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Letter from the Editor:
Emily Kinsella Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Pratt Kaylee Dinkel
Magazine Editors Paul Celeri Photography Editor
Krista Brown R.M. Perry Kaya Sedlmayer Luke Wilhelm
The Sentinel staff would like to thank our NIC community for standing by as we navigated a significant transformation from a traditional newspaper to a periodical magazine. For our final issue of the year, our intention was to celebrate the singular component to the whole NIC ecosystem, the students. Our students enjoyed exploring different cultures. They embraced discussion on the divisive issues. They celebrated victories in a myriad of areas, including athletics. They inspired future NIC community members. Having overstayed my welcome at this fair lakeside institution, I will graduate in May. Prior to joining the Sentinel staff I spent a few years here marching straight ahead, attending classes and checking off credits dutifully in pursuit of my exit. I’m truly thankful for the opportunity in my final year to engage more with this campus and the lives of my fellow students. I’ve met some impressive people, young and old, with whom I’ve been proud to swim through uncharted waters.
Staff Writers Join us Wednesday, May 2 at noon in Siebert 209 for a critique of this issue. All are welcome to attend and provide feedback.
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Congratulations to cover art contest winner Cody Elliott. His piece titled “Ripple” is our cover, and “Life in the Woods” is featured on our contents page. Second place goes to Scott Seltzer’s piece “Ice,” whose photo is seen within the letters of The Sentinel (top).
Contents
CHS Walks Out Coeur d’Alene high school walked out in memory of the victims of mass shootings sparked by the 17 people killed in Parkland high school shooting.
NWAC Champions NIC men’s basketball brought home the NWAC trophy after being down 20 points in the championship game against Peninsula.
NIC Round Dance NIC honored Native American culture during Heritage Week through featured guest speakers, native activities and food.
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Wounds to the Face 16 The theatre department cast and crew produced the Spring play “Wounds to the Face”
The Voices of NIC
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The Sentinel asked the students of campus to share their opinions on a new resolution banning all guns on campus.
Campus Creatives A spolight is shone on a few of the many artists at NIC through their pieces featured in various art shows.
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Child Artists at NIC 22 NIC encourages young artists to express themselves in various ways at the Children’s Center.
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Tobacco-Free NIC? North Idaho College awarded grant to assist in anti-smoking campaign Paul Celeri Photo Editor
Truth Initiative, the largest nonprofit public health organization in the United States dedicated to eradicating tobacco use, awarded North Idaho College a $19,538 grant to support the goal of making the college a tobacco-free campus. “North Idaho College is honored to receive the Truth Initiative’s Tobacco-Free College grant. The grant will help fund a student-driven initiative to develop and propose an NIC tobacco-free policy for the college,” said Tim Gerlitz, NIC director of Student Disability, Health and Counseling Services. North Idaho College was made a tobacco-free campus in 2011. However, in order to qualify for the grant from the Truth Initiative the college needed to not have a trustee-voted policy in place. Gerlitz found that guidelines were estabished and signage made available around the campus in 2011, but that the process fell short of becoming full-fledged policy. While the goal of the Truth Initiative is to establish a 100% tobacco free college, it is not the only focus of the campaign. The project will also focus on prevention and cessation, establishing annual events and providing educational materials. “In addition to developing an NIC tobacco-free campus policy, NIC Student
Health Services is committed to providing smoking cessation support and resources to those who would like to quit tobacco,” Gerlitz said. By spring 2019, tobacco cessation education and information centers will be installed across all of NIC’s campuses. “We would like to clarify that this campaign is not an anti-smoker campaign. We will not target or promote discrimination against those who have chosen to engage in tobacco use,” said ASNIC Senator Peter Soderberg, one of the student leaders of the Truth Initiative at North Idaho College. “This campaign is focused on establishing a tobacco free campus and educating students about the consequences of tobacco use so that students can make informed decisions for themselves.” The move to a 100% tobacco free campus won’t see a radical shift in existing guidelines. One main change is that the current smoking areas will be removed. “Adopting a zero tolerance policy lets people know that tobacco has no place in our academic community. And that makes compliance easier too,” said Sara Haas, ASNIC senator and coordinator of the student-led effort. “Everyone deserves a safe and healthy campus where they can live, learn and work tobacco-free.”
