Cultural Arts Programs
The Arts at McDougle Elementary School
Since the school opened in 1996, MES has demonstrated its strong commitment to the arts, which we view as an important aspect of making this mission and vision a reality for all students. The MES arts curriculum is based on the Common Core and NC Essential Standards. The MES arts faculty - including Alice Zincone as the art teacher and Chelsea Kutner as the music teacher - plan and implement an academically engaging and enriching arts curriculum for the entire student body. Below are images from this year's face jug programs, led by Ms. Zincone and Jadon Abide, which was given to both 4th grade and 5th grade students.
Additionally, in order to enhance and complement the school’s arts curriculum, the MES PTA Cultural Arts Program aims to sponsor supplemental arts programming. Thanks to the Dolphin community's generosity along with funding provided by the Orange County Arts Commission, for the 2021-2022 school year, the MES PTA Cultural Arts Program has once again coordinated with the fifth grade team to bring Mr. Phillip Shabazz's poetry residency to MES. Samples of poems from the 2022 and 2021 programs appear below.
We are grateful for many years of OCAC grant funding support, which has enabled the PTA to consistently offer supplemental arts instruction to MES students. We thank them for helping us to fund this year's poetry residency with local poet Philip Shabazz for all MES 5th grade students. More information about the Orange County Arts Commission is available at https://artsorange.org/. More information about Mr. Shabazz is available on his website at http://www.flamesinthefireps.com/.
For questions and opportunities regarding the cultural arts at MES, please reach out to Aleza Friedman at communications@mesptanc.org.
2022 5th Grade Poetry Residency (May 2-May 6)
We were thrilled to welcome the poet Phillip Shabazz back at MES for another year of amazing work with our fifth graders, inspiring them to write creatively and encouraging them to be empowered by their own words and expression! Mr. Shabazz is one of the most loved and appreciated artists-in-residence who has been instructing our fifth grade dolphins for many years now. This empowering residency combines performing arts, theatre, history and character education. Welcome back Mr. Shabazz!
This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Matching financial support is provided by the MES PTA. More information about the Orange County Arts Commission is available at https://artsorange.org/. More information about Mr. Shabazz is available on his website at http://www.flamesinthefireps.com/.
Hope
By: Chase C.
Hope is like going to the mall and being tall
Hope is like your mom falls
And you can’t give her a call
Hope is like candy and your dads name is Randy
Hope is like being rude while in a mude
Hope is like jumping flunking
Hope is like darts while driving carts
Hope is like being stuck in a jar while driving a car
My Light
By: Emily
It was a breezy day the sun was shining on 10/23/21 . It was going to be fun today. I was going to the fair with my friend.
My brother was listening to music a million times. I told him I was going to get him a stuft animal from the fair bigger than the house. I said goodbye. I love you, Bryan.
I had a blast at the fair. I won a lot of prizes piece of cake I said. I got home at 11:00pm.
I asked my mom where is Brayn she said she went to a party so I waited until he got home. There was a knock at the door. It was his friend he said where is Bryan said he went to a party.
He told us he got in a car crash we went to the hospital at 12:00pm we got news at 2 in the morning that Brayn is no longer with us my heart shattered I had my last cry.
I felt his presence around me. You will continue to shine like gold. My light together forever my best friend in the whole wide world!
Friends
By Tyler
Friends are like the moon, you may not always see them but they're always there. Friends are the kind of people who get on your nerves but deserve the world. Friends help you get away with things and play your silly games. A friend will always have your back even though you're talking smack to them. Losing a friend is like a solid shadow haunting you. When you lose a close friend it's like falling through the black cracks of love with tears in your eyes. Friends, Friends are like your family.
The Beach
By AlYx S.A.
Me and my family went to the beach for spring break and got a tasty shake. We swam, got a bit of a tan. This trip was fun, Funner than my other ones. We got a cool hotel, And spent lots of money as well. We dove under the waves, Played some basketball and made a few good saves. Anyway, I recommend going to the beach. It's a real treat!
Months
By Alexandra L.
January still gives us snow
February the sun starts to glow
March you are still in the school
In April someone you might fool
May is fun throughout
June- Yay! School is out!
July you see all the fireworks
August is all smirks
September- school started a few days ago
October trick or treating you may go
November is just getting colder
December feels like you’re in the polar!
Mother Nature
By Jasper
Thank you for the sky, the grass, the sun,
and for making going outside fun
in a little green tree life is born
like the roses on the bush that is protected by a thorn
in a storm there are thunderclaps and lightning
and it can be very freighting,
thank you for the birds that sing,
and the squirrels that bring,
nuts for their newborn.
thank you for the snow that blankets the earth,
and for spending time with family by the red sparkling hearth,
thank you for the birds that fly in the sky,
that look like tiny polka dots that fly by
Thank you for creating life!
