Spotlight on Valley Pre-School Art and Music Events
Valley Pre-School's 2012-2013 year is quickly coming to an end but May has been a month alive with the arts.[spacer height="20px"]
The Art Show was held on May 1st. Years ago, teacher Sally Moon launched the idea of having an art show with the 4 year old classes. Now that idea has evolved into a day that is the culmination of a year's worth of artistic exploration with the children. [spacer height="20px"]Classrooms are transformed, classical music is softly played, canap's are served to guests, and the children act as guides leading their family and friends around for a museum experience beyond their dreams. This year's guest artist, Phoebe Kass Berkel, remarked, "I have been to countless art shows and this is unlike anything I've ever seen!"[spacer height="20px"]
The children work in all different media throughout the year, and display their creations. Texture tiles, melted crayon constructions, wood sculpture, still life with watercolor, photography, paper making, stabiles, collage, fabric art, free painting, and group sculpture were some of the displays. This year, gardening in spring inspired Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Moon's class sculpture. Mrs. Tawney and Mrs. Goldman's class sculpture was an entire Fairy Village! Their inspiration came from a trip taken by the teachers in the fall to the Wee Fairie Village exhibit at The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.[spacer height="20px"]
The children are exposed to a variety of artists and their styles. Math, science, history, and literacy are neatly woven throughout the art projects. The philosophies of "process over product" and individuality in design are central to the creation of the pieces in the show.[spacer height="20px"]
Parents, grandparents, and friends of the artists as well as alumni were amazed by the show. Audrey Laird, an alumni parent noted, "There is nothing like this. This experience is one of the things they remember!"[spacer height="20px"]
Valley Pre-School's teachers would like to thank the many guest artists over the years who have so willingly contributed their time and talent in working with the children.' Phoebe Kass Berkel, Maggie Burnett, Gretchen Brown, Laura Eden, Bill Simpson, Avis Cherichetti, Brad McDougall, Sally Markey, Sharon Mayock, and Steven Brown have made a lasting impression on the children.[spacer height="20px"]
Musically, Valley Pre-School was honored to bring Ben Toth, Chairman of the Department of Percussion at the Hartt School and his son Benjamin, a VPS alum, to the school for a percussion concert once again. It was informative, engaging and beyond the imagination of the parents and grandparents also in attendance.' In a manner that preschoolers could understand, the Toths shared their extensive knowledge of the origins of percussion and the variety of percussion instruments from around the world. Marimba, steel drums, geelee, rick, and djembe were just some of the instruments that the children experienced. A lot of smiles and a great deal of moving with the beat was seen as the percussion music filled Cook Hall. As a finale, while the Toths performed their last piece, the children accompanied them on their own percussion instruments they had previously made in the classroom. And, further inspired, the children continued their own percussion concert at the end of the morning on the Imagination Platform on the school's playground. What incredible sounds filled the air! Valley Pre-School is grateful to the Toths for sharing their talent with the children.[spacer height="20px"]
If you are interested in having your child experience Valley Pre-School, we are currently accepting applications for the 2013-2014 school year. Please visit us at [spacer height="20px"]www.valleypreschoolinfo.org or call 860 653-3641 for more information.