On Friday April 19, 2024, Carmichaels Area Middle/Senior High School took part in a combined night of poetry and art. Sixth-8th grade students were invited to the Middle School Poetry reading in honor of April being National Poetry Month. Sixteen brave students took up the challenge of reading original poetry to their families, friends, and peers. This was double the number of readers from last year. An additional 16 Middle School Student Council members hosted the event and took their turn to share in the magic, reading quotes about poetry by other poets and authors to set the tone for the evening. In this way, many students were able to participate in the beauty of the written word.
Seventh grade English Language Arts teacher Mrs. Sara Ruffolo explains that throughout middle school, students are immersed in a wide variety of literature, especially poetry, and they spend a great deal of time reading and analyzing the poetry of others, as well as writing their own by discovering their voices through a diverse range of styles. The poetry reading, Mrs. Ruffalo shares, is a culminating celebration of the art of words, and the courage it takes to share those words with others. Many of the students’ poems were based on works by other poets, while other students wrote poetry based on their own experiences and imaginations.
The special night continued with the High School Art Show that followed. “The Art Show was a beautiful backdrop to my kids’ art of their words!” Mrs. Ruffalo says.
Middle and High School Art teacher Mrs. Randi Knizner facilitated a satisfying night that highlighted the talents of her many students. Forty-five students displayed artwork at the show, and many of the pieces were arranged by theme into exhibits, such as one class assignment that taught students about art curation as well as creation. The students studied a particular artist’s style and life story, chose a piece to recreate, and then wrote an accompanying artist biography to be displayed by their interpretation of the piece. Senior Daysha Skolnekovich was one of many students who took part in this activity, displaying an oil paint project in the style of artist Jan Brueghel.
Students displayed art in wide varieties of mediums, with everything from stained glass, charcoal, oil pastels, watercolors, and pen and ink used to create the masterpieces. The goal of the art show, according to Mrs. Knizner, was to “accumulate the best of kids’ work,” giving them “the opportunity to express themselves and expose them to different mediums of art.” Each piece is an extension of the student artist, and the diverse creations are representative of the diverse student body that brought them to life.
Both poetry and art blended together beautifully to create a night of culture and creativity at Carmichaels, and it is the art found in every day that makes life so special and brings something to appreciate into each moment.
