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Schools

Midvale Elementary Celebrates Cultural Arts

A night of awards and entertainment on the third anniversary of its IB status.

Midvale Elementary School hosted an Arts & IB (International Baccalaureate) event this week to celebrate its third year with the IB program distinction, which just three other DeKalb County elementary schools (Fernbank, Avondale, and the International Community School) hold. In addition to academic achievements, the ocassion highlighted many of the cultural arts programs and projects that students have participated in this year.

Following Tuesday's PTA business meeting which included the election of officers for the 2011-2012 school year, IB Learner Profile Certificates were awarded to the many students who qualified.

Once academic honors were awarded, the evening switched focus to the Cultural Arts showcase.

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The Tucker Cluster Elementary Band performed first, led by Willie Bryan.  The band, composed of about 80 Midvale 4th and 5th graders as well as about ten students from Idlewood Elementary, played "Rock Around the Clock" and "We Will Rock You" as the crowd clapped along.

Following the band, the Midvale Elementary After-School Chorus performed.  Led by Beverly Blissit, the group, which counted at close to 50 kids, donned sparkly top hats and sang a medley of Broadway standards to the captivated crowd.

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To close out the presentation, recognitions were given to Midvale's outstanding visual artists.  Two students, Yoshie Daniel and Nick Moreau, were chosen to have their work displayed at the Capitol Art Show downtown, and District 82 Representative Scott Holcomb was on hand to present them with Certificates of Commendation.

He congratulated the students on their outstanding artwork and spoke of the importance of art education in schools.  "A world without art would be a world without pictures, without music," he said, "and what kind of world would that be?"

Five more visual artists from Midvale were recognized, as well.  Maddox Smith, Hannah Lesser, Jaylan Johnson, Taylor Halberg, and Shawn Dublin currently have their work on display in the DeKalb County Schools and Faculty Exhibition at Stone Mountain's Art Station.

"Make It Take It" craft stations were set up in the back of the auditorium throughout the night for children and adults to use different mediums to create take-home projects.  When the performances and presentations concluded, IB anniversary cake was served, and those in attendance were invited to walk the halls and view the art show, in which every Midvale student had at least two pieces displayed. 

"I was up until 2 in the morning getting ready for this," said art teacher Eugenia Rucker, "and I kept asking myself 'Why? This is elementary school.' Then I see the kids finding their art on the walls and saying 'I did that!' -- and that's why.  That's why I do it.  It's so worth it."

On his way out, Representative Holcomb summed up the evening by saying "that was a great event, and I was thrilled to be there."

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