With the publication of its “Kindness Matters” book this month, Yelm Community Schools honored six of its student artists from two elementary schools whose artwork was selected for the book.
The six artists — three from Lackamas and three from Southworth elementary schools — were recognized with certificates at awards assemblies at their respective schools on Friday, April 12. Each student also signed a copy of the book, which will be auctioned at next year’s Dollars For Scholars auction event.
Lackamas awarded fifth graders Elise Villacian and Julie Denton and fourth grader Joey Hatch, while Southworth celebrated fifth graders Jessenia Padilla, Juniper Patton and Bailey Polley.
Proceeds from the book sales will go toward the Learners Without Limits Foundation, which provides low-income students with essential items such as clothing, backpacks, supplies and more. Artwork from 25 students within the district are featured in the 32-page book.
Villacian’s artwork was chosen as the cover art for the book, which is for sale on Amazon for $12.95.
“I was so surprised that my art was on the cover,” Villacian said. “I had an idea for the artwork and then went home and drew it a couple of times.”
Denton and Hatch shared similar reactions to discovering their art was selected for the book, which was part of the district’s participation in the “Great Kindness Challenge” in January.
“I freaked out when I saw my art in the book. It was so cool to be recognized. It doesn’t take a lot to be kind,” said Hatch, who drew a tree with hearts and the words “Kindness is like a seed. You need kindness to grow it. So remember to be nice to people even if they’re rude to you.”
“I was really surprised by my art being in a book. It was an honor,” added Denton, who wrote the definition of kindness in blue and pink letters.
Polley’s artwork was the only piece of art that included layers, said Shannon Gubser, a student support specialist for YCS and the organizer of the “Great Kindness Challenge” in Yelm. Polley depicted one person giving a gift to another person using a variety of different materials, particularly paper. She said she put a lot of thought into every detail of her piece.
“I chose to make them two different colors, but not like one person having a white skin tone and one having a black skin tone because some people might find it offensive that a white person is only giving a gift to a Black person,” Polley explained. “So I decided to make one yellow and one pink. I made the background first with dull colors to prove that the world can be dark sometimes but you can still find light in it. I made the people bright colors to prove that kindness brings out the brightness in people.”
Padilla drew a female character with the words “Who wants a hug? Everyone deserves a hug.” Gubser said her drawing was one of the most realistic the district received in the contest.
“Whenever somebody feels down, I like to ask them if they want a hug, whether it’s somebody at school or at the playground or anywhere else outside of school,” said Padilla, who used pencil, alcohol markers and fineliners. “I tried to make her a bit brighter with bright colors instead of desaturated colors because I wanted to make her a bright and happy person.”
Patton drew Earth with several examples of kindness surrounding it using colored pencils.
“I was happy when I saw my artwork in the book. I didn’t think I was going to. I hadn’t really won anything before,” she said.
“Kindness Matters!” is available for purchase at https://www.amazon.com/Kindness-Matters-Community-Schools-Students/dp/B0CY6268F5.
