SAAC Arts Academy registering for spring semester classes

The South Arkansas Arts Center’s Arts Academy offers a new roster of classes for the 2018 spring semester. Classes are offered for all ages, from PreK4 through high school.

Registration is open now in the SAAC office. The first week of the spring class schedule will begin the week of Jan. 8-12, and all classes meet for 12 weeks.

New to the visual arts line-up this semester is “Art in Spanish” for pre-K4 through fourth grade, with Maria Villegas, which will meet on Wednesdays from 3:30-4: 30 p.m. Learn basic Spanish in art class! Cost for this class is $125/145.

Gay Bechtelheimer will teach a pre-K4 art class which will meet on Mondays from 3:30-4:15, at a cost of $120/$140.

Visual arts instructor Maria Villegas will teach classes in art for students in grades K-12. K-1 will meet on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Villegas will teach art classes for students in grades 2-3 on Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The cost for these classes is $125/$145.

Visual Art for students in grades 4-6 with Villegas will be offered on Mondays from 3:30-4:45 p.m. For students in grades 7-12, Villegas will offer art classes on Wednesdays from 4:305:45 p.m. The cost for these classes is $140/$160.

Graphic artist Mike Means offers Graphic Arts for students in grades 2-12. Grades 2-3 will meet Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m and grades 4-6 will meet on Mondays from 4:45-5:45 p.m. The classes will meet for 12 weeks and the cost for these classes is $125/$145. For students in grades 7-12, Means will teach Graphic Arts on Mondays from 3:30-4:45 p.m. The cost will be $140/$160.

Special Gifts/Special Needs Art with instructors Jorge and Maria Villegas will meet on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The class meets for 12 weeks. Students will explore different ways of expression through the visual arts. Creativity promotes self-awareness and is a wonderful way to communicate individuality and share it with others. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Amy Allen will again head up Glee, which will meet on Mondays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for grades 1-12. The cost for Glee is $125/$145.

Drama classes, taught by Hannah Davis, will be offered for grades PreK4-12. The PreK4 drama class will meet on Thursdays from 3:154:00 p.m. Cost for PreK4 Drama is $120/$140. Drama K-1 will meet on Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Cost for Drama K-1 is $125/$145.

Drama students grades 2-8 will have a special opportunity to be part of the production of “Disney’s The Aristocats KIDS,” beginning with auditions which will be held on February 5-6 at 5:30 p.m. Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:45-5:30 p.m. The production is scheduled to run Apr. 20-21.

Drama Club grades 9-12 will be held on Thursdays from 3:45-5:00 p.m., with some additional scene work from 5-6 p.m., as needed. Class fee is $140/$160.

Brittany Williams/News-Times Top Dragons: Junction City Elementary students Kaeley Hunter, Samantha McLelland, Naomi Hancock and Khennedi Malone were recongized with Top Dragon awards during a school board meeting.

Cookies: Gardner Strong teacher Susan Haner, on right, recognizes the school’s top cookie dough sellers. Pictured, from left, are Autry Williams, Xhaden Williams, John David Darden, Dexton Howard and Peyton Franklin. Not pictured is Landan Massey.

Food: Smackover Elementary Student Council representatives Abby Fogle, Judson Wolfe and Madison Ham are pictured with 1007 cans that were collected in a food drive.

Ugly sweater: Smackover High School students Karli Willett, Karli Goocher, Harley Ainsworth, Jilli Russell, and Hannah Parker participated in the “ugly sweater day” before Christmas break.

Spelling bee: Janelle Drummond and Kaden Thompson are the runner up and winner of the Smackover Elementary School spelling bee.

Balloon: Smackover High School students Laken Loomis and Zach Lawrence ready their air balloon for launch on the football field.