School Residencies

Chautauqua’s School Residencies programs provide arts integrated learning opportunities that address key areas of student need, especially in the post-COVID era. This programming has been designed to be inclusive of multiple learning styles and levels of ability, accessible to learners at all levels in the classroom.

This program was originally developed for self-contained, special education classrooms to meet the strong need for arts education learning opportunities for these students. While this program prioritizes serving this population, it is also appropriate for students in mainstreamed classrooms at the developmental levels listed below.

Each program is designed as a 10-week residency, with each class meeting for 25 30 minutes per week. Schools may host either program for the full 10-weeks, or combine the two over a 10-week period.

This program will be funded in part by schools through the Erie 2 BOCES Arts in Education Co-Ser program. Contact Suzanne Fassett-Wright at sfassettwright@chq.org for fee structure details.

Chautauqua Arts Education is proud to share that the following schools will be served with this program during the 2024-2025 school year: 

  • Bush Elementary School, Love Elementary School*, Ring Elementary School, and Washington Middle School in the Jamestown Public Schools
  • Dunkirk School 3*, Dunkirk School 7, Dunkirk Intermediate School and Dunkirk Secondary* in the Dunkirk City School District 
  • Southwestern Elementary School in the Southwestern Central School District 
  • Chautauqua Lake BOCES Satellite Site 
  • Hewes BOCES Educational Center 
  • LoGuidice BOCES Educational Center
  • Little Seeds North (Fredonia)*, Little Seeds Sinclairville* and Little Seeds South (Southwestern) 

*new schools for the 2024-25 school year

While this program is at capacity for the 2024-25 school year, please reach out if your school would like to participate during the 2025-26 school year by emailing Stephanie Dawson at sdawson@chq.org. 

Sample sing me a story lesson plan

Generous support is provided for this program by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Children’s Guild Foundation.

Access/VSA The Kennedy Center logo

Contact Information

Suzanne Fassett-Wright
Director of Arts Education
716-357-6421
sfassettwright@chq.org

“Feelin’ the Beat”

For developmental levels Pre-K – 4, adaptable for 5-8 upon request

This program integrates social emotional learning and musical skill development through drumming. Students drum, learning the elements of music while developing their ability to take turns, lead and follow, identify and express emotions and collaborate with peers towards a common goal. More advanced classes additionally develop music improvisation skills and a knowledge of some basic hand drumming beats.

“Sing Me a Story”

For developmental levels Pre-K – 2

This program integrates early reading and musical skill development, encouraging students to develop their reading comprehension skills while singing, drumming and moving through the stories. This interactive program encourages students to be active participants in the reading process, working on predictive skills, recall and retell along with their understandings of rhythm, melody and tone color.