By Rebecca Do
The Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) visual and performing arts pathway introduced a new artistic literacy cord for graduation this year. Visual and performing arts teachers sent the application out via email in March. The qualifications for this cord, aside from being an HBUHSD student, include:
- Have an overall GPA of 2.0
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all art courses
- Show completion of two to three years of arts education
- Show at least one advanced level of coursework including Honors, AP, CTE, Dual Enrollment or equivalent
- Participate in or display art works through performance or exhibit, including but not limited to Creative Visions Art, shows/performances/concert
In the state of California, the three components of artistic literacy include using the arts as communication, using the arts as a creative personal realization and using the arts to connect us to culture and history. The cord encompasses musical aspects and visual arts such as ceramics and graphic design.
The graduation cords and honors included during graduation now include: the stole for scholars with distinction, a gold and white cord for scholars with honors and scholars with expertise respectively, a teal cord for the
Seal of Biliteracy, a double blue cord for Career and Technical Education, a red cord for community service, a maroon cord for Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone and the artistic literacy cord; all of which students need to reach a GPA requirement.
“[The first and second requirement] wants an overall GPA, specifically they want you to have a 3.0 GPA or higher in all the art courses you’ve taken. If you’ve been in three art classes during your time here, they want you to average a 3.0 out of those classes specifically,” Fountain Valley High School college and career specialist Chloe Orel said.
All performing and visual arts courses at FVHS can satisfy the cord’s third requirement. Taking honors or AP VPA courses, such as AP Art or AP Music Theory, or doing art credit at a college via dual enrollment, satisfies the fourth requirement.
Students must have “participated in a display of artworks in display or exhibits,” which can be done by participating in competitions, performances or concerts.
The cord is still relatively new and was pitched mostly by Huntington Beach High School staff, who wanted to showcase and spotlight their visual and performing arts students during graduation.
“Teachers at Huntington Beach High School were really looking for a way to highlight more of their artistic students…They were the ones who brought the cord to fruition and proposed it to the district,” Orel said.
Senior Adam Van Boerum applied for the cord this March after learning about it through an email sent out by director of instrumental music Maxwell Lowe.
“I was immediately interested because my participation in the band program here at FV has been an instrumental part of my high school experience,” Van Boerum said. “With things like the Coronet Award, only one student who stands out against their peers is chosen…I think it is equally important to allow all of the students who have dedicated themselves to and participated in the arts programs here at FV to be recognized for their achievements.”
Cord applications closed this April 1, but visit the college and career center in the library or email Orel at corel@hbuhsd.edu for more information.
