Loachapoka program treats students to fine arts experience

BRITTANY WHITLEY
STAFF WRITER
Published: July 3, 2008

Loachapoka Community Learning Center ended its Summer Enrichment Program on Thursday with a performance, “The Harlem Renaissance.”

For six weeks, elementary and middle school students in the program have learned about the cultural movement that flourished during the 1920s in Harlem, New York.

“(The performance) lets the parents get a sense of what we’ve been working on,” said Cindy Davino, the site coordinator of the program.

Students learned dance, creative writing, art and other academic skills during the month and a half.

During the school year, Loachapoka does not have a separate arts program, so Davino uses the summer to promote the fine arts.

“If we could take one of those disciplines (art, writing or dance) and continue it through the school year it would be a great start,” she said.

This year, about 30 children took part in the program; next year, Davino wants to double that.

Thursday’s program included a gallery-style art show with pieces painted in the style of Jacob Lawrence, a one-act play, demonstrations of games played in Harlem during the Renaissance and a presentation of Harlem Renaissance artists, writers and musicians.

“They are learning to open their mind and see the world,” said Shelley Shields, who taught art during the program.

The students gave a presentation to the audience and described what they learned.

“We learned about art, reading, math … Played games, we write and read,” said Quay Porter-Scott, a student in the program.

“We went to the field trips, to the museum and to the park… And we had fun,” Quendarius Byrd, another student, said.

Mary Ross, principal at Loachapoka Elementary has observed a change in the children who took part in the program.

“I have just been so pleased with this program,” she said. “It is an excellent means for them (the students) to do some other things they many not get to do during the school year.”