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Business & Tech

Deer Park Students and Parents Treated To Art Show and Business Expo

While students were showing off their artwork in the cafeteria, parents were given information about summer activities by a group of Westchase businesses that were assembled in the courtyard.

Thursday afternoon at Deer Park Elementary was both a celebration of student art as well as an opportunity for parents to receive  information about activities their children can enjoy when school ends for summer vacation.

As students led their parents into the cafeteria, hundreds of paintings and drawings of their best work were on display.

"Each student was given a chance to select their favorite piece of artwork, from all of the things they've done this year and display it,"said Jamie Hand, Deer Park's Art Specialist.

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Hand's classroom motto is: "If you mess it up, dress it up."

"Mrs. Hand has done such a great job," said Assistant Principal, Amber Rutherford. "She was a graphic designer who brings practical applications of art into her classroom and the kids love it."

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Sadie Lingo, a first grader at the school, had a tough decision to make concerning which piece of art she wanted to display.

"I had to choose between an alien and a jungle," Sadie said. "I picked the jungle because it was my best."

Once parents were done viewing the art exhibit many of them stayed to take advantage of the business expo, which was set up to help inform them about fun options to keep their children active during summer vacation.

"Our parents are eager to find out meaningful things," said Principal Shirley Porebski.  "The expo is a great way to help parents find out what's out there."

The expo included 14 Deer Park and Mary Bryant business partners, who set up tables and provided parents with brochures, fliers and information about their  summer programs for children. Activities ran the gamut from martial arts, basketball, tennis and horseback riding. 

Beth Allegra, has two children ages 7 and 10, with very different interests and was hoping to find one camp that both children could attend. 

"It's hard to do the leg work to find out what's out there," Allegra said. "It's so nice when the school does it for you." 

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