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Nationwide Protest Hits Home
CHS walks out in honor of victims of mass and school shootings
Left: Some students showed support for the counter-movement #walkup, in favor of outreach for troubled students. Right: CHS students register to vote during the walkout demonstration.
Students gather to hear remarks from the organizers.
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Photos by: Paul Celeri
Kaya Sedlmayer Staff Writer
Students at Coeur d’Alene High School joined thousands across the nation with a walkout protesting gun violence on March 14 at 10 am The event coincided with the onemonth anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Roughly 150 students gathered in Jordan Court to listen to speeches given by organizers Ashley Romanowski and Annika Silk, who both plan to attend NIC after graduation, pursuing degrees in political science and microbiology, respectively. “We want to show our government that something has to change,” Silk said. “Enough is enough.” While 17 minutes were originally allotted for the walkout, Coeur d’Alene High School students were given half an hour to complete their tasks. After the speech, students were given the opportunity to fill out voter registration cards and write letters to Congress. Perceived inaction on the part of Congress concerning gun violence prompted students to organize nationwide. Romanowski said she heard about the movement through social media and decided to plan an event in Coeur d’Alene. District 271 and the high school administration were supportive of the demonstration. Superintendent Stan Olson said that the district recognizes the students’ constitutional rights for peaceful assembly and free expression. “We welcome the opportunity to work with any student or student group to discuss appropriate ways to express their views while at
school,” Olson said. “Our intent is to support their rights and ensure their safety.” According to the organizers, the objective of the walkout was not to endorse a total ban on guns, but to bring attention to gun violence in schools and promote increased measures to prevent future school shootings. They want the government to require mental health evaluations and for schools to implement stronger anti-bullying policies. “We want things like background checks that are universal across all states because right now, they’re federally required for places like Walmart, Cabela’s, North 40, but private dealers may or may not be required,” Romanowski said. “That way, we know everyone’s following the same law.” A group of parents and retired teachers stood outside the school, live-streaming to Facebook and holding a sign showing their support for students. One of the supporters, Paula Meyling, said that she admired the students for taking control and using their voices. City of Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White was also in attendance. Some students who joined in the walkout wore shirts that appeared to support the #WalkUp hashtag, which advocates the idea of “walking up” and engaging with students who appear to be bullied or troubled, rather than walking out. A counter protest was held at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, where some gathered to show their support for the Second Amendment. “I think that it’s great that the kids are exercising their rights on both sides,” said CHS graduate Galen Jones. “I’m really proud of the school district for allowing them to do this.”
A CHS student displays a sign during the demonstration.
Photo by: Paul Celeri
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When I travelled to New York City for the College Media Association 2018 Conference this last March, I had high hopes for my education. I was extremely excited to learn from the best and brightest in journalism and design. The icing on the cake of my experience was all the amazing women I was had the chance to learn from. Each and every one of them inspired me to work harder and be better. Shazna Nessa, Visuals Editor of The Wall Street Journal, left me star-struck and speechless by her presentation on design. I got a chance to ask her thoughts on design and redesign. “When do I stop changing what I’ve created? When do I know it’s enough?” Nessa replied by encouraging me to simplify and not over-design. Vogue Senior Designer Ivana Cruz was by far my biggest woman crush of the week. During her presentation, Cruz defined design as something to have fun and be loose with. She presented out-of-the-box ideas to get our minds working and gears turning. She also showed some past designs that she struggled with. In her session, alongside her childhood friend and fellow designer Carlos Mella, creative lead at Bloomberg, she showed some past designs that she struggled with. Her lecture mainly focused on sacrifices designers have to make. Both Cruz and Mella agreed that research was key when creating a design, which wasn’t previously a large part of my process. After implementing some of Cruz’s suggestions, it’s no surprise that I have already noticed a difference in my design strategies. I want to be her when I grow up. Designers were not the only women to make an impact. Joanne Lipman, author of That’s What She Said, began her career in the male-dominated world of publishing and editing, and served as the first female managing editor of The Wall Street Journal. Her new book explores the sexism that has been ingrained in our daily lives, both in and outside the workplace. In Lipman’s book, she writes about the need to include men in the conversation about sexism. By only talking with women “we only solve half the problem.” Lipman drove home the point that the one-sided conversation has gotten old and has proven to be ineffective when solving the whole problem. While there was many more small moments that made me feel empowered during my time spent in New York, I came away with a real appreciation for the guidance of women who want to see each other succeed.
