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The New School OBP introduced

ELKINS — The Old Brick Playhouse Company is announcing a new opportunity for local students under the name The New School OBP.

The New School OBP is currently developing educational programming to serve secondary school-aged students during the upcoming fall semester, supplementing the efforts of local schools.

With the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public-school system nationwide is facing an unprecedented challenge that is evolving rapidly, and uncertainty and anxiety is growing among local families and students. The Old Brick wants to help alleviate concerns with a value-driven school based on innovative approaches to learning, providing support to families who are wondering how they will help their children navigate remote learning and what they can do with students when they are not physically in school.

“At the Old Brick, we have always been motivated to implement practices that engage students in learning that fosters their unique potential and promotes understanding and positive energy,” says Executive Director Missy Armentrout McCollam. “We’ve obviously used the arts to solidify concepts and facilitate a humane perspective. In this moment, we are developing the capacity to move beyond arts programming.”

The framework is structured under four areas of focus: 1) Basic skill competency; 2) Mentor-based experiential learning and enrichment activities; 3) Subject-based tutoring; and 4) Guided self-study.

The New School at OBP will use content standards from the West Virginia Department of Education to help guide their approach, targeting clear academic gains for students.

“Our approach will be positive, authentic, and dynamic using multi-dimensional methods to ignite the thrill of learning” says Old Brick Playhouse Assistant Director Phil Smith.

“We plan to start in September and will begin releasing more detail in the coming days,” said Armentrout McCollam. “Of course, like every school system in the nation, we have to carefully consider safety protocols and be prepared to adapt as circumstances change.”

“We have always imagined the idea a full-blown private school alternative,” Armentrout McCollam continued. In this instance, local students can still participate in the remote, virtual, or hybrid pubic school scenarios and also enroll as a student in The New School OBP. New School OBP students will meet 10 hours weekly here at the Brick and at this point out of caution and on the guidance of many public health officials, our capacity is limited.”

Armentrout McCollam began her teaching career at James Madison University and from age n19 has been an instructor in both public and private schools, several colleges and universities, two “day schools” in the United Kingdom, and for the past 28 years has designed and delivered curricula to Old Brick Playhouse Apprentices, campers, and Residents at ERCC.

“But this is not a solo act,” remarks McCollam. “It’s the product of hard work among the OBP team and Board of Directors.”

The Old Brick Playhouse has been merited by three West Virginia Governors, The President’s Committee on the Arts, and the White House as one of the top educational arts institutions in the nation.

“In creating The New School OBP, we are so honored and optimistic to have been able to reach out to the community, several colleagues, funding partners, alumni, and leading educational consultants and were able to welcome their valuable, genuine, and absolute support” commented Phil Smith. “Certainly, we have all lived a rollercoaster for the past several months, but with The New School OBP, it feels like we have made our way to the peak and the drop is so very thrilling and new.

“This effort is certainly a warm collaboration among people who understand the potential negative impact of the current crisis on local youth and have worked tirelessly to offer a meaningful experience fashioned specifically to cushion their re-entry into the educational arena.”

For more information, log onto The Old Brick Playhouse’s Facebook or email missy@theoldbrick.org.

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