Community School of Digital and Visual

Hey Falcon Parents…. just a reminder..

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! 🎉
We would love your help celebrating our amazing teachers here at CSDVA. If you’re able, please consider taking a moment to show your appreciation—whether it’s a kind note, a small gift, a card, a treat, or even a quick thank-you text or email.
These gestures go a long way in letting our teachers know how much they are valued for all they do to support and inspire our scholars every day.
Thank you for helping us make this week extra special! 💙💛

🚨 FUTURE FALCONS, THIS IS FOR YOU! 🚨

Is your child ready for Kindergarten? Come see the magic for yourself at our Kindergarten Preview Day! 🦅✨

🎨 Hands-on learning
📚 Engaging classrooms
💛 A school community that feels like home

This is your chance to experience what makes Community School different.

The week before Spring Break, Ms. Beatty invited Ms. Deidre Barnes, daughter of late Ernie Barnes, to speak to K-3 about the life and legacy of her father. The students were excited to learn about such a well-known artist born and raised right here in Durham, NC. Ms. Barnes showed students a presentation that included highlights of her father’s life. We were all intrigued to take a deeper dive into the man behind one of the most notable paintings of our time, The Sugar Shack.

She spoke to students about her upbringing and what her father was like…his childhood interests, education, professional football career, as well as his passion for the arts! She shared perspectives of some of his other well-known paintings and ended with a Q & A session where the students and teachers were able to satisfy their curiosity about the work of her late father.
Ms. Barnes gifted each student and K-3 teacher with a calendar of Mr. Barnes’ paintings, notebooks, and packs of crayons in hopes of inspiring our young scholars to express themselves in such an impactful way as did her father. Art can be an expressive way for people to relay thoughts and emotions in some of the most creative ways! She encouraged the students to use their imaginations to draw their life experiences. She also gifted CSDVA with some of her father’s artwork to frame and display in our school. We would like to thank her again for taking the time to come visit and share with us the legacy of Mr. Ernie Barnes!

Ernie Barnes (1938–2009) was an American painter best known for his vivid, emotionally charged depictions of Black life in the United States. His work is instantly recognizable for its elongated figures, dynamic motion, and rich storytelling. His paintings often portray everyday scenes—church gatherings, dance halls, sports events, and family life—capturing both the joy and complexity of African American culture.
One of his most famous works, The Sugar Shack, became widely known after appearing on the TV show Good Times and as the cover art for I Want You by Marvin Gaye.
Today, his art continues to resonate for its powerful representation, rhythmic composition, and celebration of human movement and spirit.

Picture Day📸