RAPS IN THE NEWS

Acclaimed illustrator Neal Layton has inspired children at Ramsgate Arts Primary to make their own storybook creations.

He worked with Year 4 girls and boys who have been reading Stanley’s Stick, a popular tale by poet John Hegley that features his distinctive artwork.

In the story, with a stick in hand Stanley's options are endless - he flies to the moon, writes in the sand, goes fishing, plays a whistle and rides a dinosaur. His imagination takes over and the magic begins.

Teacher Joshua Cialis explained: “Neal worked with the children to teach them how to create interesting scenes using collaging. He also did a live draw of the character Stanley, which he has kindly gifted to the school.

“The children created some amazing eye-catching work that we are now displaying above our book corner.”

The pupils also joined primary schools from across Thanet for Children's Book Show at St Lawrence College. Mr Cialis added: “This was an amazing opportunity for the children to celebrate books and learn more about the process that goes in to creating a picture book. The children who attended the show also received two free books.”

Head of School Nick Budge said: “Literacy is a big part of our children’s learning experience. Engaging with an artist like Neal whose work they have been enjoying makes their learning so much more interactive.”

Neal Layton’s other works include Oscar and Arabella (2002) and Bartholomew and the Bug (2004) which won both the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Bronze Awards.

Ramsgate Arts Primary is part of the Viking Academy Trust together with Upton Junior School, Broadstairs, and Chilton Primary School.

For more information contact Head of School Nick Budge on 01843 582847

Kelly Smith’s debut project as new art teacher at Ramsgate Arts Primary was a tribute to “our inspirational Queen.”

She worked with girls and boys from all year groups to creative a poignant collaborative art work memorial to The Queen that now is proudly displayed in the school.

She said: “It was inspired by the Queen's favourite flower - Lily of the Valley. Pupils from Years 1-6 each produced content for the tribute from a range of styles including print making, drawing and collage.

“I loved putting all the different outcomes together and really think the piece makes an inspirational impact within the school.”

Beside the work is a silhouette of The Queen with one of her inspirational comments in ornate lettering on a gold background. It reads: “The best attributes are universal, encouraging people to combine their efforts, talents, enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”

Kelly is now looking forward to helping enhance RAPS’ creative reputation in the community. She added: “I look forward to making an impact and have lots of creative ideas and projects in the pipeline.”

A teacher for 13 years, she has previously worked in secondary education as an art/design technology teacher and photography specialist. She said: “I decided to make the transition to primary as I've always been very interested in the freedom and creativity that primary art education offers to students.”

Head of School Nick Budge said: “The work for the display montage is representative of girls and boys of all ages. It was painstaking created, with work beginning within days of the announcement of Her Majesty’s passing. Over the weeks it has come together a fitting memorial.

“As a creative arts specialist school we are looking for many more exciting, interesting and thought-provoking projects involving our children under the guidance of Kelly and the art team.”

For more information contact Nick Budge on 01843 582847

Please click the link below to see RAPS in the news: https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2022/09/20/ramsgate-arts-primary-pupils-create-food-art-portraits/

There’s no time for siesta when it’s time for fiesta – that was the message to invited guests for a tasty Mexican feast created by young chefs from Ramsgate Arts Primary.

The Year 6 catering crew prepared, cooked and served a number of nutritious tasty dishes to family and friends in a celebration of a week-long intensive cookery course.

Linking in with their latest classroom topic Mexico: Then and Now, the children worked under the expert guidance of Newington Community Chef Mike Spackman in the kitchens at the town’s Royal Harbour Academy.

The girls and boys explored basic cooking skills, recipes and menus of traditional food. They were taught knife skills (including the bridge and claw grips), preparation techniques and how to use equipment such as food processors, hobs and ovens.

After each day, the pupils shared their latest creations and discussed what went well and what they had enjoyed. After the Thursday session, they voted for their favourite dishes to create a mouth-watering menu for Friday's feast.

Year 6 teachers Jon Williams and Andrew Beraet were impressed at the way the pupils embraced the cookery challenge and engaged with new skills in the kitchen.

