First-year Art Teacher Cassandra Mikaio was in awe by how much talent students at Edison Jr. High School have. So much so, she decided to put their work on display.

 

"I was blown away by their abilities and I wanted to give them the recognition they deserved," said Ms. Mikaio. 

 

So during parent-teacher conferences, Edison held its first Annual Art Preview. The 8th-grade student's artwork was posted in the first-floor hallway for all to see. 

 

"The students were excited to hang their artwork. This gives them pride and ownership of their projects," said Ms. Makaio.

 

She hopes this will also encourage the 7th-graders to buy into the project as well. The Art Preview gave families, students, and staff a glimpse of the artwork students have been working on so far. Along with their artwork is a poem students had to write based on the poem "Where I'm From". She got the idea from Paul Forbes, an Equity Consultant that the district has been working with for the past several years. 

 

At the end of the 2nd quarter, Ms. Makaio hopes to hold an "Eagles Art Walk". That event will display even more artwork and have a formal art gallery feeling. 

 

"Ms. Mikaio, has done an outstanding job helping students discover talent they were unaware of and stretched the skills of our more serious art students," said Edison's principal Mrs. Varnes. 

 

Ms. Mikaio says this is just the beginning and she can't wait to show what's next.