Excerpted from the Tacoma Weekly
By John Larson
A group of students at Sheridan Elementary School have been exploring their artistic abilities on Monday afternoons.
Catherine Swanson heard that Communities In Schools of Tacoma was looking for volunteers for an after-school art project. She spoke to John Levi III, coordinator of programs for Communities in School at Sheridan, and offered her services.
Levi had contacted the city of Tacoma, which sent the notice out on its art listserv e-mail list. When Swanson responded, Levi checked out her website and learned about her background.
“She is an established artist. I thought that would be important,” Levi said. “She seemed like a good fit.”
Sheridan does not offer a class specifically on art; teachers incorporate art into other subjects when appropriate.
“That is where we come in,” Levi said. “We provide things schools are not able to have anymore, due to lack of funding or other reasons.”
In January, Levi put together a list of after-school programs and students were able to sign up. The art class has a fee of $20 and a maximum of 25 children can participate.
They have met each Monday afternoon for the past nine weeks; the class ends on March 15.
Several students from the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Mt. Tahoma High School are assistant teachers. One is Aaron Scafe, a junior.
“They are learning shapes, how to compare and contrast colors,” Scafe said of the children.
He said the class reminded him of after-school programs when he was that age. “We love the kids and try to make them have fun.”
Levi will not have an art class in spring, but hopes to offer it through the entire 2010-11 school year. “Youth need art,” he said. “This gives them a chance to explore the artist within them. It is like a breath of fresh air.”