The Natchitoches Parish School Board hosted its second annual Talented Student Art Show on Wednesday, May 13, in the city council chambers. The show featured an eclectic variety of art pieces by kindergarten through twelfth grade students from schools throughout the parish. NJH eighth grader Kadian Turner earned Best of Show honors with a piece titled “Faith in Silence.”

The young artists are from the school district’s Talented Student Visual Art Program, a component of the district’s Gifted and Talented Program. The Visual Art program features three dynamic teachers, each of whom is an artist, who serve over 100 students from every public school in Natchitoches parish. The entries were judged by members of NSU’s Art department. Visitors to the show also had an opportunity to vote for their favorite piece.

The students’ artwork was of a uniformly high quality. The bast in show piece, “Faith in Silence”, is simply amazing and would do credit to a much older artist. The Natchitoches Parish Journal has long maintained that the children of our parish’s public schools are as smart, talented and capable as children anywhere. They will rise to any challenge placed before them. All they need is leadership. It obvious that Michelle Warren, Daniel Rockett and Hannah Gates, the teachers in the parish’s Talented Visual Arts Program, likewise share that belief in our children’s abilities and are providing that leadership-well done!

Natchitoches parish public school parents-if you believe that your child is displaying an above average ability in art, music, or academics, talk to his or her teacher about having your student screened for the school district’s Gifted and Talented Program.