BENTONVILLE -- Some Ardis Ann Middle School students are helping to spread Christmas cheer -- and information about their home state -- in the nation's capital this year.
The school was chosen to represent Arkansas in the America Celebrates display, part of the National Christmas Tree experience that begins Nov. 28 at President's Park in Washington.
Under the direction of art teacher Nikki Kalcevic, about two dozen sixth-graders came up with designs they painted onto plastic balls.
The 23 ornaments, each one a little bigger than a softball, will adorn one of 56 trees surrounding the larger national Christmas tree. Each tree will represent a U.S. state or territory and the District of Columbia, according to a National Park Service news release.
The Ardis Ann students' ornaments each have something to do with Arkansas.
Sofia Coberly, 11, paid homage to the state insect with a picture of a honeybee on top of a honeycomb. The opposite side of her ornament states, "Merry Christmas from the bees."
Sofia believes bees deserve more respect for their role in the food chain.
"If there weren't honeybees or pollinators, the world wouldn't have any food," Sofia said. "They're really important to people."
She thought by highlighting the importance of bees, she might make people think twice before they swat one out of fear of being stung.
The idea that her artwork will be on display for everyone in Washington to see excites her.
"The biggest thing I've done with an object I made was for an art show here at the school, and it was just a drawing," Sofia said.
The U.S. Department of Education, through a partnership with the National Park Service, worked with state art and education agencies to identify middle and high schools whose students would create the ornaments.
Kalcevic said she has a good relationship with Lana Hallmark, fine arts specialist at the Arkansas Department of Education. Hallmark invited Kalcevic to participate in the America Celebrates program.
Kalcevic initially wasn't aware her school was the only one in the state participating in the program.
"It's pretty special," she said.
Participating schools were asked not to decorate their ornaments with business or sports-related logos or anything political or religious, she said. Kalcevic chose her Thursday sixth-period art class to make the ornaments because those students seemed the most interested in the project, she said.
Kayla Wilson and Aralynn Hoover, both 12, created an ornament together that shows a plate of cookies and a mug of milk, which they pointed out is Arkansas' state beverage.
"It probably took us about three class periods to think of it, sketch it out and paint it," Kayla said.
Metro on 11/02/2018