Schools

Donation To Bolster 'Critical' Arts Education at Hopkins Hill

Balise Automotive Group donated $2,000 to the elementary school after a student's grandmother won a contest at an arts festival.


As school systems struggle with budget shortages and diminishing funds, art and music programs are often among the first to be slashed. But one local school's art program got a boost Wednesday, thanks to a contest sponsored by Balise Automotive Group.

Balise presented Hopkins Hill Elementary School with a $2,000 check during an assembly Wednesday, the result of a contest at a Providence art festival last Christmas season. Fourth-grader Elyssa Pelliccione and her grandmother, Michelle McGaughey, tried to figure out how many balloons were stuffed inside a Volkswagon Beetle at the festival. The closest guesser would get tickets to see "Shrek The Musical" at the Providence Performing Arts Center and $2,000 to donate to any school. McGauhey's guess of 137 missed by just 1.

"She said it would be fun to go see Shrek, but she really wanted to give the money to the school," McCaughey said. "Elyssa was all excited. Balise was happy it would go to a town school, and a small school like Hopkins Hill."

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Elyssa said she was particularly happy because art and music are her favorite subjects in school. "You can be creative and express yourself," said Elyssa, who likes to draw, paint and play the recorder, and wants to learn the violin, flute and piccolo. "I like to do everything. There are no mistakes. You can show the world what you have."

In addition to funding supplies for her and her classmates' education, Elyssa wanted to pay her good fortune forward, donating a portion of the funds. Art teacher Sarah Hemendinger ran with the idea, involving her art students in the process.

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"I want the kids to design canvas bags and fill them with art supplies and donate them to an area shelter," Hemendinger said, adding the other half will be used to bolster Hopkins Hill's supplies. "It can be tough for them. Maybe this can be an outlet for them."

Art is an outlet for all the students, Hemendinger said, as well as a critical component of education that helps students with all their other classes. Whenever possible, she partners with teachers of other subjects to pair her lessons with theirs. Some students are working on drawings of sea creatures like single and bi-valve shells and clams that they are learning about in science class, for example.

"Art is one of the few areas left where students can solve problems on their own," said Hemendinger, who teaches art at Hopkins Hill and Blackrock Elementary schools. "They learn to think creatively and problem solve creatively. They can use those lessons in math and in all kinds of subjects. There are no wrong answers. It's an opportunity to be creative."

Nick Zammarelli, who teaches music at both schools, said Coventry students are lucky to have the administration's support for the arts. Art classes, for example, were increased this year from 30 minutes a week to 48 minutes, he said, and the School Committee and administration — along with Balise, which funded the contest specifically to benefit arts education — have shown an understanding of the critical importance of art in schools.

"They understand the value arts hold in public schools," Zammarelli said. "A fine arts program is the difference between a good education and a well-rounded education."

Principal Tracy Whitehead echoed his appreciation of arts in education. "We are very lucky to have such a wonderful arts program," she said. "Fine arts enriches our lives and helps make us better people."


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