VPA Endorsement
Requirements
The Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Magnet Program at North Port High School provides ALL students with the opportunity to experience arts education, and offers progressive, highly specialized, intensive training for students who possess special talents in the visual and performing arts areas of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. The experiences and training provided by the VPA Magnet Program are designed to enrich and enliven the lives of all students and NPHS community members while enabling the serious student of the arts to prepare for future study and professional aspirations.
All students are encouraged to participate in VPA courses, regardless of prior experience or ability. Students seeking increased rigor in the intermediate and advanced level VPA courses are placed by audition/portfolio review or in-class assessment. These may be students who have prior experience in their VPA discipline, are considering a career in the arts field, wish to major or minor in the arts in college, or consider the arts a personal passion. Students who are new to NPHS VPA classes should complete the VPA application and placement audition process. All students who participate in VPA courses are encouraged to pursue a VPA graduation endorsement.
Endorsement Levels
VPA Endorsement
6 or 7 VPA course credits earned within a discipline.
VPA Endorsement with Merit
8 or 9 VPA course credits earned within a discipline.
VPA Endorsement with Distinction
10 or more VPA course credits earned within a discipline.
VPA Endorsement Requirements
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Students must earn a 2.5 unweighted GPA by the end of Semester 1 of their graduating year.
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Students must take at least 6 credits within the endorsement track. At least two thirds of the total courses must pertain to the student’s VPA track.
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Students must successfully complete at least one course in their VPA track their graduating year, as assigned by their discipline’s lead teacher.
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Students may earn higher recognition for VPA achievement with additional course work within their discipline or extracurricular activities related to their discipline at the lead teacher’s discretion.
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The endorsement may be awarded to transfer students with 2 fewer credits required per attainment level if the student did not have the opportunity to take courses in their chosen discipline at their prior school and at the discretion of the discipline’s lead teacher.
Acting
Lead Teacher: Ms. Dena Henderson
All theatre students will participate in experiences that promote enjoyment and appreciation for all aspects of theatre through classwork including characterization, playwriting, improvisation, scene work, history, and the fundamentals of acting theories, skills and production. NPHS VPA acting students have the chance to participate in specially blocked scheduling that combined Acting and Theatre courses. During these courses students will use improvisation, simple scripted scenes, performance projects, and/or practical application to identify what makes performances believable and explore the tools used to create, articulate, and execute them. By participating in rehearsals and public performances students develop a strong foundation for scene work, script analysis, and play productions. NPHS VPA acting students audition and rehearse a full-length children’s play and a full-length drama or comedy for public performance each year. These students are also invited to attend district, regional and state festivals where they are encouraged to present individual event pieces for adjudication. Judges will determine which solo, small group and ensemble pieces may advance through various levels of performance adjudication. All theatre students are encouraged to be involved as much as possible in all aspects of theatrical performance and advanced Pre-AICE and AICE course work.
VPA Acting Course Progression
Students wishing to pursue a VPA Graduation Endorsement and/ or The Florida Seal of Fine Arts in Acting should plan to enroll in at least two classes each year. The recommended progression outlined below is will place student on track to earn the VPA Graduation Endorsement with Merit or Distinction.
