School hosts its final Discovery Day

The final Discovery Day for Wickersham School of Discovery made a lasting impression on students and staff, who are preparing to meld their school with neighboring Wilkeson Elementary School. The union is part of the White River School District's effort to trim $4.5 million from its 2009-10 budget.

PTA leaders like Michelle Lozier said they are fortunate School of Discovery's founding teachers will be making the move to Wilkeson Elementary School and they hope to continue some of the traditions like Discovery Day.

Since its inception, School of Discovery has placed an emphasis on art. Each year, there is also a Discovery Day, which focuses on a curriculum area. On May 5, the two became connected as students, staff and parent volunteers spent the entire day immersed in art.

"It gives the students a look at different styles and ways to create art," said parent volunteer Evangelynn Lenz, who coordinated the event with Judi Dodson. "I think studying the art of other artists helps you with art of your own."

The staff divides the school into rotation groups, with each group representing kids from each grade level.

In addition to hands-on art projects that centered on the work of Georgia O'Keeffe, George Seurat and Henri Matisse, organizers brought in Puget Sound area artists like Julie Thompson, Brian Bassett, Nowen N. Particular and the Miller brothers.

Thompson is known as "The feather lady." She paints pictures on feathers.

Bassett, who was The Seattle Times' political cartoonist for years, is now known for his Red and Rover and Adam@Home cartoons.

Particular (that’s really his name) is author and illustrator of the book “Boomtown.” The Miller brothers, Christopher and Allan Miller, are authors of the Hunter Brown book series. The duo, from Auburn, also create the artwork with three-dimensional computer graphics.

Also setting up shop were photographers Angie Penrose, who specializes in digital photography of people, and Chris Yourgish, who focuses his photography on animals and landscapes, and acrylic and oil artist Laura Gloudeman.