Story by Ainsley Hall
HEDGESVILLE — Tomahawk Intermediate School hosted a Fall Family Art Night, where students displayed their artwork themed after Hispanic cultures.
Students shared their class projects with their families and learned more about other cultures.
Erin Sponaugle, art teacher at Tomahawk Intermediate, hosted the first Family Art Night last spring, where she invited families to come and support their kids’ love for art
After such a successful event, she thought it would be a great idea to have a similar event in the fall. This school year’s theme is “Around the World in 80 Days,” so Sponaugle decided to find different art projects based on Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean.
“I wanted to teach students about different cultures through art,” Sponaugle said. “It also helped our Hispanic students feel seen and appreciated as we learned more about their cultures.”
Students Erica Stepp, Jayden Bridges, Ella Grant and Ella Pulse helped Sponaugle put the art night together by guiding families through the halls to see all the artwork and by handing out scavenger hunts to learn more about the different art pieces. They displayed things like the God’s Eye crafts, which are made of colorful yarn wrapped over cross-shaped sticks that were made in Mexico. Each of the students was excited to help during the event and take up leadership roles.
“Sometimes we draw stuff we find in that culture, and other times, we make something they make in that culture,” Grant said. “This event gives us the chance to show our parents what we do in art class every day.”
Stepp was given a special role during the event. She helped teach other kids how to make their own worry doll based off the book “Silly Billy” by Anthony Browne. In the story, Billy uses tiny worry dolls to help overcome his fears. The idea originated from Guatemala, where people tell their worries to the doll and then put the doll under their pillow.
Stepp shared that she was excited to show others how to make the dolls and have a leadership opportunity.
“Someday, I want to be a preschool teacher,” Stepp said. “It might take a lot of work. I’m excited to teach others how to make the craft.”
Sponaugle shared that through the art night, kids could feel successful without getting a test score. Students enjoyed creating art and seeing the different things their classmates have made. They shared their work with their families and had fun seeing their art displayed throughout the halls of the school.
“I think it’s a great way to celebrate the hard work students put in every day,” said Krista Ematrudo, principal of Tomahawk Intermediate School. “Parents get to see some of the great things that are happening here at Tomahawk.”