Fairfax County after-school program connects youngsters, younger children by way of music, artwork

One thing very particular is occurring at Dogwood Elementary College in Reston. Friendships are blossoming, and children are studying as youngsters mentor smaller children in music and artwork on the Virginia college.

The Tuesday after-school program is the brainchild of Ella Kim, 15, and Emma Kim, 13 — sisters who’re classically skilled musicians. Ella, a ninth-grader at Oakton Excessive College, has been finding out music since age 4, whereas her sister Emma, a pupil at Rachel Carson Center College, since age 6.

The sounds of chatter and laughter blended with the strains of violin, cello and plinking piano.

“We offer free music and artwork classes to college students at Title 1 faculties … We now have a number of mentors right here on the piano, and we additionally provide violin, viola, cello and in addition artwork, resembling portray and drawing,” Ella mentioned.

Teen mentors in this system known as “ITZArt4You” could possibly be discovered instructing babies in mixed-media artwork seated at massive spherical tables, whereas others supplied musical instrument coaching.

“It’s actually enjoyable seeing all the children every week, and I by no means thought I might take pleasure in being with children this a lot. And instructing my college students simply made me understand how a lot music connects individuals collectively, and I’m so glad we began this group,” Emma mentioned.

The younger college students appeared targeted on their studying and delighted to be working with the larger children.

“I need to give (a) thanks to all of our mentors for taking the time after college to provide us this chance to be higher at our devices,” mentioned fourth-grader Krystine, pausing from her violin lesson.

“It’s actually enjoyable, and so they give us further classes and further apply, so we are able to study extra about our instrument,” added Haron, who’s in fourth grade.

The Kim sisters got here up with the concept over the summer season and laid out their imaginative and prescient for Dogwood’s principal Kate Beckner, who welcomed the concept and reached out to the youngsters’ academics to develop a curriculum and supply the kids steering in instructing the youthful youngsters.

“Proper now, we’re truly preparing for a efficiency developing in about seven weeks,” Ella mentioned.

All the strings devices are the scholars who already take part in strings class, Beckner mentioned. The keyboards (piano classes) have been donated by numerous donors hooked up to the Kim household to help them.

The advantages stream each methods. The younger college students study and thrive beneath the tutelage of larger children, and the larger children discover pleasure working with the kids and serving to them discover music and artwork.

“They’re actually nice college students, and it’s so enjoyable coming right here and instructing them, and I believe it’s so nice how good they’re at their instrument and that they need to get higher,” mentioned eight-grade mentor Laila.

From the enjoyment and camaraderie within the after-school program, there’s extra happening than merely instructing music and artwork.

“They’re constructing relationships. They’re very engaged with one another, and the children come working and provides them hugs. They usually examine in about their day, and it’s manner deeper than simply the artwork. It’s all in regards to the relationships and attending to know one another,” Beckner mentioned.

The particular program is in its second semester at Dogwood, and the Kim sisters hope to achieve many extra children sooner or later.

“Our hope is that ‘ItzArt’ will broaden to different Title 1 faculties, as properly. We additionally need to broaden it throughout the nation within the subsequent couple of years,” Ella mentioned.

I actually hope this travels to different faculties across the county, and I hope to proceed this all through faculty as properly,” Emma mentioned.

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano