Kids Take Assorted Stuff And Create Works Of Art
The rocket ship had a tartar sauce cup for a nose, and cardboard wings. Popsicle sticks made its sturdy body.
The ballerinas’ arms, created from purple pipecleaner, curved gracefully.
But Molly Tenney, a ballet student herself, wasn’t entirely happy.
“I’m trying to make everything even,” said the sixth-grader.
An array of artwork emerged in Nancy Hicks’ sixth-grade class at Chester Elementary this week. The raw materials ranged from peanuts in the shell, to scraps of cloth, fake fur, poker chips, tiny plastic chests that dentists hand out for discoveries by the Tooth Fairy … you name it. The work took place under the guidance of art docent Joyce Hawkins.
“We’re recycling junk and creating art,” Hawkins said.
The two- and three-dimensional collages are part of an art exchange with a school in Russia. Today the Chester artwork is being packed up. In March, project organizer Sami Perry hopes, Chester will receive packages of Russian children’s artwork in return.
The young Chester artists were encouraged to create art about their world - Riverfront Park, Grand Coulee Dam, a special tree in front of their school.
Some chose soccer, or skiing. The Spokane Indians had their own collage. So did DARE.
Stay tuned for news about the art from Russia.
West Valley at the mall
How do you conduct a concert of fourth-graders playing recorders at University City Shopping Center, and keep all the kids in time and on track?
With great animation. And a neat trick.
West Valley music teacher Anne Thurman directed fourth-graders last week from Ness and Orchard Center elementary schools as they played their recorders.
Thurman used dynamic gestures, both hands showing one, two or three fingers outstretched. A rather unusual conducting technique, it seemed.
But it was her method for making sure the kids knew just how to manage the fingering for each note.
The song “Linus and Lucy” never sounded better.
Juggle an evening for FUN
Central Valley parents and children can go to one of two Family University Nights next week.
On Tuesday at Greenacres Elementary and Thursday at University Elementary, mini-conferences will range from juggling to computers to math games and true stories about dolphins. The courses are open to children from kindergarten through sixth grade.
Other class topics include on decorating a kite, making angels, hands-on writing ideas, beading and making decisions about education after elementary school.
Registration is first come, first served, starting each night at 6:30 in the gym. Two sessions are offered for the classes, at 7:05-7:55 p.m. and 8-8:50 p.m.
The sessions are free. For further information, call 922-6991.
Violin recital
University High School senior Sarah Scales will perform her senior recital at 4 p.m., on March 2 at Whitworth College.
Scales, 18, has studied violin for eight years and performed with the Spokane Youth Orchestra, Dvorica String Quartet, Concertmistress Valley Junior Orchestra, Central Valley Orchestra, All State Orchestra, All Northwest Orchestra. She has performed as a guest violinist for St. Mary’s Catholic Church, for weddings, and she teaches violin.
Pancakes for choir, wrestlers
A pancake breakfast on Saturday in Central Valley High School’s multipurpose room will benefit both CV’s A Capella Choir and the CV wrestling team.
The choir is raising money to travel to Chicago this spring for national competition.
Hours are from 7-10 a.m. Breakfast will be $10 for a family or $3 per individual.
Recognizing teens
The deadline for nominating Spokane-area teens for the annual Chase Youth Awards is Wednesday. For more information, call 625-6440.
Meritorious at CV
If you know someone in the Central Valley community who has supported students and schools in an outstanding way, consider nominating that person or organization for the district’s Meritorious Service Award.
Call 922-6706 for more information.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MEMO: If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a Valley school or about the achievements of Valley students, teachers or school staff, please let us know at the Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.