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Last Day of School = 2017 Planning Begins

Edith Saxton Fund Will Support Expansion of Rockwell’s “Great Circle Program” to Bath, NY Schools

The Rockwell Museum has been selected to receive a grant of $19,950 from The Edith Saxton Fund for Steuben County Youth Services, administered through the Community Foundation of the Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc.  The grant will support The Rockwell’s “Great Circle Program,” an early childhood artist-in-residence program for first grade students in the Bath Central School District.   The Great Circle artist-in-residence program will be introduced to Bath schools in the spring 2017 semester. 

“It isn’t always the case that you are invited to apply for a grant of this scale.  Mrs. Saxton’s forethought around supporting educational opportunities for kids of the Bath, NY area very nicely aligns with The Rockwell’s artist-in-residency program.  We are always eagerly looking for funding to support arts in education – Mrs. Saxton’s support of early childhood education validates our steadfast commitment to using art as a catalyst for important early learning,” says Mary E. Mix, Senior Museum Educator. 

The Great Circle program is an early childhood Artist-in Residence that includes four in-classroom visits by local artist Aleta Wynn-Yarrow and one multi-experience visit to The Rockwell.  Students explore the overall theme of “The Great Circle: Growing, Moving, and Helping,” which focuses on nature—the seasons, sun, moon, plants, animals and human relationships with natural cycles.  These topics complement the New York State Common Core curriculum and encourage students to learn in new ways. 

 

“The Edith Saxton Fund at the Community Foundation has enabled us to support quality programming for Bath Area students in a way we haven’t before. We were thrilled when the School District eagerly accepted our offer to work with students. Inclusion of the arts is fundamental to the success of early learners. Partnering with The Rockwell Museum to deliver high quality arts programming to first graders in Bath was a natural fit based on the history and experience of The Rockwell’s educators.  We are excited to watch this partnership grow over the next year,” says Sara Palmer, Director of Grants & Communications of the Community Foundation of the Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc.

Upon the death of the late Bob Saxton, owner of Babcock Ladder Co of Bath NY, a scholarship fund was established with the Community Foundation of the Southern Finger Lakes to support students of the Bath area.  Bob’s wife, Edith Saxton, residing in Naples, Florida, has always remained connected to the Bath community.  Despite not having children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Saxton avidly supported and took an interest in the lives of young children in the community. Motivated by a sincere interest in seeing young people in the community succeed, Mrs. Saxton continues this philanthropy in the Bath area today.  

“We believe in the arts and in collaborative relationships with community partners.  The Rockwell is most successful when we partner with area schools, teachers and supporters to provide authentic art experience.  The Great Circle Residency is a program that allows Rockwell resources to travel to the classroom in the case bus funding isn’t available for a museum trip,” says Mary Mix.

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