Students
“I love the Art Room!” Kindergarten student, Trudeau
“I can’t believe this is learning.” Grade 3 student, Nightingale
“So exciting…the paint! We use a roller to put the paint. Then we put white paper and black paper. I make a clam!” Kindergarten student, Trudeau
“I am glad I got to be a real artist. It brought me joy.” Seymour elementary student
“This has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Grade 7 student, Grandview
Parents
“Our students and school community are so fortunate to have such creative and explorative learning in this age of technology and cuts to education.”
"The confidence and ability that my child has expressed and experienced is priceless. I wish every child could have the opportunity to explore their creativity in such a way.”
“When I saw the photographs for the first time, I was blown away by the professional look of the photos. It was incredible to see how the students were able to transform something so simple as patterns into art.”
“My students are among the most at risk children in the Vancouver Public School system. The art studio is like a combination of brain development and therapy for them. These children gradually learn to step out of their hurt and to create something that they are proud of. School is the usually the only place where these students experience art and healthy mentor-like relationships. As we have witnessed here at Nightingale, the benefit of an artist in residence for children at risk can be life changing.”
Deb Routledge, SEAD program
“During my many visits to the Art and Discovery Studio I witnessed students who may otherwise have been unmotivated and/or behaviorally challenged, emerge as excited artists. Through the arts, these students became confident and empowered. One grade two student, who had just completed 20 weeks of intensive reading support, had written and illustrated a book for his final project. When I commented on the outstanding illustrations he interrupted politely and proudly exclaimed “I learned to draw like that right here!” as he pointed around the Art and Discovery Studio.“ This moment reinforced for me the absolute necessity for students to explore, create and observe the arts due to the complete, student engagement it brings; social emotionally and academically.”
Christine Chambers, resource teacher
