Artasia at Bellview

The children at this site were extremely excited to make arts and crafts each week. When they saw me walk into the classroom each time, their enthusiasm increased, asking me “what are we making today?” They always found a way to incorporate the art into other aspects of their play, whether it was making clothes for their stuffed animals or creating stories out of the art. They also enjoyed gifting their artworks, ensuring I never returned home with an empty bag. My favourtie activity with them was making banners. The children got into small groups and thought about a message they wanted to share with the world. It was immensely meaningful to see what principles guided the children’s lives and the standards they believed in, defended, and expected from their peers. Some included being kind to animals, to our friends, and even what to do in a zombie apocalypse! Their banners were hung up in the classroom, resolving many conflicts on which group member should take it home. Being able to see these banners for the rest of the program always brought a smile to my face.

April Song