Harrington culture fair brings school families together

LYNN – It was an evening of literature, music, art and movement with a splash of pop culture at the Harrington Elementary School Wednesday as families flooded the school in search of a little culture.”It’s about celebrating the arts ? learning is not just about tests and text books,” said Principal Debra Ruggiero.Ruggiero played doorman for more than an hour greeting well over 100 families that poured through the doors for “An Evening of Culture.” The hallways were covered in artwork from students of all ages, and volunteers handed out pink heart-shaped cookies and raffle tickets to students.School librarian Carole Shutzer presided over a packed book sale.”It’s a big community night for us,” she said. “We’ve been doing this for a few years.”As kids shuffled through books and picked out posters, Shutzer said the goal for her was to give kids a chance to purchase books of their own as well as raise a little money so she could purchase new books for the library.”It’s a win-win for everybody,” she said. “It’s important for children to have books at home. It’s really important for them to develop a love of reading.”Seven-year-old Courtny Olivier said she “kind of” liked to read but her face lit up when she found a book that allowed her to decorate tiny paper purses. Her father, Riffin Olivier, who does like to read non-fiction, said he appreciated the event and a chance to get his daughter a book.Across the room eight-year-old Lilliana Cote also said she “kind of” liked to read but she also said she understands the importance of it.”Because you learn things from reading,” she said. “If there were no books around you can’t learn anything because all your knowledge comes from books.”Cote’s grandfather Wayne Byers urged Cote to pick out whatever she wanted.”I like mostly scary novels and mysteries,” he said. “But I don’t care what she reads as long as she reads.”In the gym physical education teacher Robert Dzierzak and music teacher Donna Larisey got kids and adults alike grooving during the movement portion of the event. Kindergartners took the floor and presented their rendition of the Village People’s YMCA dance while the older students moved to “Call Me Maybe.”Larisey’s students showed their parents an English folk dance before Larisey called for the adults to join them on the floor. Many parents took the call to action as their cue to leave but nearly two dozen adults, including staffers and a handful of men joined more than three dozen students forming a huge circle on the gym floor. Larisey had them jogging in place, stomping, kneeling, bowing, clapping and giggling through another folk dance.Ruggiero said in many schools “specialists” such as Dzierzak and Larisey are looked at more as people who fill in for teachers so they can prepare for their next class but not at the Harrington School.”They’re doing lessons on artists in their art classes and composers in music,” she said. “That’s unheard of, really. You might see it in middle school or high school but not on the elementary level.”Program Specialist Sue Garrity also praised the music, art and movement specialist.”Our kids learn so much more from them,” she said. “They just shine.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].