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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The book sale at the intermediate school featured the sale of books for children and adults in both fiction and nonfiction. The money raised at the event went toward the Boardman Center Project to help improve the school and offer more opportunities to the students.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Boardman Center Intermediate School had a book sale and an art show on May 3. The art show showcased the works of all students in the school. Pictured, Daniel Becker stood by his piece, "Modern Day Mona Lisa."
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Boardman Center Intermediate art show included more than 1,000 pieces of art from 500 students. Teachers Lori Szoke and Kate Sears spoke about the positive impact the students have had from the art classes, such as providing a relaxing environment for students to express themselves creatively.
by ZACK SHIVELY
Boardman Center Intermediate School had a book sale on May 3 and 4 and an art show on May 3.
The book sale included books of all types in the school’s auditorium. The money raised through the sale went back to the school. The art show in the gymnasium showcased the talents of the fifth- and sixth-grade students at the school.
Assistant principal Matthew Beard said he wanted the book sale “to encourage the love of reading” and bolster family’s libraries. The best part, to him, is seeing families have interactions centered around reading and around bringing together the arts and academics.
The book sale had tables filled with different books, including both fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. The proceeds from the sale went toward the Boardman Center Project, which helps improve the school to give new opportunities to the children. In the past, the project has helped the school create a living room space for counseling.
The art show, created by the school’s art teachers Lori Szoke and Kate Sears, featured work from the students throughout the school year. Every student in the school has art class every day for a nine week period.
“It’s a nice reflection on the entire school year,” said Szoke. She said she enjoys that the event brings the community together to see the work that the students are creating.
Both teachers talked about the positive elements of making art. They said the artwork can often give students a creative outlet to express themselves. They both mentioned that it connects with the students’ core studies as their classes work on the children’s problem solving skills.
Sears said that her classroom becomes a relaxing, social environment for the students to realize their own talents. She said she has had students who are surprised by their artistic abilities. Szoke noted that the relaxing atmosphere is especially beneficial to the students around the end of the year when they are dealing with state tests.
The gallery had both two dimensional art, such as watercolor paintings and collages, and three dimensional art, such as ceramics and clay. They showed more than 1,000 pieces by 500 students. The teachers encouraged the parents and students to write kind words on sticky notes to place next to a piece of art.