annual appeal
Help us with our annual appeal by donating using the PayPal link below.
Greenhouse School Students Bring International Gold to Region
Art is no poor stepchild in the curriculum at The Greenhouse School, and it shows. The Pentel Awards came last week and GHS wound up getting six of them, including two Special Gold Awards—the school’s best haul in years. For those who don’t know, art supply company Pentel has a juried international children’s art exhibit for which GHS students have competed for several years. Pentel receives over 200,000 entries worldwide. Only four Special Gold Awards are distributed in all of the US. This year, no fewer than two Special Golds were taken by young artists at GHS: Seven-year-old Max Gieg and eight year old Funmi Olatilu.
"Barn in the Sunlight," Special Gold Medal Winner
Maxwell Gieg, tempera on paper
Two students won silver medals: Sixth grader Marcus McKenzie and fourth grader Adorie Troche. Two also won bronze awards: preschooler Jonah Harrison and first grader Jordan Olatilu.
“I can’t believe we took half of the whole country’s Special Golds for our tiny little school. We’re very proud of all the kids,” says Director Dan Welch. “And of course of Ms. Julia as well. She’s a bit too modest, but they couldn’t do it without her prodding.” Ms. Julia, aka Assistand Director Julia Nambalirwa-Lugudde, does indeed seem a bit too modest. “It’s the kids’ work, she insists. It’s just a matter of making them follow through and do the best they can. A lot of people don’t realize what they can do until they’re pushed.”
School founder Patricia Jennings-Welch is also thrilled. Art was always important to the small school, but watching the program blossom in recent years has been fun for the recently-turned-80 year old Founder. “We’ve done Pentel for years, but this is incredible!” she gushes, adding that excellence in art is completely in line with her founding vision.
"Lost Girl," One of 4 Special Gold Medal Winners in all of US
Olafunmilola Olatilu, acrylic on recycled cardboard
Greenhouse School 2008 Pentel Winners: Marcus McKenzie 6th
grade, flanked by, from right, Jordan Olatilu, 1st grade, Adorie Troche,
4th grade, Max Gieg, 1st grade, Jonah Harrison, PreK, and Funmi
Olatilu, 2nd grade
the greenhouse school is a year-round private alternative school in Salem, Massachusetts, for kids from infancy through grade eight, the greenhouse school is committed to true, lasting, comprehensive reform in education. However, also central to the idea of reform for us is the notion of access.
Open every day and year round, we strive to serve the broadest possible base from several nearby communities, providing an environment diverse in language, culture, class, race and learning style.
Topsfield Fair Decorative Pumpkin Contest
The kids’ clever and creative entry to the Topsfield Fair Decorative Pumpkin Contest is pictured here. A replica of the classic Parker Brothers game Monopoly, the exhibit recreates all the old icons with special references to Topsfield Fair favorites.
Pumpkins were used to make new playing pieces. We kept the classic car, but replaced other well-known pieces with tributes to Fair icons: “Robinson’s Platinum Pig,” Baaaary the Sheep,” and so on. We are also proud to report that the artist who drew the original banker, Daniel Fox, is the great-grandfather of current GHS second grader, Theo Fox.
the greenhouse school
145 Loring Avenue, Salem, Massachusetts 01970
info@greenhouseschool.org · (978) 745-4549