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Cardinal men bring h Luke Wilhelm Staff Writer
The NIC Men’s Basketball team claimed its first Northwest Athletic Conference Championship in school history last month. The Cardinals overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Peninsula Pirates 90-83 for the title. “We just never gave up, you know.” Freshman RayQuan Evans said. “Coach emphasizes that when times get tough to keep your head up. It was looking ugly at the beginning, and I know a couple of us were worried, but we just pulled through and took it play by play,” Evans, NWAC Freshman of the Year, had a relatively quiet 28 points, adding nine rebounds en route to taking home the NWAC Tournament MVP. In the four playoff games, Evans dropped 131 points for an average of
Charles Williams (20), Sophomore
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nearly 33 per game. His clutch free throws down the stretch in overtime helped the Cards put the game away. Evans was the easy choice for Most Valuable Player, but sophomore Aushanti PottsWoods gave him a run for his money, dropping 23 in the championship game. After only averaging over seven points a game in the regular season, Potts-Woods exploded in the playoffs, emerging as the clear-cut second option behind Evans. “We never thought we were done,” said Potts-Woods. “We just told each other that they threw their hardest punch, and that we had to come together and not break apart when we went down 20. We stuck together and fought back together slowly but surely and got the win.” Behind them Iain McLaughlin played a big role
home NWAC trophy off the bench, adding 14 big points. The Cardinals looked like they might be headed for a runner-up finish when they were down 20 early in the second half. Multiple times, the commentators dropped the word ‘blowout’ in reference to Peninsula’s dominant game up to that point. But, as has been the case for much of the year, and especially in the playoffs, the never-say-die attitude of the Cards elevated them to the top. “These kids have nothing but resilience, they just fight. That’s a pretty amazing job, you know, we were down by 20 and they fought back. They just never gave up,” said a proud Coach Corey Symons. The win is a long time coming for a program that has been a staple at the top
of conference play for the last decade or so. Their dominance is what helped attract these high-level players to the panhandle of Idaho. Potts-Woods told reporters after the game that the traditions at NIC made it such an easy choice for him to come to Coeur d’Alene. “I looked at their history, they had a great coaching staff, and it was a pretty easy decision,” he said. A great coaching staff might be an understatement. But for the all-business Coach Symons, the real question now becomes where that first NWAC championship trophy is going to stay. “I have a nice little place in my office if my athletic director will let me keep it,” Symons said. “I don’t know, he might take it.”
Jalen Burkett (11), Sophomore and Jared Greene (22), Freshman
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Remembering a Ledgend: A Walk Through the Art of Harold Balazs Robert Perry Staff Writer
Harold Balazs, a celebrated and highly-regarded Northwest artist, died on December 30, 2017 at 89 years old. He left an impressive legacy of work throughout the Northwest as a testament to his tireless dedication to art. His work adorns public spaces and private collections. He has inspired untold numbers of other artists. His footprints have graced the halls of North Idaho College, having participated in workshops and led seminars on campus. He held a major exhibition of his work at NIC’s Union Gallery in January of 1994. Art Spirit Gallery, which has represented Harold for 20 years, held a show comprised of 150 pieces of his work this January, which sold out. Harold Balazs moved to Spokane as a young man in the 1940s and enrolled at Washington State University. There he earned a fine-arts degree and graduated in 1951. He met his wife Rosemary at WSU, and together they raised a family. Harold continued
to reside in this area, enriching others with his talent and supporting his family solely through his artwork. To date, there are over 4,500 public Balazs pieces featured around the Northwest. He is a noted liturgical artist, with sculpture, painting, stained glass, and reliefs inside over 200 churches and synagogues in the Pacific Northwest. He is well-known for his large outdoor public sculptures, which can be found from Seattle to Spokane’s Riverfront Park, as well as on numerous public plazas, schools, parks, government offices, and college campuses including North Idaho College. NIC is lucky to host several of Balazs' works.
