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Kent City Elementary Artists Selected for Association Show

Kent City Elementary School art teacher Sara Goodrich likes to quote a legendary Spanish painter. “I really believe ‘every child is an artist,’ just like Pablo Picasso said,” she explained, as her classroom of kindergartners painted big flowers with vivid colors.      

Goodrich, who began teaching at Kent City Community Schools in the fall, has motivated her students to create pieces with all kinds of mediums from crayons to clay to jewelry. Five students created pieces recently selected for the Michigan Art Education Association Region 9 art show:                                  Kent City Elementary School kindergartner Blake Klimek focus on his painting

                •  second grader Madison Thompson

                •  kindergartner Leland Howen

                •  first-grader Mattie Kerwin

                •  second grader Grace Geldersma

                •  third grader Claire Snyder

Mattie’s and Leland’s work were selected for the state competition and recognized in the top 75.          

Goodrich, who carries on the 26-year tradition of former art teacher Mary Clare Christiansen,

said she incorporates video, tutorials, three-dimensional pieces and lots of other creative ideas into her classroom.

“Kids like to make something they can hold in their hands,” said Goodrich, a Western Michigan

University graduate who previously taught art at Muskegon Public Schools.         

Fourth-grade students Michael Tanis, Eli Senkowski and Janine DuBridge stopped into the classroom to independently work on self-portraits.  Michael said Goodrich shows them proper techniques. “She teaches us step by step,” he said.Artwork is stacked to dry in the Kent City Elementary School art room

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Erin Albanese
Erin Albanese
Erin Albanese is managing editor and reporter, covering Kentwood, Lowell and Wyoming. She was one of the original SNN staff writers, helping launch the site in 2013, and enjoys fulfilling the mission of sharing the stories of public education. She has worked as a journalist in the Grand Rapids area since 2000. A graduate of Central Michigan University, she has written for The Grand Rapids Press, Advance Newspapers, On-the-Town Magazine and Group Tour Media. Read Erin's full bio

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