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Creative Learning Programs

St. Joe County

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Promoting creative power in people with disabilities

Vision of an inclusive community · Strength in shared resources · Artistic expression that unites us all Email: vsa.arts@juno.com

Board of Directors

Julie Bontrager
Festival Coordinator
Affiliations: VSA arts of Michigan
Glen Oaks Community College
Council for Exceptional Children

Sally Stevens
Secretary/Treasurer
Affiliation: Glen Oaks Community College

Peter H. Middleton
Publicity Chairman/Volunteer Coordinator
Affiliations: Black River Public School
World Peace Art
Creative Learning Program

Advisory Members

• Marcia Blackman Brenda Emmerth
• Martha Starmann Dr. Frank Janca
• Dorothy Brueck

Participating Schools
Centreville
Eastwood - Sturgis
Hoppin - Three Rivers
Mendon
Middle School - Three Rivers
Nottawa
Park - Three Rivers
Pathfinders
Riverside - Constantine
Wenzel - Sturgis
White Pigeon

The Special Arts Festival is a reality because of contributions from the following:

Sturgis Hospital
Fiebig Jewelers, Inc
McDonald's - Centreville
Subway - Centreville
First Savings Bank - Three Rivers
Youth Advisory Council of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation
Abbott Laboratories - Ross Products Division
Meijers
Wal-Mart
The Little Sugar Shack - Sturgis
Glen Oaks Community College
Anonymous Gift
Carter Lumber Company - Sturgis
Sturgis Journal
American Axle - Three Rivers

Special Thanks to:

Jo Barton's 5th Grade Class - Norton School
White Pigeon High School Art Students
Glen Oaks Community College Maintenance
Teachers and students from

• Black River Public School in Holland, Michigan

Thank you to:

• Joyce Davis for the Puppet Show Performance
• Cathy Annis of the Sturgis Journal for covering the event

Thank you to all the Guides and Artist Assistants and to all others who have tirelessly worked to make this festival a success!!!

Volunteers:
Besides committee members, there were 63 volunteers for the 2004 Special Arts Festival. Most of the volunteers were high school students from White Pigeon High School.

• Artist Assistants 20
• Guides 17
• Hat Tables 12
• Other 3
• Decorating 11
• (Five of the people who helped with decorating also helped during the festival.)
• Twenty-five fifth graders from Three Rivers folded about 300 paper hats for the children to decorate.
• There were nineteen artists presenting at the festival, including three who have disabilities.

lAlbion Middle School- March 2002
Creative Learning Program, Albion Michigan, USA

Julie Bontrager from Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, MI works with Albion Middle School students to create "Peace Stars ."	Albion Middle School Assembled in their gymasium to create "Peace Stars" in groups of up to 160 students. ( Photo Credit: Sue Battel)
Photo Credit: Sarah Poll	Albion Middle School Students create "Peace Stars" for Starr Earthwork 2002
Photo Credit: Sarah Poll	Sarah Poll, a Kellogg Community College student, works with Albion Middle School students to create "Peace Stars."
Photo Credit: Sue Battel	Jackie Furlong, a Kellogg Community College student, works with Albion Middle School students to create "Peace Stars."

Creative Learning Programs - World Peace Art Initiatives

• Albion Middle School- March 2002
• Albion Public School Educators- October 2001
• Albion Senior High School- May 11, 2001
• Community Scapes --Article by Lou Rizzolo and Nobel Schuler

VSAMI - Very Special Arts Michigan-St. Joseph County

• About VSAMI-St Joseph County
• A VSA Festival 2004 "Back to Nature"

Black River Public School - Project Term (Creative Learning)

• Thinking Big 2004--Art Performance--Giant Puppets
• Thinking Big 2003--Art Installation
• Peace Banners-Starr Earthwork 2002