Morningside Pupils Learn Math Through Art at IS183

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STOCKBRIDGE - Third-graders at Morningside Elementary School traveled to IS183 Art School to begin a free eight-week after-school program last Thursday.

The 20 children are  "Learning Math through Printmaking," part of IS183's Learning through Arts (LtA) program that was launched in the fall when fifth-grade students from Morningside successfully completed "Learning American History through Ceramics."

"The LtA Program has the potential to significantly impact the lives of Morningside students," said Principal Tom Simon. "Federal time requirements, although necessary to improve the language and mathematical literacy of all children, greatly reduce the time available for enriched, engaging activities."

Programs such as this one  can marry art education with other academics, said Morningside art teacher Linda Briggs.

According to Hope Sullivan, executive director at IS183, "The curriculum is based on the Massachusetts Department of Education's frameworks and supports the academic programming for each grade level at Morningside."


Karen Arp-Sandel, a faculty artist at IS183, will be leading the course. "The children will learn the fundamentals of printmaking while learning and practicing math skills during their art-making lessons," said Arp-Sandel.

"Learning Math through Printmaking" culminates on March 20 at 3:15 at the elementary school with an art opening for parents, friends and interested community members. The children will display and talk about their work.

This inaugural year of LtA has been made possible through the support of the Berkshire Bank Foundation, the Morningside Neighborhood Advisory Council, the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, the Pittsfield Cultural Council, the Pittsfield Education Enrichment Fund and the Robbins-de Beaumont Foundation.

IS183 is a nonprofit community art school encouraging people of all ages, means and skill levels to enrich their lives through hands-on experience in the visual arts. It is located at 13 Willard Hill Road, just off Route 183 via Trask Lane. For more information, contact Sullivan at 413-298-5252, Ext. 101, or hope@is183.org
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Companion Corner: Dolly at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an affectionate kitty at Berkshire Humane Society looking for a new home.

Dolly is a 1-year-old domestic shorthair with white and tabby markings who has been at the shelter for a short amount of time.

Feline/small animal adoption counselor Alyssa Petell introduced us to her.

"Her name was actually inspired off of Dolly Parton because she came in on the day that Dolly Parton passed away," she said. 

The shelter doesn't have a lot of information on Dolly as she was a stray, but knows she is very sweet.

"She was originally found as a stray. So we don't have much background information as to exactly what happened and why she ended up becoming a stray," Petell said. "Unfortunately, a lot of times kitties will become abandoned and become strays or get left behind."

Dolly needs a home with no other cats and will prefer somewhere quiet because she can get a little shy and nervous at times.

"She doesn't like other cats. I think a quiet home, older people would be best for her, just because of her shy personality in the beginning," Petell said. "But she eventually will warm up, and she is a lovely lady."

Dolly loves to be pet and might even play with some feather toys. Like any other cat, she will let you know when she has had enough pets but will be back for more shortly after.

"She loves butt scratches. She's super affectionate. She actually does have a little bit of a playful side when she gets used to you, and she just wants to snuggle with you and be loved on all day long," said Petell.

Dolly is healthy and will join your family up to date with all of her vaccines.

"She doesn't have any health issues. She is spayed, and when you adopt a kitty from our shelter, the adoption fee does include everything medically wise. So their spay or neuter, their vaccines, their health certificate from the vet, everything is included. So she will have all of that done before she goes," she said.

One of her ears is clipped to show she has been spayed as she was a part of the Community Cat Program, but since she was so friendly, the Humane Society decided to adopt her out.

"She was originally caught as a stray from our community cat program. They normally work with trap, neuter, return for feral, semi-feral cats, or friendly strays, and when she was caught, they realized that she was very friendly, and she was then brought into our shelter so we could adopt her out," Petell said.

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