Academic Partnerships

The New Hampshire Institute of Art Program

One of the highlights of the Saint Benedict Academy education program is our partnership with the New Hampshire Institute of Art. In this successful, long-running program, students at Saint Benedict Academy have the opportunity to learn from instructors in the NH Institute Art Educator Preparation Program.

In this unique and challenging program, students are presented with the creative opportunities beyond a regular classroom, as well as the chance to use a variety of media including clays, pastels, and acrylics. Mrs. LaPalme, Saint Benedict Academy 6th Grade Teacher, explained “The students are able to express themselves in a creative, hands-on manner where they are to follow a model provided by the teacher and can freely go about it in their own way.”

“Saint Benedict Academy has willingly worked with my students and myself to create a true collaborative experience,” said Suzanne Canali, Director of the Art’s Educator Preparation Program. Canali explained how the partnership enriches the experience of both teachers and students at Saint Benedict Academy, allowing art education students the chance to apply their developing skills, and offering Saint Benedict Academy Students fresh and enthusiastic perspectives of student teachers. Amy Bettencourt, a students in the Art Education program, shared her experience of learning from her students even as she prepared units of study for them. “Even though I was there to teach them, they also taught me in return.  As an artist, it was very tough, yet very fun.  A few of the lessons I taught, I had never done before so they were learning by doing experiences. It was the students I had who really opened my eyes to how I was presenting what they needed to do to succeed at completing the lesson and how they understood each task at hand.”

“My fifth graders look forward to having the Art Institute students come to teach. This year, they have made stained glass art, using paper and cellophane, clay pinch pots, monochrome wooden box sculptures and self-portraits to name just a few projects. The Art Institute students are energetic, enthusiastic and bring a joy of art to Saint Benedict Academy. This provides an enormous benefit to our teachers and  students.”
–Mrs. McCarte, 5^th Grade

Fourth grade teacher Mrs. Hauck reflected on the ways the program has enriched the education of her students through the weaving of art into the curriculum: “The Institute Art students have willingly coordinated their art lessons with our curriculum on many occasions.  Because we study New Hampshire History in fourth grade, the students have been able to learn about the art of the Abanaki people and the significance of shape and color in the decorative aspects of their pottery and weaving.  They also learned basket weaving in the Abanaki tradition using reeds and decorative beading.  Learning about the tradition of stamping patterns onto fabric using dyes and vegetable root cutouts, students stamped Abanaki inspired prints onto fabric which was then turned into quilted hot pads that students gave as gifts on Mother’s Day.  These Art Institute students have also provided a valuable opportunity for deeper appreciation of the history and culture of the earliest people to settle this area by sharing their stories and legends with the students during the art lessons.”

Saint Anselm’s College Student Teacher Volunteers

Student teacher volunteers from Saint Anslem College provide energy and dedication to our nurturing community at Saint Benedict Academy, while gaining valuable experience and wisdom from more experienced teachers in the Catholic education. Chelsea Anderson volunteered in the Kindergarten classroom during the 2010-11 academic year. Ms. Anderson was pleased to work with Mrs. Connors and Mrs. Gravel, providing enrichment and support before her formal student teaching begins next year.

Mrs. Johnston, Third Grade Teacher at Saint Benedict Academy, explained, “Student teachers get the benefit of observing a ‘real’ classroom in action.  Watching lessons being taught, classroom management, and organizational skills.  Teachers get the benefit of refreshing and paying more attention to your plans, management, and organization as you are aware you are teaching her as well as your class.”

Student Teacher Volunteer contributions:

1. Observe the class while doing assignments.
2. Interact with students, answering their questions or helping individuals.
3. Work with a small group on skill review: reinforce comprehension by reading a story or part of a story together, improve writing skills while guiding or helping with editing of work.
4. Supervising recess.
5. Designing and teaching two lessons on curriculum in close partnership with the teacher.

Cynthia Lucero, M.Ed. is the field placement coorindator at Saint Anslem College. “I am thrilled to place Saint Anselm College education students for pre-practicum experience at a school of SBA’s caliber,” said Professor Lucero.  “Not only do our students benefit from excellent and varied teaching methodologies, they also experience as teachers the Catholic, Benedictine tradition of education.”