very impacting learning experience. Learning the different basic chords, scales and strings can be a lot of fun and also a lot of practice at home!  We even learned a way to remember the names of the six strings on the guitar: "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie."  Which is a poem for the six strings: E, A, D, G, B and E.  Our teacher, Nicole Hopman, has also been teaching us wonderful worship songs to play on the guitar and sing. We have been learning these songs:

• Revelation Song, Micah 6:8
• Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord
• Amaizing Love
• I Will Follow
• Here I Am To Worship
• Healing Is In Your Hands
• And lots more to come!

In the Bible it says in Psalm 33:2-3, "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." Also, in Ephesians 5:19 it says, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the LORD." After reading these two scriptures, we can realize that God loves when we worship him. While using our guitars, or using our God-given voices to sing to him, we are honoring and pleasing God in these great ways.

Submitted by student, Corrinne Toth

Literature/History

Juniors, gr. 4-7, Teacher: Diane Romanek 
(Max: 15 students)
The Civil War will be our focus of study during weeks 1 - 10. We will learn about the important people, issues and events that shaped our country during this time period. Weeks 11 -17 will be spent reading and analyzing, Pilgrims Progress. (We will be using a condensed children's version to be determined later.) We will focus on improving skills in reading, vocabulary and the analysis of Literature as well as expand our knowledge of the Civil War through lessons and projects. Students are expected to come to class with their reading and homework assignments completed. We will use class time to discuss and apply what we have learned through the previous week's homework and reading assignment.

Senior High, grades 8-12
Teacher: Dana Gordon
(Max. 15 students)
Published in two parts in 1678 and 1684, John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most significant religious-themed fiction works of all time. The text is highly allegorical in nature, vividly depicting the human soul's sojourn from depravity and hopelessness to paradise. In the first part, Bunyan describes the pilgrimage of Christian from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, and in the second part Christiana has completely distinct experiences on the same road. During the spring semester, the 8th-12th grade group will interpret the text of this work from a literary standpoint, as well as understand its historical context. We will also be examining additional texts that, like The Pilgrim's Progress, have the theme of "A Journey." (TBD) As with many literature classes, students will be expected to do outside research, as well as write papers and other assignments. Come take "A Journey" with us!"

Art

Senior High Art Class, grades 7-12 (max: 14 students)
Junior Art Class, grades 3-6 (max: 12 students)
Teacher: Barb Czaja

Teacher, Barb Czaja begins class with instruction in art and a lesson in art history.

Our focus this semester will be the elements (building blocks) of art: color, value, texture, shape, line, and form. As the semester progresses, we will build upon these elements as we apply them to the principles of design: composition, balance, emphasis, unity, repetition, etc. Each class will include a project of various media to develop and creatively apply the art skills being taught and demonstrated. Examples from art history will be shown to further the student's knowledge of art and visual understanding.

Music

 Beginning Worship Guitar, grades 6-12 
(Max: 10 students)
Teacher: Nicole Hopman 
Students will learn basic guitar chords and simple praise choruses in a fun, group environment.  Students will each need an acoustic guitar, guitar tuner, and a good attitude; there will be singing!  Please arrive a half hour before class time for teacher set up/tuning of guitars.

Guitar class performing Worship songs at the SELAH Fall Variety Show

Theater

Spotlight Performers - Teen Drama Class (grades 7-12)

SELAH Spotlight Performers in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," May 10  11, 2012

Believing that Shakespeare’s works were meant to be heard, not read, SELAH is sponsoring the Spotlights production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. "Dream" has remained popular with theater enthusiast and audiences for centuries because it conforms to the highest standards of theatrical art. Abounding in romance, mirth, magic, music, melodrama, folklore, fantasy, poetry, and of course, memorable characters, students will expand on their first semester reading to bring these elements to life! 

While digging deeper into theme analysis, character development and Elizabethan history and language, students will act as their own set designers, property masters, costumes designers, sound, light and special effect technicians.
The semester study and production exercises will culminate with two performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on April 25 & 26, 2013. (Max. 26 students)
Teacher/Director: Gwendolyn Bielicki,
Assisted by: Rita Ann VanBuskirk

"Footlights" Cast members prepare for their performance of "Aesop's Fables," November 9, 2012.

Footlight Performers - Junior Drama Class (grades 4-6)

Expanding on their studies from the first semester, students will utilize their knowledge of basic theatrical history and theatre etiquette with special attention to the development of characterization and theatrical vocabulary. Employing the momentum and knowledge gained in their literature class studies, our semester will culminate with the class production of “Tales from the Underground Railroad” on April 12, 2013. Improvisational acting will also be utilized to enhance creativity, improve public speaking skills, improve listening, observation and decision making skills, increase personal confidence and encourage TEAM development. (Max. 16 students)

Teacher/Director: Gwendolyn Bielicki

Field Trips

Field Trip Opportunities
Field trips are subject related and offer students the opportunity to apply/observe what they are learning in class.

• SELAH Family Picnic
• Chicago Art Institute
• Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier
• Lotton Art Glass Factory
• "Hariet Tubman" at Governers State
• Graue Mill and Museum

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
February 5, 2013
Leader: Diane Romanek
Literature students studied the history of the Underground Railroad; to culminate these studies, SELAH will commemorate Black History Month with this inspiring production at the Center for Performing Arts at Governor State University. "This classic tribute to the great American who freed herself and hundreds of her people from the bonds of slavery. As Harriet and her friend Sarah Bradford narrate her adventurous life, we share in the joys, sorrows, and challenges faced by this brave woman who changed the world through her courage."  Book and Lyrics by Douglas Jones—Music by Ron Barnett.  Registration is required, please see Mrs. Romanek to have your name added to the list of attendees.

Shakespeare Workshop
March 8, 2013
(grades 6-12)
Teacher: Gwendolyn Bielicki

Workshop activities will prepare students to attend the field trip to view a live performance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. Exercises include students being cast in roles, and learning aspects of the production, including iambic pentameter and use of language, as well as historical references to clothing, style, and behavior. Registration is required and will be taken during second semester

Romeo & Juliet
Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier
March 15, 2013
Leader: Gwendolyn Bielicki
"Verona burns under summer's heat—and the hatred of two families. The Prince decrees: if Montague or Capulet again disrupts the peace, lives will answer to the law. Violence stains Verona's streets. Against this horror, Shakespeare sets Romeo and Juliet, a tale of true love found—and tragically lost—within an endless cycle of hate. This 75-minute adaptation, told in Shakespeare's own words, speaks to today's youth about their own lives—a perfect way to translate your students' experience of Shakespeare's text into live performance." After the performance, audiences are welcome to join the cast for a post-show discussion. Recommended for ages 10 and up.  Registration is required, see Mrs. Bielicki to be added to the list of attendees.