Students present arts‑integration work at Robbinsdale board meeting

Principal Jen Smith and Stages Theater Company staff presented a showcase of arts‑integration work by students of Fair Pilgrim Lane at the Robbinsdale Area Schools board meeting on Jan. 5.

Smith described how arts integration is woven into literacy, science and math instruction from kindergarten through fifth grade, gave examples of projects (tableau, mosaic work, performance-based capstone projects) and credited the PTO and community artist partnerships. She made a point of saying the presentation had been scheduled in advance and was not related to the board’s later programming decisions.

Students performed short pieces for the board. A fifth‑grade student said attending Fair Pilgrim Lane since kindergarten "has helped me feel more comfortable sharing my ideas and being more confident," attributing that change to reader’s theater, tableau practice and other performance opportunities.

Why it matters: Board decisions about program consolidation and building use were on the agenda the same night. The Fair Pilgrim Lane presentation illustrated the district’s arts programming in practice and highlighted what parents and teachers say students gain from arts‑integrated instruction.

Quote: Principal Jen Smith said she was "so very proud" to share a sampling of the school’s arts integration and emphasized the presentation was scheduled in advance so "rumors and assumptions are not made." A student told the board the arts activities "help me be creative and express myself in new ways."

Next steps: The board discussed program and facility options later in the meeting; administration and board members said they would work to preserve arts opportunities as they plan transitions or repurposing.