Olympia Junior Programs

	Olympia Junior Programs
About Us 2009 Season Study Guide Etiquette Guide History Past OJP Shows Contact Us Links Feedback	About Olympia Junior Programs PURPOSE As stated in the bylaws of Olympia Junior Programs, Inc. (OJP): "The purpose of this organization shall be to present to the junior citizens of the community educational and entertaining programs in the fields of drama, music, science, and the interpretive arts, at as low a price as possible; to maintain the standards of such programs at the highest level; and to develop audiences who will contine to come and enjoy the finest cultural programs." WHO WE ARE A non-profit organization of community volunteers doing year-round behind-the-scenes work. WHOM WE SERVE Elementary students in Thurston County and beyond. WHEN Plays are presented in the late winter and spring. Each play runs for five to seven days. Daily performances are at 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM, and last about one hour. Letters announcing the coming season's schedule are sent to school principals in October. Play dates are scheduled with the Washington Center two years in advance. WHAT OJP is a six-year program designed to give students the opportunity to experience and value a wide variety of performing arts. Two shows each are offered for primary (1-3) and intermediate (4-6) grades, and attendance at both is encouraged. OJP contracts with professional production companies about one year in advance. Productions are carefully selected for relevance to curriculum and appropriateness for the age of the audience. Works based on literature or history are often used. Companies chosen have demonstrated expertise with young audiences, and present a program that is technically more intricate than would be done for an assembly in a school setting. WHERE The Washington Center for the Performing Arts 512 S. Washington Street Olympia WA 98501 COST $4.00 per play per student ($6.00 for full two-play season). Free to teachers and educational aides. PAYMENT OPTIONS Ticket sales managed by a parent volunteer OJP/School Representative Cash in advance School Purchase Order TRANSPORTATION Schools are responsible for transportation and its expense. It may be funded from district or building budgets, or by PTA or other parent support groups. The OJP Bus Coordinator gives instructions to bus drivers as they arrive at the theater and manages the schedule for the time and method of departure from the theater. EDUCATION MATERIALS A study guide for each play is provided free of charge to all teachers and school librarians about one month before the scheduled performance. Materials include suggestions for class discussions before and after the play, background information about the story, subject or theatrical form, vocabulary words, cross-curricular projects, references, and the OJP Theater Etiquette guide. The study and etiquette guides are also on the OJP website, with links to other referenced websites. AUDIENCE AGE POLICY Children who attend OJP plays MUST BE 5 years or older by September 1 of the current school year. OJP is for elementary students; the performances are not open to the public. Guests, teachers, chaperones, ushers and homeschool parents are asked to respect this policy. HOMESCHOOL PROCEDURE Homeschooling parents are welcome to purchase tickets for themselves and their child(ren) who are at least 5 years of age by Sept 1 of the current school year. Reservations and payment must be made in advance, preferably with your homeschool group. OJP recommends that students attend the plays appropriate to their grade level. TIMETABLE OCTOBER – play announcement and participation request forms mailed; return deadline is stated NOVEMBER – seating assignments made and attendance dates scheduled; principals notified JANUARY – OJP training of School Reps FEBRUARY - ticket sales in schools Late-FEBRUARY through early-MAY – performances ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS FOR ARTS Play attendance and use of our teacher’s study guides support many of the state-mandated learning requirements. Regular attendance at OJP productions provides students the opportunity to develop their appreciation for and ability to respond effectively to live theater. They become acquainted with the premier performance venue in their community and learn theater etiquette. Actors in professional national touring companies often describe the OJP audiences as “the best” they have encountered. SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES Each participating school is asked to provide a parent volunteer who can represent the school with OJP. The School Rep. attends four meetings (monthly Jan-Apr), collects the payment/permission envelopes, and recruits and supervises parent volunteer ushers. USHERS Parent volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the Washington Center to assist the children from their school with getting on and off the buses, escorting them to their assigned seats, and observing or assisting during the play. Parent ushers remain standing throughout the play and may not bring other children with them.

