Prom Fashion Show Teacher Leadership and School Improvement Kimberly Clark 4/6/2013

Its the beginning of a new semester and I am teaching a new class. After looking over the curriculum, I begin to toss ideas around. How can I make this class interesting, but at the same time a learning experience that the students will never forget! The class is Advanced Studies, and the mission of this class is to provide students the opportunity to culminate their learning experience in a career pathway. The course engages students in higher-order thinking by challenging them with practical career-based problems. Problem solving is an integral part of Advanced Studies. The goals of this class are to apply learning in a chosen career area and to improve competency and skills required in the workplace. A prom fashion show is a great way for the students to accomplish all of these goals and demonstrate proficiency.

After meeting with my principal and discussing the prom fashion show with him, he stated that would be a great opportunity to implement the school improvement plan of adding more technology in the curriculum. He also stated that our school needs more activities that involve the school as a whole. He suggested that I get as many classes involved with this project as possible. Our school is so big that we cannot have a pep rally in the winter, because the whole school will not fit together in our gym or auditorium. The students have stated on numerous occasions that they would like to have some type of activity in the winter, but no one has taken on this task. He felt that this is a great opportunity for seniors and juniors to participate in an activity and watch the fashion show. He also stated that we could stream the fashion show, so that sophomores and freshman classes could watch, if their teachers allowed.

I met with my Advanced Studies class and discussed the event with them. We immediately got to work. My Advanced Study class took this project and ran with it, I guided them, but they did the majority of the work. Their first goal was to create a list of what classes we should involve and what their jobs would be. Next they had to make a list of all stores we wanted to participate and make initial contact. We decided we wanted to not only have a fashion show, but we also wanted to have a fundraiser to help students who cant afford prom tickets. The students then had to contact vendors to see if they would make donations for our fundraiser. The students spent about a month going out and meeting with the vendors and picking up their donations. They spent another month meeting with the classes that would be working with us. One of our hardest goals was getting models, meeting with them, and getting them to go out to the stores and get fitted. We ended up with 27 models, which is a great number for our first fashion show. Before the fashion show, we had to meet with the classes. We met with the Drafting class to pick the floor design, we met with the Broadcasting class to discuss the camera set up; we met with the Band class to discuss the music, the Yearbook class took pictures for us; we met with the Custodial staff to discuss set up and take down, and we met with the Administrative Assistant staff to discuss advertising on morning announcements and the scrolling announcements.

During this process we had to overcome many obstacles. Designing the stage was difficult, because we couldnt settle on the set up. We finally decided to order isle runners to keep the dresses from getting dirty and we didnt have to worry about the models tripping an d falling off a stage. Many of our models play on a sports team and were not able to go after school to get fitted, so we had to adjust our list. Our play list for music was not approved, so we had to adjust it. Then we had to adjust our lighting so that is would flash with the new beats. A week before the fashion show, we found out that one side of the bleachers in the gym were broke and would not open. We had to go back to the drawing board and re-work our stage design. The biggest hurdle that the Advanced Studies students had to overcome was a miscommunication between our only tuxedo vendors. He had the date wrong and we didnt realize this until four days before the event. We originally had 20 male models. He stated he could only fit 10, so we then had to adjust our lineup.

The Advanced Studies students did a wonderful job with the fashion show. They were able to pull off the First Prom Fashion Show. Although they faced obstacles along the way, they were able to overcome them and put together a wonderful event. These students gained skills that they will be able to use after they graduate. They learned the appropriate ways to communicate with business, how to write appropriate e-mails, how to plan and manage an event, and how to remain calm during stressful events. Part of their final project was to write a paper on what they learned and what they would change. This was a project they will never forget. They had so many compliments from the school faculty and students. Because of their hard work and dedication, our principal wants this to be an annual event.

One of the school improvement teams goals this year was to implement more technology into the classroom. My students worked with the Drafting class to use the Computer Aided Design program (CAD) to design the floor stage. We worked with the Broadcasting class to hook up the camcorder; we then had to run that to the sound system, so that only the music and microphone were streamed to the video. The students also worked with the lighting and hooking it up to the sound system so that the lights were in sync with the beats. All of these activities include technology methods that my students had never used. These skills can be used in their careers, especially CAD. These students plan on going into the fashion industry and the majority of companies in the industry use CAD. These companies expect their new employees to be versed in this program. What a great introduction for these girls.

