The performances have concluded, students are nearly finished with finals, and everyone is eager for their summer vacations to begin. Even though the year has nearly drawn to a close, the arts high school is perpetually in motion, keeping busy between its recent groundbreaking ceremony and the quickly approaching summer workshops and programs.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new school building was located at 321 East Third St. in Bethlehem June 7. The ceremony was opened by the Charter Arts Wind Ensemble performing "America the Beautiful" and followed by a welcome from Student Council President Tristan J. Shuler. After the singing of the National Anthem by the Women's Choir, school board President Mario Acerra, made the first speech and Executive Director Diane LaBelle spoke of her vision for the school.

Other speakers at the event included the artistic theatre director, Diane Wagner-Dobrowolski, the artistic dance director, Kim Maniscalco, Senator Lisa Boscola, Senator Pat Browne, Eve Metzgar and Mark Ferguson, the foundation president. The Charter Arts Art Alliance students presented the shovels and the groundbreaking commenced.

Senior send off is a ceremony unique to Charter Arts, consisting of student performances, the reading of "Oh, the Places You'll Go," and a tradition of seniors passing candles down to juniors in their given department. Senior send off will take place at First Presbyterian Church June 12, and on June 17 at 7 p.m., the 107-member senior class of 2013 will gather at Packer Chapel at Lehigh University for graduation.

This summer, there will be artistic programs offered to a variety of age groups. For middle school aged students, the programs being offered are the Middle School All Arts Academy, which focuses on dance, music, theatre, and art, and Theatre Camp, which assists students in their abilities to act and work on monologues.

For teenagers, the offered programs include a Jazz & Contemporary Performance Workshop for vocal and instrumental students who would like to increase their performance skills; a Teen Audition Workshop for Commercial, TV, and Film, which concentrates on work in front of the camera, directed by a former casting director, Summer Brass Chamber Music Camp, which expands students' abilities to perform in duos, trios, quartets, and quintets; and Teen Improvisation and Monologue Workshop, which highlights improvisation techniques and exercises.

Programs being extended to adults include Art Appreciation: Demystifying Art, Acting Workshop for Adults for Commercial, TV, and Film, and Introduction to Literary Arts. Additionally, there is a summer dance program available to middle and high school students as well as adults. The program will center around intermediate and advanced classes in ballet, modern, and jazz. For further information on summer programs, please visit chaterarts.org.