Grade 9
•Acting 1 - 0400370
•Theatre 1 - 0400310
Optional suggested course: •Technical Theatre Design & Production 1 - 0400410
Grade 10
•Acting 2 - 0400380
•Theatre 2 - 0400320
Optional course by invitation: •Pre-AICE Drama - 0400345
Grade 11
•Acting 3 - 0400390
•Theatre 3 Honors - 0400330
Optional course by invitation: •AICE Drama - 0400436
Grade 12
•Acting 4 Honors - 0400400
•Theatre 4 Honors - 0400340
Optional course by invitation: •Theatre Direction & Stage Management - 0400500
Band
Lead Teacher: Mrs. Lorianne Alegria
Chorus
Lead Teacher: Mr. David Sommer
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
Chorus I
Chorus II
Chorus III
Chorus IV
Keyboard I
Music Theory I
Vocal Techniques I
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Chorus IV, V Honors, VI Honors
Vocal Techniques, II, III, IV Honors*
Vocal Ensemble I, II
Music Theory II Honors*
Voice and Diction
Musical Theatre I
Band I, II
Jazz Ensemble I, II
Instrumental Ensemble I, II
Music Techniques I, II
Guitar I
Orchestra I, II
*Strongly encouraged
Commercial Music
Lead Teacher: Ms. Shannon Clark
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
Music Ensemble I
Music Ensemble II
Music Ensemble III
Jazz I
Jazz II
Jazz III
And one of the following:
Instrumental Techniques I (Percussion)
Guitar I (Guitar & Electric Bass)
Keyboarding I (Piano)
Orchestra I (Upright Bass)
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Music Ensemble IV
Jazz Ensemble IV Honors
Band I, II, III, IV, V Honors, VI Honors
Music Theory I, II Honors
Instrumental Ensemble I, II, III, IV Honors (Percussion)
Instrumental Techniques I, II, III, IV Honors (Percussion)
Guitar I
Keyboard I
Orchestra I, II, III, IV, V Honors, VI Honors
Chorus I, II, III, IV Honors
Vocal Ensemble I, II
Vocal Techniques I, II, III, IV Honors
Dance
Lead Teacher: Mrs. Heather Helson & Mrs. Michelle Slay
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Dance Techniques I
Dance Techniques II
Dance Techniques III Honors
Ballet I
Ballet II
Ballet III
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Dance Techniques IV Honors
Ballet IV Honors
Dance Repertory I, II, III Honors, IV Honors
Musical Theatre
Lead Teacher: Ms. Dena Henderson
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
Voice and Diction
Musical Theatre I
Musical Theatre II
Vocal Ensemble I
Vocal Ensemble II
Vocal Ensemble III
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Musical Theatre III
Vocal Ensemble IV Honors
Theatre I, II, III Honors, IV Honors
Acting I, II, III Honors, IV Honors
Music Theory I, II Honors
Chorus I, II, III, IV Honors
Vocal Techniques I, II, III, IV Honors
Dance Techniques I, II, III Honors, IV Honors
Theatrical Directing and Stage Management I, II
Technical Theatre Design and Production I, II, III, IV
Orchestra
Lead Teacher: Dr. Laura Hill
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
Orchestra I
Orchestra II
Orchestra III
Orchestra IV
Instrumental Ensemble I (Orchestra)
Music Theory I
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Orchestra V Honors, VI Honors
Instrumental Ensemble II, III, IV Honors (Orchestra)
Music Theory II Honors
Jazz Ensemble I, II, III, IV Honors (Upright Bass)
Music Ensemble I, II, III, IV Honors
(Commercial Music- Upright Bass)
Keyboard I
Guitar I
Band I
Chorus I
Vocal Techniques I
Percussion
Lead Teacher: Mrs. Lorianne Alegria
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
Instrumental Techniques I (Percussion Class) Instrumental Techniques II (Percussion Class) Instrumental Techniques III (Percussion Class) Instrumental Ensemble I (Percussion Class)
Instrumental Ensemble II (Percussion Class) Instrumental Ensemble III (Percussion Class)
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Instrumental Techniques IV Honors
Instrumental Ensemble IV Honors
Band I, II, III, IV, V Honors, VI Honors
Jazz Ensemble I, II, III, IV Honors
Music Theory I, II Honors
Music Ensemble I, II, III, IV Honors (Commercial Music)
Guitar I
Keyboard I
Orchestra I
Chorus I
Vocal Techniques I
Technical Theatre
Lead Teacher: Ms. Dena Henderson
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
Technical Theatre I
Technical Theatre II
Technical Theatre III
Costumes, Make-Up and Hair Scenery and Props
Theatrical Directing and Stage Management I
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Technical Theatre IV Honors
Voice and Diction
Musical Theatre I, II, III
Vocal Ensemble I, II, III, IV Honors
Theatre I, II, III Honors, IV Honors
Acting I, II, III Honors, IV Honors
Dance Techniques I, II, III Honors, IV Honors Theatrical Directing and Stage Management II
Visual Arts
Lead Teacher: Mrs. Chloe DuBois
Required Courses
Includes courses generally taken grades 9-11
2-D/ 3-D Art or 2D Art Honors (Full Year) Ceramics I or 3D Art (Full Year)
Drawing I
AP Studio Art
Supplemental Courses
Includes grade 12 as assigned by discipline lead teacher and supporting course work for higher attainment levels
Ceramics II, III Honors
Drawing II
AP Art History
Portfolio