Arts Center Adds Weekend and Evening Classes for Preschoolers
 
The Randolph County Community Arts Center announces a variety of summer classes for preschool children featuring the special addition of weekend and evening classes for the preschool age group. According to Beth King, RCCAC Executive Director, "These new Saturday and evening classes will give working parents the opportunity to share these art and educational experiences with their children.  We have repeated requests for toddler classes that working parents can participate in and are thrilled to now have a teacher able to accommodate those hours."
 
New to the preschool learning opportunities is Creative Story Hour with Bobbin. Preschoolers and their parents will join Bobbin Wilson for an interactive journey through three beloved fairy tales: The Three Bears, The Three Pigs, and Three Billy Goat Gruff.  Following Wilson's dramatic reading of a treasured tale, children will participate in creative movement activities using parachutes, bubbles, beanbags, and blocks as they experience the story.  Classes run one-hour each and will include a theme oriented art project. At the end of each class, parents will be invited to watch their children act out the story using flannel board figures, finger puppets and, most importantly, themselves!
 
Wilson, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, recently moved to Elkins. She has been a certified Preschool Teacher for thirty years and facilitated a Gymboree Program, a creative movement class for preschool children, in her previous hometown.  Using knowledge gained from teaching Preschool and Gymboree classes, Wilson creates fun and developmentally appropriate classed for young children.  King notes. "We are happy to have Bobbin join the RCCAC teaching staff and share her expertise with this age group."
 
Parents can choose either the weekday evening option or the Saturday morning option for Wilson's class. Creative Story Hour with Bobbin for 2 to 3 year olds will run on the Tuesday evenings of July 8th, 15th and 22nd   from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and on the Saturday mornings of July 12th, 19th and 26th from 9 AM to 10 PM.  Classes for 3 to 5 year olds will run on the Thursday evenings of July 10th, 17th and 24th from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and on the Saturday mornings of July 12th, 19th and 26th   from 11 AM to Noon.  Parents must accompany children ages 2 to 3 years old and are welcomed, but not required, to attend with children ages 3 to 5 years old.
 
A returning Wednesday favorite for the preschool ages is ARTventures with RCCAC teacher and artist Alison Siewny. Activity times and projects for these classes are age appropriate to keep preschool fingers and minds engaged and each session features all new projects. Children ages 1 to 2 years old, along with their parent or caregiver, can join Siewny each Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 11:00            AM for First ARTventures. In this morning class toddlers will explore colors, shapes, textures and patterns through a variety of activities, art inspired toys and media, including paint, clay, collage, printmaking.                   

Children ages 3 to 5 yeas old, with or without the company of their parent, can join Siewny from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM for PreK ARTventures. According to Siewny, Preschoolers will have an ³ART²venturous time creating art independently using a variety of media and techniques including collage, pottery, painting, drawing, and printmaking." Students will learn how to use art tools such as scissors, glue, paintbrushes and drawing media independently as they learn and use the elements of art.
 
Siewny holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art Education from Ohio University.  She has been teaching art to children in preschool through middle school in private, public and art center settings for over 10 years. She has had students contests under her direction have been finalists and received honorable mentions in national art competitions.
 
Pre registration is required for all classes. For additional information on classes for all age groups call 637-2355, email info@randolpharts.org, or visit the RCCAC website at www.randolpharts.org <http://www.randolpharts.org> . The Randolph County Community Arts Center, a non-profit organization promoting and supporting the arts in Randolph County and the surrounding areas, is located at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Park Street in Elkins.  Local contributors support RCCAC¹s arts education program with additional financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.