9th grade Stone High English teacher Emily Sumrall has been awarded the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education, “Thad Cochran Arts Integration Award”. The award was presented at the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Whole Schools Institute at the Riley Center in Meridian, Mississippi, on July 14, 2015.
“Some may think it a little unusual for an English teacher to include and connect fabr
Emily Sumrall
ic arts, visual arts, and mosaic tile artistry to their daily curriculum. Emily knows her students need to be actively engaged in the content studied. For example, creating a community quilt to better understand the passion for community included in the student’s literature was a natural transition.” says Kathryn Lewis.
Ms Sumrall is proud to be part of a School District that supports her teaching style and is honored to represent Stone High and her students in receiving this award.
July 28th, 12 noon, lunch @ Wiggins Senior Citizens Center – Stuart Rockoff, Executor Director of the Mississippi Humanities Council shares information and grant opportunities during his visit to Stone County! RSVP to EDP- 601-928-5418.
July 30th, 5:30 pm @ Wiggins Train Depot – Reading of the rough draft of Stone County’s Centennial Play with playwright Tonya Hays.
August 20th, 6:00 pm @ Wiggins Library – Book signing and presentation by Hester Bass, author of The Secret World of Walter Anderson.
We need your support for these incredible opportunities. For further information, contact Kathryn Lewis: 228-697-4504.
The arts are for everyone! Alexander Hardware in Wiggins recently offered a free pallet workshop for a “ladies” night out! Great food, great ideas and free pallets for all.
Emily Sumrall’s 9th grade students will work with Teaching Artist/writer/theatre specialist and Director of the Nationally Recognized “Wings” program Tonya Hays beginning during the Fall Semester of 2015 at Stone High School. Stone High is one of 20 schools in Mississippi to receive an Arts Residency Grant from the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE). The MAAE goal is to impart knowledge that will carry over to additional long -term education for students in all academic areas.
Emily Sumrall’s 9th grade students dedicate “community banners” and mosaic tile benches to Stone County. The banners and benches were created by students in conjunction with fabric artist Marcus Weekley and tile artist Elizabeth Veglia and community volunteers. The banners will hang in Stone High School and the benches will be located on the nature trail between Perk Elementary and the Community Arts Center.
Sponsors for this project were: Bank of Wiggins, Friends of Stone County Libraries, Stone County Arts Council, Betsy and Otis Rowell and the SC Telling Trees Project. The project partner is MGCCC.
Join us for “From Page to Stage” – Sharing Your Community’s Voice. This event is presented by writer/director/actress Tonya Hays, artistic director of the Nationally Award Winning Wings program at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center.
Where: Community Arts Center, Perkinston Campus- MS Gulf Coast Community College, Perkinston, MS
When: June 20, 2015, 9-noon.
Friends and Family are invited to a brown bag lunch performance at noon. This program is in partnership with MS Gulf Coast Community College, the Stone County Telling Trees Project, Stone County Economic Development Partnership, and Festival South. This program is open and free to the public and is of special interest to citizens who are interested in story gathering and telling.
For additional information contact Tonya Hays – phone: (228-860-6336) or Kathryn Lewis – phone 228-697-4505.
Please join us Monday, May 18th at 6PM in the cafeteria of Stone High School for the dedication of the latest additions to the “Murals of Stone County”, our Community Banners and the Mosaic Tile Benches (click link to the article about these wonderful benches).
The banners were created on March 27, 2015, with award winning quilter Marcus Weekley. The banners celebrate Stone County’s 100 years! Thanks to our sponsors: Bank of Wiggins, Betsy and Otis Rowell, Friends of Stone County Libraries, and the Stone County Arts Council in partnership with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the Stone County School District.
As summer approaches, be on the lookout for the “Little Free Library Houses” in our community. These beautiful houses are painted by artists in the area and filled with books for children by the Friends of Stone County Libraries. This Community project benefits all of us.
Seuss House
The Seuss house painted by Kelly Spacht is housed at Stone Elementary.
Wise Reading Owl
The “Wise Reading Owl” painted by Kym Garraway will visit the Wiggins Library this summer for the Summer Reading Program. Beginning this fall, this Little Free Library willfind its home at Perk Elementary.
Emily Sumrall’s 9th grade students from Stone High School recently spent two days with mosaic tile mural artist Elizabeth Veglia and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) arts instructor Sandra Cassibry creating mosaic tile concrete benches celebrating Stone County’s heritage plants and animals.
Project sponsors include the Bank of Wiggins, Betsy and Otis Rowell, the Friends of Stone County Libraries, the Stone County Arts Council, MGCCC, and the Stone County School District. We thank everyone for their support.
Artist Sherry Carlson recently presented a flower watercolor workshop for the Stone County Arts Council (SCAC) and in support of the Community Arts Center.
Upcoming SCAC events:
April 11 – Glass Sun Catchers full day workshop
April 16 – 5:30-7pm at the Community Arts Center – Stone County Arts Council Members Show. Public is invited!
April 2 – 5:30 pm at the Community Arts Center – SCAC meeting. Open to all interested!
For further information or to register for workshops, call 601-928-6298.
Stone County Arts Council 