Eight district art teachers receive generous grants from City of Placentia

The City of Placentia Cultural Arts Commission sponsors a program titled “Cultural Arts Project for Every Student” (CAPES). This program provides grants to help Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) teachers bring curriculum-related art projects to life for students in grades K through 12. Funding for this program is provided by opportunity drawings held during Placentia’s “Concerts in the Park,” as well as sponsorships.

All teachers in schools located in Placentia were invited to apply for a CAPES grant. To apply, teachers completed an application and a detailed budget of their proposed project. To be considered, projects must have been curriculum-based, and related to music, visual arts, dance, drama, poetry, photography or graphic arts. Winners were selected by the Cultural Arts Commission, and judged on originality/uniqueness, creativity and student involvement with hands-on learning experiences.

Eight CAPES grants totaling $3,886.41 were awarded to teachers this year for unique art-related projects. They include:

• El Dorado High School
  Teacher: Kathleen Switzer
  Project title: Children of Eden, Musical Production
• El Dorado High School
  Teacher: Amanda Wolf
  Project title: Through the Lens
• Valencia High School
  Teacher: Sherrie Olive
  Project title: Cultural Conté Drawings
• Tuffree Middle School
  Teacher: Janmarie Halliday
  Project title: “Happy Anniversary”
• Tynes Elementary School
  Teacher: Jannis Frederick
  Project title: Musical Theater Production
• Valadez Middle School Academy
  Teacher: Jeff Schumerth
  Project title: Lichtenstein in the Sports Locker Room
• Wagner Elementary School
  Project title: Annual Tulip Festival/Mother Day Tea
  Teacher: Judy Lancaster
• Kraemer Middle School
  Project title: Embellished Coiled Baskets
  Teacher: Amy Blank

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the eight CAPES recipients were recognized at the Placentia City Council Meeting. They were also provided with a Certificate of Recognition by the Board.

The Placentia Cultural Arts Commission is comprised of five members: Chairperson Sergio Hidalgo, Vice Chairperson Melanie Coward, Commissioner Nadine Laborde, Commissioner Richard Pana and Commissioner Devon Gray.

“We were pretty happy knowing two projects we had planned were now fully funded. How awesome is it to live in a community that respects the arts!” said Amanda Wolf. Here she is pictured with Kathleen Switzer.