Nov 1st, 2011

LAKE WALES – Polk Avenue Elementary families didn’t let a little rain Friday (Oct. 28) dampen their enthusiasm for the school’s Art Awareness event.

Students, parents, grandparents and community members watched guest artists Dorene Butler and Aletha Butlercreate two original masterpieces, which were sold at the end of the evening. Proceeds will support the school’s Art Department. Dorene and Aletha Butler are daughters of Florida wildlife and landscape painter Robert Butler.

“The highlight of the evening, for me, was when Dorene got up out of her chair and handed her paintbrush to a student and began giving her instruction,” said art teacher Dawn Yeager. “The other children began to gather with postcards and paintbrushes to get in on the action.”

The event also featured the ceramic artwork of Polk Avenue’s fifth graders. Every fifth grade student had the chance to design and paint an “Empty Bowl,” which was fired in a pottery kiln. Many Polk Avenue teachers also created bowls. The finished bowls were available for purchase through silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the Care Center’s hunger relief programs.

Throughout the evening, several kinds of homemade soup were served in the Cardinal Café as students and families visited with school staff and talked about the art projects.

PHOTO #1: Student artist A’breonna Outlaw shows off her Empty Bowl, which sold later in the silent auction.

PHOTO #2: Guest artist Aletha Butler works on a painting of two turtles.

Nov 4th, 2011

LAKE WALES – Polk Avenue Elementary students celebrated Red Ribbon Week in late October by “Taking Care of Business – Leading the Way to Be Drug Free.”

As part of their ongoing study of the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” students discussed how the 7 Habits could help them remain drug-free and promote a healthy lifestyle to other people. Every student at the school had the chance to take part in Red Ribbon Week activities, including art and essay competitions.

Art competition winners by grade level were: Kindergarten, Melissa Moses’ class; first grade, Jose Torres-Galarza; second grade, Damaris Ramirez-Espinal; third grade, Dulce Mederos; and fourth grade, Libby Hughes. The schoolwide winner was fourth grader Elizabeth Ceron.

The essay completion focused on the harmful effects of drugs. Winners were: third grade, Quade Spivey; fourth grade, Libby Hughes; and fifth grade, Jamarious Bellamy. The schoolwide winner was fourth grader Caleb Rentz.

“All of our Polk Avenue Cardinals did an outstanding job in promoting a drug-free lifestyle!” said Principal Gail Quam.

PHOTO #1: Principal Gail Quam (back left) poses with Red Ribbon winners, including (front l-r) Dulce Mederos, Damaris Ramirez-Espinal, Elizabeth Ceron, Jose Torres-Galarza; (back l-r) Caleb Rentz, Libby Hughes, Quade Spivey, and Ray Trampler, a social work intern.

PHOTO #2: Principal Gail Quam (left) visits teacherMelissa Moses’ kindergarten class, which won a prize in the Red Ribbon Week art competition.