The Sweetwater Union High School District’s Visual and Performing Arts Department (VAPA) supports 18 events for our students to present or participate. We pay for substitutes when required for approved district events. These are the obligatory events for meeting teacher stipend requirements when applicable:
- Sweetwater Summer Arts Academy – Multiple VAPA disciplines
- Sweetwater Summer Theatre Institute – Drama, Music, and Dance
- Dynamic Dance Workshop – Dance
- District Orchestra Fall Concert – String Orchestra Music
- District Band Pageant – Band Music
- District Holiday Sing! – Vocal Music
- District Mariachi Holiday Night – Mariachi Music
- District Honor Band Concert – Band Music
- Multi-Cultural Dance Workshop – Dance
- District StringFest – String Orchestra Music
- District Art Show Gala – Visual Art
- District Dance Concert – Dance
- District Baile Folklórico Concerts – Folklórico
- District Color Guard & Drumline Shows – Color Guard & Percussion Band Music
- District Digital Media Showcase – Digital Media
- CMEA/SCSBOA (in District) – Band Music/String Orchestra Music
- District Mariachi Spring Concert – Mariachi Music
- District Orchestra Spring Concert – String Orchestra Music
Most of these events are scheduled by the VAPA Department during the months of April or May prior to the school year. After initial scheduling by VAPA, the dates are reviewed by the committees for confirmation of the event as planned. After the event schedule date has been approved by the committee, the event will be published on the VAPA Calendar.
VAPA Supported Events
Many of the VAPA supported events allow for bus transportation funding. All activity support is dependent on budget and approval. With the events that are supported by VAPA, there is variation in the level of support. The supported events are as follows:
Sweetwater Summer Arts Academy
- Facilities
- Director and teachers
- Supplies
- Web posts
- Cafeteria lunches
- And any other items deemed necessary by VAPA
Sweetwater Summer Theatre Institute
- Creative team and staff
- Posters, tickets, program, and web posts
Dynamic Dance Workshop
- Clinicians (5)
- Administrative support
- Web posts
District Band Pageant
- Facilities
- Bus funding for participation and middle school rehearsal
- Class coverage for middle school rehearsal
- Security for the event
- Tickets, program, and web posts
District Holiday Sing!
- Bus funding
- Substitute or custodian overtime
- Piano moving and tuning
- Sound and lighting support
- Tickets, program, and web posts
District Mariachi Holiday Night
- Bus funding
- Tickets, program, and web posts
District Honor Band Concert
- Bus funding
- Tickets, program, and web posts
- Catering for audition judges
Multi-Cultural Dance Workshop
- Clinicians (5)
- Bus funding
- Administrative support
- Web posts
District StringFest
- Bus funding
- Consultant (guest conductor)
- Sub/class coverage
- Web posts
District Art Show Gala
- Ten (10) substitute teachers for show hanging
- Four (4) substitute teachers for take down
- Maintenance costs for panel delivery/pick-up
- Ribbon Awards
- Certificates
- Labels
- Award slideshow, projector, and screen
- Posters, program, and web posts
- Supplies for hanging
- Supplies for reception
District Dance Concert
- Bus funding
- Tickets, program, and web posts
District Baile Folklórico Concert
- Bus funding
- Tickets, program, and web posts
District Color Guard & Drumline Shows
- Bus funding
- Tickets and web posts
District Digital Media Showcase
- One (1) substitute teacher for set-up
- One (1) custodian for set-up and take-down
- Release Time: (Must be coordinated with Digital Media Chair and VAPA Office)
- Video Prep: 6 hours of class coverage, among 2 or 3 teachers.
- Sound Prep: 2 hours of class coverage, 1 teacher.
- Digital Design Pre-Judging: 4 hours of class coverage, among 2 teachers.
- Digital Design Prep: 2 hours of class coverage, 1 teacher.
- Photo Pre-Judging:4 hours of class coverage, among 2 teachers.
- Photo Prep: 2 hours of class coverage, 1 teacher.
- Event coordination assistance
- Web posts
- Awards
- Certificates
- Award slideshow presentation
- Any items deemed necessary by VAPA
CMEA/SCSBOA (Middle & High Schools)
- Bus funding for participation as available by district schedule
- Entry fee for each school to one SCSBOA or CMEA Festival (One fee paid per site per subject)
District Mariachi Spring Concert
- Bus funding
- Tickets, program, and web posts
District Orchestra Spring Concert
- Bus funding for participation and rehearsal
- Tickets, program, and web posts
Tickets, Programs, and Website Posts
In general, the VAPA office will provide tickets and programs, with website posts for most district events. The sponsoring committee must provide the ticket, program, and website post information at least four weeks prior to the event. The ticket, program, and website post information must be submitted to Eduardo.OteroJr@sweetwaterschools.org in a completed format before the deadline. If information is provided after the deadlines, it may not be included.
Photo/Video Documentation
The VAPA office documents many district wide events, typically one per discipline. The footage is archived in digital format and is made available to VAPA teachers for instructional purposes, performance evaluations, and assessments.
Participation in a VAPA event constitutes an agreement to allow the District’s Visual and Performing Arts Department the right to photograph and videotape performers or their work and use this media for promotional and educational purposes. The student and parent have the option of submitting an opt-out letter at the beginning of the school year. Teachers are responsible for informing the VAPA office of any media restrictions on a student. This may affect their participation in public performances such as our district wide events.
VIP Passes
Most VAPA events have an admission fee which is subject to change without notice. VAPA teachers and school principals may request a VIP Pass at the beginning of the school year. This pass waives admission fees to any VAPA event conducted by any group within the Sweetwater Union High School District when presented by bearer.