“Corn”
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“Reflctions”
NIC Campus Molstead Library
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Boswell Hall
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Native American Heritage Week NIC brings together Coeur d’Alene tribe and neighboring tribes for round dance Rebecca Pratt Magazine Editor
NIC celebrated Native American Heritage Week from April 2-7. The celebration offered guest speakers many opportunities to speak on topics ranging from the function of sovereignty to environmental concerns. On April 7, Heritage Week was capped off with a round dance held in Christianson Gymnasium. The event saw guests from both the tribal community and the Coeur d’Alene community gathering to participate in the traditional dance, as well as native crafts, food, and resource tables. All proceeds from food sales went to support the Che’n shish Scholarship for Native American Students. "There's really no spiritual or sacred connection to it. It’s really an opportunity for people from lots of different tribes to see each other, reunite, friendship, that type of thing," said Victor Begay, Director of Native American Studies at North Idaho College. Begay emphasized the special importance of the round dance and festivities at NIC, as the campus was built on the “ancestral homelands of the Coeur d’Alene tribe.” He said the event was a celebratory event meant to encourage relationships between students and
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tribe members, tribe members with one another and to help build a strong foundation for cultural support with the local tribe. Caj Matheson, Coeur d’Alene tribe member and storyteller, said the event was less a solemn ceremony and more a way to get together and have fun. NIC’s American Indian Student adviser Evanlene Melting Tallow agreed that the event was an opportunity to grow a sense of community around campus for Native American students and faculty. Melting Tallow said that she organized the event with friendship in mind as a theme and goal. “It's telling the stories of past ancestors who have coyote stories and so on [that helps us build those relationships],” Melting Tallow said. All crafts and dances represented a portion of the tribe’s culture. Native American-style tacos were served, and dreamcatcher crafts were provided for children and families. Singers and musicians from Rose Creek and Otter Creek were featured in the middle of the gymnasium, sharing drum circles and oral tradition. Melting Tallow said
the inclusion of tribe members from all over was intentional, to allow more perspectives on tribal traditions and history. Matheson shared stories from the Coeur d’Alene tribe. Michael George from the Rose Creek Singers and Roger Moses from Otter Creek also performed. The diversity in the tribal attendance and in student participation was an outcome the organizers hoped for, to stir things up this Heritage Week.
“It’s important for NIC to support these kinds of events because it shows the native communities that NIC does support, care about, and recognize their unique relationships,” Begay said. “As a tribe we'd probably be doing these things no matter what, but this is an opportunity to share our culture with other people,” Matheson said. “A lot of times people look at Native American people and culture as something that happened in the past, and really it's still happening.”
Left: Dave Melting Tallow leads a group of hand drum singers at NIC’s inaugural round dance as part of American Indian Heritage week. Right: A tribal member in traditional dress dances with his partner around the drum circle during the round dance. Photos and additional reporting by Paul Celeri
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The Nuts and Bolts of a Theater Production Kaya Sedlmayer Staff Writer
The NIC Theatre Department’s production of Howard Barker’s “Wounds to the Face” opened April 19 and ran until April 28. When it comes to the visual elements of a production, it takes a village to help the show run smoothly. Costume designer Carole Urquhart’s job begins the moment she gets the script. She analyzes the text and creates sketches based on the impression she gets from the characters. “Normally, what I do is the same thing as what the actors do as far as character analysis,” Urquhart said. “They get inside the mind of their character. I do that too, except I do it for all the characters.” She then sketches out her costume ideas, that are then shown to the director to verify that they’re on the same page. Research and careful changes are made throughout the costume-construction process. Through conversation with the director and fittings with the actors, Urquhart decides which costumes work and how. “Wounds to the Face” has 31 costumes and 15 actors with some actors having two or three costume changes throughout the show. To stay organized, Urquhart has several lists of costume pieces that need to be made or pulled from storage. There are approximately 180 costume pieces for this entire show. Quick-changes are instances where the actors have a short period, sometimes less than a minute, to change costumes before going back on stage. Dressers are on standby to help make the process easier and each quick-change must be choreographed and practiced until it’s done the same way every time in order to stay within the time limits. “Most places, the first time actors get into
