AVRSB student creates Apple Blossom Festival Temporary Tattoo

BY FRED SGAMBATI

fsgambati@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

A Primary student from Cambridge and District Elementary School is the winner of this year’s Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival Temporary Tattoo contest.

Hannah Ouellette is a five-year-old in Mrs. Caroline Adams’s P/1 split class, and her design was one of several hundred entries from 14 participating schools across the region in conjunction with the competition.

A presentation ceremony took place May 7 in Hannah’s classroom with Apple Blossom Festival president Cathy Briggs, past president Sally Swanburg Wallace, school board representative Karen Sotvedt and radio personality Gerry Neville on hand to share in the fun.

The students were kept in the dark about the reason for the visit until the award-winning design was revealed. Classmates gave Hannah hugs and there was a general sense of excitement as Briggs and Swanburg Wallace offered details and then passed out ABF pins, apples, drinks and apple shiver treats.

Hannah said afterward, “I tried to make a world, but it didn’t work out at first. My mom got a can and traced it. I made an apple and then the other stuff.”

The Cambridge resident said she chose to put an apple at the top of her entry “because I like apples.” She said it took her a long time to finish the project.

Her teacher said the call from Briggs was a “total shock. I talked to her as well about how the whole class needed to be celebrated as well as the one winner.”

She added, “Hannah’s a very artistic little girl, so that didn’t surprise me. She’s very detailed in her drawing and very meticulous.”

Adams said she emphasized to the class in creating their entries aspects of inclusiveness, brightness and a peaceful picture for a temporary tattoo; something anyone could wear.

Daunting task: Briggs

Briggs said, “we were looking for a way to reach as many children as possible for this contest and (AVRSB Superintendent) Norm Dray distributed information to all the elementary schools in our district.

“As our macro goal is always to build community and goodwill for the Festival, this partnership with the schools allows us to bring children into the creative side of Festival. “There were 14 elementary schools that participated, with hundreds of submissions, and it was a daunting task to pick just one for this year's tattoo winner! The level of talent was truly amazing, the interpretation of the theme ‘Our Future Blossoms’ wide and varied. We were impressed on every level.

“Joining the winning student in her class was icing on the cake,” she said. “It’s such fun to sit down in a little chair and be a part of a Grade Primary/1 class again for an hour. I look forward to Parade Day, when Hannah and I will ride together as Junior and 'Senior' Festival Presidents, waving and smiling to all our Festival friends!

“We’ve enjoyed this contest and the ABF looks forward to partnering with both Dr. Dray representing the AVRSB and with Transcontinental in years to come. ‘Our Future Blossoms’ is a theme that has been given many interpretations this Festival season and we all should celebrate our life here in the Annapolis Valley.”

Children’s Parade anniversary an aspect, too

Swanburg Wallace said the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival Children’s Parade turns 75 this year, and what better occasion to ask schoolkids in the Valley to have a hand in the celebration.

“The temporary tattoos were born out an idea I had to make the 75th Festival memorable. It was a huge success and 10,000 tattoos were gone in no time at all. This year we intend to double the number of tattoos printed and distributed to all those arms, legs and faces in need of a little temporary fun,” she said.

Keying on this year’s competition, Swanburg Wallace said, “having this creative challenge for a logo allowed us to connect with those young, creative minds and truly see our future blossom. It takes our 16 communities to raise the Festival and every age needs to be a part of it. Our visit May 7 was the fuel that allows the volunteers to continue and it’s truly our pay when you see a beautiful little girl create the perfect image for the 76th Apple Blossom Festival.”

Link to important community event: Dray

From a school board standpoint, the participatory concept had broad appeal and Dray was onside from the beginning. Representatives from the Festival and The Kings County Advertiser outlined the concept to him and he brought the proposal forward immediately to elementary school principals in the region.

"In AVRSB,” he said, “we were pleased to partner with the Apple Blossom Festival and Transcontinental to participate in the Temporary Tattoo design contest. It was an opportunity to link our schools and our students to an important community event, which has a tremendous impact on the social and economic fabric of the Valley.

“We value our partnership with Transcontinental, which has been ongoing for years, and we welcomed the opportunity to participate directly in the Apple Blossom Festival for the first time as a school system,” he said. "I was really pleased also with the level of participation in the Temporary Tattoo Contest. The number of entries shows tremendous interest in the Apple Blossom Festival and among our schools and the high quality of entries in the contest reflects the ability level of our students and their innate and nurtured artistic talent.

“I would like to thank the teachers for supporting the participation of our students and I would like to congratulate our contest winner. Hannah will be an excellent ambassador for her school and our Board."

Hannah received a cash prize and the title of Junior President and its associated privileges for this year’s Festival. Her class was given a cash award also.

The Festival itself runs from May 28 to June 2, 2008. For more information, visit www.appleblossom.com.