North Hills 'Arts Alive' To Showcase Students' Creativity

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA - In a tradition spanning nearly half a century, North Hills School District will host its 46th annual Arts Alive program May 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 pm.at North Hills High School. The free event, open to the community, celebrates the creative achievements of students from kindergarten through high school .

Arts Alive features student work from a variety of mediums such as pottery, paintings, drawings, sculpture, photographs, school publications and writing projects, as well as student work from the family and consumer science and technology education departments and performances from the music department.

"Arts Alive is a celebration of our students’ talents and creativity," superintendent Patrick Mannarino said in a district release. “This annual event provides an excellent opportunity for our community to experience the many opportunities available within North Hills School District.”

Here’s what you can expect if you go:

• Hardwood benches built by Grade 8 Sustainable Engineering students from reclaimed bookshelves recycled from middle school library renovations. Students will sell raffle tickets for a chance to win a bench that can be customized with any design by the winner. Raffle proceeds will benefit a charity..
• A sample of elementary artwork from each elementary school representing all K-6 grade levels will be displayed in the gymnasium and surrounding hallways.
• North Hills Game Fest showcasing board games and video games created by district students in which attendees can play the games and test virtual reality goggles and robots.
• A middle school Mother’s Day flower sale featuring plants grown hydroponically by STEAM Club students and planted in pottery containers made by seventh-grade art students. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to a charitable organization.
• An array of food choices from the World Language Department including a variety of cultural fusion dishes in the high school cafeteria.
• Coffee Buddha will offer coffee, espresso beverages and hot cocoa from 5 to 7 p.m. in the high school lobby in exchange for a donation to the district’s art department.
• An art gallery opening-style event in the high school rotunda with juried exhibitions from high school artists and pottery, photography and film demonstrations. Some artwork, including pottery pieces and photography, will be available for purchase.
• A sculpture contest that features flags decorated and designed by various clubs and activities in a districtwide project reminiscent of the Carnegie dinosaurs visible throughout downtown Pittsburgh.
• Various large-scale wood and metal-working projects in the technology education department.
• Hands-on arts activities for children and demonstrations by various area arts organizations.
• Elementary and middle school art displays, as well as quilts crafted by high school family and consumer sciences students in the gymnasium.
• Choral and instrumental performances in the auditorium and courtyard areas and poetry readings by the high school poetry club.

Photo via Shutterstock.