Roots Fine Arts Week Calgary

This is a 4-day program for students ages 4-18. Students will be split into age groups to help adapt programming accordingly in each class.  We are excited to offer a total of 6 different class options for students ages 6+, with 2 new instructors joining us this year.

This program is for Roots families only (IF we do not fill all the seats by December 27th then we will open registration to Roots family friends)

Age 4-5: There is one option for a Full-Day participation this year for kindergarten students .

Ages 6+:  Pre-determined group arrangements have been made with each ticket.  You can choose the group to participate in when you purchase your ticket. Note that there is only room for a maximum of 15 students in each class, you cannot switch classes, but need to stay in the group you register with.

Parents: Are required to stay on site for the duration of the daily programming. To keep down on costs we are requiring that all parents volunteer to either help in classrooms as well as the housekeeping of the building while we are using it. We have 28 volunteer slots to fill in the classroom portion for each day. This is a daily volunteer requirement and will have the same position all week. If you are volunteering in a classroom, you are required to have a police checks submitted to the office. If you do not have a police check but are willing to get one, Roots will send a volunteer letter and pay for the police check to be completed. 

Ages 3 and under: Younger children can attend with you, there will be space in the nursery and a play area in the gym for you to supervise your child.  Younger children need to stay with parents at all times.

Kindergarten Class: The all-day program includes arts, crafts, stories & games with Lisa in the morning and then the afternoon is with Angela focusing on music.

Lisa Mitchel has worked with children for many years and plans to give the children a variety of art mediums to experiment with, crafts, games, stories, and fun during the 4 days so classes. Lisa has worked with Roots students at our monthly support group.

Angela Squire has been teaching music to young and old for quite a few years.  She has been director of her church choir for 15+ years, worked with the homeschool band for 17 years and is an active part of her church music team.  For the past 2 years Angela has been teaching preschool music classes at a local Calgary Music Studio.  Angela combines 2 of her favorite things Music and young children as often as possible.

This week's music classes will encourage the children to combine singing, rhythm and movement.  We will use basic percussion instruments and body movement to reinforce basic musical patterns. We will be using a combination of familiar children's tunes, rhymes, and Sunday school tunes.

Ages 6+ classes  Students will participate in 4 of the 6 classes (there are limited seats in each classroom, so the tickets have been grouped to accommodate class sizes)

Pencil Sketching:  Garth Philpott (A Roots dad), is a 2016 graduate from the Alberta College of Art & Design with his bachelors in fine art, majoring in drawing. He is passionate about art history & finds his main source of inspiration there. Garth has worked hard towards his professionalism & name in the artist world & is creating art full time at his own studio, located in the Manchester industrial area in Calgary. He is excited and passionate to create a space where students can learn, excel & grow in their God given artistic gifts with the guidance & knowledge that Garth has acquired over the last 15 years of participating in the world of fine art.

In his class he will be teaching line drawing with pencil, as well as breaking down elements into simple forms. This will, upon completion, have your budding artist have a traditional Japanese dragon within their ever growing portfolio. Garth’s artistic process has always begun with pencil on paper & through this fine arts week, will hopefully inspire the students to spark a love for simple, every day tools in their artistry. Students will complete their class with Garth with a Japanese style pencil/ink drawing & an introduction to simple tools to perfect their craft into their own style along the way. 

Creation of Colour: Estefania Saldarriaga was named Artist of the Month of October 2022 from Immigrant Council for Arts and Innovation (ICAI). She has been involved in the arts for most of her life and practices numerous art forms including painting, cultural dancing, theatrical acting, photography and other visual arts. Saldarriaga's primary practice focuses on folkloric performances, teaching and inspiring others to express themselves through their art in a meaningful and beautiful way. She has been involved in various community projects including a couple of projects with the city of Calgary and is currently teaching children and youth to use their talents for God's glory. Her class will be dynamic and filled with creativity using Bible verses as the point of reference for creating something great and authentic. During class kids and teens will learn the meaning and utilization of concepts such as: composition, complementary colours, shade variations and depth of perception. While keeping in mind the age of each group, she will adjust these concepts to their level of understanding facilitating the enjoyment and participation of all the students!

