Three Peninsula School District elementary schools have been awarded two different art instruction grants for special teacher training in the 2022-2023 school year.

Discovery, Minter Creek, and Purdy elementary schools were awarded the Washington State Arts Commission Creative Start Pre-3rd PD-Grant and a grant from the Gig Harbor Arts Commission. 

The Creative Start Pre-3rd PD-Grant will provide $25,000 in funds. The Gig Harbor Arts Commission grant will provide an additional $5,000. These grants will provide training on art-infused instruction by Arts Impact for at least three teachers at each school.

Over 200 students in the Peninsula School District will attend classes with teachers trained in arts infusion. Arts-infused instruction includes a focus on core curricular areas such as math and ELA while teaching art standards. This will help empower learners and staff to become innovative thinkers. Art-infused instruction will lead to more enrichment opportunities for staff and students and community involvement.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction supports art-infused instruction and Arts Impact training at Washington schools to help integrate more creative thinking into core curriculum. 

“We are excited about this opportunity and believe that the arts integrate with all other subject areas and create meaningful learning opportunities for all learners,” said Assistant Superintendent John Hellwich.