Notre École Charter School Teachers Partner with Perpich

August 26, 2025

On August 25, Perpich Center was excited to welcome the staff from Notre École French Immersion STEAM Charter School to campus for a full day of professional development. Music teacher, Steve Perkins, worked with Perpich Center’s Music Education Specialist, Dr. Michael Buck, and the rest of the teachers worked with Perpich Center’s Visual and Media Arts Specialist, Jeremy Holien.

Educators from Notre École French Immersion STEAM Charter School exercise their art-making skills through collaborative line drawings

Specific to their STEAM focus, the day’s work included:

• Identifying and applying arts connections ranging from surface-level to deeper conceptual connections
• Using Critical Response Protocols and Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to read artworks as texts
• Connecting arts integration to Minnesota Academic Standards in the Arts
• Designing learning experiences where the arts and another subject build transferable understanding.

Teachers exercised their art-making skills through collaborative line drawings, charcoal drawings, and took interesting photos around campus—all experiences they can bring back to their students.

Educators from Notre École French Immersion STEAM Charter School exercise their art-making skills through charcoal drawings

At the end of the day, participants reflected, “I wish students will learn and have more fun with our projects.” “Now I need practice with my own class to become more intentional.” “…I need more time to review curriculum to see where I could overlap or create more rich units involving integration of subject matter.” Co-coordinator Vanessa Hendrikson said, “I really loved the opportunity you gave us today with this PD. It’s going to benefit our students.”

Is there a way that Perpich Center might support the educators at your charter school to bring more arts into their teaching? Let’s talk! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Wendy Barden, wendy.barden@pcae.k12.mn.us