Sts. Peter and Paul School, recipients of a $4000 EcoArt grant from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Govern
ment and LexArts, celebrated with music, art, dance, and drama in the park on April 30th. Our drama artist-in-residence, Mrs. Susan Pope (right) from the Kentucky Arts Council, worked with our 4th and 5th grade
students to write and produce an original play about
the historical trees in our urban neighborhood, and how to preserve them for future generations. Each class wrote a scene for the play, and then combined them into a complete drama, using recycled materials for props and costumes.
Our Kindergarten students recited Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees” to start the afternoon’s activities. The 4th grade students performed two dances they had choreographed with Mrs. Schenck (above left), our Physical Education teacher. “Turn it Off”, about conserving natural resources, and “Lean, Green Air Machine”, about the importance of trees to the environment, showcased our student’s tumbling and dancing skills. For the finale, Ms. Hathaway’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade Music students sang a number from their upcoming musical “Nuts!” called “That’s the Circle of Life”.
The program concluded with the distribution of three hundred white pine seedlings to our students, parents, staff, and distinguished visi
tors. We were truly blessed to have such an amazingly perfect, sunny afternoon for our outdoor theater!
Fine Arts teacher Beth Ettensohn and Fine Arts coordinator Nanci Barnhart then invited students, parents, and guests to stop in at the Carnegie Center right there on the
edge of Gratz Park to view student art work on display in the gallery. In addition, a Power Point demonstration was running that showcased student photographs of the beautiful trees in Gratz Park. As a final component of the EcoArt grant, students are finishing up a brochure for a self-guided walking tour of Gratz Park that features information about the trees found in the Park.
Below: A student brings back the pine seedlings for her classmates
AND
Some of the beautiful artwork on display in the Carnegie Center
AND
students had fun finding each other's pictures.
Congratulations to the students and staff at SPPS for putting together such a wonderful Arbor Day celebration!
ment and LexArts, celebrated with music, art, dance, and drama in the park on April 30th. Our drama artist-in-residence, Mrs. Susan Pope (right) from the Kentucky Arts Council, worked with our 4th and 5th grade 
students to write and produce an original play about 
the historical trees in our urban neighborhood, and how to preserve them for future generations. Each class wrote a scene for the play, and then combined them into a complete drama, using recycled materials for props and costumes.
tors. We were truly blessed to have such an amazingly perfect, sunny afternoon for our outdoor theater! 
edge of Gratz Park to view student art work on display in the gallery. In addition, a Power Point demonstration was running that showcased student photographs of the beautiful trees in Gratz Park. As a final component of the EcoArt grant, students are finishing up a brochure for a self-guided walking tour of Gratz Park that features information about the trees found in the Park.