While meeting with the principal, he stated that we needed to have an event to involve more classes, such as an interdisciplinary project. This was great for me, because I knew I couldnt do it myself. I have a wonderful support system in my school and many of my co-workers were willing to help out. I contacted the Drafting teacher, Interior Design teacher, Automotive teacher, Marketing teacher, Foods teacher, Broadcasting teacher, and Band director. Some of these teachers werent able to work with us due to class schedules; The Interior Design teacher
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did not have an interiors class this semester. Before we had secured a date I met with the Foods teacher to discuss making hors doeuvre for the event. The dates did not work out for us, but next year, I will use these people. The Drafting, Automotive, Marketing, Broadcasting, and Band classes were a huge help to us. Without these classes, as well as, they custodial staff and the administrative assistants, our show could not have been such a big success.

This Fashion Show was without a doubt a learning experience for everyone involved. I am amazed at what we accomplished, especially after all of the adversities we faced. The original plan was to dismiss all juniors and seniors to the gymnasium for the fashion show. Numerous teachers complained because we were taking up their class time for something they deemed un-important. I was so worried that we would not have anyone there. But we ended up with over 700 students in the gym to watch the fashion show. Last year, the PTO had a prom fashion show. This year they were not able to get one planned, so I was asked to plan it. After the fashion show, the principal called me to his office. He said that the fashion show was fantastic, and he only had a couple of suggestions; 1. It should have been longer and 2. We needed to state the models names. He was so impressed; he asked if I would make this an annual event. It was one of the most stressful things I have planned, but at the same time, it was one of the most memorable things I have planned. To see the look in the students eyes after being so well received by their peers was worth all the headaches. They were so proud of themselves, and that is what is most important to me.

Extra Information
Contact Log (pg. 6-9) List of Vendors (pg. 10) Information sheet for models and help (pg. 11) Donation Letter (pg. 12) Tuxedo/Dress Loan letter (pg. 13) Original floor plan (pg. 14) Revised floor plan (pg. 15) Advertising poster (pg. 16) Pictures from the fashion show (pg. 17-31)

Contact

Date

Discussed

Advanced Studies Class

1/7/2013

Met with Advaned Studies for the first day and discussed project

Principal

1/16/2013

Met with principal to discuss the possibility of fashion show

Drafting Teacher

1/16/2013

Met with Drafting teacher to discuss ideas about a fashion show

Advanced Studies Class

1/7 to 1/18

Students are to create a contact list of what vendors we should use

Principal

1/22/2013

Met with principal to discuss Needs Assessment who should be involved and dates

Advanced Studies Class

1/22-1/25

Students are to decide on a date and work on stage design

Formal Showcase

1/22/2013

I contacted Vickie to see if she would be interested in participating in the fashion show and told her my students would be contacting her.

Tracy's

1/22/2013

I contacted Tracy to see if she would be interested in participating in the fashion show and told her my students would be contacting her.

Mr. Tuxedo

1/22/2013

I contacted Greg to see if she would be interested in participating in the fashion show and told him my students would be contacting him.

Dillard's

1/22/2013

I contacted Grace to see if she would be interested in participating in the fashion show and to let her know that my students would be contacting her.

Advanced Studies Class

1/28 to 2/8

Students are to contact vendors. They are to go out and make initial contact

Principal

2/1/2013

Met with principal to discuss dates, people involved, and time.

Custodial Staff

2/5/2013

Met with Barry to discuss the set up of the stage

Models/Help

2/13/2013

Met with the models and the help during advisory to discuss where they are to go and the their dress/tuxedo and when they are to go get fitted.

Band Director

2/13/2013

Met with Jason to discuss the sound system and music for the fashion show

Broadcasting Teacher

2/13/2013

Met with Jim to discuss having a video camera set up and hooking it up to the sound board.

Custodial Staff/Principal/Draftin g Teacher

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2/19/2013

Met with the Barry, principal, and Marc to discuss the stage layout, and the broken bleachers

Advanced Studies Class

2/11-2/22

Students are to pick up donations, work on packaging of the donations, meet with stores again, get fitted, get the necessities for the day of the fashion show.

