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The group recently awarded its newest round of grants to four Pennsbury teachers during a brief ceremony held in the Superintendent's Conference Room at the Pennsbury Administration Building in Fallsington.
The PAF, now in its sixth year of bringing the arts to Pennsbury students, is thrilled to offer this second round of grants for the 2003-2004 school year, again giving Pennsbury teachers the opportunity to expand the curriculum, said the organization's president Dave Yantz.
"We've had some wonderful programs in the past. But we know there's a lot more out there," said Phyllis Eisner, who co-chairs the education and outreach committee with Valda Wohlhueter. "We're delighted to give more awards and we're hoping that more teachers will take advantage of the opportunity."
The foundation encourages teachers to come up with the programs to be presented and then to present their ideas to the foundation for consideration.
"Some of them have been so fabulous," said Eisner. "One of the programs described the origins of the song, 'Follow the Drinking Gourd.' Another invited Irish dancers into the school as part of gym class.
"Children are learning wonderful things and connecting it through this," said Eisner.
This spring, teachers Maria Gregory, James Moyer and Jason Vodicka and Danyele Lala will share mini-grants.
Gregory, a teacher at Afton Elementary School, will use her mini-grant to underwrite a program entitled, "Photography Journal," through which students are expanding their language arts skills.
According to Gregory, each child has received a personal hand-held camera. Throughout the spring, they will use the cameras to document personal experiences they have in the classroom and at home. The youngsters are using the photographs to illustrate scrapbook journals, which integrates writing into the project.
At Pennsbury High School East, James Moyer and Jason Vodicka will underwrite a "Choral Music Workshop with Dr. James Jordan" with their arts foundation grant. The program is designed to give students from the various choirs at the high school the chance to work with an internationally known choral music educator.
"We're very excited about the program," said Moyer. "Dr. Jordan is coming in for five different rehearsals with our 10th, 11th and 12th graders in the choral music department...He's electric and magnetic and able to bring out that extra spark in the kids and give them an extra boost."
Meanwhile, Danyelle Lala, a teacher at Walt Disney Elementary School, will use her mini-grant to continue to provide scholarships for an after-school "Art Enrichment Program" provided by the Michener Art Museum. The program includes an exhibition of student artwork at the Children's Art Gallery at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown.
"The work of Danyelle Lala is probably the finest you can find when it comes to elementary art education in the district," said Disney principal Fay Manicke, who accepted the grant on behalf of Lala, who was unable to attend. "She's just a wonderful young woman who is full of energy and ideas."
Last year, Lala spearheaded a project to decorate a mule at the Disney school. The mule, which included scenes from Bucks County, was done in the tradition of the Bucks County Impressionists.
Michielle Deis, speaking on behalf of superintendent Ralph Nuzzolo and as vice president of the Pennsbury School Board, personally thanked the foundation "not only for your hard work that I have experienced first hand, but for what you're doing in the district to enhance arts education."
Deis continued, "We've always known in Pennsbury that the arts, both visual and performing, are important. In fact, she said, many studies have shown that students who participate in the visual and performing arts are more successful. It's due to this group, your hard work, your dedication throughout the year that twice a year we can give out grants to the teachers and demonstrate the arts are very important to the district."
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The Pennsbury Arts Foundation, started by community activists dedicated to the Arts, was created in 1997 "to enhance the quality of education of the Pennsbury School District's students and faculty by fostering the growth and development of the visual and performing arts in the district."
The PAF is a registered nonprofit organization, with full 501(c)(3) status. Tax-deductible donations are always accepted, and all funds raised by PAF benefit the Pennsbury community.
The next fund-raiser will be held Sunday, April 18 when the PAF holds its Second Annual Longaberger Basket Bingo. It takes place at Westaby Hall in Fairless Hills. The fun starts at 2 p.m., with doors opening at noon. Tickets are $15 (until April 14), which includes three bingo cards. Four hundred tickets are available for the event, which nearly sold out in its first outing last year.
For information, call Denise Sabatini at 215-943-9073. For information about the foundation, call 215-428-4175. New members are always welcomed.
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