VINALHAVEN SCHOOL ENRICHMENT

In 2007, by a unanimous decision of the board, PIE welcomed the Vinalhaven School Enrichment Committee (VSEC) as part of our ongoing quest to serve our island kids.  VSEC has an extraordinary history of adding integrated programs to the classes at all grade levels.  From art and writing residencies, a poetry festival, inter-island collaborative events na dmuch more, VSEC has enhanced the education of our children since 1999. Because VSEC fits so beautifully into PIE’s mission, we decided to take on the work of raising the funds for VSEC programs.  Here’s a look at what VSEC will be funding this year!

PAPER MAKING WITH
ARTIST RICHARD LEE

Mr. Lee came to Vinalhaven school in 2004 as part of the Inter Island Arts Festival.  His papermaking workshop was a hit and this fall he returned for a longer residency with our elementary and middle school students. Each student made 1-2 pieces of paper.  Mr. Lee then presented to students about journaling in fun and creative ways, using example from his journals documenting his trips to many countries around the world.  Mr. Lee also did an evening workshop for adults. Check out his work at www.leepapers.com

LOST BOYS OF SUDAN VISIT

Bol Riiny is from Sudan, where a civil war killed over 2 million and displaced over 27,000 people, mostly young boys. He has spent the past eight years living in the United States, first in Massachussets and currently in New York where he is attending college. In response to a request from Middle School teacher Amy Palmer, who is teaching a unit on immigration as part of her social studies curriculum, Vinalhaven School Enrichment was able to bring Bol out to speak to students in grades 5-12, as well as give an evening presentation to the community in Smith Hokanson Memorial Hall. Bol made fast friends with his kindness and humor that ran throughout his stories of surviving the terrible tragedy he faced. He hopes to return to Vinalhaven soon!

LIBBY MARCUS, MASK MAKING WORKSHOP

Mask making is part of the drama curriculum for students in grades K-5.  To help her teach students about masks, Irene Dennis requested a residency with professional Mask maker, Libby Marcus of Portland.  Libby spent two days on Vinalhaven and worked with students in grades 1-5 during the school day.  She also ran an afterschool workshop for Middle School and High School students and an evening plaster mask workshop for adults.  Grades 3-4-5 are studying insects, so Libby guided the students through a fun activity that produced ladybugs, flies, doodlebugs, bees and much more!  To fit in with the rainforest studies of grades 1&2, Libby had the students make colorful rainforest bird masks with torn tissue paper and lots of feathers!

WOODCARVING RESIDENCY

Camden National Bank recently awarded PIE $2,000 for a traditional woodworking residency with artists Lucas Zee and Diana Cherbuliez.Lucas and Diana will work with students in grades K-12 at the Vinalhaven School to use traditional woodcarving techniques to carve a complete apple tree using wood harvested from land on Vinalhaven.  The completed project will be an installation piece that will be shared with the extended Vinalhaven community for years to come.

POETRY FESTIVAL

PIE is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a grant as part of the New Century Community Program made possible by a matching grant from the Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Arts Commission. The award, in the amount of $1,000, will be used by the Vinalhaven School Enrichment Committee to fund a workshop with a slam poet as part of the Poetry Festival that runs from April 28 to May 2. Grades 6-12 will work with Hashim Allah and his bass accompanist Duane Edwards to listen to, critic, write and perform slam poetry. There will be a live Poetry Alive! slam at the Harbor Gawker on Tuesday April 29 at 6:00pm. Other jazzy special events will include parking lot chalk poetry, burma shave signs and an all-school assemble, the whole town will know that these kids are rhyming!