Among the innovative new ways to motivate and educate young people are the Artist-in-Residence appearances at public schools.
Celebrity artists come to the school to spend several days interacting with students in workshops, assemblies, and public concerts.
At Martin Elementary School in Huntley’s District 158, music teachers have arranged an appearance by Grammy-award-winner Bill Harley this fall. For three days on October 11-13, Harley will work with 1,000 students at Martin and in the Huntley community. He is an award winning singer, story-teller, song-writer, and author. During his stay, he will conduct writing workshops with 350 Martin fourth graders.
But these events cost money. The school has raised $4,000 so far, but it needs $3,000 more to make it happen. Thanks to District 158 volunteer coordinator Eileen Delahanty, a “Box Tops for Bill” fund-raising campaign is being mounted, in concert with Sun City’s three performing arts groups – the Prairie Singers chorus, Concert Band, and the Theater Group.
The funds come through the donation and collection of box tops. Community residents can help this project by collecting box tops from grocery products they buy and passing them on to Martin Elementary School. Look for the Box Tops icon on products by Ziploc, Scott, Kleenex, Lysol, Annie’s, Green Giant, Nature Valley, General Mills cereals, Old El Paso, Hefty, and others. Each box top is worth 10 cents. For a complete list of box tops, visit www.boxtops4education.com.
The red-and-white Box Tops symbol is located near the top of any box or cardboard container of the products.
Joining the Sun Day in promoting this program are the hundreds of members of the performing arts charter clubs, and Huntley Community Radio, which is sharing the news of the project. And hopefully, lots of Sun City residents. Martin School is located at 10920 Reed Road, about 1/4 mile east of Route 47.
“We believe this is another opportunity for Sun City and the school district to work together for the betterment and further education of our Huntley youth,” said one of the school volunteers. “The Sun Day will help us expand the news to the entire Sun City community.”
For further information, please contact Brent Mullane at Martin Elementary School, 847-659-5468 or email bmullane@district 158.org.
