Art News for 4th 9 weeks:

This is a very busy time in the elementary art world.

ART GALLERY SHOWS***On April 7th there will be an opening reception 5:00-7:00 at the Wilkes Art Gallery for the North District, which includes Mulberry Elementary. ***The art gallery show for Central District (North Wilkesboro Elementary) will have a reception on April 28th. Students who have art exhibited will receive invitations-please come and bring your families! This is a special honor to celebrate art education and your child's creativity.

STONE CENTER GALLERY***On May 4th there will be a reception at the Stone Center for student artists who have artwork displayed in the hallway/gallery at our Board of Education Building. Students with art on display will receive invitations. If you have not yet visited the Stone Center, check out the art by our students-it is worth the trip!

PTO PROGRAMS***On April 9th, there will be an Art/Music program at North Wilkesboro Elementary, beginning at 6:00. Come and see the art all over the school, watch your children sing and perform under the direction of Hazel Chapman, and enjoy refreshments. ***On May 12th Mulberry's PTO program will showcase art, music and physical education activities by our kindergarteners, beginning at 6:30.

Wilkes County Public Library currently has "Mount Recognition-More" papier mache sculptures by North Wilkesboro Elementary 5th graders on display in the children's section. These art projects were made as part of a student research assignment on African Americans who have made significant contributions to our culture and society.

 *It is now April 21st, and the Mount Recognition-Mores have returned from the public library. Some of them will be exhibited in the Wilkes Art Gallery, and one will be on display at our Board of Education building. I am busy getting lart ready for those exhibits.

* Thanks to all who helped out and participated in our PTO Art/Music Night. It was nice to see so many parents and celebrate students' artistic and musical accomplishments.

*The 5th graders at North Wilkesboro are currently making reading lamps out of clay, while Mulberry's 5th graders are making clay whistles.

*The outdoor program at North Wilkesboro has been busy digging a big hole, searching unsuccessfully (so far) for a time capsule that was buried around 1981. The students have also cleared the nature trail of leaves, brush and some fallen logs. This week they will work on some landscaping projects around our school.

Update, May 12th 2009

*Last PTO tonight at Mulberry school, where kindergarten art will be displayed. Kindergarteners will be performing in a musical program, and demonstrating P.E. skills.

*May 11th was the reception/kick-off for the Larry Harris Outdoor Camp which will be in session June 14-19. Mr. Lyall (PE NWES), Mr. Williams (PE CCW), Mrs. Horrell, Mr. Rodney Graham, the Harris Family and the Rangers at Kerr Scott Lake will be instructing 20 students from NWES and CCW in outdoor skills. These include archery, hiking, biking, geocaching, water safety and canoeing. Students will also be doing a community service project. The camp will be held at the lake. We are extremely grateful to the Harris family for making this camp possible.

*We appreciate all of the parents who volunteered at our MerleFest booth, and everyone who bought funnel cakes and snow cones. As state funding for our children's education is decreased, we will be depending more on our community and our creativity to make public education strong, meaningful and prepare our children for a better future.