Assumption School Students Prep For Festival

SAN LEANDRO, CA — Through nearly a year of distance learning, Assumption School has continued to teach art to students. The creative expression skills of the pupils will be highlighted next week at the school’s annual oratorical festival.

Students of Karen Barbera, Assumption School’s art teacher for 4th through 8th grades, have been studying fine arts and performing arts in preparation for the festival. In the Fall, her students studied a new artist each week while putting their own personal and creative touch on iconic and historical artwork. Now, her students are honing their vocal and improvisation skills, along with learning about stage presence.

When asked what has been hard about teaching art through distance learning, Barbera said that it requires special time and attention to develop new ways to keep kids engaged and focused, but knowing that she can make a difference in their lives has been well worth the challenges brought on during the pandemic.

“A big focus of the art program for the middle and junior high kids has been to help them learn things about themselves and their abilities that they didn’t expect," said Barbera. "The oratorical festival will now give them a platform and an opportunity to creatively express themselves with the larger school community. I am so proud of my students for displaying courage, resiliency, and open-mindedness throughout this entire school year. ”

The festival encourages students to practice and use their effective communication skills in a community forum among friends and family. Effective communication is a core element woven into the school’s curriculum, which has served to benefit kids far beyond their Assumption school years.

Showcased in this event will be poetry, monologues, and speeches performed by students from Kindergarten through 8th grade.