Daves Avenue says thanks for the legacy left in clay
By Leigh Ann Maze
The whole student body was out waving flags and singing songs on Oct. 21 at Daves Avenue School to celebrate the dedication of the kiln room to clay program pioneer Debbi Robards. In an effort to "bring different arts into the schools," Robards began the clay program single-handedly five years ago when her two children were in first and third grades. With 75 pounds of clay, a kiln, creativity, and long volunteer hours, Robards brought clay projects into the classroom.
The clay program, now funded by the home and school club, has since snowballed into 50 to 70 parent volunteers, 2,000 pounds of red and white clay, and more than 80 class projects each year.
In a very official ceremony, the surprised Robards cut the red-and-white ribbons across the kiln room entrance and was presented with a lifetime key. A beautiful clay tile plaque reading "This clay room is dedicated to Debbi Robards for lovingly creating the Daves Avenue clay program. Thank You!" was unveiled, and principal Susan von Felten delivered a dedication speech.
"It was quite an honor," Robards said. "I have confidence that the program will go on."
Robards has left the clay program now that her children are in middle school, and veteran parent volunteer Chris Brienzo has taken her lead. "Debbi has got me very motivated," Brienzo said. Brienzo and her "firing squad" of parent helpers purchase and organize supplies, lead clay projects in the classrooms, dry the projects and fire them in the kiln.
"It's really the parents that make the difference with effort and energy they pour into our schools," said kindergarten teacher Eileen Perkins, whose class does about one clay project each month.
Already the kiln room shelves are cluttered with tiny clay creations waiting to be fired and brought home to adoring parents. The younger children begin with simple pinch-pot projects such as planters, bells and lumpy white ghosts. The older children incorporate clay projects into their curriculum, making colonial mugs, mission tiles and Native American coil pots and masks.
"It's a boost in terms of fine arts education for the children," said Perkins. "Working with clay helps develop small motor coordination, creativity and the release of the artist within each one of us. I love seeing that in the classroom; the community getting behind this is a real gift," she said.
Last Tuesday, the children in Mrs. Robb's first-grade class were busily making picture frames with earth-toned red clay. Under the leadership of two parent volunteers trained by Brienzo, their tiny hands were rolling, cutting, and scratching their names and the year into the clay frame in crooked kindergarten scrawl. "The main goal is that it is a positive experience for kids. The end result is not what's important, but how the kids feel about their piece, the learning process and creativity that goes into making it," Robards said.
Recently, at Fisher Middle School, an eighth-grader fondly remembered Robards as "the clay teacher from fifth grade."
Robards said of the comment, "It made me feel like I must have done something good in their life."
Not only is the clay program leaving its mark on the students, it is allowing the students to leave their mark on Daves Avenue School. Hundreds of glazed clay tiles made by the children decorate the halls, carefully set by parent volunteer Carol Braham. About 200 more tiles are ready to be put up, according to Brienzo.
It is the goal of the clay program to have each student contribute a tile before going on to middle school.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
