After-School Drama Classes at Your School

For students ages 5-17, ask us how we can start an after school drama program at your school! You’ll join over 20 Bay Area public and private schools that have partnered with NCTC. Fall and Spring terms available. Most classes meet once a week for ten weeks and culminate with a final presentation. All we need is a classroom and 8 to 15 eager students and we’ll provide a fun-loving, qualified teacher. Since 1997, NCTC has been forming partnerships with public and private schools throughout out the Bay Area in response to the disastrous budget cuts to funding for the arts in the California school system. Our after school satellite drama programs are inexpensive and very easy to set up at your own school.

What is Required?

1 - An empty classroom (no stage needed)
2 - An adult contact person (a parent, teacher or after-school coordinator)

What We Provide

Satellite classes meet after school, once each week for 10-weeks. NCTC provides an experienced instructor, curriculum, flyers and any educational materials.

The Cost

Registration fees can be paid in two ways:

1 -  Via a fee-based agreement between NCTC and your particular school,

2- $100.00 per student. Scholarships available upon request.

Classes typically meet once a week after school. A 10 week course would cost $100.00 per student. Alternatively, the “PTA’s” at each school have been supportive of our presence at NCTC’s existing sites as we offer affordable day-care that is also educational and fun!

For children who are unable to pay the full tuition the PTA has raised monies to assist these students. NCTC’s own scholarship program may also be able to provide assistance or a fee based agreement between NCTC and the partner school can be arranged. It is an exciting program that is proven to be extremely beneficial for a young person’s development. Creative Dramatics promotes self-confidence, creativity, problem solving and team building skills in a non-competitive and nurturing environment.

We are always interested in creating a program that fits in with your schools specific needs. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to set up a meeting. Contact Andrew Nance at 415.694-6148 or by e-mail at Andrew@nctcsf.org

Participating schools have included: Alvarado, Brandeis, Buena Vista , C.A.I.S. Cathedral School for Boys, Claire Lilienthal, Clarendon, Creative Arts Charter, Dianne Feinstein, Harvey Milk Academy, Fox Elem., Francisco Middle School, F.A.I.S, Burkes School for Girls, Gloria R. Davis, Kittredge School, Laurel School, Lakeshore, Lawton, Live Oak, Longfellow, James Lick Middle School , Marina Middle School, Montessori House of Children, New Traditions, Peabody, R. L. Stevenson, San Francisco School, S. F. Day School, Schools of the Sacred Heart, St. Elizabeth, St. John, St. Paul, St. Phillips, St. James, Sunset, Tenderloin Community School, Yick Wo School.

FACTS ABOUT ARTS-IN-EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Did you know? Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are:

  • 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.
  • 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair.
  • 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance.
  • 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.

Young artists, as compared with their peers, are likely to:

  • Participate in youth groups nearly four times as frequently.
  • Read for pleasure nearly twice as often.
  • Perform community service more than four times as often.

The facts are that Arts Education…

  • Strengthens student problem-solving and critical thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement and school success.
  • Can help troubled youth, providing an alternative to destructive behavior and another way for students to approach learning.
  • Helps students develop a positive work ethic and pride in a job well done.
  • Teaches children the skills necessary to succeed in life, including articulating a vision; learning to solve problems and make decisions; developing the ability to imagine what might be; and accepting responsibility to complete tasks from start to finish.
  • Nurtures important values, including team-building skills; respecting alternative points of view; and appreciating and being aware of different cultures and traditions.
  • Has a measurable impact on youth at risk in deterring delinquent behavior while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in after school programs.

Source: “Americans for the Arts” 2004

Theatre Arts Students Score Big!

According to reports by the College Entrance Examination Board, students of the arts continue to out-perform their non-arts peers on the SAT. In 2001, SAT takers with experience in acting/ play production scored 65 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 37 points higher on the math portion than students with no experience in the arts. The overall mean score for these students were 102 points higher than students with no arts experience.

 
Verbal
Mean Scores
Math
Mean Scores
Overall
Mean Scores
Course Title
1999
2000
2001
1999
2000
2001
2001
Acting/Play Production
543
542
541
532
532
531
1072
Art History/Appreciation
518
517
518
517
518
518
1036
Dance
514
514
512
508
510
510
1022
Drama: Study/Appreciation
534
534
534
521
522
523
1057
Music: Study/Appreciation
538
538
539
534
537
538
1077
Music Performance
530
532
533
531
534
535
1068
Photography/Film
526
526
527
524
526
526
1053
Studio Art/Design
525
524
525
527
528
528
1053
No Arts Coursework
477
477
476
492
496
494
970
Sources: The College Board, Profile of College-Bound Seniors National Report for 1999, 2000, 2001.
Praise for NCTC’s After-School Drama Programs

Here’s what a few local SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS have to say:

“I have seen first-hand New Conservatory Theatre’s drama programs at work and I am struck by the way in which students learn to work together for a common goal and in which many of them come out of their shells to discover more confident outspoken individuals.” - Jane Huey, Principal: Tenderloin Community School

“At a time of statewide school budget cuts, it is imperative that we continue to offer classes such as these.” - Dr. Bonnie Mackie, Principal: Longfellow Elementary

“I was impressed by their professionalism.” - Sheila Lee, Director of After-School Programming: Cathedral School for Boys

“The Conservatory provides a program that fosters the ‘growing pains’ that middle school youth are facing.” - Liz Fierst, Expanded Learning Director: Marina Middle School

“The response to this program has been overwhelming. I have seen students who traditionally behave uncooperatively, work as true team members in these programs. Students who are typically withdrawn or very rigid find these classes to be a way in which to explore other aspects of themselves. The NCTC program is extremely low maintenance and is a wonderful asset to our school.” - Mary Valledor, Principal: New Traditions

Here’s what a few PARENTS have to say:

“The quality of the teaching has been excellent - the right balance between setting high standards and creating a safe space for young performers to develop.” - Julie Marsh

“My son Daniel has greatly enjoyed his five years in NCTC programs.  He has learned the actor's craft from a dedicated, talented, and humane group of people.  He has seen the rewards and fun that go with hard work on a shared project.“ - Martin Putnam

“NCTC is not all about becoming an actor, but it is all about becoming a person that accepts other people and supports them in their most vulnerable moments” - Cynthia and Anthony Armijo

“We are very proud of Sandra and very thankful to the staff of NCTC for helping us in developing our daughter into smart, confident and artistic person. Over the years we recommended your program to many families and everyone liked it.” - Irina and Mikhail Mineyev

“I have had no hesitation in recommending the New Conservatory Theater programs to my friends who are looking for ways to expose their children to a professionally run program with dynamic instructors.”
- Elizabeth Aguilar-Tarchi

Here’s what a few STUDENTS have to say:

"When class began it was quite interesting, and the theater games had me hooked.” - Miles Ceralde

I enjoyed meeting and making friends with kids from all over the Bay Area.- Jackie Tabas

At NCTC I always feel like I’m at home. I can be myself and everyone respects that.- Sandra Mineyev

When I first started this class I wasn’t very tolerant of people making mistakes. I learned to be more patient with other kids.- Steven Watts