GREENVILLE – St. Mary’s Catholic School, in Greenville, is gearing up for its “Spring Spectacular”.
This annual event celebrates the diversity of the school, showcasing the students’ talent, St. Mary’s Art Teacher Sherry Myers said.
“It also brings more awareness to the school and allows the students to be proud and show their families their work,” she said. “It’s a fantastic show. People need to come and see how well-rounded our students are.”
In addition to art work, some of the other projects on display will include: science fair, computer, keyboarding, history and social studies. Students will sing songs and the Special Display will feature “The Wonderful World of Dr. Seuss.” This display is a collaboration of St. Mary’s School and staff. Each grade has been assigned different parts of the Seuss world. Guests are led on a pathway, including sound effects, through different places and characters inspired by Seuss. Myers smiles a lot when she talks about her students and their work.
Each school grade has its own projects. For example, the 7th and 8th grade students have been doing wood burning, making clocks and children’s books with a 3-D character. The 5th and 6th-graders have been making textile collages and quilling, which is coiled paper art. Students are prepared for advanced projects by way of the first eight – 12 weeks of art class, Myers explained. They work on the basics, such as techniques of shading and design. To demonstrate their progress, Myers keeps their sketch books from 5th – 8th grades. Sometimes they comes in handy.
“I don’t allow negativity in here,” Myers said. “If the students say they can’t draw or have no talent, or compare themselves to others, I get out their sketch books and say, ‘Look how much you have improved!’”
According to Myers, art is important as it opens up the children’s minds.
“It makes them creative and gets them to step out of their box,” she said. “It is a proven fact that art and music both increase the ability to think. We don’t all have to be the same. Art creates a lot of individuality – it is so important.”
St. Mary’s Spring Spectacular will take place Monday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the school. For more information, visit http://www.smsgvl.com/school/
