Welcome Kindergarten Parents!

Join us in inspiring Central’s students through art—right in your child’s classroom! For years, this program has been made possible by parent volunteers like you. By bringing art history to life, you’ll spark creativity, curiosity, and a love of art in young minds, leaving a lasting impact on their understanding of artistic traditions from around the world.

Why Participate?

• Impactful: Fun opportunity to engage with your student’s classroom in a meaningful way.
• Minimal Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours (1 hr for prep, 1 hr for classroom visit).
• Supported: We provide everything you need: Presentation guides with artist background info and instructions. PowerPoint slides and speaker talking points. Project suggestions to inspire creativity. Access to our fully stocked supply closet or $20 reimbursement if you need to purchase your own materials!
• No Experience Needed: You don’t need to be familiar with art history to participate! Sessions are designed to be easy for volunteers to lead. Presentations are short (usually five slides) and include a variety of fun, age-appropriate discussion prompts. The focus is on sparking curiosity and encouraging students to imagine the story behind the art.

How to sign up:

Your classroom’s room parent has created a sign-up sheet for you to volunteer for your preferred month. Once you’ve signed up, please reach out to your student’s teacher to schedule a day and time for your visit.

• Brady: Sign-up link!
• Sula: Sign-up link!
• Tinkoff: Sign-up link!

Note: For the 2024-2025 school year, if you have already signed up to teach about an artist that is not included in the updated curriculum, you have the option to either stick with the original artist or switch to one from the new curriculum.

January: Portraits

Mary Cassatt (1844 – 1926), American Impressionist Painter

As one of the most important female artists of the 19th century, Mary Cassatt used soft colors and delicate details to bring tenderness and warmth to an everyday moment in The Child’s Bath, now located at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work broke boundaries for women in the art world, making her a key figure in the Impressionist movement and an enduring influence on how we see the bonds between mothers and children.

“If painting is no longer needed, it seems a pity that some of us are born into the world with such a passion for line and color.” – Mary Cassatt

• Resources: Presentation Slides and Suggested Project
• Learn more about Mary Cassatt and The Child’s Bath

February: Enchanted Landscapes

Christi Belcourt (1966 – ), Canadian Painter and Artist

Christi Belcourt’s The Wisdom of the Universe is a tribute to nature by a Canadian Métis artist who blends cultural heritage with environmental advocacy. Featuring endangered plants, animals, and insects, the painting weaves a vibrant reminder of our deep connection to the earth. Belcourt’s work challenges us to see nature as family, not a resource, and inspires us to protect the delicate balance of our shared world.

“This wondrous planet, so full of mystery, is a paradise. All I want to do is give everything I have, my energy, my love, my labor—all of it in gratitude for what we are given.” – Christi Belcourt

• Resources: Presentation Slides and Suggested Project
• Learn more about Christi Belcourt and The Wisdom of the Universe 

March: People in Action

Pieter Bruegel (1525 – 1569) Late Flemish School, Renaissance Painter

Pieter Bruegel’s Winter Landscape with Skaters and Bird Trap is a frosty masterpiece by the Flemish artist who loved to pack his scenes with lively detail. From skaters on the ice to sledders and bundled-up villagers, it’s a snowy snapshot of 16th-century winter fun. Bruegel’s work captures the chill of the season and the warmth of community, proving that even in the cold, life is full of energy and charm.

“[Bruegel] painted much that simply could not be painted.  All of the works by our Bruegel imply more than the depict.” – Abraham Ortelius

• Resources: Presentation Slides and Suggested Projects
• Learn more about Pieter Bruegel and Winter Landscape

April: Beyond the Canvas

Alexander Calder (1898 – 1976), American Sculptor

American artist Alexander Calder revolutionized sculpture by introducing movement and color in ways unseen before. Best known for inventing the mobile, Calder’s work brought art to life. Finny Fish, with its vibrant wire body and hanging glass scales, is a playful example of his ability to turn simple forms into whimsical, energetic art.

“Above all, art should be fun.” – Alexander Calder

• Resources: Presentation Slides and Suggested Projects
• Learn more about Alexander Calder and Finny Fish 

October 2025: Colors and Shapes

Mary Blair (1911-1978), American Illustrator and Animator

Mary Blair’s art is a colorful explosion of whimsy and joy. In addition to illustrating children’s books, she was an animator for iconic Disney films like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. She even helped create the beloved It’s a Small World ride! Known for her bold colors and imaginative designs, Blair was a pioneering female artist in the male-dominated world of animation.

“Walt said I knew about colors he had never heard of!” – Mary Blair

• Presentation slides and suggested projects (coming in 2025-2026 school year!)
• Learn more about Mary Blair

November 2025: Stories in Action

Grant Wood (1891 – 1942), American Painter, Realism, Regionalism 

Grant Wood’s American Gothic is as sharp as its pitchfork, capturing the no-nonsense spirit of rural America with unforgettable precision. With his realistic style, Wood turned two stoic figures into a symbol of resilience during the Great Depression, proving you don’t need a smile to make an impact. This iconic painting, housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, continues to embody pride, perseverance, and Midwestern attitude.

“All the really good ideas I ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.” – Grant Wood

• Presentation slides and suggested projects (coming in 2025-2026 school year!)
• Learn more about Grant Wood and American Gothic

Instructions for Volunteers:

Thank you for sharing your time and enthusiasm with Central’s students! Your involvement in the Cultural Art Program plays a vital role in bringing art history to life and sparking creativity and curiosity. By guiding students through the world of art, you’re helping them build a lifelong appreciation and understanding of cultural heritage, while encouraging their critical thinking and observational skills.

• Prior to volunteering, you must fill out the District Volunteer Form (must be done annually.)
• To volunteer for a session, use the sign up link provided by the Room Parent for your student’s classroom.  At the beginning of the month you’ve volunteered for, please contact your student’s teacher to schedule a time to come to class.
• It’s helpful to do a “dry-run” at home with your student beforehand to anticipate how the students will respond. Reference the talking points in the notes in each slide to get comfortable with what you’ll plan to say and the questions you’ll ask.
• It’s highly recommended to do any material prep work and create a completed example prior to the session. This helps students envision the finished product and complete it within the allotted time.
• You will have access to the school’s wifi and the ability to plug in to a projector. However, to avoid any potential technical difficulties, plan to email your presentation to your student’s teacher prior to the session and print out your talking points/notes.
• Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your start time to allow time to sign in, collect supplies from the art supply closet (if necessary), and set up for your presentation.
• Plan to spend 20-25 minutes for your presentation and discussion, and 30 minutes for the project, depending on complexity.
• In the last few minutes of the session, take time to ask the students about what they learned (i.e. “Can you tell me the name of the artist we learned about today? What were they known for? How would you describe the (movement/style) of art?)

Central has a well stocked art supply closet, however, if you needed to purchase your own materials for a project you can be reimbursed up to $20 by submitting a reimbursement form. If you have questions about what supplies can be found in the closet, please contact the Cultural Arts Program Chair, Maryjane Bates.

Questions about the program? Please contact Maryjane Bates, Cultural Arts Program Chair.