MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY
A small group of Thompson School District middle school students explored their creative sides Wednesday as they took part in the annual Shadows in the Arts program.
The program, according to the district’s website, is a cooperative endeavor among teachers, artists and the Gifted and Talented Education Office designed to bring community artists together with groups of students to “introduce the student to the artist and (their) particular medium.”
Every year district art teachers are asked for student nominees on the basis of the student’s genuine interest in the arts, artistic talents, maturity and eagerness to be a part of this program, the website added.
“To me it is creating the experiences that allow kids to shine,” said Michelle Stout, Gifted and Talented parent liaison and enrichment coordinator. “(Kids) who might not shine in a (traditional) academic context.”
A small group of local middle-schoolers during this year’s program got to work with local potter Amy Hosterman. Throughout the day Hosterman went over where she gets her clay and what kinds of clay you can use, and also let the students go through some of the process of preparing the clay.
By the afternoon, students were able to get to work making their own mugs that will be fired while they are on spring break.
“They (were) antsy to get in and start making stuff,” Hosterman said, later adding “it’s super fun to see all (their) creative sides come out.”
Stout said the program has had a great influence on many of the students who went through it, allowing them to express and let out their creativity. She said one time a grandparent said their grandchild was terrified to be in the program, but when she came back , she was a completely different kid.
“If we’re doing that, we are doing good,” she said.