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Mountview students create art for Starlight contest

“Giving isn’t about getting, it’s about seeing the smile on someone’s face and knowing you helped put it there” is one of the sentiments that spurred Mountview elementary’s Grade 6 students to enter the first annual Starlight Children’s Foundation national art project.
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The art work of Mountview elementary student James Bing is being sent in to the Starlight Foundation's provincial competition. The foundation helps sick children and is holding a Canada-wide art contest with an art auction.

Tim Horsley

Special to The Tribune


“Giving isn’t about getting, it’s about seeing the smile on someone’s face and knowing you helped put it there” is one of the sentiments that spurred Mountview elementary’s Grade 6 students to enter the first annual Starlight Children’s Foundation national art project.

Teacher Cindy Neufeld’s class was selected by the Starlight Foundation to produce and submit some original works of art for an online auction that will benefit both the Starlight Foundation and Mountview elementary. 

“I was happy that we were chosen,” Neufeld said, “and I am proud of the hard work they have put into this project for the benefit of others.”

Being selected to participate meant the class was provided with new art supplies from Crayola Canada and were expected to create pieces of art that exemplify the qualities of hope and courage.

“We discussed those qualities and what they might look like as an image,” Neufeld said. “When they began to put their ideas on paper they weren’t satisfied with their first attempts, but the more thought and effort they put into their work the better the outcomes.”

The Starlight Foundation is a Canadian organization that benefits seriously ill children in Canada, providing them with opportunities to enjoy experiences that help to alleviate the challenges they face every day. 

Participating schools throughout Canada have selected works of art produced by their students which are now up for auction on the foundation’s website. 

Proceeds from the auction of Mountview’s art will be split between the foundation and Mountview elementary.

“It was difficult to select which of the nine pieces of art we would submit for auction,” Neufeld said. “But I left it up to the class and they really came through using the criteria we had established at the beginning of the project.”

At the end of the auction judges select a piece of art from each school which will be entered in a provincial competition.

The two best pieces from each province will then be judged by a celebrity panel for selection as one of the top three in the nation.

The Mountview class is proud to announce that James Bing’s art has been chosen to go on to the provincial competition.

For Neufeld’s class this project wasn’t about the contest, explained their teacher, it has been an exercise in giving, while learning that there are those in this world who have to face each day with more hope and courage than most of us can imagine. 

“It has been a great learning experience on many different levels,” Neufeld said. “And given the chance I would do it again.”

 

Opportunity to bid on the art runs until April 15 and can be done through the Starlight Foundation’s web site at www.starlight artproject.org or  visit www.starlightcanada.org for more information about the organization.