Students enjoyed creating art together.
This past summer St. Thomas Aquinas High School hosted a First Nation, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) Camp. The program was designed and customized based on feedback and input from students.
Bob Kowal, FNMI Graduation Coach, was the lead of the program and talks about how it got started. “The program was created based on the interests of the students and what they wanted. The students participated in a ThoughtExchange, and through that process they indicated their interest in a volleyball camp and an arts program.”
The camps ran in June. Students interested in a Volleyball Camp participated in the community Volleyball Camp led by Kowal and Megan Derouard.
The Art Camp was led by Shawna Grampentine, Moon and Back Custom Arts and focused on teaching students about acrylic painting, mixed media, and foil-embossed abstract art.
Students showcased their artwork at the September Board Meeting and talked about their experiences in the art camp, which they said was fun and relaxing.
Grade 11 student Audrey said she joined the program because she wanted to try something new. “It was really fun, relaxing and chill.” Grade 9 student Jaylynn said, “I found the art camp so much fun. I didn’t really like painting before because I thought it was boring, but then it was so fun when we got going with it.”
Bob Kowal shared that the planning has already begun for next school year, and he believes it will grow and expand to include the culinary arts.
