SPARK! Showcase Success
Thank you to all who made our SPARK! Showcase a joyful celebration of arts in education!

Here are some highlights from the evening:

Bands from Meadow Hill Middle School, Hellgate High School, Big Sky High School, and Sentinel High School serenaded crowds.  These kids are excellent musicians!

 

Community members sculpted seed clay with artist Alison Rientjes.  Wildflowers will be springing from some cool creations.

 

Wonderful works of art were displayed.  Visual art creations were featured from Franklin Elementary, Lewis and Clark Elementary, Rattlesnake Elementary, Cold Springs Elementary, Lowell Elementary, Chief Charlo Elementary, and Big Sky High School.

 

Masters of Ceremonies Mike Steinberg and his daughter Vivi kept the audience entertained between acts.


Second grade students from Russell Elementary danced verbs and adverbs with teaching artist Jordan Dehline Burt.  The kids were so engaged in the lesson that there was no nervousness about the audience.
Franklin Elementary students improvised animals in their habitats with teaching artist Amy Lariviere.  There were some very cute creatures on stage.


CS Porter Middle school students performed mime with teaching artist Matt Loehrke.  The story they enacted was delightfully funny.
Students from Hawthorne school joined Unity Dance and Drum for fun and energetic African singing, dancing, and drumming.

 

Middle school students, and members of the crowd, got on their feet to swing dance with Heather Adams accompanied by the Sentinel Jazz Band.
Student film-making skills were displayed through screenings of clips and full films created with the Roxy Film Academy.  We won't be surprised to see some of these student's names on the big screen in the future.
Two Washington Middle School students bravely told their personal stories in front of the crowd following their storytelling residency with Marc Moss.


Mayor John Engen took the stage in support of SPARK! with a furry mascot.   Other speakers included Julie Robitaille, Karen Kaufmann, John Combs, Robin Checota, Jackalynn Snow, and Tom Benson.


"The Bespectacled" with Eden Atwood and Simone Fielding performed enchanting ukulele duets.


A special thank you to The Wilma for the beautiful venue and the kind and professional staff support for this event.  Thank you also to Arts Missoula and The Roxy for planning, coordinating, and working the SPARK! Showcase.  Three cheers for all of the teaching artists, volunteers, donors, parents, community members, and especially the students who made this event a success.  Much appreciation to all who support arts education in Missoula and beyond.

   


SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning
Recap of 2016-2017 in MCPS

What an amazing school year this has been! Here are a few exciting facts about SPARK!'s work in Missoula County Public Schools this year.
  • Missoula County Public School Students have accessed over 1,000 additional hours of learning through and about the arts!
  • There have been 80 Arts Residencies throughout all 12 K-8 Schools.
  • All K-8 MCPS Teachers were able to train in arts integration.
According to Mindy, a Middle School Teacher at MCPS, "Students move their bodies, push their limits, open their minds, and understand curriculum in a way that matters more."

Susan, an Elementary Principal here at MCPS said, "This {residency with Structured Learning Programs at Lewis and Clark} is an example of true collaboration with IB units of study. This has not been an easy task. The work you are doing is exceptional. Students are engaged and benefit from this well - planned experience."

SPARK! Arts Ignite would like to thank all of our Teaching Artists, Classroom Teachers, School Principals, Donors, Sponsors, and everyone at MCPS who has made the continued success of this program a reality. We would also like to again thank parents, community members, and students that make this all possible. We are thrilled to begin planning for next year!
SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning | (406) 531-1981 | Email | Website