Teachers use student-designed stickers to encourage great work

DES MOINES, IA (06/02/2014)(readMedia)-- Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) members around the state have used ISEA's student-designed stickers to celebrate student achievement and good work for over 29 years. Now in its 30th year, the popular Design-a-Decal program helps give statewide recognition to young art students when their winning designs are printed on stickers and educators use them to give positive feedback to their students. With encouraging messages like "Way 2 Go" and "Super Cool," the stickers get used on everything from homework assignments, to papers and projects.

Students competed in three, grade-level categories: elementary (K-5); junior high/middle school (6-8); and high school (9-12). The 24 winning designs are printed in full color on sheets of one-inch square stickers and each design is featured twice.

"The Design-a-Decal contest is one of our longest-standing programs because it's so much fun for the students. Art teachers who administer the program are very enthusiastic and the students who submit designs do a great job and love to participate, so it's a win-win for everyone. It's a wonderful way to encourage creativity. The end result is a terrific page of stickers our members can use on homework and other assignments to encourage more great work," said Tammy Wawro, president of the ISEA.

The students who created the designs used on the decal sheets receive two plaques from the ISEA-one they keep and one to be displayed at their school.

(A listing with names of the schools, supervising art teacher, and students whose designs were selected for use on the decal sheets is attached. Also attached is a picture of the winning decals.)

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Registration is now open for the 6th annual Engineering Kids Camp at the Putnam Museum. The one day camps will be held during the week of July 21st - July 25th for kids in grades 2nd - 8th.

The camp is a partnership between the Quad City Engineering & Science Council (QCESC), the Putnam Museum and the Iowa State University College of Engineering, who design and lead the camp.  Each one day camp will be an exciting, engaging experience for your young engineer. Three fun, hands-on sessions including LEGO robotics with challenges for various student experience levels, the opportunity to create and learn side-by-side with engineering students from Iowa State University and Quad City professional engineers, and a big screen 3D movie along with a camp t-shirt and lunch.

Camp free is $40 and includes lunch and a t-shirt. Camp runs 9am - 3pm daily with extended care available for additional fees at the Putnam Museum, 1717 W. 12th Street, Davenport, Iowa. Space is limited, register today atwww.putnam.org/What-s-Happening/SummerCamps or call 563-324-1933 ext. 266.

Dates:

• July 21st - Grade 4-6
• July 22nd - Grades 4-6
• July 23rd - Grades 2-3
• July 24th - Grades 4-8 GIRLS ONLY!
• July 25th Grades 7-8

For more information about the Iowa State University Engineering Kids Program, visit www.isek.iastate.edu. For more information on the Quad City Science & Engineering Council, visit www.qcesc.org.

For further information, please contact Pat Barnes atbarnespatricko@johndeere.com or (563) 370-5513.

Party Poolside to Restore the Voice of Brucemore

For one night Brucemore's infamous Tahitian Room will spill out into the pool area for the estate's sixth annual Tahitian Party on June 27 from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. Throw on a hula skit or Hawaiian shirt and dance to the beat of the steel drum band to support the restoration of the 1929 Skinner player pipe organ.  With Polynesian noshes, exotic beverages, and roast suckling pig, this popular event cannot be missed.

Irene Douglas contracted Ernest M. Skinner to construct a residential organ   for $14,000 in 1929.  Brucemore's organ, known as Opus 754, is one of only six residential organs created by the Skinner Organ Company that remains unaltered and in situ. In the 1920s, a player organ was the ultimate home entertainment system.  The player function allowed multiple orchestral voices, operas, symphonies, and popular songs to be played at the push of a button.  Experts agree that this "national treasure" needs attention.  A 2013 survey examined the condition of the organ and revealed that a full restoration was necessary.  Based on these results, a three-phase restoration project for the organ began with plans for completion in 2018.  This rare and remarkable instrument is vital to the estate's rich history and its full restoration will make it integral to the visitor experience.

Tickets are $60 per person.  Space is limited; Purchase tickets by June 18 by visiting www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.  On-site parking is available.  On-site food vendors and bar included with ticket.  Sponsorship levels are available starting at $125 and offer additional benefits.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

Figge Art Museum is one of more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense

Davenport, IA (May 21, 2014) - Today the Figge Art Museum announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation's active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2014. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military move. The complete list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/national/blue?star?museums.

The Figge currently offers free admission for active duty military personnel and their families all year round, but this partnership with Blue Star Museums provides a platform to showcase the museum to the military community nationwide. "We have world-class traveling exhibitions that are constantly changing, so it is exciting that active duty military members and their families have the opportunity to experience those exhibitions first-hand free of charge anytime they wish," said Figge Executive Director Tim Schiffer.

This is the fifth year for Blue Star Museums and there are more than 2,000 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa taking part in the initiative. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer.

About Blue Star Museums

Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 26, 2014 through Labor Day, September 1, 2014.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173?1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military ? Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps ? and up to five family members. Some special or limited?time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find participating museums and plan your trip, visit arts.gov/national/blue?star?museums.

All summer long, Blue Star Museums will share stories through social media. Follow Blue Star Museums on Twitter @NEAarts and @BlueStarFamily, #BlueStarMuseum, on Facebook and read the NEA Art Works blog for weekly stories on participating museums and exhibits.

Museums that wish to participate in Blue Star Museums may contact bluestarmuseums@arts.gov, or Wendy Clark at 202?682?5451.

This is the latest NEA program to bring quality arts programs to the military, veterans, and their families. Other NEA programs for the military have included the NEA/Walter Reed Healing Arts Partnership; Great American Voices Military Base Tour; and Shakespeare in American Communities Military Base Tour.

About Figge Art Museum

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street.  Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays 12-5 p.m. Thursdays the museum is open until 9 p.m. Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and free to all on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families. With our partners, Blue Star Families hosts a robust array of morale and empowerment programs, including Books on Bases, Blue Star Museums, Operation Honor Corps, Blue Star Careers and Operation Appreciation. Blue Star Families also works directly with the Department of Defense and senior members of local, State and Federal government to bring the most important military family issues to light. Working in concert with fellow nonprofits, community advocates, and public officials, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable. Our worldwide membership includes military spouses, children, parents, and friends, as well as service members, veterans and civilians. To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit www.bluestarfam.org. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.