The partnership between Spark! Discovery Preschool and Anima Arts is an example of the power of community connections. Anima Arts’ mission is to offer community-based art programs promoting public health education for children and their families, emphasizing the importance of healthy movement and artistic expression in overall well-being.

Reflecting on the partnership’s origins, Mimi Ferrie Lee, Founder of Anima Arts, recalls, “My initial collaboration with Spark! began with a post on a Facebook education group. A member of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) sought a theater and performing arts instructor for a spring 2022 visit, and I was fortunate to be selected.” Since then, Anima Arts has become an integral part of Spark’s programming, offering a diverse range of art opportunities tailored specifically to students’ interests and developmental needs.

Through close collaboration with Spark’s faculty, Ferrie Lee ensures the program aligns with educational objectives, particularly in supporting student’s social-emotional skills. “We spend a lot of class time connecting emotions to experiences so we can learn about life, our actions, values, ourselves, and others,” she explains. “The arts give children opportunities for self-expression to be seen and to build a connection with others.”

Anima Arts’ educational activities are integrated with real-world learning, creativity, and community building. “We love combining imagery from other Spark! units and STEM topics into the lessons,” Ferrie Lee notes. “For example, in the dance unit, we discuss anatomy and physiology and reinforce topics from their transportation unit as we ‘travel’ to learn dances across the globe. In theater, we discuss engineering and electronics as we learn about the set and lighting design for a stage performance. We reinforce mathematics skills as we determine the number of performers entering or exiting for each scene.”

Community engagement is essential for the success of these initiatives. Anima Arts and Spark! Discovery Preschool collaborate to create a sense of belonging among parents and families, from sharing classroom experiences to facilitating sign-ups for after-school programs.

Paige Gordon, Principal at Spark! Discovery Preschool, emphasized the significance of the partnership with Anima Arts, stating, “Through this collaboration, we not only impart knowledge but also instill a love for learning, a sense of belonging, and a passion for artistic expression.”