Morningside Pupils Learn Math Through Art at IS183

04:52PM / Tuesday, January 29, 2008Print Story | Email Story

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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ServiceNet Hopes to Open Pittsfield Warming Center in Nov.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Thursday, October 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A warming center is again planned in the First United Methodist Church for the cold months.

During last week's Homelessness Advisory Committee meeting, Erin Forbush, director of shelter and housing at ServiceNet, reported that they hope to begin operating the nighttime center in mid-November.

It would operate from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the church, which abuts The Pearl shelter. Forbush said the warming center would be the same program as in the past.

"Again it's a warming center, so there's no cots or beds, but it is certainly a place to come in, and we'll have a hot coffee or cocoa ready for folks," she explained.

"It will be a place to be inside and warm."

This year, ServiceNet hopes to secure full funding from the state so the warming center can open on Sundays at 5 p.m. In years past, they found that Sunday is the most challenging day for unhoused individuals because many community spaces aren't open.

The First Housing Resource Center, managed by Hearthway, opened earlier this year as a low-barrier option for people to rest and access amenities. It is open seven days a week, and Forbush said if people could come to the warming center on Sundays at 5, there would be a fuller day of coverage.

"It does still leave a little gap for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as spaces like the library close at five, but we know that Sundays were something that people were looking for," she said.

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