Fifth Grade Students Receive Help Preparing
for BAK Middle School Audition and Portfolio Review
ArtStart Offers Classes in its Wellington Studio in Visual Arts, Communications
Wellington, FL- ArtStart, a 501 (3) c non-profit organization based in Wellington, began offering prep classes two years ago for fifth-grade students who had applied to BAK Middle School of the Arts as visual arts and communications majors. “We saw a need and filled it,” said ArtStart president and founder Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi. “The audition process, as well as the portfolio review for visual arts applicants, can be very intimidating for the students,” she added, “so we help them prepare by making certain they have everything the school requires.” Parssi said that includes making certain that visual arts applicants have their portfolios completed, and those applying to as communications majors are ready for their interviews and auditions – which include some variation of a creative writing exercise, graphic design, and an oral presentation. “The requirements change from year to year,” added Parssi, and we stay abreast of the requirements to make sure we’re providing what the students need.”
Upon completing their work, students in both disciplines go through a “mock interview – or more than one if needed,” said Parssi, so they’ll know what to expect when they go in for the real thing.
STUDENTS WORK WITH PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS
VISUAL ARTS
Visual arts students work with Ms. Parssi, an accomplished visual artists whose work can be found in galleries and private / corporate collections around the world. Classes are scheduled in 8-hour sessions, with students attending for two hours each week. “Our schedule is flexible,” said Parssi, “and we’ll work with the students and their parents to accommodate their needs.”
The first order of business with visual arts students is a review of their existing work, to see what needs to be done to meet the BAK portfolio requirements. “There is almost always something missing,” said Parssi, “so we work on improving what they have and teaching them how to create the missing pieces.” While the students receive hands-on instruction, Parssi stressed that the students complete the work on their own. “We’ll push them,” she said, “to help them realize that they can accomplish much more than they thought possible.”
COMMUNICATIONS
Students applying for a slot in the communications program at BAK work with ArtStart board member Bill Underwood, a communications professional and owner of a marketing & public relations firm. Classes are scheduled in 8-hour sessions, with students attending for two hours each week.
Depending on current BAK requirements, Underwood may help students understand how to write and deliver a 60-second news report or television commercial, build a magazine ad for a product or service of their own invention and other aspects of the audition. “Students will often come to me with a great idea for a 60-second news report or commercial, but it may be 5 paragraphs long,” said Underwood. “The challenge,” he added, “is to reduce that great idea to its essence, and figure out how to deliver it in one minute or less.”
The graphic design element typically involves having students create an 8.5” x 11” magazine ad. “That’s the easier part,” said Underwood, “because kids these days have no fear when it comes to working with a graphic design program; but we make sure they understand the basic principles of layout and design, to ensure that their ad would be effective in the real world.” After ensuring that the student understands the creative process, Underwood turns the computer over to them and stands by to offer guidance as needed. “The final product,” said Underwood, “is their own creation – and each student is extremely proud of what they have accomplished by the end of the session.”
GOOD SUCCESS RATE
“We have had a very good rate of success, with a majority of our students being accepted into the BAK program,” said Parssi. “It’s a very gratifying feeling when we learn that students have been accepted,” she added. Parssi made it clear that there are no guarantees, and not every student makes in into the program. “We give them the tools, and do our best to make sure they’re ready,” she said, “but in the end it’s up to the student to do well at the audition.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of the program, said Parssi, is hearing from students and their parents. After working with Underwood, a student from Palm Beach Gardens sent an e-mail, in which she wrote: “Thank you for your help with my ad, speech, and story. Today I got my results from Bak and on the envelope it said ‘Congratulations’. Need I say more? Anyway I would like to thank you for all your help again.”
CLASSES BEGIN AFTER LABOR DAY
Bak Visual Arts Portfolio/Audition Preparation Classes
Includes art supplies, expert instruction and critique. Classes are taught by ArtStart president Jeannette Pomeroy Parssi. Cost per 8 hour session: $160
Bak Communications Audition Preparation Classes
Includes expert instruction and critique. Classes are taught by Bill Underwood, former publicist for the Kravis Center, head writer for World Business Review, and currently president of Liberty Media Group. Cost per 8 hour session: $320
For more information, visit www.ArtStartInc.org or call 561-635-2037.