South School families gather to celebrate student art






















ROCKLAND — South School's annual Spring Arts Festival (RSU 13) was held in mid-May, where students and their families had multiple opportunities to view, create, and celebrate art. In addition to artwork displayed throughout the building, everyone enjoyed making crafts, seeing and holding animals, eating dinner, face painting, making recycled art, and getting new books.
“Art instruction is an important part of our students’ educational experience,” said Richard Wehnke, South School’s art teacher, in a South School news release. “Their involvement in art class boosts critical thinking and encourages students to take the time to be more careful and thorough in how they observe the world. They really enjoy having their loved ones ooh and aah over what they have created.”
“Art class is important because imaginative activities for young learners can lead to better skills in social interactions and emotional regulation,” said South School Principal Justin Bennett. “When children are creating art, they are developing motor skills and language skills as well as experiencing growth in decision-making, risk-taking, and inventiveness. This event is a wonderful celebration of that growth.”
“South School’s events committee wishes to thank Mr. Drew and His Animals Too, Kim Bernard and her "Pop-Upcycler", Jenny West and Books in Every Nook, Friends of South School, Farnsworth Art Museum, CMCA, Arts in Action, and all the volunteers that made the night so much fun for everyone,” said the release.