VAPAfest! At St Vincent de Paul – A celebration of the Arts and Community

By Marguerite Pini

St. Vincent de Paul School in San Francisco held a celebration of Visual Arts and Performing Arts (VAPA) in November, highlighting student accomplishments with a theater festival, art show, and family style meal.

The school collaborates with a contractor, Shakespearience, Inc., that conducts a workshop with selected classes during the trimester. The English Language Arts (ELA) workshop not only focuses on reading and interpreting the words of Shakespeare, but also develops and practices the much-needed skills of speaking and listening.

Attendees of the event could take in a show, or two, or three and peruse the art exhibit. Art was created by kindergarten through 8th grade students and explored artistic elements of shape, color, and perspective. Attendees could also use QR codes to listen to student-created compositions on the Garage Band app or individual recorder performances from music class.

The workshop culminates in an evening of performances cleverly entitled “Swords, Scenes, and Soliloquies.” Students from 4th through 7th grade performed excerpts from the great Bard’s collection including Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

To top off the event, everyone was welcomed to partake in a delicious Italian meal served family style by the St Vincent de Paul Men’s Club and Parent Guild. What an evening celebrating the arts and community!

Marguerite Pini is the principal of St. Vincent de Paul School.

Photos courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul School.