“It helps build community:” Robert Ogilvie Elementary School principal reflects on Art Show

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C.— The Art Show at the Robert Ogilvie Elementary School drew more than 200 students who showcased their artwork. 

Robert Ogilvie Elementary School hosted its Art Show on May 4th at the school’s gym and approximately 230 students showcased their artwork. 

The school’s principal and art teacher, Christine Todd, organized the event for the first time in the school. 

She said: “I’m teaching art this year, so I decided to have an art show and I let the kids know at the beginning of the year, after different art activities, I would collect some samples from each of their art projects.” 

For classes that Todd did not teach, she asked teachers to submit artwork that represented each student. 

“It could be all the same project, or it could be a variety; it didn’t matter,” she noted. 

The event, Todd said, had interactive stations. “It wasn’t just kids going to look at something, it was also getting them involved with doing some different kinds of art.” 

The entire school, with approximately 230 students, showcased its artwork. 

“I believe everybody had something in there and every class went through,” she noted. “They had a different time period, their teacher signed them up, they went through the art show and they got to participate.” 

The show featured a weaving station, a poetry station, colouring stations and a draw-your-face station. 

“Our SWIS [Settlement Workers in School] department set up a cultural display that had different countries,” she said. “Kids were asked questions and they had to go search on the boards to find the answer about a certain country.”

The school has an office for the settlement workers, which Todd explained is a group of ladies who help newcomers, immigrants and refugees adapt to Canadian life and get into the education system. 

Todd added: “We try to have the SWIS workers be part of our school, and they often help with different assemblies and displays.” 

Although the event did not have a general theme, Todd said it featured First Nations art, paintings and sculpture. 

When asked how important this showcase is for students in the school, she said it matters because it helps build community. 

“We gave the students different questionnaires to fill out that asked…which artwork or station was most interesting to you? What feeling did the art show create? What is one idea you can use in your own artwork? Why is art important?” she explained. 

“They really engaged with [the] reflections, and it highlights creative expression, student voice, individuality and hands-on learning.” 

Todd believes that showcasing their art made them happy, and they enjoyed seeing each other’s art pieces. 

“They said, ‘Wow, we can really create a lot of great pieces. They felt excited and [proud] in their work,” she noted. 

Next year, instead of an art show, the school will organize an Alice in Wonderland play. 

Todd said auditions for the play will start in September, and all classes will have a little part in the play.