Leal Elementary Students to Host "Heroes and Dreamers" Film Premiere

The Leal Elementary third and fourth grade students of teachers Greg Ballweg and Molly Headtke will host the premiere of the film, “Heroes and Dreamers” by Ken Paxton, on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 10:00 am in the Leal School Gymnasium, 312 W. Oregon St., Urbana. An art exhibition of the student’s work highlighted in the film will begin at 9:30 am, prior to the showing of the film.

Mr. Paxton, speech and language therapist at Leal Elementary, received an City of Urbana Arts Grant in the Creative Mix category to help fund the creation of the film. The film project documented these students’ work over several related, academic projects. The students in Mr. Ballweg’s 3rd grade Spanish-speaking class and Mrs. Headtke’s 4th grade English-speaking class started the project by reading What Was the March on Washington? by Kathleen Krull. With the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” speech approaching, the students studied not only the speech, but the events that led up to the historic moment and other people who were involved in the civil rights movement. Dr. King’s speech provided the jumping off point for the numerous projects. The concept what heroism is and who is a hero, as well as the characteristics of a hero were discussed and that led to Mr. Paxton asking the students “who are your heroes.” These classroom discussions continued at home as the students engaged their families in similar conversations. The discussions led to a diversity of choices in the students’ heroes and heroines. These lessons were also used in USD #116 Elementary fine arts dance teacher, Maggie Kinnamon’s class, providing another creative outlet for the curriculum and lessons.

Mr. Paxton documented the students as they moved from concept to execution to completion and presentation for their many projects. The film became a study of the heroes and heroines in the student’s lives, giving a voice to dreamers for both the Spanish and English-speaking students. The projects the students’ completed included collages, oral presentations, dance/movement performances, a bilingual recitation of selected portions of King’s speech, and a bilingual presentation of the student-generated list of characteristics that constitute a hero/heroine. The film provides the frame to see these heroes and the students who are inspired by them.

The art exhibit and film premiere are open to the public and there is no charge for attending. Leal Elementary and the Urbana School District asks that any members of the public wishing to attend either event, to please sign-in at the main office of Leal prior to entering the building proper.

Information provided by the Urbana School District.