Thank you Mother nature
Basketball
By Jocelyn
Basketball a shooting
Star of orange happiness a friend
In the sunset
Stuck in a memory, by Mia
There was a black whole in my mind
I didn't know if it was good or bad
I found out that it would be left behind
And that I would have to find something new
I had to adapt, get used to it
Try to lead myself on
But it resulted it good, you opened your doors,
and let me come in
So now I look back to the past and realize
I'm stuck in a memory
I didn't have a choice cuz I don't make the rules
I'm stuck in a memory
My friends all ask why did you make that choice
But there's no turning back
I know that I'm stuck in a memory
Looking through the mirror I can see
The connections between you and me
I got the city you got the town
But I know there's friendship all around
And now I've adapted I got used to it
and I lead myself on
And it's still filled with good, and open wide doors
and I'm still here
So now I look back to the past and realize
I'm stuck in a memory
I didn't have a choice cuz I don't make the rules
I'm stuck in a memory
My friends all ask why did you make that choice
But there's no turning back
I know that I'm stuck in a memory
Even though there's some things that I'm gonna miss
I know that everyone has a heart
I finally found my place in a whole new world
And I can call it home
So now I look back to the past and realize
I'm stuck in a memory
I didn't have a choice cuz I don't make the rules
I'm stuck in a memory
My friends all ask why did you make that choice
But there's no turning back
I know that I'm stuck in a memory
Cuz I'm stuck in a memory
Marigold
By: Emma
I am a Marigold Flower striving to grow and be what I can become.
I have delicate petals, a long green stem, and soft curved leaves.
I’m pretty good at making people smile.
I like sunlight, water, and planting my roots deep into the soil.
I don’t like weeds, drought, and especially not consumers.
I believe life is too short to not appreciate beauty.
I am graceful and delicate.
I come from a bright marigold.
I want to grow to the top of the clouds.
I always find beauty in the rain.
I have overcome winter after winter,
And I will never stop growing.
I live to make the world a bit better.
Summer Friends
By Kayden A.
In summer you don’t want the day to end,
Your parents may give you money to spend
In summer you don’t have homework,
But your parents still have to go to work
Summer is magical magic all around,
Summer is a friend you just haven’t found
Around every corner you meet someone new,
Who just can’t wait to be friends with you
Have fun while you can,
Things might not go to plans
Friendships might not last,
But trust me sumer is a blast
When you are in school
You’ll wish you were in a pool
2022 Face Jug Project - 4th Grade
2022 Face Jug Project - 5th Grade
2021 5th Grade Poetry Residency

Phillip Shabazz Poetry Residency, May 3rd - May 7th, 2021
McDougle Elementary School, 5th grade, Chapel Hill, NC
I will remember….
By Ayla Jennings (Ms. Hunt class)
I will remember Rosa Parks every time I take a seat
I’ll think of Martin Luther King jr. every time people hear me speak
I’ll think of Hillary Clinton every time I’m overheard
And I’ll remember Mahatma Gandhi every time my future seems blurred I will remember Nelson Mandela when I push forward
I will remember Kamila Harris when my society's future is altered
I’ll remember Barack Obama when I feel our scars start to heal
And I will think of Abraham Lincoln when I have to deal with a crazy ordeal I’ll remember Albert Einstein when I make a new discovery
And I will remember Harriet Tubman when I help others with their journey I’ll think of Helen Keller when I feel things with the heart
And I will remember Isaac Newton when I figure out something quite smart I’ll think of Frederick Douglass when I stand up for what’s right
And I’ll think of Amelia Earhart when I lift into flight
I will remember Buddha when I feel at peace
And I’ll remember Malala Yousafzai when I feel like I’m finally starting to make a crease I’ll remember Anne Frank when I feel like I have to hide
And I will think of this world because here my opportunities are wide
Hope
By Dimitri Koistinen (Ms. Maher Class)
Hope is like a new day
And a fresh new spray.
Hope is like a light
And a won fight.
Hope is like a friendly ghost
And a broken post.
Hope is like a bubble
And not being in trouble.
Hope is like a perfect pitch
And a shallow ditch.
Hope is like perfection
And a man to give directions.
Hope is like an awesome rap
And a treasure map.
Hope is like an amazing dance
And a winning chance.
2019-2020 Performing Arts Performances
Mike Wiley’s Tired Souls, October 23, 2019, one show for 3rd-5th grade students.
Genre: historical drama
Description: Tired souls begins with the day Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man - the catalyst that inspired Montgomery’s historical bus boycott. Tired Souls also introduces audiences to others who came before Mrs. Parks, who were so instrumental in lighting a fire under the Civil Rights movement and changing the course of U.S. history forever.
This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Charles Pettee, Catch the Bluegrass Bug, February 12, 2020, one show for K-2nd grade students
Genre: bluegrass music performance
This multi-talented musician employs banjo, harmonica, guitar, mandolin, voice and a variety of hats which introduces you to the wonderful tapestry of sounds that make up the music of the Carolinas: music of the Pilgrims, native Americans, African-Americans , Piedmont Blues, Gospel and Bluegrass. There is never a dull moment as Mr. Pettee switches songs or hats, encouraging rhythmic clapping and spontaneous discussion throughout the show.
This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Curious Theatre Collective’s Creekside: The Journey of a Young Activist, March 4, 2020, two shows, all students
Genre: interactive theatrical performance
The show tells the story of Mia, a young girl who discovers something wrong with the creek behind her house and sets out to make it better with the help of four famous female environmentalists who happen to wander by. Through music, audience participation, and narrative, students dive into concepts of environmental justice, interconnectedness, youth activism, and responsibility. This show was developed with support from the Orange County Arts Commission.
This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.


