Story last updated at
10:17 AM on
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The joy of making art
By McKibben Jackinsky
Staff writer
Teaching more than one subject is common for teachers in small schools. When Penny Connealy, a teacher at Ninilchik School, was asked what else she wanted to teach, she picked a subject she enjoys.
Photo provided
Student artist Shauna Sherbahn of Ninilchik incorporated a dolphin design in her sample of a Haida blanket. Dolphins represent kindness, wisdom, happiness, and are believed capable of deep emotion.
|
"My specialty is math and science," Connealy said. "When I was asked what type of elective I wanted to do this year, art is one of the fun things I love doing, so I chose art."
This is Connealy's first year in Ninilchik, but not her first year in a small school. She also has taught in Nanwalek and Anaktuvuk Pass. In Ninilchik she teaches middle school math and science and high school algebra and geometry. Her art class is offered to 23 seventh through 12th-grade students.
"We're focusing a lot on Native American art the first semester," she said. "We just finished weaving baskets that are absolutely beautiful. The kids did such a great job."
Other projects included making replicate Alutiiq visors and samples of Haida blankets, using felt and incorporating designs of animals the students felt represented their own personalities.
"I love art," Conneally said.
So do the students.
"I've heard kids saying, 'Man, I should have signed up for art,'" said Connealy, whose students have a fan in Terry Martin, principal at Ninilchik.
"They have really turned out some impressive artwork and they are just having a ball doing so," Martin said. "It's pretty cool to have this opportunity for our students."
