This fall, 12 Osceola Elementary students will receive scholarships for 15 weeks of art instruction thanks to a grant from the Dr. JoAnn Crisp-Ellert Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
The art enrichment is an afterschool program for elementary students across St. Johns County through of The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach’s Kick StART program.
In addition, another 12 Osceola students will receive scholarships for the spring program.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, the fall program will be online, with students receiving supplies to work at home. Spring classes will take place either online or at the school, depending on school and county policy.
The Kick StART program is designed to introduce elementary school students to the elements of visual art and multiple mediums, while taking inspiration from master artists' works. Students have the opportunity to explore and expand their creative expression during the class. They will use watercolor, acrylic, marker, clay, papier mâché and more.
"We are honored to receive The Dr. JoAnn Crisp-Ellert Fund grant,” said Donna Guzzo, Cultural Center executive director. “We are super-excited about bringing the arts to the community, especially to Osceola Elementary, a Title 1 school.”
Kick StART classes are available for all elementary students after school. Online instruction is offered Tuesday and Thursday. Brick-and-mortar classes are offered at the center and on campus at Ocean Palms Elementary and Palm Valley Academy.
For more information on Kick StART or to enroll, go to CCPVB.org.
The center also offers Sound Connections music therapy to six St. Johns County schools, including two Title 1 schools. This is the first year is it offered at Osceola, as the program is expanding across the county.
The center is having a virtual watch party, "Cocktails, Connections and a Concert with Sara Garland," a world-renowned soprano, to raise funds for musical therapy.
Registration can be made at CCPVB.org.
