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BRIMLEY - This past Christmas, 24 festive ornaments made by the hands of Brimley Area School elementary students, brought holiday cheer to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's Lansing home and Ceremonial Office in the State Capitol. While all Brimley students, kindergarten thru 6th grade, created decorations, only 24 were selected to represent the school. The 24 lucky students were then invited to take a special tour of both buildings to see their work on display on Nov. 29 and 30.
The student art was inspired by the theme, "ABC's of Michigan: Many Ways of Learning," a program that provides students with a project that teaches them real world skills, using art and design to express learning. Brimley, one of 26 Michigan schools invited to participate in the event, was asked to explore the many different ways students learn and to express that in their ornaments. After all of the ornaments were created and with the names of the students who created them hidden, three independent judges- Peter Routhier,. Sherry Hutchins and Elizabeth Burrows - chose which ones would represent the school.
Brimley second grade teacher Mary Beth Andrews said that the school was thrilled when they learned of their invitation to participate in the event and responded with a resounding "yes." While only some of the students' artwork was selected, Andrews said the entire experience would be something that none of them would soon forget.
"It was great," she said of the entire process of being selected to participate, creating the decorations, and then touring the governor's residence and office. "To see the kids' faces when they found their ornaments [in Lansing] was awesome. I'm really pleased with all the students, including the ones whose work didn't go. They all did such a tremendous job."
The students whose work was chosen were: Kindergarten: Sean Hazlett, Paige Kowolsky, Baylie Waybrandt, Julia Stenglien; First Grade: Gordon Andrews, Seth Wilson, Devin Harding, Miigizakwe Memegos; Second Grade: Daniel Gordier, Kaylee Hill, Alyssa Hyvarinen, Gage Bowen, John Forrest, Kylie Passmore; Third Grade: Valencia Lyons, Laci LeBlanc, Emily Chartrand; Fourth Grade: Sarah Briggman, Frank Breen, Kaitlyn Pendygraft, Meggan Pattison; Fifth Grade: Ben Bowen; Sixth Grade: Stacy DeLoria.
The students also contributed an additional five ornaments for the Capitol Tree and two garlands made out of homemade crayons and tissue.
