By Travis Barton | [email protected] 

It’s safe to say the Beacon Heights Elementary community supports the arts. 

Through the school’s annual Celebration of the Arts night, featuring art created by each student in the school, they were able to raise $13,000 for the school’s arts programs. 

The money raised came through a silent auction that included items such as a Ricky Rubio signed jersey, opera and theatre tickets, yoga and aerial arts classes, jewelry, professional photos, lawn care and much more. Items came from 117 community sponsors. 

April 12 saw students and community alike flood the school to bid on items and check out the artistic endeavors from each grade. 

“You can’t even see the walls, ‘cause there are art projects literally everywhere,” said Jennifer Newsome, who came to check out her nephew’s pottery.  

Walls were adorned with papier mâché portraits, oil pastel letters and a medieval tapestry while tables were covered with pottery and turtle clay sculptures. All art projects incorporated subjects students were learning which helped them make mental connections to ensure comprehension lasts. 

Sixth graders study Western Civilization, they created a hallway exhibit from medieval times with knights, royalty and dragons. While kindergartners learn about United States symbols, they colored stoic bald eagles. They also made hearts out of colorful yarn dipped in glue before water coloring in between the yarn.