'Bravo' to Lindero art students

STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO/Acorn Newspapers FINE ARTS—Lindero Canyon Middle School students accept awards for their artwork. From left, art teacher Marilyn Fine, third-place winner Lucy Rowell, second-place winner Konstanze Rausch, Principal Ron Kaiser and first-place winner Orr Amran. The students' art, all of which has a presidential theme, will be showcased at Bank of America on Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. Ceramic donkeys and elephants created to celebrate the presidential inauguration by seventh- and eighth-grade art students at Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills are now on display at the Bank of America branch on Kanan Road, art teacher Marilyn Fine said at the Jan. 27 school board meeting.

The presidential theme was the focus of Fine's latest project for her students, who were instructed to use the political parties' donkey and elephant symbols to convey their own messages. Fine said that students were shown the work of professional artists who had created donkey and elephant "street art" in Washington, D.C., in 2001.

Twelve students from Fine's classes were honored for their work and received certificates of appreciation at the meeting. One of the honorees had created a "Here Comes the Sun" elephant, while another fashioned a "New Yorkie" donkey.

Three students were presented with savings bonds from the bank. Eighth-grader Orr Amran earned first place and a $100 savings bond for his "911phant." Constanze Rausch, also an eighthgrade student, was the secondplace winner and recipient of a $75 savings bond for her "iEllie" elephant that had a plug for a tail. Seventh-grader Lucy Rowell claimed third place in the competition and received a $50 savings bond for her "World Peace" donkey.

The 12 ceramic pieces will be showcased at the Agoura Hills Bank of America for the next month.

Bravo!

In related art news, Ron Kaiser announced that Lindero Canyon Middle School is one of three finalists for the BRAVO Award, sponsored by the Music Center of Los Angeles County.

The 27th annual BRAVO Award honors teachers and schools for exemplary arts education.

At the meeting, Kaiser said the school's application was accepted and judges visited the school twice to see for themselves the breadth of arts and music programs students enjoy. Kaiser told school board members that he was particularly proud of how parents described the programs to the BRAVO judges at a luncheon during the second visit. One parent described Lindero as a place where a child could explore the arts "without being called a nerd," Kaiser said.

On Jan. 30, Kaiser was informed that Lindero was one of three finalists in the competition.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized as one of the finest schools for the arts for Los Angeles County," Kaiser said. "I think the community is very much aware of the highquality arts programs at the school, not only individual arts at Lindero but how the arts are integrated into our academic classes."

BRAVO Award nominations were made by principals, faculty committees, superintendents and parents. Finalists were chosen from more than 50 applicants and participated in a review process that included site visits and feedback by the judging committee.

Awards will be given in three categories—general classroom teacher, arts specialist and school recognition. Winners will receive a cash prize. The BRAVO Award ceremony will be at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The free ceremony will be followed by a dessert reception.

The BRAVO Award is sponsored in part by Club 100, a group of women dedicated to supporting arts education programs at the Music Center.