costume is dress rehearsal,” Urquhart said. “If you have 30 costumes on stage and there’s something wrong with half of them, they have to come back in to get fixed.” Because of that possibility, she sends the costumes out to actors a couple of weeks in advance. When opening night comes, Urquhart’s job is virtually done. Jay Carkhuff manages different aspects of the show. If someone wants to do a show at NIC, he receives an email and begins building the show online and scheduling it. Carkhuff helps with rehearsals and performances by making sure everything is functional. He also does lighting. The auditorium has many different functions, which means different forms of lighting need to be set up to accommodate all events. “There’s always something going on here,” Carkhuff said. “Even if there’s not an event, there’s a bunch of planning that needs to be happening.” For “Wounds to the Face,” the audience will be on stage with the actors, creating a unique lighting situation. Custom accessories have to be made to ensure that things like pipes aren’t hanging over the audience’s heads with the possibility of falling. Stagecraft students are given the opportunity to gain real-world experience and help build the show. Carkhuff said that this offers them the opportunity to learn in a way a traditional classroom setting doesn’t provide. There are different standards for different types of events, but the primary goal is to make the show look professional in every detail. “I have to guess what problems I’m going to have and solve them before I have them,” Carkhuff said.
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NIC’s claim to pep and fame Luke Wilhelm Staff Writer
North Idaho College’s Pep Band carries a heavy responsibility as the backbone of the energy created and produced at sporting events. They understand the role they play, and the impact they have on the crowd, players, and outcome of the game. The members of NIC’s pep band come from all sorts of backgrounds, and have all mastered their crafts in different manners. For some, the journey starts by randomly picking up an instrument and falling in love with it. Others are pushed towards playing by their parents. Some grow up singing in groups or church choirs and are naturally drawn to the instruments. Jordan Elmore, a Saxophone player said his love for it came easily because his father played it. “That kind of sparked it. I was always musical, I would do like choir things with my church and stuff. I started playing and it just kind of stuck, and now I’m here,” Elmore said. Members agree this is a different kind of ensemble, where they are able to dabble in more contemporary music than a traditional school band. “We play a lot of modern tunes, like pop tunes that you hear on the radio, and that’s a lot more fun for people to get involved with,” said trombone-player Jacob Dahl. “Playing a lot of music that they know brings a lot of energy.” Matthew Stolley, who plays piano and keyboard, made it clear there were even more benefits to being in the pep band. “I get to work with an ensemble as well as, you know, watch a basketball game. And I don’t have to buy tickets,” Stolley said. Bringing the energy to sports games is a fun pastime, but members emphasized that they are still expressing themselves creatively. “Like any art, I think it requires your heart and soul as you’re playing it. It’s not just clicking a button; it requires practice, it requires thought, and it definitely requires your energy to make sure that it’s a performance that people enjoy,” Dahl said.
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Student Opinions:
“I think that it’s connected to a bigger issue and something that we should focus on overall. There shouldn’t be guns at school.” -Ines Zipp, Freshman
“I don’t like it. I’m against it. It makes me feel less safe.” -Becki Kim, Freshman
How do you feel about concealed weapons being allowed on campus?
“I’d say that I would feel safer if people could have concealed weapons. If something goes wrong, you always have people who have guns that can actually maybe defend them.” -Gabe Ring, Freshman
“If you go through to get your concealed weapons permit, it doesn’t bother me. I grew up with guns. My dad carries one.” -Cole Chandler, Sophomore
“I don’t feel any less safe on campus with people having concealed carry permits. I don’t necessarily find those to be something that makes me feel any less safe or something that makes me feel any safer.” -Tyler White, Freshman
"As long as you're not being violent about it or not showy about it, I think they're fine. As long as nothing happens." -Tyler Stevens, Freshman
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Spotlight on Campus Creatives Sentinel writer, photographer and Aspiring Artists president Robert Perry took to the NIC artist FRPPXQLW\ WR SURÀOH VWXGHQWV DQG IDFXOW\ ZKRVH DUW KDV VWRRG RXW WKLV \HDU
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ichael Horswill began teaching at North Idaho College in 1998. He has led classes in sculpture, two and three-dimensional design, illustration, drawing, watercolor, art history and survey of art. Prior to his arrival in North Idaho, Horswill attended Montana State University, Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, School of Visual Concepts and Shoreline College in Seattle, University of Washington, and University of Idaho where he obtained his Master of Fine Arts in 2002. He said his interest in art began in early childhood and over the years he has been involved with a large array of solo and group exhibitions. His artwork has appeared in numerous magazine editorials, advertising illustrations, logos, brochures, newspapers, and trade journals.
