Riverdale K-8 School recently held its annual Art Show and Literacy Night, but this year, there was a twist: the evening was all about animals, art and community impact. In collaboration with local humane societies and animal shelters, the event highlighted both the creative talents of students and the importance of supporting animals in need.
“Sometimes the stars align for a perfect community night,” joked art teacher Tracy Sammons. Along with fellow art teachers Erin Sutton and Melissa Cychowski, Sammons helped plan the art portion of the evening, connecting students’ creative lessons to the theme of animal welfare. The three teachers, known for their award-winning lesson plans, spent the quarter preparing students to create pieces that championed animal needs and awareness.
The younger students’ art projects emphasized the essential needs of animals in the region, while older students (grades 5-8) were paired with real animals looking for forever homes. These students created portraits and unique artwork for each animal, featuring them in a way that would draw the attention of potential adopters. “We wanted to connect our art lessons this quarter to the idea that art can make an impact,” said Sutton, highlighting the transformative power of art and empathy.
The event quickly grew as the Literacy Committee, led by Katie Faught, saw a unique opportunity to join forces. Faught and her team brought a popular Riverdale tradition, Literacy Night, into the mix, giving it an “animal makeover.” "It was so much fun to see all our students excited about reading! Our students had a scavenger hunt to guide them throughout the night leading them to all the fun. They attended classroom read aloud sessions, created bookmarks and reading trackers, picked out reading buddy stuffed animals, listened to a tall tale, participated in a Book Walk (think cake walk with books), visited our book fair, and got to see their own art on display," shared Faught. Riverdale’s librarian, Erin Oldershaw added even more to the experience by combining the school’s book fair with the event. Partnered with Novel Books, students and families had the chance to browse animal-themed titles, and explore stations set up by the Germantown, Memphis, and Tunica Humane Societies.
In addition to the art displays, families enjoyed tasty treats from two food trucks—Taco Nganas and Top Dawgs—while exploring the students’ artwork and the interactive literacy stations. "The response was overwhelming," said Cychowski. The support was palpable as students and their families arrived with donations for local shelters, from dog toys to cat food. “We’re still delivering carloads of donations!” Sutton shared.
A unique part of the event was creating prints of the students’ animal art to promote adoptable pets. One particularly heartwarming success story is Grasshopper, a featured pet who became a school favorite during visits and has since found his forever home. “Who says that art cannot make an impact?!” Sutton exclaimed, reflecting on the difference their work had made.
The Art of Rescue was not only a successful night for Riverdale K-8, but also a powerful example of how creative collaboration and community engagement can address meaningful issues. Through this interdisciplinary event, students learned that even the smallest actions—like making a piece of artwork—can contribute to big solutions in their community.