聽 聽 聽During her two-year tenure at the helm of the annual Gordon F. Kells High School Arts Gala, arts education teacher Carly Broberg has made the event a must-see for anyone who wants to check out what she calls 鈥渢he amazing young talent in our community,鈥� and a must-do for her students. However, the second annual celebration was bittersweet, as Broberg prepared to bid farewell to GFK to take up a teaching position in Maidstone, Sask.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have incredibly talented kids here at this school,鈥� says Broberg. 鈥淭he Arts Gala not only allows us to raise funds for the arts programs here at the school; it also gives our students an opportunity to showcase their talent and work to the community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淟ast year, our first Arts Gala was a Paris-themed event and this year, our theme was 'Vintage Hollywood.' We made $1,000 last year, and that money allowed us to purchase equipment for the art room and lots of acrylic paint and canvases.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淏ut what that money really bought was peace of mind,鈥� Broberg continues. 鈥淎n abundance of art supplies meant that students could continue to paint at home, even if they'd finished their semester. Those extra supplies mean that they can continue to carry on painting.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Although Broberg is leaving at the end of this school year to take a teaching position in Maidstone, Sask., nearer to her family in Alberta, staff and students say her impact has already made a lasting impression.
聽聽聽聽 Student dancers Julyco and Jeannette Opena say that the opportunity to dance in fromt of an audience at this year's Arts Gala was 鈥渁wesome.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Drama student Marissa Owen agrees. 鈥淚t's nice to showcase our art. Usually it's mostly sports and other extracurriculars that get the most attention. To have an gala like this, where everything is all about the arts is great. It's our show.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 The evening featured culinary and sewing projects, paintings, drawings, and a talent show.
聽聽聽聽 Performances were from singers Daysha Smith, Jillian Heitanen, Megan and Jenna McAuley, Marissa Owens and Bryanne Forcier- with Lee-Amber Laderoute on piano; as well as from solo pianists Halle Doty and Breanna Kehler, and dancers Julyco and Jeannette Opena.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm overwhelmed by all of the kids' work,鈥� says home economics instructor, Lynda Biberdorf. 鈥淭his is the first year that my sewing students have displayed their work at the gala, and we opened it up from grades seven to 12. They did a great job putting together what is a beautiful gallery of their work.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm really overwhemed and happy,鈥� adds Biberdorf. 鈥淚t's the first time we've done this and some of the things the kids brought back to display were actually presents they'd made and they brought them back or borrowed them back to display. They are proud of their work, and they should be.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 In addition to supporting GFK's arts program, the evening also raised charitable awareness for two other worthy causes. Members of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) were in attendance making mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) and grade 10 student Kiri Biberdorf manned a display and was on hand to answer questions about her April 2015 trip to Tanzania with 鈥淢e to We/Free the Children.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Although the final amount of cashed raised was not available at press time, Broberg says the event was a success. 鈥淭hanks to our generous sponsors from the community, we are able to hold this event. And thanks to everyone who came out to see the kids' work, it's a success in that respect.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have some amazing talent in this school. People that I work with do so much with the kids, and the kids themselves...Well, it's just an amazing school. I'm just extremely happy.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 GFK principal Maurice Saltel says,鈥� On behalf of the staff of the school, the kids in the school and the town of Carlyle, we all appreciate Ms. Broberg sharing her passion for the arts with us all.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he has done so much for us all the past couple of years,鈥� says student Halle Doty. 鈥淚 know all of us owe a huge thanks to Ms. Broberg. We're really sad to say goodbye to her.鈥�
