Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tribune Staff Report
UNIONTOWN — USD 235 students in preschool through second grade will be traveling to Iola today for a free theatrical performance at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
“As much as we can expose kids to the arts, I like it,” West Bourbon Elementary School Principal Tracy Smith said. “And free? We like it even more.”
The free performance of the popular Dr. Seuss book “Are You My Mother?” is being provided through support from the Sleeper Family Trust Fund. Since 1975, the Sleeper Family Trust Fund has provided for programming for the fine arts center, including more than 30 years of free performances.
“It’s one of the best things we do,” Executive Director Susan Raines said.
The Bowlus Center is hosting two performances for students at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The performances are also open to the families of the students, if seating is available.
In November, third, fourth and fifth graders had their chance to attend a free performance.
Smith said the teachers come back afterward and said the students were “mesmerized with wide eyes and open mouths.”
“It’s not an everyday experience in Southeast Kansas,” Smith said. “It’s an opportunity that I would say most of our kids don’t get to go to a theater like that often. And we take advantage of every opportunity we can to educate the whole child.”
Angelique McNaughton 