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Dear Friends,
I am back in Mathews after a busy and exciting weekend in Waynesboro. This past weekend’s Barn Show was absolutely terrific. I had a wonderful time visiting with my collectors, many of whom are like members of an extended family. During the three days of signing, I got caught up on the recent events in the lives of familiar faces and became acquainted with many new ones. Thank each and every one of you for coming to see me!
Pat meets with collectors during the Barn Show last weekend.Monday I met with Dell Philpott, Program Coordinator, and Bob Almond, Director, of our Foundation for Children’s Education. My daughter Ginny, who serves as Artist Representative on the Foundation Board, and her husband Corrado Gabellieri, who is also the director of my museum, joined us in a brainstorming session to come up with ideas on how the Foundation may reach more children through its programs. One of the ideas we discussed was sponsoring more children’s art programs at the Museum, like the program I told you about a couple weeks ago. There is such a demand and such a need for children’s art programs.
A working lunch: Tassie Pippert, Pat, Bob Almond, Dell Philpott, Bert Schmidt, Ginny and Corrado Gabellieri.After our meeting at the Foundation office, we all went to have lunch with Tassie Pippert, Director of Development, and Bert Schmidt, Station Manager, of WVPT, Virginia’s public television station. Tassie and Bert told us about an exciting fundraising event they are planning for this fall. On September 18 at noon, Tassie and Bert will go on air for 24 hours, hosting a telethon and promoting WVPT’s education services.
They asked me to be the honorary chairperson for the event, and I was delighted to accept. WVPT engages in numerous outreach activities that help educate children and adults in our community. Projects like Young Heroes, Young Environmentalists, Reading Rainbow Young Authors and Illustrators Contest, Kid*Vention, and their new Kid’s Book Festival are but a few of the events held each year to promote education within our community. WVPT also conducts hundreds of workshops annually with educators, caregivers, and parents that enhance educational opportunities for our children. The Moss Society, Foundation, and I share a similar vision with WVPT of ensuring that our children have the same educational opportunities, regardless of physical, mental, or social roadblocks. WVPT does outstanding work, and I encourage everyone to support the telethon.
It’s time to announce the 2004 National Teachers’ Awards! The Foundation and the Society give awards to recognize outstanding teachers who consistently integrate the arts into their teaching of children with learning differences and other special needs. The first place prize is a cash award of $5,000 ($2,500 goes to the teacher(s) and $2,500 goes to the school or program); second place, $3,000 ($1,500 goes to the teacher(s) and $1,500 goes to the school or program); and third place, $2,000 ($1,000 goes to the teacher(s) and $1,000 goes to the school or program).
Children at Dunbar Primary School in Lufkin, Texas, benefit from the work of three award winning teachers.The first place award goes to three teachers from Dunbar Primary School in Lufkin, Texas. Sue Barber Rolf, Jean Ann Keen, and Sarah Wilson-Vier have developed a program called “Geo-Artists,” which brings together many populations of children and experts from the community to build a modern art dome.
Tracy K. Price of Piedmont High School in Monroe, North Carolina, will receive the second place award for her program in which her art students put together a festival each year that not only honors special needs children but also involves them in a learning experience through the arts.
Students at Piedmont High School in Monroe, North Carolina, host a festival each year to honor special needs children.Larry Statler of Santa Teresa Elementary School in San Jose, California, will receive the third place award. Mr. Statler’s motto is “Every Child Deserves a Special Education,” and he has created a hands-on, center based, performing arts environment that enables children ranging in abilities from severely handicapped to gifted to work to their maximum potentials, develop self-esteem, and foster an understanding and acceptance of individual differences.
Performing arts help the children of Santa Teresa Elementary School in San Jose, California, to work to their full potential.Each of these teachers will attend the Foundation’s Creative Minds Conference this November to talk about their programs, and I am very much looking forward to hearing what they have to say. In fact, I am flying back home from Italy early just so I will not miss this conference. My own education would have been so much easier if programs such as these had been in use.
Love,
Pat
The Moss
Portfolio
74 Poplar Grove Lane
Mathews, VA 23109
(800) 430-1320
©P. Buckley Moss 2004