About Us
2009 Season
Study Guide
Etiquette Guide
History
Past OJP Shows
Contact Us
Links
Feedback

About Olympia Junior Programs

PURPOSE

As stated in the bylaws of Olympia Junior Programs, Inc. (OJP):

"The purpose of this organization shall be to present to the junior citizens of the community educational and entertaining programs in the fields of drama, music, science, and the interpretive arts, at as low a price as possible; to maintain the standards of such programs at the highest level; and to develop audiences who will contine to come and enjoy the finest cultural programs."

WHO WE ARE

A non-profit organization of community volunteers doing year-round behind-the-scenes work.

WHOM WE SERVE

Elementary students in Thurston County and beyond.

WHEN

Plays are presented in the late winter and spring. Each play runs for five to seven days. Daily performances are at 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM, and last about one hour. Letters announcing the coming season's schedule are sent to school principals in October. Play dates are scheduled with the Washington Center two years in advance.

WHAT

OJP is a six-year program designed to give students the opportunity to experience and value a wide variety of performing arts. Two shows each are offered for primary (1-3) and intermediate (4-6) grades, and attendance at both is encouraged. OJP contracts with professional production companies about one year in advance. Productions are carefully selected for relevance to curriculum and appropriateness for the age of the audience. Works based on literature or history are often used. Companies chosen have demonstrated expertise with young audiences, and present a program that is technically more intricate than would be done for an assembly in a school setting.

WHERE

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
512 S. Washington Street
Olympia WA 98501

COST

$4.00 per play per student ($6.00 for full two-play season).
Free to teachers and educational aides.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Ticket sales managed by a parent volunteer OJP/School Representative
Cash in advance
School Purchase Order

TRANSPORTATION

Schools are responsible for transportation and its expense. It may be funded from district or building budgets, or by PTA or other parent support groups. The OJP Bus Coordinator gives instructions to bus drivers as they arrive at the theater and manages the schedule for the time and method of departure from the theater.

EDUCATION MATERIALS

A study guide for each play is provided free of charge to all teachers and school librarians about one month before the scheduled performance. Materials include suggestions for class discussions before and after the play, background information about the story, subject or theatrical form, vocabulary words, cross-curricular projects, references, and the OJP Theater Etiquette guide. The study and etiquette guides are also on the OJP website, with links to other referenced websites.

AUDIENCE AGE POLICY

Children who attend OJP plays MUST BE 5 years or older by September 1 of the current school year. OJP is for elementary students; the performances are not open to the public. Guests, teachers, chaperones, ushers and homeschool parents are asked to respect this policy.

HOMESCHOOL PROCEDURE

Homeschooling parents are welcome to purchase tickets for themselves and their child(ren) who are at least 5 years of age by Sept 1 of the current school year. Reservations and payment must be made in advance, preferably with your homeschool group. OJP recommends that students attend the plays appropriate to their grade level.

TIMETABLE

OCTOBER – play announcement and participation request forms mailed; return deadline is stated
NOVEMBER – seating assignments made and attendance dates scheduled; principals notified
JANUARY – OJP training of School Reps
FEBRUARY - ticket sales in schools
Late-FEBRUARY through early-MAY – performances

ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC LEARNING REQUIREMENTS FOR ARTS

Play attendance and use of our teacher’s study guides support many of the state-mandated learning requirements. Regular attendance at OJP productions provides students the opportunity to develop their appreciation for and ability to respond effectively to live theater. They become acquainted with the premier performance venue in their community and learn theater etiquette. Actors in professional national touring companies often describe the OJP audiences as “the best” they have encountered.

SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES

Each participating school is asked to provide a parent volunteer who can represent the school with OJP. The School Rep. attends four meetings (monthly Jan-Apr), collects the payment/permission envelopes, and recruits and supervises parent volunteer ushers.

USHERS

Parent volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the Washington Center to assist the children from their school with getting on and off the buses, escorting them to their assigned seats, and observing or assisting during the play. Parent ushers remain standing throughout the play and may not bring other children with them.