Crayola Colors Rainbow at Collingswood School

 hosted its first-ever Creativity Day during school hours Wednesday, by welcoming some especially colorful guests.

Crayola—as in maker of crayons—sent crews to film a segment during Creativity Day, featuring the school's creative curriculum efforts.

The film noted Zane-North for highlighting the "four C's" within core curriculum content standards. All four, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity, were utilized in a series of Creativity Day workshops.

"(This event) lets students do some out-of-the-box thinking," said Zane-North Principal Thomas Santo. "School is so structured at times. These workshops offer structured learning, but let students bring their own personalities to the table. 

"Today, all grade-levels will rotate between workshops," said Santo. "When you infuse arts into the school day, it reiterates the four C's."

Among workshops—painting, fiber arts weaving, graphic design lessons, theater class, paper marbleizing, puppet-making, clay art and a schoolwide Zumba fest.

So where does Crayola factor in?

"Zane-North was one of 21 schools nationwide to receive a Crayola grant last year. Funding ends in June," said Santo. "But today isn't really part of the grant. Because of the grant, we formed a relationship with Crayola. The company recognized our creativity-centered teaching efforts, and wanted us to be part of a filmed segment that showcases creativity in schools."

Film and photography crews filtered through school corridors Wednesday, taping children during workshops and interviewing staff members.

Crayola even supplied a majority of Wednesday's tools—delighting students with bucket-loads of complimentary markers, sidewalk chalk and crayons.

Crayola Director of Content and Consumer Relationships Cheri Sterman had only praise for Zane-North, which she called a perfect candidate for the film.

"(Last year's grant) had about 450 application submissions, with only a small handful selected," said Sterman. "We chose schools who were innovative (in fusing creativity into curriculum), and those who were establishing promising practices that could be adopted at other schools, be used by other principals."

Besides Crayola's $2,500 grant, Zane-North received another last year— $5,000 from the National Association of Elementary Principals (NAEP).

As both grants come to an end, Crayola saw that Zane-North's sparkle was bright as ever, choosing to prolong the school's creativity-based efforts via film.

Sterman said still photos from Wednesday will be made into a journal by NAEP, documenting creative schools. Crayola will use video footage in a series about schools using the four C's to creatively instill 21st-century learning on students.

"It's simply wonderful how this whole school is alive with creativity today," said Sterman. "And the staff and community members are so passionate about it." 

And Wednesday's nine workshops were all taught either by parents or community members, said Zane-North's Parent-Teacher Association Liaison Alyson Wiecek. 

"It's all volunteers, here because they want to be," said Wiecek. "Collingswood is a vibrant place, with a strong community. There's a lot of art here, and we wanted to tap into that with Creativity Day, instill our love of the arts onto our children."

And evoking artistic respect was a mission accomplished—before the day began.

"Crayola Day (Creativity Day) is just going to be so much fun!" trilled 6-year-old kindergartner Sarah Hewitt prior to festivities, nearly falling out of her spot in the classroom line. "I'm so excited. I really like their (Crayola's) stuff; especially the crayons. And the markers. And the sidewalk chalk, too."

The day ended on the playground blacktop, as students and staff created a school-wide mural in sidewalk chalk. Crayola representatives waved goodbyes, promising the film by September. To Superintendent Scott A. Oswald, the event was a job well-done.

"Collingswood schools, and (Zane-North Principal Thomas) Santo, specifically, recognize the importance of educating the whole child—whether by helping them develop outstanding character traits, or encouraging them to express their creative side," said Oswald. "Each child has their own strengths and interests. As we move forward as a district, we hope to harness those strengths, (to help) students pursue bright futures in which they can be rewarded. (Today) is one small step in that effort."

And by late afternoon, Zane-North Elementary School had transformed into a tangible rainbow, colored in creativity and bound only to brighten.