Mr. Tuxedo

2/19/2013

Met with Greg to thank him personally and to discuss the fashion show. He then informed me that he had the day wrong and couldn't have all the tuxedos we needed ready, but could have 10.

Formal Showcase

2/19/2013

Met with Vickie to thank her personally and to ensure her that her dresses would be in perfect condition after the fashion show. We discussed how we are going to get the dresses the day of the fashion showed.

Tracy's

2/19/2013

Met with Tracy to thank her personally and to ensure her that the dresses would be in mint condition after the fashion show. We also discussed her employees that would come and help the girls get dressed.

Dillard's

2/19/2013

Met with Grace to thank her personally and to ensure her that the dresses would be in mint condition. We also discussed when I should pick up the dresses the day of the fashion show and what time.

Models/Help

2/20/2012

Met with the models and help during advisory to discuss when they need to go get their dresses/tuxedos. Appropriate behavior the day of the fashion show, pass out field trip forms, and to discuss how the stage will work.

Advanced Studies Class

8

2/25-3/1

Finishing touches for the fashion show, drew the winners for raffle, make a script for the speaker, send out a sign

up sheet for faculty to sign up to attend fashion show.

Principal/Band Director, Broadcasting Teacher, Drafting teacher, Custodial Staff

2/28/2013

Met with everyone to discuss the plans for 3/1/13

Everyone involved

3/1/2013

Set stage up, set decorations up, beginning of 3rd period models began practice, got dressed, and put on a fashion show.

Advanced Studies Class

3/4-3/8

Students were to write thank you notes for all who participated in the fashion show and to make treat bags for the models.

Sponsored by:
1. Formal Showcase 2. Mr. Tuxedo 3. Tracys 4. Dillards 5. Bold and Beautiful 6. Delicate Touch Floral and Home Accessories 7. El Paso 8. Hot Body Tanning 9. Maxs Mexican Eatery 10. New Attitude Hair Salon 11. Rivera Tan 12. VN Nails 13. Monster

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Fashion Show Models and Help!!!

1. Please make sure you have gone or are going before Wednesday to get fitted for your tuxedo or dress. 2. Ladies, please bring your personal makeup on Friday. We will have some help, which will work on makeup and hair. 3. Seniors and Sophomores, check into your advisory on Wednesday and then report to room 207 for a short meeting and practice. 4. If possible, meet in room 207 after school on Wednesday for a 15 minute meeting! Thanks, Mrs. Clark, Julia Moore, and Stephanie Triplett

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South Caldwell High School

7035 Spartan Drive Hudson, N.C. 28638

January 24th, 2013

To Whom It May Concern: South Caldwell High School Advanced Studies class will be hosting the 1st annual prom fashion show. We are hoping to garner the support from prominent and most popular business for prom in/near the Unifour area. A gift certificate or other donation for our raffle will be greatly appreciated. Your donation will help raise money for students in need. As a contributor, your company will receive free advertising during our prom fashion show. Please feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail for any reason. I hope we can count on your support and thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you,

Kimberly Clark kiclark@caldwellschools.com (828)396-2188 FACS Teacher South Caldwell High School

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South Caldwell High School

7035 Spartan Drive Hudson, N.C. 28638

January 24th, 2013

To Whom It May Concern: South Caldwell High School Advanced Studies class will be hosting the 1st annual prom fashion show on March 2nd, 2013. We are hoping to garner the support from prominent and most popular business for prom in/near the Unifour area. We need prom dresses and tuxedos for the fashion show. We will be responsible for the dresses and tuxedos and will make sure they are in perfect condition and returned immediately following the fashion show. Also, a gift certificate or other donation for our raffle will be greatly appreciated. Your donation will help raise money for students in need. As a contributor, your company will receive free advertising during our prom fashion show. Please feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail for any reason. I hope we can count on your support and thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you,

Kimberly Clark kiclark@caldwellschools.com (828)396-2188 FACS Teacher South Caldwell High School

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Original Stage Plans

14

Final Stage Plans

15

Advertisement that we had in the school

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The models

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The two wonderful girls who planned the fashion show

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Pre Fashion Show Pictures

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The Fashion Show

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The Harlem Shake

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