“Undercurrents” by Michael Horswill
en Erickson received her BFA in painting and drawing from The University of Montana and her MFA from Central Washington University. She has been involved with several artist-run galleries and served on the Board of Directors for the Saranac Art Project in Spokane for several years. She frequently shows her work at the PUNCH Gallery in Seattle and the Brink Gallery in Missoula, Montana, in addition to participating in group shows around the country. She has taught classes at Central Washington University, Gonzaga, and Eastern Washington University. At NIC she currently teaches oil painting, printmaking, watercolor, GUDZLQJ ,, DQG OLIH GUDZLQJ 6KH ÀQGV LQVSLUDtion for her own art from the idea of loss and the act of decomposition, as well as the visualization of data and biological systems.
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“Get Out of Your Own Way” by Jen Erickson
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“Daydreamer” by Sydney Croteau
ydney Croteau is an accomplished artist and a member of North Idaho College Aspiring Artists. Her work has appeared in numerous art shows and is currently exhibited on campus at several locations. Recently, she completed a piece of commissioned work for MoMo in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Croteau is pursuing majors in art, education and nutrition. She plans to obtain associate’s degrees in science and art before transferring to University of Idaho to complete her bachelors in EducaWLRQ 6KH KRSHV WR HYHQWXDOO\ ZRUN DV D WHDFKHU DUWLVW DQG FHUWLÀHG UHJLVWHUHG GLHWLFLDQ
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Building Life
“Spiderman” Paul Celari Photo Editor
“I taped two tubes together,” said five-yearold Khaleesi Celeri. “Then one you talk through, and the other goes to your ear.” While North Idaho College prepares students for the career path they’ve chosen, the Head Start Children’s Center on campus teaches preschool-aged children about the world ahead of them through artistic exploration. The center provides a needed service to students and staff who are also parents, but it is more than just a convenient childcare option. Unlike the rigid structure college students are used to, the children of the Head Start program are given almost unlimited creative freedom. Teachers supply an ever-changing array of items that can be
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employed artistically by the children and allow them to create anything they want. “A phrase we use here in general is “process over product,” which is why we have a lot of loose materials for them to work with,” said Children’s Center teacher Ashley Crosby. “Sometimes we may put out a particular item thinking they’re going to go one way with it, and they go a totally different way and end up creating something awesome.” Underneath the creative freedom, children are learning important lessons about themselves and the world around them. They develop fine motor skills through painting and drawing and gross motor skills through singing and dancing. As their abilities grow, they learn to
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“My Family”
be less afraid of making mistakes and gradually build confidence in themselves. “A big thing is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Whatever they want to create they can create and it will be beautiful,” said NIC early childhood professional Briana Werner. “Just because they want to do a jack-o’-lantern doesn’t mean it needs to have two eyes here, a nose and a mouth. Whatever they want to do is OK and it’s not wrong.” Children can also develop and grow interpersonal skills through their interactions with peers as they share, explore and create together. Creative arts allow children to explore and express their emotions. Unlike adults who use art as an almost cathartic expulsion, art allows children to express things they may
not yet understand. And still there is so much more that they are learning through this creative freedom. As they create they begin to learn the foundations of mathematics through shape, size and counting the elements of their art pieces. As they engage teachers and their parents discussing their artworks, the children’s language skills and vocabulary develop further. “They’re like little scientists. They kind of have an idea of the way that they think things work, and they test it out and gain new theories,” said Children’s Center director Jolie Wenglikowski. “Art is a language just like dramatic play or music would be. It’s open-ended because it’s the way children represent their ideas and their knowledge.”
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