Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Fifth grade student Samir Robles carves out a snowmam from a bar of soap during Juniata Gap Elementary School’s 25th annual Day of Arts celebration Thursday morning.
Students at Juniata Gap Elementary spent a good portion of the day Thursday taking part in creative activities during the 25th annual Day of Arts celebration.
Area mascots — including those from Sweet Frog, Texas Roadhouse and the Altoona Curve — helped set the tone for a day of fun as they greeted students, who then broke off into groups to rotate through a variety of stations set up at the school.
Kindergarten students switched between stations, featuring dancing, yoga and music, and a drumming demonstration from Ebner Elementary students.
Scott Pappal and Michele Leasure, of Ebner’s Dancing Drums, said the Day of Arts gives students a chance to develop self-confidence by working together in front of the Juniata Gap students.
Ebner’s Dancing Drums performed two songs for the Juniata Gap students and showed them how they practice their techniques on the drums.
Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Fifth graders Brynn Rhykerd (right) and Samir Robles carve soap during Juniata Gap Elementary School’s 25th annual Day of Arts celebration Thursday morning.
“We think it’s a great opportunity for the students to perform for their peers,” Leasure said. “During both songs, there are times when they can be featured soloists as well.”
Pappal added, “There’s a big element of creativity there that’s not thought out in advance. It’s very spur of the moment.”
In the first grade, students painted rocks, watched a theater presentation and learned to dance with Mindy Frye, the artistic director of Sigel’s School of Dance.
Frye said she has fun by watching the kids get excited while learning how to dance.
“I love to share my passion with the kids,” she said. “I look forward to this. It’s one of my favorite days of the year.”
Mirror photo by Matt Churella
Fifth grade student Ellie Keener carves out a heart-shaped piece of soap during Juniata Gap Elementary School’s 25th annual Day of Arts celebration Thursday morning.
She has participated as a presenter in the Day of the Arts celebration since her eldest daughter, who is now in college, was in elementary school. Her other daughter, 15-year-old Ava, now helps her share their dancing passion with the kids.
Frye said that dancing is considered an important art form because of the movement the dancers create on the stage.
“It’s beautiful to watch,” she said. “Art is beautiful to watch and so are the dancers. They train their bodies to control their balance and movements through their art form.”
Students in the second grade learned to line dance with the Texas Roadhouse armadillo mascot, observed martial arts techniques and made paper sculptures with Leah Klevan of ArtsAltoona.
Since she hosts a program for elementary-aged children at ArtsAltoona, Klevan said she knows how to engage with the students to make their day special and enjoyable.
This year was her first time participating in the arts celebration.
“The students were so interested in the project. They really took to it, and it was so awesome to see,” she said, adding each student made a different, unique sculpture.
In addition to other activities, third grade students practiced blowing bubbles with performing artist Lynn Dalby; fourth grade students made portraits with artist Makenzie Woods; and fifth grade students carved soap with Dave Diedrich of Horseshoe Carvers.
Something to look forward to
Every year, the students look forward to this day as they experience new activities each year, school officials said.
Third grade students Izzy Burchfield and Jillian Howard gleamed with joy as they made bubbles with Dalby. Other students watched on with excitement, waiting for their turn.
In Diedrich’s soap-carving presentation, fifth grade students Brynn Rhykerd, Samir Robles and Ellie Keener all said that carving soap was their favorite activity of the day.
“This one is probably my favorite,” Rhykerd said of the activities she experienced throughout the day.
Juniata Gap Elementary Principal Tricia Rosas said the arts celebration brings in community members to share their talents with students. She said the celebration is a big deal for both the community members and the students.
“They love it,” Rosas said. “It’s a whole day of doing fine arts and having a good time.”
School officials said the Day of Arts would not have continued as long as it has without the generosity of the presenters, staff, community partners and parent volunteers.
It started as a vision
In 1998, Carolyn Sparks — along with Mary Kananen, Diane Robison and Gloria Banks — had a vision to give the arts as much attention as the school’s sports programs.
“They wanted to do something that would enhance the arts, not just drawing, but all of the arts,” Banks said.
She said the intention was to showcase things the students wouldn’t normally get to experience during a typical school day.
The four women formed a fine arts committee and decided that the event would take place throughout the entire day, so students would have an opportunity to experience all of the activities.
Banks, who retired as a teacher in 2011, has celebrated the arts with the students every year since she and the other committee members began the tradition.
When she speaks with former students, Banks said they all speak highly about the Day of Arts.
The best part of her day, she said, is seeing the students’ faces light up with joy when they get to engage with the arts.
“You never know when some activity is going to touch a child,” Banks said. “They may want to do something with that later in life.”
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.