PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Due to increased efforts to decrease the spread of coronavirus, Wintergreen Arts Center has temporarily postponed its Creative Preschool and After-School Arts classes, but has turned to online technology to stay connected with students and parents.
“Earlier today we learned of MSAD 1’s decision to close school for the upcoming week on Monday, March 16, in preparation for remote learning,” said Dottie Hutchins, Wintergreen executive director, in a Facebook post published on March 15. “Our creative preschool and after-school arts classes will also need to be temporarily closed.”
Since then Wintergreen’s instructors have gotten together to create opportunities for students to continue practicing arts and crafts at home. On Wednesday preschool teachers Lisa Brewer and Katie Greenlaw filmed a video message to their Under the Willow Tree students and families.
After-school arts instructors Kara Addington, who is also the Wintergreen Arts Center manager, and Josh Archer are doing their parts to bring lessons to their grades K to three and grades four to eight cohorts.
On Friday Addington will begin filming episodes of “Kara’s Kreative Korner” from Wintergreen, with Archer’s children demonstrating craft activities for K to three students. Archer will also present his own web series for grades four to eight, set in his home basement studio, titled “Welcome to Mr. Archer’s Bunker” that will focus on digital art projects.
All videos will be free and available on Wintergreen’s website and Facebook page.
“We can’t just sit still during this time,” Hutchins said. “We feel compelled to keep Wintergreen alive for our students.”
