PASCO, WA – Yesterday evening’s Family Symposium and Student Art Showcase saw a record-breaking turnout at the Educational Service District (ESD) 123 building in Pasco. Approximately 250 children and adults attended the Symposium to view student artwork. Students from all eleven 21st Century Community Center Learning Center program sites, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, created artwork for the showcase and voted for their favorite pieces to be displayed at the ESD.
The third Annual 21st Century Family Symposium and Student Art Showcase began at 5:30 PM on January 16th, with students arriving with their families or on buses from their school sites. After walking the halls of the ESD 123 building to view their own artwork, as well as art created by their peers across five area school districts, the students enjoyed a dinner and delicious desserts provided by STCU. Addressing a packed room of proud students, site coordinators, and families, ESD 21st Century Program Director, Margarita Alaman, brought each of the eleven site coordinators up to present certificates to the student artists.
“Students were so impressed with how far reaching our program is,” stated Alaman. “One of our students from Finley Middle School came up to me and said, ‘Wow, Mrs. A! I didn’t know that 21st Century was this big!’ It was incredibly inspiring to see such a great turnout and show of support from our families.”
In addition to the sponsorship of local credit union STCU, representatives from Goodwill provided information and resources for families, and local cultural musician/artist Samuel Becerra performed for attendees and displayed the artwork he will be implementing with 21st Century students through the spring and summer.
Student artwork will remain on display at ESD 123 until February 1. From watercolor paintings to crafted birdhouses, the art exemplifies the creative and instructional work taking place in the 21st Century sites, and the Family Symposium provided a perfect medium to share that work with families.
The 21st CCLC program offers before- and after-school services at eleven sites across the ESD 123 region, providing students and communities with academic and enrichment programs, tutoring, family engagement nights, and resources. For more information, please contact Molly Curtiss, Director of Communications, at 509.544.5787 or mcurtiss@esd123.org.
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About ESD 123: Educational Service District 123, based in Pasco, WA, is one of nine ESDs in Washington. Dedicated to delivering collaborative solutions that promote learning, ESD 123 serves 23 school districts in seven counties of Southeastern Washington. Under Superintendent Darcy Weisner and its board of directors, this legislatively mandated, not-for-profit educational organization provides efficiency of educational systems and equity of learning opportunities for over 70,000 Washington students. For more information about ESD 123, please call 509-544-5700 or 888-547-8441 or visit www.esd123.org