[caption id="attachment_20710" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Schools-Dataw-and-St.-Helena.jpg"><img class="wp-image-20710 size-medium" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Schools-Dataw-and-St.-Helena-300x200.jpg" alt="Schools- Dataw and St. Helena" width="300" height="200" /></a> Dataw Visual Arts President, Barbara Carakostas (center) presents Sefronia Smith with a check for $1400 for their art department. Pictured from left are Michelle Thomas, Sefronia Smith, Barbara Carakostas, Lynn Baker and Alison Barton.[/caption]

St. Helena Elementary School art teacher, Michelle Thomas, and principal, Senfronia Smith, accepted a check from the Dataw Island Visual Arts Club at the club’s annual meeting. The donation will help fund special projects in the K – 5 art classes. Members of the arts club decorated and sold glass ornaments with the intent of raising funds to promote art education. Club president, Barb Carakostas, noted the importance of art instruction in the early elementary curriculum when students have no fear of trying or failing and also have a can do attitude regarding artistic expression. Mrs. Thomas recently returned to school after a maternity leave and was surprised to learn of the donation, which helped her implement a weaving experience with her kindergarten students. The students, their parents and their siblings all enjoyed the colorful, unique scarves which were created in the art classes. Many Dataw Island residents volunteer in the school and those interested in this program can explore opportunities by visiting the Beaufort County Schools website or by contacting Principal Smith at (843) 838-0300.