Acrylic Painting: Kristen Federchuk AFC, ASA, SCA, WAOW (Associate), is a professional working artist specializing in realistic acrylic painting, a former P. Ag Environmental Science and a Roots mom. Kristen has been painting and exhibiting her work since 2005 and more recently has begun instructing art classes, she particularly enjoys teaching children. For Fine Art week the younger class (ages 6-9) will be working on a painting of a bear cub in a tree, and the older class (ages 10-18) will be working on a more complex mountain landscape painting. Both classes will cover age relevant fine art techniques and will take home their project at the end of the week. 

Creating with Air Dry Clay: Sasha Schiffers ( a Roots mom) A graduate from Art School of Moldova, little town Cahul. 

Being raised in little town, majority of people had land around their homes, where they would grow fruit and vegetables.  My family had a small piece of land too. Our garden reminded me of a jungle where I used to spend majority of my time, doing chores.  That's where my imagination expended beyond limits.  I liked to sketch everything i found interesting for me: it could be from a tiny leaf to a landscape.  I also liked to sculpt from dirt or sand.  I would sculpt my imaginary city or it could be an animal or insect like a beetle. Later i came up with different ideas how to sculpt by melting the leftover moms candles and shaping into different wax mini figures.  Anything art related was so entertaining for me! I finished Art School, but my passion for Art didn't stop there.  I've continued to experience different methods, materials or techniques of Art.  My favorite media is OIL and Acrylic Paints. I think art is eternal just like the humans soul and there are no limits, you can always treasure something new.

In this 4 days of Art Adventure i will be teaching students step by step how to work with Air Dry Clay. Kids will be sculpting then painting the project. And  at the end  they get to enjoy their own creation! 

Musical Theater: Allison Froese (A Previous Roots Student ) has a passion for drama and music and believes that they are powerful tools that we can use to share the gospel. Allison was homeschooled grade 1 through 12 and spent 9 of those years with Roots. She went on to study drama at Bible school and music at the University of Lethbridge. She currently lives in Airdrie, AB, teaching music lessons and run a drama group for kids and adults with the mission of sharing the gospel.

Over the course of this musical theater class the students will explore drama through singing and work on developing skills like vocal control, movement, and character. By the end of the week they will have prepared a song to showcase both the musical and dramatic elements of the work that they have accomplished.

Gym: Janelle Conway has more than 8 years of experience in the Christian summer camp industry running children's programs, Janelle has enjoyed the opportunity to get involved with Roots by running the gym program at support meetings the last few months. Janelle desires to create a space where children can stretch and grow their strength and endurance through various exercises, games, and drills. All while encouraging good sportsmanship and collaboration between various ages.

Schedule for week:

8:45am - Doors Open - We will need everyone to be there at 8:45 on Monday so we have enough time to get everyone registered and start the program on time.

9am Opening Prayer and devotional

9:20-11:40 classes

11:40-12:20 Lunch

12:30-2:30 Classes

2:35 - Dismissal

What to bring:

- Indoor, non-marking running shoes (even if you are not in a gym class)

- Lunch, snacks & drinks for your family (note that there is only 1 microwave, it is recommended to bring items that do NOT need to be heated up)

- Painting smock/shirt for each student

All other art supplies will be provided for students

Registration Deadline: January 1st at midnight

Cost:

Kindergarten Age 4&5:

Full day Program: $115/student

Ages 6+ full day program: $115/student

Coupon Code: FAW2025 can be used for Roots registered students only.  If you have non-Roots students in your family that you want to also register, you will need to create a second registration as coupons cannot be used for non-funded or non-Roots students.

Refunds: No refunds can be given past the registration deadline of January 1st, 2024.

Roots Waiver

On behalf of my child, I/we hereby waive and release the Roots Christian Home Education Fellowship, The Father’s House Christian School and any Roots volunteer/facilitator/administrative staff of the Roots Christian Home Education Fellowship from any liability to my(our) children. I/We are fully aware of the risks and potential for harm involved in such events, and on behalf of our child, release from liability Roots Christian Home Education Fellowship (Roots), The Father’s House Christian School and waive any claims such minor may have as a result of an accident, mishap or negligence of the Released Party and/or and other party under or affiliated with the Released Party.

I acknowledge that I, the parent/guardian of the registered attendee/s agree to stay on site at the venue for the fine arts week, to oversee my child/ren for the duration of the program.  Should I not be able to stay at the venue with my child/ren, a handwritten note with my signature will be sent with my child and given to the program organizer, stating the adult who is staying on site and has agreed to be responsible for my child/ren for the duration of the program.