FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Frances Chamberlain (860) 868-7377 ext. 221

October, 2001

Washington, CT….. Robin Ruhf, Arts Coordinator at Devereux Glenholme School in Washington, CT, was a featured presenter at The Connecticut Alliance for Arts Education on Tuesday, October 9, 8:30 to 3:30, Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT. She was a participant in the Round-Robin Discussion on the "State of the Arts and Early Learning in CT" from 9:30 to 10:20. Her special presentation, "The Power of Art with Special Needs Children," took place from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. This included material from her Assessment Study on "Creative Engagement with Children through the Arts."

Ms. Ruhf has developed a comprehensive arts program for special needs children at Devereux Glenholme, a school for children with emotional, behavioral or learning difficulties. This residential program is part of the Devereux Foundation, a national organization with centers in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

Ms. Ruhf was accompanied to Hartford by other members of Glenholme's Arts Faculty, Ruth Thomas, Jessica Dunbar and Lillian Lovitt. Recent changes at the school include the promotion of Lillian Lovitt as Art Specialist, the hiring of a certified art teacher, Jessica Dunbar, the expansion of Lori Volpe's role in the music department, plus Matt DeLong who teaches music two evenings a week, and John Marshall who is teaching a percussion series for 24 weeks. Ruth Thomas, a certified art teacher from Great Britain, is also teaching a special afternoon arts class with one of the cottages.

Lillian Lovitt has taught art at Glenholme for three years. She came to Glenholme with an extensive background in Graphic Design, including positions with Children's Television Workshop, Scholastic Magazine, Games Magazine, and Marvel Comics. She will help launch the first Glenholme yearbook, crate an ongoing student newsletter, work with teachers to integrate art into specific units of the education curriculum, plan and coordinate field trips to cultural arts settings and teach art classes after school.

These enhancements to the curriculum are part of Ms. Ruhf's overall plan to integrate the arts into the lives of children at Devereux Glenholme. Drama, music, painting and sculpture, among other art forms, have proven effective with this school population. Over the past four years she has brought in visiting artists to work with students, multicultural performance artists, has offered community art camps during the summer, and has introduced Devereux Glenholme students to a wide variety of art forms.

The positive response of special needs children to an interesting and diverse arts program has made this part of the curriculum integral to Glenholme's whole program.