Drama
The Renaissance Drama class: It’s my pleasure to bring the world of drama and theatre to Roanoke Catholic! The arts are extremely important to the growth of young people and the wonderful thing about the theatre is that it includes all of the arts in one! All people need a creative outlet to express themselves! Statistics show that students successfully finishing a theatre or speech class are over 50% more likely to be successful in college and the work force. The drama program at Roanoke Catholic will be a taste of everything the Theatre Arts have to offer. From acting to directing, play writing to the world of technical theatre, the designers including costume, scenic, lighting, sound, props and more will be included. I’ve been a member of the Roanoke Catholic Community for over 21 years and I sent 4 of my own children through this wonderful institution. I always felt a bit sad that theatre had been missing for a long time from the Roanoke Catholic curriculum. I’m glad to be a part of bring back theatre and the arts to Roanoke Catholic.
—Larry VanDeventer, program director
Mitzi Keeley Dance
The Dance Program at Roanoke Catholic School is an opportunity for Roanoke Catholic students to be introduced to the basics of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. I want the students to develop a love of dance, a passion for it , that may last a lifetime. I want them to “dance from the heart, not just with their feet”. Dance is a great form of exercise. They learn about the steady beat and ways to move to music. This is also an opportunity to learn to express themselves through movement, which can be very powerful. The students are given 2 opportunities throughout the school year to perform infront of an audience. We dance at OLV in December for the nursing home residents and any parents who want to attend and we dance at the School Talent show as a large group in the Spring. I also have some student dance captains who help me with the younger classes. Last year we had about 40 students and we have about the same this year. There are 4 different classes offered at this time, based on grade level. My hope is that the program will grow and become a part of the regular school day, not just an after school program. I would like for us to eventually have a portable dance floor so we could tap dance in the school gym or even our own studio and stage. We could eventually become a competitive dance team and travel for training and competitions. I would like to see a summer dance program become available for interested students. We have our own “Roanoke Catholic Dance” t-shirts and I would love for us to eventually have costumes. We could partner with the drama department and multiply our opportunities.
—Mitzi Keeley, program director
National Parks
The curriculum-based youth adventures of National Parks Experience provides a unique educational opportunity designed to increase a student’s knowledge of the environment, foster an appreciation of nature, and develop self-confidence and outdoor skills. The combination of classroom instruction with field experience also creates an educational program that is innovative and life changing.
The program began in 2007 with a trip to Grand Canyon National Park. That year, eight students took part in a three-day backpacking trip down the Bright Angel trail. With the guidance of an instructor from the Grand Canyon Field Institute, students learned about the geology, ecology, and history of the Grand Canyon, as well as outdoor skills. Because of the overwhelming success of this first trip, a second trip was taken in 2009.
The National Parks Experience is an accredited class at Roanoke Catholic School. In the mornings before school, a group of students participate in a class relating to one of three national parks: Grand Canyon, Yosemite or Yellowstone. Instruction focuses on the ecology, geology, natural history, and human history of the park, and the curriculum is developed in cooperation with each park’s field institutes. During spring break, students travel to the national park for a week-long backpacking trip, which provides the opportunity to see and experience what they have been reading about and discussing in class.
This year’s trip will be to Yosemite National Park. To prepare for the physical demands of an extended backpacking trip, training hikes are taken around the local Appalachian Mountains. During these trips, students gain experience is several outdoor skills, including preparation of meals, packing a backpack, setting up tents, proper clothing, hydration, and the practice of “leave no trace” camping.
—Joe Sweeney, program director
Adult Band
This program is designed to bring together Roanoke Catholic parents and adult members of our parish communities in fellowship and music. You do not have to know how to play an instrument to join us. We can help and inspire beginners or reintroduce musicians to instruments they have not seen in a long, long time. The group meets every Thursday afternoon from 3:15pm to 4:50pm.
