Waverly Park's Use of Art Recognized by US Education Department

Waverly Park School was asked to play a special role in the Champion Creatively Alive Children event in Washington, D.C., earlier this month in recognition of the Lynbrook school’s exemplary work in using art to infuse 21st century learning skills in education.

Principal Lucille McAssey, art teacher Carol Henderson, music teacher Madeline Jabin and Director of Fine and Performing Arts Joseph Pallotta were invited to represent Waverly Park as table leaders at the Department of Education auditorium for a celebration of the role of art-infused education in promoting student performance. This invitation-only event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Crayola, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), the National Art Education Association and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

A video that illustrates the ways that Waverly Park is using art to build cultural understanding debuted at the event. The video, which was produced as a case study of promising programs, will be used as a springboard for professional development by the Champion Creatively Alive Children program.

In addition, Waverly Park School was featured in a special edition of Principal magazine that focused on the Champion Creatively Alive Children program.

Last year, Waverly Park was one of 20 elementary schools to receive a 2011 “Champion Creatively Alive Children” school grant from Crayola and the NAESP. Hundreds of schools applied for the grant by proposing innovative ideas for using art to foster creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking, four essential 21st century skills needed for greater success in school and future careers.

Waverly Park was awarded a $2,500 monetary grant and $500-worth of Crayola products. Over the course of the 2011-12 school year, the grant money was used to enable Waverly Park students to create a series of books that celebrate the different heritages that make up their school family. Each student in the school contributed a page to the book, exploring his or her heritage and culture through the arts. The individual pages were then collated into a series of age-appropriate books for each grade level.

“We are very proud to know that the art programs at our school will be used as an example for other educators who are interested in using creative methods to promote 21st century skills,” said Ms. McAssey. “We are proud to represent Waverly Park at this national celebration of the arts in education.”