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Students showcase fine arts work; Community Arts Day moves to May with monarch theme and expanded vendors
Summary
Fine arts staff presented student achievements and community arts organizers outlined plans to move Community Arts Day to May, add vendors and a monarch‑butterfly theme, and expand demonstrations and plant sales.
Webster Central School District fine arts staff and student representatives used the board meeting to showcase recent student achievements and to outline plans for Community Arts Day, a long‑running district arts festival now scheduled for May.
Michael Roller, the district fine arts director, reported that hundreds of students auditioned for county, regional and state honor ensembles this year and that art submissions won multiple awards in the regional Scholastic Art Competition. He said the district hosts more than 100 events annually to display student art and music.
Two students and three student officers also described what arts literacy means to them. Claudia Benitez, a junior at Webster Schroeder High School, said, “Being literate in the fine arts means seeing the world differently.” Kaylee, a junior at Webster Thomas representing Tri‑M Music Honor Society, said arts classes build “creativity, problem solving, teamwork, and communication.” Cassie Spencer, a senior at Webster Thomas, described art as a way to show emotions when “words just don't cut it.” Natalia Perez, a junior at Webster Schroeder, said the arts offer “a window into other people's lives” and help students “see things from different perspectives.”
Community Arts Day co‑chairs Stacy Peters and Amy Shaver spoke about plans for the May event. They said organizers moved the date to the weekend of Mother’s Day so the weather and outdoor courtyards at Webster Schroeder can be used; that the 2025 theme will include monarch butterflies and STEM connections related to monarch habitat; and that this year’s event had already attracted 26 craft vendors, 15 exhibitors and several sponsors. Organizers also said they plan to reintroduce a carnival, expand plant sales (including milkweed related to monarch conservation), add short vendor demonstrations and include theater presentations from Webster Theater.
Stacy Peters and Amy Shaver credited long‑time volunteer Jenny Herrenko and a large volunteer corps for sustaining Community Arts Day since the program began in 1976. Peters said the event requires about 16 subcommittees and 11 building representatives and typically mobilizes more than 200 volunteers to run displays, performances and logistics.
Why this matters
Community Arts Day is the district’s primary public showcase of student visual and performing arts. Moving the event to May and expanding vendors and demonstrations aims to increase family attendance and broaden fundraising and community engagement opportunities.
Ending
Organizers said they will send schools outreach kits about the monarch theme and collect student artwork for large‑scale displays at the May festival. They encouraged families and community groups to register as vendors or volunteers through the district’s posted sign‑up materials.
