Students create art with a purpose

PORTLAND — Students, local artists and members of the community have been hard at work re-purposing chairs from the Nathan Clifford School to be sold as art at an annual auction. Students from Barbara Loring’s advanced art class at Portland High School, University of Southern Maine, Casco Bay High School and Portland Arts and Technology High School worked with Superintendent Jim Morse, local artists, teachers and community members on the project.

Earlier this fall Portland Public Schools donated 20 chairs from Nathan Clifford School to “Painting with a Purpose,” an organization that recycles used wooden furniture by painting on them and selling it at a local auction. The money raised funds youth-led service learning grants for Portland students to make a difference in their community. Students may apply for up to $500.

The furniture will be sold at an auction on Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Rines Auditorium of the Portland Public Library. Last year $5,000 was raised and grants were given out to Portland students to make a difference in their community. With the money the students created two school gardens and helped to cut lighting costs by installing occupancy sensors in school bathrooms.

Chevrus students shine academically and civically

PORTLAND — Two Chevrus High School Students have been honored for their academic and civic achievements.

Ceile Day, a senior at Chevrus, was recently awarded the St. Michael’s College Book Award for Academic Achievement with a Social Conscience at the school’s undergraduates award ceremony. The award is given to a student who demonstrates excellence in academics and leadership in community service. Day also received the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award for her volunteer work at Maine Medical Center’s Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. She accumulated 378 volunteer hours which was the most service hours by any junior volunteer in the hospital’s program.

Sophomore Ben LaMontagne was honored with a selection to the 2011 All-New England Concert Band and will perform at the festival to be held at Plymouth State University on Nov. 21. He was selected for his skill in playing the bass clarinet.

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