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Arts & Smarts After School and Summer Programs NEW!! The Arts & Smarts Program provides children with healthy, creative activities through mentoring relationships with caring adults. Arts & Smarts helps children maintain progress in school, explore creativity, learn non-violent approaches to problem solving and build self-esteem. Arts & Smarts Programs are provided free to all children. To register, stop by Patchwork Central for a registration form or call to have one mailed to you. Tutoring Program Grades 1 - 5 72 sessions of one-on-one tutoring are provided each week during the school year for children in grades 1-5. Tutors help the children overcome early learning deficiencies and stay on academic par with their peers in the areas of reading, math, spelling, composition, social studies and science. Students are scheduled to meet with a tutor for two 45 minute sessions per week. In consultation with the student, parent or guardian and teacher, the tutors structure their support to meet the child’s individual needs.
Using multicultural art forms, children learn to stretch their imagination and explore their own creativity through a variety of media. Some of this year’s activities include a sewing project about emotions, a traditional Mexican “Dia de los Muertos” parade, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony using our hand built raku teacups, and bookbinding using our own handmade paper. Additionally, we are learning pottery skills with local clay artist Lisa Dayvolt, easel painting with volunteer Helen Belleville, and creative writing with University of Evansville professors. Woven throughout these activities is an emphasis on learning about other cultures through practicing and experiencing their art, music, food and celebrations. Occasional speakers and guest artists add variety and authenticity to the activities. The creative process stimulates self-esteem, sharpens problem-solving skills, and taps into learning capabilities that the traditional classroom may not use effectively. Program Director Jane Case Vickers was named “Art Educator of the Year” in the fall of 2004 by the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana. Walk 'N' Talk Ages 10 - 14
This program originated from a student’s request for more physically active programming. Students and volunteers take an hour-long walk through the neighborhood each week. Often this gives volunteers an opportunity to engage the child in quality conversation and lend a listening ear as they walk together. Over an average school year, Walk ‘n’ Talk walks a total of about 40 miles. Substance Abuse information is presented to participants by high school peer mentors, and a healthy snack reinforces healthy lifestyle choices. Book Club Grades 1 - 5 Recognized by Leadership Evansville in Spring, 2004 For forty-five minutes each week, an eager group of children gathers in a comfortable, informal meeting area. Each child selects a book from a reading cart, and an adult volunteer reads to the child or listens as the child reads aloud. Children connect the joy of reading with receiving quality adult attention. The children also have the opportunity to play games designed to improve their reading ability. In an average school year, around 400 books are read over 35 weeks. At the conclusion of the spring program the children are rewarded with a trip to a bookstore to select books for themselves.
Recognized by Leadership Evansville in 2001 Art & Co. participants learn the principles of running a small business using a curriculum based on Junior Achievement. Along with the business classes, this program provides intensive art instruction to develop skills for producing saleable art such as ceramic nativity sets or house numbers, and then teaches the young artists how to promote and sell the product. Two sales are hosted at Patchwork each year: Holiday Sale (November), and the Spring Sale (March). After each sale, Art & Co. artists receive cash dividends for their work and attendance. Students help to maintain the artWorks gallery space and sell their artwork year-round in the gallery. Arts and SMART Choices Substance Abuse Prevention Grades 5-7 This program approaches substance abuse prevention through positive, supportive activities that educate and equip children with the necessary tools to resist drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviors. Lessons, activities and creative projects are planned and presented by trained High School Peer Educators. For the past 2 years, Tales & Scales has collaborated to help the kids write and perform a music-tale using the anti-substance abuse materials. Jr. Helper Program Grades 6-8 Middle school and high school youth participate in school year and summer programs as role models to younger children. As they transition from being participants to volunteers, they are mentored by Patchwork staff, given increased responsibilities, and earn monthly outings as a reward for their efforts. Arts & Smarts Summer Programs Grades 2 - 5 In June and July, the Patchwork Children’s Summer Art Program combines hands-on art projects with gardening. For years children have worked alongside gardeners and artists in the Patchwork gardens, transforming vacant lots into vital resources for the community. Program volunteers incorporate the harvested vegetables into daily snacks as they teach the children about good nutrition. Other summer projects have included outdoor sculptures, an adobe bread oven, custom bicycle building, life skills training, dance, and found object art. The annual Back to School Sale takes place in early August, providing reduced-price school supply kits to neighborhood families. At the conclusion of both the after-school and summer sessions, the children celebrate their accomplishments by sharing performances and art displays with their families and friends at the Year End and Summer Celebrations. Bike Club The Patchwork Bike Club Project teaches basic bike mechanics while offering safe, healthy, affordable, fun activities. In addition to basic maintenance and repair, participants learn advanced bicycle mechanics, working together to custom-design and build bikes from an assortment of bicycle parts. Since 2001, the Bike Club has created more than a dozen custom bikes. As with all our creative programs, building and maintaining their own bicycle teaches the kids that they have the power and ability to tackle a problem and solve it. In addition to the principles of shop safety, the Club takes rides in the neighborhood, practicing riding safety, including the importance of wearing helmets, being visible, planning a safe route, and maneuvering safely in traffic. The Bike Club has supplied bikes for a free raffle and offered repair services at local National Night Out functions. In weekly work sessions, participants repair donated bikes that are made available for Club members whose families cannot afford to buy them bicycles. The Club partners with the United Caring Shelter and the Veterans’ Association to supply their programs with some of the extra bicycles that the Bike Club has repaired. In 2005 this program transitioned into the Bike ReCycle program. Other programs in the past have included: Speech Club - Holla Back! Ages 10 and up NEWS25 Weekend Anchor/Reporter Cheryl Conner teaches public speaking skills, culminating in the production of a Patchwork television newscast. Participants develop their writing, reading and public presentation abilities, and have the opportunity to tour the NEWS25 newsroom and observe a live broadcast. Percussion Grades 2 - 5 Children learn to play various percussion instruments from Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra's principle timpanist Todd Sheehan. Dance Grades 1-5 Children in our dance program have so much fun that they forget that it is intense physical exercise. Through active lessons in ballet, tap, tumbling and ethnic dance, participants improve their flexibility, muscle strength and coordination. This contributes to increased self-confidence and a positive body image. Dance is taught by Deena Laska of the Children’s Center for Dance Education, named “Art Educator of the Year” in 2005 by the Arts Council of Southwest Indiana. |
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Art Program Grades 2 - 5 
Art & Co. Grade 2 - 5