Young Playwrights Summer Program

This has just come in, very last minute, but deadline is not until June 20 and it's FREE!

Apply to study playwriting this summer in TDF's Young Playwrights Summer Program. 
In working with award-winning playwright Crystal Skillman, we will be exploring political and personal beliefs in playwriting. The program will last two weeks for three hours a day, and it will also feature guest artists and a trip to a new play. Students will work individually and in teams, with a final presentation on the last day of the intensive. 

Who is eligible: HS students grade 9-12 who are interested in learning the craft of playwriting and creating their own plays. Students must have well developed writing skills, and an interest in playwriting along with a recommendation from a teaching artist or English teacher. Team spirit, commitment and enthusiasm are important qualities for this program. 

What is the Young Playwrights Summer Program: 

• Playwriting workshops five days a week, for two weeks, with independent and group writing done on your own
• Attend a Broadway show—for study & inspiration 
• Small group seminars with professional playwrights and artists about creative process and craft 
• Write (and rewrite) a ten-minute original play 
• Professional actors read student plays 
• Final work given a staged reading by professional actors 
• Snacks and Metro Cards are provided 

When is the Young Playwrights Summer Program: 

• June 25-29, July 2,3,5,6 
• 1-4 pm M-F (except the 4th of July), 1-7pm July 6 
• Final presentation 5-7pm on July 6 

Where: TDF offices: 520 8th Avenue Suite 801 NY, NY 10018

Final performances presented at an off-Broadway theater TBD

How do I apply: Admission to the TDF Summer Playwriting Intensive is by application and teacher recommendation. 


PICK UP AN APPLIC ATION IN THE OFFICE AT ICE - SEE EILEEN OR LISA
or
EMAIL LISA FOR A PDF copy.

Natalie Mack has offered to help. See her if you are applying.

Should Schools be Closed or Turned into Charter Schools if Students Opt Out???

The State Education department has proposed new super punitive regulations to address schools who do not meet the federal 95% testing participation threshold. The regulations are flawed in a number of ways, but one of the most egregious is that they assign more penalties to Title 1 (high poverty) schools. From the NYC Public School Parents blog: These regulations violate assurances that were given parents that NYSED would continue to respect their rights to opt their children out of the state exams.  Instead the regulationss would allow the Commissioner to wrongly identify their children's schools in need of "Comprehensive Support," withhold Title One funds and even close these schools or turn them into charters if the opt out rates were judged too high.  Complete text here.

The Regents will be discussing these regs at their meeting on Monday.  Please consider contacting Commissioner Elia or your Regents member to make your voices heard.   You can also submit comments through July 9 here.   

11th Grade ELA Regents Exam

On Tuesday, June 12th at 9 am (first day of Regents Week), all 11th Grade students at ICE will take the ELA Regents Exam.

Though ICE is in a consortium of schools with a waiver from the Regents Board, consortium schools have always had to administer the ELA Regents Only.

Here is some info about it:
-This is the only Regents Exam ICE students ever take (state law, even for consortium schools)
-If a student doesn't pass, s/he will have three more chances to try again at no penalty
-Our kids always do REALLY well the first time around
--If students want to study, practice exams can be found at NYS ED Regents

Panelists are needed for 10th Grade & 8th Grade Presentations Please Sign Up Below!!

Students prepare long and hard for these presentations; part of their reward is explaining the complexities of their research to an attentive audience.
 
This is where you come in! You do not need to be an expert in the field of the particular presentation: a specific rubric for evaluation will be handed to you at the start of the panel and you will be able to both record your individual input as well as hear the other panelists’ input at the end. Your feedback helps improve students’ projects!

6th Grade Roundtable - June 19
8th Grade PBATs - June 12-14 & June 18
10G Humanities Social Justice - June 11 & 12
10G Spanish Panels - June 13 (Spanish Speakers)
10G Science Soap Project - June 14
11G History Panels (Round 2 & 3) - June 18 & June 21
11G Neuroscience Presentation (Round 2) June 22

This is also a great occasion to see the teachers in action: since they participate in the evaluation panel, you get to experience the high standards that they hold our students to first-hand! Incoming parents will find the PBAT’s quite enlightening in terms of what lies ahead for their children’s education. I know I did. Attending the PBAT’s confirmed for me that the learning that happens at ICE is what I definitely want for my children.

Thank you!!
Betty, 6th Grade Parent
 

Panelist Sign-Up for I.C.E. PBATs & Presentations

ICE End-of-Year Schedule

Dear ICE Families,
  
At ICE, June is always a busy month with many schedule changes due to presentations and the culmination of our courses.  Please see the June schedule for all grades.  Please reach out to advisors with any questions.

To view and download a copy of the schedule click YEAR END SCHEDULE OR visit the ICE Website.
 

Let’s have a great end to the year!  Thanks to all.
 
ICE Staff