Few nights bring more of Community together than Arts, Science and Letters Night. This annual celebration of student accomplishments took place Thursday, Apr. 26. “It’s a real community night where people come together and appreciate the academic output and the artistic output of our students, their creativity and their intelligence,” said Liz Stern, a FOS teacher at CHS who organizes the “science” part of the evening.
On the evening of Arts, Science and Letters Night, the school was atwitter as students and teachers set up displays and proudly presented them to parents, fellow students and other participants.
Steve Coron, a CHS art teacher, said that the event originally only featured artwork and is “as old as the school.” In the 1980s, the night was expanded to include the Foundations of Science (FOS) program to draw more visitors and display group projects, particularly the FOS 1 glacier project. Later, when CHS English teacher Judith DeWoskin chose to start selling Free Verse literary magazines at the occasion, it got its current name: Arts, Science and Letters Night.
Arts, Science and Letters Night has grown from the original trio. “Now it’s Arts, Science, Letters, CET, Mock Trial, Jazz, Dance, [and] everything,” Coron explained.
In addition to striking student artwork, Free Verse sales, and displays of scientific knowledge, other groups including Community Ensemble Theatre, Dance Body, the Eco Club, the Jazz Band, and the Mock Trial team participated in the event. CET showcased puppets from their most recent production, Avenue Q. Jazz Band performed for visitors, and a video of Dance Body’s last concert played near the studio.
The Mock Trial Team sold hats and sweatshirts, and accepted donations to raise funds for their trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico for Nationals. Likewise, the Eco Club sold water bottles, the FOS department had student-made soap for sale, and the Art department sold student photography and bracelets to benefit their respective initiatives.
For Stern, the event can be a lot to pull together. “Yeah, there have been moments when [it has been hard]. You want to make sure that every student’s work is displayed so that when the parents come and say, ‘Where’s my precious darlin’ heart’s work,’ you can say, ‘It’s right there!’ It’s really wonderful.”
Coron agreed. “It’s a lot of work, but work isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I mean it’s fun work. That’s what I do, and I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
Arts, Science and Letters Night is a lot of work but is not without a payoff.
Coron said, “[What makes the event great for me is] the people who actually come to see this stuff and be involved in what we do and see what we do so well… It’s a great time for our students to come together… I look forward to it every year. I know it’s going to be a long day, and I won’t get home ‘til really late, but it’s a fabulous thing. And the afterglow is wonderful. We hear from people all day [the next day,] and it’s what we do… it’s what we do best .”
