Edwardsville 3rd Graders Learn Art Skills in New Club

EDWARDSVILLE - Administrators and volunteers at Columbus Elementary School in Edwardsville have come together to offer an art club for third grade students.

When Principal Cole Kringlen assumed his role last year, he felt there was a need for more extracurricular activities for the kids at Columbus. He partnered with Abby Carlson, a third grade teacher, to begin offering Art Club for third graders once a month after school. The experience has been a major success while giving kids access to art education.

“I think it's awesome that I'm able to help kids continue being creative and make new things and come up with new ideas,” said Carlson, who leads the club. “It is great that everyone can get an opportunity to continue to be creative outside of the classroom.”

In Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7, first, second and fourth graders take art class, while third and fifth graders are in a music class. Students at the middle and high school levels can choose to take art electives.

Kringlen was bothered by a lack of art education in third grade, and he wanted to create an opportunity for third graders to get that art exposure so there wasn’t as big of a gap when they came to fourth grade art class. The school has quarterly art days organized by the Parent-Teacher Organization, but Art Club takes this a step further.

Every student at Columbus is able to join one club. From a volunteerism organization to a LEGO club, there are several options. Over 100 students applied to be in the Art Club.

As part of Art Club, students learn different art techniques and complete projects. Carlson shared that while she never worked as an art teacher, she has always loved crafts, so it was a natural decision to join the club as its advisor. Kringlen commended Carlson for her work.

“It's not like it’s part of her work day,” he explained. “This was something added on and something that she's passionate about and something that she wants to help kids succeed and be exposed to on that front. We're very lucky to have staff that are willing to do that.”

Kringlen and Carlson also gave a special shoutout to their parent volunteers, including Christina Armor, who has led the charge on the Art Club and quarterly art days at Columbus. They noted that these parents go above and beyond to help the students. With so many adults advocating for these kids, they’re on a positive path.

“We have a lot of parent volunteers that come into the school and help out and organize it and plan it and provide the supplies,” Kringlen said. “This is all with the help of parents and donations, so that's really cool. Our parents are just really exceptional, helping us out and making this all possible.”

Kringlen and Carlson have been amazed at the number of students who thrive in an artistic setting, noting that this is a strength of many of their kids. They hope opportunities like this encourage the kids to continue working hard and developing their skills.

“It definitely sets them up for success,” Kringlen said. “The more that we can expose it to them, I think the more opportunities they have as they get older.”

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