TCCHS Administration, led by Assistant Principal Lamar Matthews, sponsored the event whereby students designed cover art for their 2nd Annual Yellow Jacket Christmas CD. The proceeds support the Shop with a Yellow Jacket (SWAY-J) event and other worthy projects. The $10 CD features the music and voices of Thomas County School System students mixed by the high school Broadcast Video Lab. Songs and instrumentals come from Garrison-Pilcher Elementary, Thomas County Middle School, and Thomas County Central High School.
“We are so excited to showcase our school and school system,” Matthews said. “We have so many talented students here and I thought this might be a great way to do just that.”
Media included, but was not limited to, collage, paints, pencils, computer art, and charcoal. In short, anything two-dimensional that included Buzz was fair game.
Chick-fil-A gift cards in the amounts of $25, $15, and $10 rewarded the top three artworks selected by the high school administration. All three artworks will appear on the Christmas CD whether on the cover, back, or the CD itself.
“I was so pleased that art students had the school spirit to create such joyful pieces,” said Jocelyn Rivard, TCCHS art teacher. “I love that the media are so different – acrylic painting, collage, watercolor, and marker.”
Sophie Anderson, 17, earned first place for her painted wintry scene of the front of the school. Buzz appears twice in the piece: in the triangular tympanum space above the school’s entrance; and in leading Santa’s sleigh overhead posing as a red-nosed Yellow Jacket.
“I came up with the idea when I saw a Christmas card of Santa flying over a tower,” stated Anderson. “I used acrylic paint, colored pencil, and pen.” As to earning first place, Anderson said she felt “very happy that my work is being recognized.”
Second place went to Riley Singletary, 16, for her intricate collage of various solid and printed papers she entitled “Happy Holidays.” The windy snow-filled sky undulates much like a van Gogh painting while Buzz gleefully sports a white-trimmed Santa jacket.
In choosing media, Singletary said that she “just took paint chips and cut them into what I wanted.” She depicted Buzz as Santa and placed him in a “winter wonderland.”
“Buzz Stringing Tree Lights” was the theme for third place winner Macie Wheeler, 16. Lights get tangled in antlers while Buzz comically celebrates the season. “I wanted to incorporate some of my favorite things about Christmas,” stated Wheeler. “Buzz was getting in the Christmas spirit by decorating the tree.” Media included watercolor, colored pencil, and markers.
“When left to their own devices, our students are well-equipped for applying their creativity and good skills to just about any theme,” Rivard added. “It is fascinating to watch such pieces unfold while having little idea as to what the students envision.”
Matthews acknowledges that it was through the support from TCCHS Principal Trista Jones and the administration from the other schools, that “we were able to put together a pretty good CD that our schools and community stakeholders can be proud of.”
The Yellow Jacket Holiday CD is available for $10 apiece starting December 7 through December 18, the last day before winter break for Thomas County Schools. Anyone wishing to purchase one should visit any of the participating schools or the Thomas County Board of Education. There are a few CD’s remaining from last year’s collection for $5 each from TCCHS.