Have you ever heard 562 children breathe a collective sigh of happiness? If so, you may have been a party to the annual Artsmart! celebration held in May at Mark Twain Elementary School. With anticipation, kids look forward to the five days devoted to a celebration of the arts and diversity. Students in every classroom have the opportunity to dabble in a variety of art forms while putting traditional curriculum on hold. Peace-building, self-expression and investigation of cultural diversity are at the heart of the celebration.
In its sixth year, the Artsmart! program mixes tradition with innovation. With collaboration and feedback from the Twain community, the core elements of the celebration, such as the open house and assemblies, showcase favorite dances and songs while a new guest artist helps add the splash of a new dimension. Students at every grade level spend significant time preparing to share their talents in classrooms, on walls, in halls, around the school, in shared spaces and in the commons. The school comes alive with the rhythm of art, music and drama where diversity, tolerance and peace take on visible form.
The staff and students of Mark Twain extend its appreciation for the generous support of this program to the PTSA and Kirkland community members. We thank them for this opportunity to explore ourselves through immersion into the cultures of many. Our hope is that it will foster peace and the acceptance of others; and that it will be felt far into the future as our students make their way into the world.
Artsmart! festivities include workshops with visiting artist, Roger Kukes: May 16 - May 18. The "Wonderful World Walk" (community open house) is May 20, from 1:20-3:00 p.m.
Debbie Drake is a 6th-grade teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School.
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