Artstanding brings art, music and thought together

The 5th Annual Artstanding event, June 7, drew around 2,000 people to Lounsberry Hollow School throughout the night.
Beautiful wind ensembles played for families, while they enjoyed a gym overflowing with students’ artwork from grades K–12. Outside on the lawn, groups of attendees enjoyed the VTHS Jazz Express playing smooth sounds.
Vernon Education Foundation Board Member Tara Brennan explained the event was presented by the Vernon Education Foundation and the Vernon Township School District. She said it is the only one which brings the entire school district together in one night, celebrating fine and practical arts throughout the district.
The Artstanding event, she said, was also a celebration to showcase the teachers; and it could not be possible without the faculty, staff, students, and families of the Vernon Township School District.
As a non-for-profit organization, Brennan said, the Vernon Education Foundation provides teacher grants, which are not in the normal school budget. She said, they fund robotics, engineering, theater arts, fine arts, and have given over $50,000 to the school district over the years.
In one of the school rooms, VTHS Theater Director Lindsay McAloney oversaw the “Pledge 2 Pause Before you Post” initiative.
Vernon residents pledged to pause before posting anything negative online and made a red hand print on a big banner as a reminder.
McAloney had first discussed her idea, Jan. 10, 2018, at a Vernon Coalition meeting.
She said she was very excited, as they filled up more and more pages with pledges.
Valley Paint of Vernon had donated the paint for the pledge prints.