PCES celebrates art success

Phil Campbell Mayor Steve Bell speaks as part of PCES’ art show.

By Alison James

FCT Managing Editor

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Artistic expression found its place at Phil Campbell Elementary School this year, and the community celebrated students’ artistic accomplishments with an end-of-th-year show recently.

“It was an opportunity for our showchoir to perform and all of our art to be displayed,” explained visual arts teacher Jessica Gandy Peppers, who, along with Michelle Marbutt, provided artistic opportunities for PCES students this year . “Family and school members were able to go around and view it while other students performed on stage.”

PCES principal Jackie Ergle said it was an Art Education Initiative Grant that allowed PCES to implement the artistic outlets that began this past school year, and PCES was among five schools in the state to have its grant renewed for another year.

“We were thrilled,” Ergle said. “We had never actually had any of what you call ‘art,’ and we had never had a showchoir or bell choir … Our kids have really shown a lot of interest. This is an avenue a lot of our students have talent in, and they’ve never been able to showcase their talent.”

Peppers said one exciting development has been to see the cross-curricular nature of art in the school day – core curriculum teachers have been able to incorporate art into their lessons, and Peppers ties her art classes back into what the students learn in science or English, for example.

“If you incorporate the arts in any form, there are better connections made back to the basic subjects,” Peppers said. “It really does help the learning process.”

Peppers and Ergle both commented on the value of the end-of-the-year show to display students creations and talent.

“I think it boosted their confidence to see others brag on (them),” Peppers said.

Ergle agreed. “We feel like it was a success,” she said. “It was just a way to showcase the accomplishments of our kids … Some of them are going to be quite the little artists when they grow up. They really do have a lot of talent.”

With the grant renewed for another year, Ergle said she is excited to see the art program grown and expand at PCES.

“I’m just so proud of the accomplishments that our staff has made this year working with the arts initiative,” Ergle said. “The attitude and excitement I have seen from our teachers and the excitement I’ve seen from our children and our parents – it’s like a circle of enthusiasm that has just brought our school to a new level.”