“ART with a PURPOSE”… National Art Honor Society!
Teaching 1300 students at the elementary level in my 14th year of teaching was ultimately what prompted me that it might be time to make a change. So I moved to the high school level, moving down the street from my elementary school and feeling like a brand new teacher all over again! It was exhilarating, exciting and nerve wracking all at once and after day 1 as a high school art teacher, I was hooked! My next challenge was to take our National Art Honor Society to the next level! I began to co-sponsor this with my dear friend, team mate and colleague, Dr. Bruce Bowman and together we have watched our NAHS soar! From that first year with about 25 members, to where we are today with 66 members and our art students having opportunities to earn over 100 community service hours each semester, “ART with a PURPOSE” is alive and well in our North Gwinnett NAHS!
Each event we partake in, gives back to the community in some way. From our NAHS Induction, to Suwanee Day where we participate in the Parade and Face Painting, to working at the local football games, to the Taste of Suwanee Event, to working in Atlanta at the Shepherd Spinal Center, to local community fall festivals, to creating an art day at a local school for special education preschoolers, to working the Empty Bowls event at the local elementary school, to painting murals in the community, to illustrating poetry written by local 2nd graders and publishing books, to commissioning art in the community from photographs, to portraits, to custom Christmas ornaments, to taking spring trips, to hosting a Fun Run for charities with the school’s Beta Club, to being active members of our school’s Relay for Life team creating the t-shirts and the themed site signs…our National Art Honor Society students are indeed, making a difference in their communities and learning to be better, caring individuals in this world! “ART with a PURPOSE” is well known at North Gwinnett High School where our student body is currently at 3400! The NAHS is one of the largest clubs at the school – they are, as Maya Angelou would say, “All Living Art”!
I look forward to seeing what your NAHS students are doing and perhaps working together on some collaborative service learning projects!
Debi West, Ed.S, NBCT
North Gwinnett High School
Suwanee, GA
GAEA Past President (2001-2007)
dewestudio@bellsouth.net
http://naea.digication.com/artstuff/Welcome/published
I am a member of National Art Honors Society at North Gwinnett. With Mrs. Debi West and Dr. B as our leaders, we have done so many great projects in the community! Right now we are working on Haiti houses to raise money for those in need. I have so much fun in this club, Mrs. Debi is truly all about ART WITH A PURPOSE!!
-Niki Martin
Posted by: niki martin | January 20, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Mrs. West has a true zeal for teaching. She does not just care about you as one of her "students" but as an individual. NAHS is a great way for us to give back to the community through art. She teaches us the art that you make can help others in need. She makes "Art with a Purpose" something that any teacher or student can achieve. Mrs. West has truly changed the way I thought about school and how important it is not just to me but my community. I am forever changed and very blessed that she is my teacher. ROCK ON!
Posted by: Donald Del Nero | January 26, 2010 at 09:16 PM