Starry Night Collective

June 1st marked a very reflective and momentous day in my year long career at ZED South Campus. We had our Starry Night Collective Art Auction and Craft Sale. My students have worked since the beginning of the year on art work that they were going to sell at this auction.

Let me step back a second: Starry Night Collective is a non-profit organization that helps fund the arts for students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities. My boss happens to be the president of the organization. Because of this organization, we were able to take our students to The Orpheum to see "The Lion King" on stage. We were also granted so much money for art supplies throughout the year.

Anyways, so June 1st we finally had our auction day. The students were so proud and worked so hard to set their art work up and watch as people bid on the things that they crafted. I, of course, had to bid on several of the pieces. I ended up with a pencil drawing that I love! One of the high school students drew it, and I just had to have it. It spoke to me. That's all I can explain. It was a pretty sought after drawing because we had to keep bidding on a separate sheet of paper....But it was mine!

Tony was very mysterious throughout the auction. I figured it was because he was ducking away from my students whom he has met in a different capacity, but I discovered at the end of the night why he was always missing. For one, he was hanging out with my dad. They were standing outside visiting. For another, he was secretly bidding on some artwork that was located outside. One of my students did an interesting paint job on a bowling ball and four bowling pins. It is meant for a garden....

Pac-Man is quite a hit in our school! And now in our yard....(note the new carpet rug in our upstairs living room. Do you like?)

The end of our night consisted of recognizing the graduates. This year we had 2 students who were graduating from high school. They both received their diplomas on Sunday at their home schools. We also did a recognition of 3 students of the year. The staff voted and decided on who grew the most over the course of the school year. This could be academically, behaviorally or socially. I had tears in my eyes on several occasions during the speeches. It was a wonderful night to recognize the success of our students!