Box 1441, 9 Pugsley Street, Red Lake, ON, P0V 2M0

Rhonda has worked with our schools over the past 5 years in different capacities. She has provided PD to our teachers on planning units of study and using the creative process in the classroom. She has worked with a small group of students during lunch hours to engage them in building self-confidence through discussion and in expressing themselves through their art work. And finally, she worked with a junior classroom in designing and painting a school mural which still hangs outside the school. Our school is interested in partnering with Rhonda in this proposed project as the theme aligns with our school improvement plan. The Golden Learning Centre has been a Gold certified Eco School for 9 years and we are exploring climate change and the role we play in protecting our planet. Rhonda’s art provides an opportunity for students to engage with the temperature changes and explore historical patterns. It will also provide a spring board for discussions on climate change. We are looking forward to providing our students with another opportunity to explore their artistic abilities under Rhonda’s direction.—Grazia Cianci

I have known Rhonda as an artist in both a personal and professional setting. As a student, many years ago, Rhonda was my art teacher. She fostered a love of learning in me that remains today. As I became a colleague of Rhonda’s in 2004, at Red Lake District High School, I continued to learn from her as we collaborated on numerous projects and initiatives related to student achievement. As an educator, Rhonda did, and continues to do more than create art with children. She teaches her students to value the process as much as the product. She provides feedback in a way that is non-judgemental and fosters growth in students of every age and ability level. Although Rhonda left her formal teaching job, she has continued to create art and nurture artists in our small community. I have had the pleasure of participating in many of The Clever Corvid’s workshops with my daughter. What I value most about Rhonda’s work with my child is that she values patience, creativity, and individuality. Unlike a formal education setting, Rhonda’s classes allow my child to experiment at her own pace, offer input into Rhonda’s “plan” and create art that is both exciting and purposeful. Rhonda allows the spirit of a child to grow and I value opportunities for my child to work under her tutelage. I would fully recommend and support any work that Rhonda can do in a classroom. She is passionate about her work and shares this energy with the children whom she works with. Rhonda is more than an artist in a classroom - she is a teacher with the knowledge and skills to engage and inspire children to value their own ideas and creativity. —Taryn Vachon