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State of the Arts

Educators have long recognized the value of music, art, drama and writing for students’ creative development and academic success. This series highlights the many enriching ways students are experiencing the arts.

‘She will fill your bucket if you are empty’

Godwin Heights Erin Albanese

This art teacher provides a solid skill base, then encourages her students to infuse their work with elements of their own lives. And she shares her own, which she says creates a safe space for them to reflect...

Students express selves through words, drawings, and their own hands

State of the Arts Morgan Jarema

Susan Langford’s studio art students made old-fashioned casts of their hands. They posed them to convey one or more concepts, then added their own drawing and words. The results were profound...

She chose music over medicine, and her students are glad she did

Rockstar Teachers Morgan Jarema

Wendy Tenney Tenney is one of 10 Michigan educators who were named as 2018-19 Regional Teachers of the Year...

Drama’s back, and students are ready to act

State of the Arts Erin Albanese

After five years without a program and, now, with a renovated auditorium, a stockpile of props pulled from storage and two enthusiastic new hires, Kelloggsville High School theater has been resurrected...

Haunting photo of ‘classy’ young woman takes top prize in Congressional competition

State of the Arts Charles Honey

Nick Ensing’s photo “Classy,” taken of his good friend Mariah Jennings, was named grand prize winner and will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year

Director takes joy in teaching student musicians, ‘to see what they can do and where they go’

Rockstar Teachers Charles Honey

Band director Greg Wells grew up as part of Northview’s proud tradition, in a family of music educators, and feels honored to carry it on

Student mural takes learning out to the hall

Kent City Janice Holst

When the the art class moved into new semester, students who preferred painting to other media took to decorating the hallways

Students Leave a Legacy to Last, in Clay

Grandville Jaye Beeler

By making hundreds of clay tiles utilizing form, line, shape and texture, high school students unleashed their creativity in creating a hallway mural

Students Play a Happy Tune with Symphony Pros

Comstock Park Morgan Jarema

The three strings musicians who visited Pine Island Elementary this week didn't have to do a whole song and dance to hold the attention...

Portraying History Through Art

Forest Hills Morgan Jarema

Freshman Daniel Zawodny can tell you about a courtyard confrontation between artistic rivals Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. And while freshman Brock Sweezie admits he’s...

At Home on the Range

Cedar Springs Janice Holst

"Zinga, zinga, zinga, zoo." "Higher ... now higher ... still higher," said vocal teacher Linda Tata. The boys repeated the melodic phrase in higher and higher...

Necessity, Not Luxury

Kelloggsville Erin Albanese

Art teacher Amber Warren sees the difference in students who have had experience in art and those who haven't. The latter have little faith...

Giving Voice to Children

Grand Rapids Linda Odette

Most elementary students have never attended an opera. Coit Creative Arts Academy fourth- and fifth-grade students have created, produced and performed one. The project, done...

The Play’s the Thing; So’s the Writing

Northview Charles Honey

A lengthy short story from the mind of Eliot King comes to life onstage in a powerful pantomime by Marissa Schutter and Donovan Fletcher....

Art Walk Homage to Award-winning Artists

Grandville Jaye Beeler

At Century Park Learning Center, a riot of color swirling like a Chihuly tangle of glass sprouted all over the school. The inspiration for...

Make Art, Then Prosper

State of the Arts Charles Honey

When Tricia Erickson was a little girl, her mother found her drawing pictures of Yogi Bear and his cartoon friends Tricia watched on TV....

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School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Friend, athlete, advocate uses abilities to help others

Her career path was laid in first grade

She helps students develop language, read, write & grow

Not just a volunteer, but ‘a piece of the library’

Mobile Farm Science Lab ‘udder-ly’ engaging

Partnership pairs high-schoolers with scientists for real-world research

Simulated crime ties science, critical thinking & data analysis

Opportunities abound at first in-house career fair

Method offers trauma-informed approach to managing students in crisis

Friend, athlete, advocate uses abilities to help others

Students explore job opportunities, build skills with holiday market

Concert empowers students to move to the music

State of the Arts

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