They said: “A wonderful meal was served that included a range of dishes from across the week: chilli con carne, mini chicken fajitas, taco salad, pork koftas, spicy potatoes and stuffed peppers.

“Thank you to all of the parents and grandparents who were able to come and enjoy the cuisine of offer - it made the whole project worthwhile.”

Mike Spackman oversaw a range of kitchen rules and skills including food preparation skills, safety and hygiene, following recipe instructions accurately and understanding recipe language, accurate use of measuring equipment, cookery, serving and presentation skills.

He said: “Over a full school week all children, without exception, have grown in both confidence and enthusiasm.

“In the main, they have been willing and eager to explore new flavours and textures. Ingredients that were a mystery at first have now become far more familiar.

“They have all overcome some demanding challenges and produced some truly great tasting food. We clearly have some ‘chefs in the making’.”

Head of School Nick Budge said: “This was a fantastic success that served up well cooked tasty food as part of our celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.

“The children were the stars of the show but huge thanks go to our Year 6 teachers, Mike Spackman for his enthusiasm and encouragement, and to Tom Boughton and Simon Pullen for allowing us to use the excellent facilities at Royal Harbour Academy.

*Mike Spackman is BBC Food and Farming Awards Cook of the Year 2017, B.Ed. Hons Primary, Certificate in Professional Cookery; Project manager of The Community Chef Project (Swale) since 2008, currently on a two-year secondment to Newington Big Local in Ramsgate.

Ramsgate Arts Primary School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Chilton Primary School, Ramsgate, and Upton Junior School, Broadstairs.

For more information contact Head of School Nick Budge on 01843 582847

Young creatives at Ramsgate Arts Primary have been displaying their collective imaginative skills for a competition run by the world famous National Gallery in London.

The annual nationwide Take One Picture project invites children to create artworks around a striking image and then plan, create, submit and exhibit their works.

A Shipwreck in Stormy Seas by Claude-Joseph Vernet is the gallery’s choice to inspire pupils for the 2022/2023 challenge.

It depicts a rocky shoreline buffeted by a violent sea storm. Two ships roll in the giant swell, sails tied down or tattered by the turbulent winds and lashing rain, while a third ship lies shattered against the rocks. Figures carry salvaged goods up the shore, while an unconscious woman is laid out on a rock, her friends overwhelmed with despair.

Head of School Nick Budge said: “This dramatic seascape certainly inspired all our year groups to create thought-provoking artwork that focuses on many parts of the story.

“Our art team of Mike Brown and Karen Vost, teachers, support staff and families all helped with the project which produced striking thought-provoking results that made for a brilliant exhibition in our main entrance and reception areas.”

The range of work included a large replica ship created from scratch by pupils from Team Gunson; other year groups provided storm clouds, wrecked ships on stormy seas, sculptures, specially designed sail cloths, illuminated sea urchins and other aspects of the historic painting using a various of styles, techniques and materials.

In recent years Ramsgate Arts Primary has been praised by the competition organisers for the quality and breadth of its submissions.

As a result, RAPS entries were displayed at the National Gallery as part of a virtual tour at the start of pandemic lockdown, and they also saw their work featured on digital billboards in major cities across the UK.

Ocean Outdoors showed entries on sites in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. It included RAPS’ Soundwave Cityscapes that featured audio recordings of seagulls screeching, foghorns blaring and horses neighing transformed from sonic waveforms into artwork resembling a metropolitan skyline.

The inspiration for that competition was the evocative painting the Men of the Docks by George Bellows in 1912 that features workers on the docks of New York's frozen East River, the skyscrapers of Manhattan and a vast ocean liner towering in the background.

Mr Budge added: “This is a fabulous competition and it encourages our children to think deeply and interpret what they see and feel.

“We have produced some inspirational creations in the last few years and we have done very well in the competition.

“Once again the standard demonstrated by our girls and boys for the current Take One Picture venture is very high - they worked very hard with their teachers and the result is a fabulous showcase of their skills.”

Ramsgate Arts Primary School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Upton Junior School at Broadstairs and Chilton Primary School, Ramsgate.

For more information, contact Head of School Nick Budge on 01843 582847.