Kensington Parkwood Elementary School, an arts integration model school, has been selected to receive the 2005 New and Emerging School Award from the International NETWORK of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education.

The award recognizes schools that exemplify solid planning and well-defined goals as well as demonstrating promise as an emerging school of excellence.

Teachers at Kensington Parkwood, under the guidance of Principal John Ceschini, plan and implement lessons that integrate music, art, dance and drama with the regular school curriculum. The school has partnered with organizations, including the Maryland Artist Teacher Institute, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Imagination Stage, and various artists-in-residence to bring the arts to life in the classroom.

At Kensington Parkwood, the arts enhance learning across the content areas. Arts specialists work closely with the other grade-level teachers to identify opportunities for integration.

Marvin Hamlisch will present the award at the awards luncheon during the annual NETWORK conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 26-29.