The staff and especially the K-2 students of Fireweed Academy would like to thank Bunnell Street Arts Center and the Alaska State Council on the Arts for continuing to fund the Artist in Schools program. Courtesy of this program, local ceramicist Jeff Szarzi spent a week at Little Fireweed, presenting an interactive “Myths and Legends in Clay” program with our younger students. The kids spent time interacting with Jeff and each other as they explored the ever changing world of clay, creating pinch pots and pendants and experiencing a Raku firing on the playground. It was a perfect project for our third quarter theme of change.

With current budgetary concerns regarding the defunding of the NEA, it is so important to see the learning connections take place as students see their pendants emerge from the firing looking so different, so changed by the heat. Learning opportunities come in many forms and fashion, the arts connection being one of the strongest.

Thanks, again, and we are looking forward to many more Artist in Schools experiences.