Curtis held their fourth annual Painting with Parents event on Wednesday night, October 16th. Assistant Principal Cary Barret and art teacher Samantha Zuaro hosted over a dozen parents for a night of painting, eating and bonding. Many families got the chance to come in and engage with the arts, and to learn more about life at Curtis.
Ms. Zuaro began the event by opening her art room to the community, making an effort to build a fun and relaxed environment. With the help of student volunteers, everyone felt welcomed. This year, in the spirit of Halloween, parents learned how to use simple shapes and colors to make a painting of a pumpkin.
This event was created for English language learning families so they could feel more comfortable coming into Curtis to talk about their children. One parent who attended last year felt that the event “relaxed me from my work and took the stress away. I’m grateful for these opportunities.” Another parent expressed the same, “I like to share this activity with my daughters and bond with them.”
As a Spanish speaker herself, Ms. Barret was able to connect with many of the Spanish speaking parents. “There are many students who are brand new to the country and building that bridge with the families will make them feel welcome within the school building.” This paint night opened avenues to bring families, who don’t feel very connected, into the community with open arms.
Ms. Zuaro says the turnout was great and it was a great opportunity for ESL families to become acquainted with the school and with others. “Because a lot of parents did not speak English, we were able to communicate visually. They were able to feel really confident and excited about what they were doing.” The next Painting with Parents events will be held December 18th, from 6 to 7 pm in room 410.