PIE recognizes art volunteers
The entire student body of Pine Island Elementary School recently assembled in the school cafeteria to give thanks to a very special group of volunteers. For the first semester of this school year, members of the Matlacha Hookers provided art programs for more than 284 students attending school this year. Due to budget cuts, art would not have been offered this semester. Addressing the students and volunteers, principal Rob Mazzoli shared his sentiments.
“The Hooker art volunteers are a very special group of women and men and we are very fortunate to have them come in to provide art to all of our students,” Mazzoli said. “These folks have done some really cool stuff and I can’t say thank you enough.
At this point, the school only receives enough funding to provide art for one semester each year. On learning of the cut-back local artists decided to pitch in and have provided art lessons the first semester of this year as well as the second semester of school last year at Pine Island Elementary School. Among the projects were mask and jewelry making, fashioning clay bowls using only their feet, working with mosaic designs and more. In addition to these, the fifth grade classes also participated in to special projects.
“Last year, the fifth graders designed and decorated three wonderful tables in mosaic. They are unbelievable and the best part is that whenever these students return to the school for a visit, their work will still be here for everyone to enjoy,” said Mazoli. “This year the fifth grade project was a copper eagle. This artwork will be proudly displayed here in the cafeteria for everyone to see and it is very appropriate since your kitchen is called the eagles nest.”
Assisting the fifth graders with their project was metal artist, Mike Bonne of “Tin Fins” who also aided the children with not only designing and fashioning the eagle, but each child that participated in the project also inscribed their names on the twigs that serve as the branches of the nest.
Representatives from each class at the school presented the art volunteers with hand made cards of thanks and when receiving them, art team leader, Diane Maher addressed the group.
“It just struck me just this morning that it was almost a year ago that we came into the cafeteria here to introduce ourselves to the students. It has been such a wonderful experience for us all and we thank you for letting us come in to provide art,” said Maher. “We have learned so much about the school. The fabulous staff, teachers and of course, you, the students. You are so very talented and wonderful and we will always cherish this experience.”
According to Maher, she and her group will continue to provide art lessons to the Pine Island students for as long as they are needed.