Arts Extravaganza 2011

What an incredible week! This is the week that we celebrate the arts at Chets Creek. This is an annual tradition. I am always amazed at all that is done at our school! The school is alive with the student's work. There is a beautiful sunflower garden as you enter the school that was produced by 3rd graders using recycled water bottles! Then there is art work on every single wall as you walk through the halls of projects that have been completed all year. It's like going to an art gallery!

On Tuesday we heard the Fletcher Middle School Band which featured three former Creekers. They were so-o-o-o good! The kids especially loved the drum line! Then on Wednesday we were entertained by a play put on by the gifted classes at Chets Creek. That program continues to grow and this year featured music beginning in the 50's through the modern era!On Thursday we heard the incredible Sandalwood Chorus. The final number which was a Michael Jackson number was my class' favorite!


The Book Fair has also been open all week and even had evening hours so children could shop with their families. The Book Fairy, as usual, gave books to children all over the school that could not afford to buy books! Jen Snead, our head Art teacher, has been selling the children's framed art work each night. If you've ever had a piece of your child's art framed, you realize what a bargain this is! Then there are the baskets that each homeroom has put together which will be part of a silent auction ending Friday night. The baskets are absolutely unbelievable. All of the money is used to help fund the art programs. And then the highlight of the week is the family night on Friday which includes fun and free art events for all the family to participate! All of the week's activities are headed by our arts' teachers but get help from teachers and families all over the school. It's so hard to believe that with all the arts program offers to the children of our school that Duval County is getting ready to decrease our money for arts by 25%. In our school it may mean that the teachers double up on students and take two classes together. How thin can you spread a teacher and still expect quality instruction? These are difficult decisions in very stressful times! For now we thank all of our teachers of the arts who give so unselfishly of their time and talents!