A Community Outreach Program
Partners In Education (PIE) is a program designed to build
innovative partnerships between Paris Elementary and Middle School students
and the community with the Arts as the catalyst. Established in 1995,
the program is coordinated by Kristi Bosc.
The program is sponsored and entirely funded
by contributions from area businesses, community groups and individuals.
Sponsors have included: Simonton Windows; Illinois Cereal Mills, Inc.; Arkay
Industries; PVC Novapak; Boge North America; Noon Kiwanis; American Legion
Post 211; Paris Wal-Mart; Edgar County Charitable Foundation; Kiwanis Early
Risers; Eli Lilly & Company, Individual Citizens, Paris School District #95 Title
I Program and the Bicentennial Art Center & Museum.
One thousand students (K-8) attending Memorial
Elementary, Wenz Elementary and Mayo Middle School in Paris District #95, along
with St. Mary's Parochial School benefit from the art education program. The
four art instructors, each with college degrees and art backgrounds, visit the
53 classrooms on a regular basis during the school year that runs from late
August through May.
The partnership between Paris School District
#95 and PIE sponsors focuses on enhancing and reinforcing classroom
learning experiences by integrating the arts into general curriculum at the
elementary school level. The various art forms in conjunction with literature
and other subjects are used to enhance student's language and develop a
stronger reading base.
The goal of the program is to spark creativity, inspire
confidence and build a lifelong appreciation and love of the arts. The
coordinators work with classroom teachers in selecting art projects that add
an extra dimension of learning excitement to concepts being taught.
Students work in the following 2-D and 3-D areas and disciplines:
drawing, painting, clay/sculpture; printing; art elements-color, line, shape;
perspective drawing; and famous artists-each year a different artist is
studied and students create work in the artist's style.
The middle school art sessions are designed to develop
basic art concepts and art skills while appealing to students interests.
In the spring a PIE exhibit of the student's art work is
held in the Art Center. All participants are bussed to the Art Center,
given a tour of the Edgar County Students Art Show and those in grade 3 and
above, following their tour, participate in a "make-n-take" art project
session in the Art Center's classrooms.
Every student in the classroom benefits-the "gifted and
talented students" learn art that provides an extra creative means of
expressing thoughts, ideas and concepts. The "average students" find
more than one way to express individual thoughts and efforts. For the
"academically challenged students", art opens the door to succeed and to build
self esteem through a creative, hands-on learning process that differs, yet
supplements textbook learning.
Other PIE Program Benefits
Students benefit as the program helps
educate the whole individual, laying a foundation for a lifetime of
appreciation and participation in the arts, leisure time activities, hobbies
and self expression. The program helps students achieve in other academic
subjects and reaches students who are otherwise having difficulties in their
school work by providing diverse routes to academic and personal achievement.
Skilled benefits -art provides a
constructive emotional outlet-develops listening and vocabulary
skills-develops eye/hand coordination-develops fine motor skills-develops
problem posing and problems solving skills.
Sponsors in business benefit by having a
work force that is capable of creative problem solving and using critical
thinking skills. Individuals will be able to see projects through to
completion within given time frames. Communication skills and the ability to
express one's ideas and thoughts are also enhances.
The Community benefits by developing
partnerships between business and industry, families, the arts facilities and
the educational system to give opportunities for all youth to succeed in
developing their self esteem and a positive feeling about their ideas which in
turn helps mold a productive and responsible adult. The program encourages a
commitment in remaining in school, discourages gang and drug involvement