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Pasco Students Create 9/11 Art Project

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - When Pasco school Superintendent Heather Fiorentino called for student poster art to commemorate Sept. 11, teachers at Wiregrass Ranch High School had an inspiration.

"We wanted to kick it up a notch," said Steve Williams, the school's literacy specialist.

The result: Students in the high school's Arts and Communications Learning Community created a 9/11 Memorial Art Installation that will be on display for students, school district officials and the media today and will be open to the public one evening next week.

Williams said an installation is similar to an art exhibit but with an interactive element. It will include such features as music, performance art and lights. Academic disciplines such as math, science and social studies also influenced the students' work so that the project reflects the curriculum.

"This is something the faculty in our learning community has been thinking of since they were hired," Williams said.

Wiregrass Ranch High, in its second year, is one of Pasco County's newest schools.

High schools in Pasco are organized into learning communities based on academic themes. Each learning community at Wiregrass Ranch has a commons area. The art installation will be on display in the Arts and Communications commons area.

About 200 to 300 students were involved in the project, Williams said.

Putting together such an elaborate exhibit so early in the school year was difficult, Williams said. School began Aug. 20, three weeks before students needed to have the display finished. Although the deadline was a challenge, it also had advantages, Williams said.

The plans for the installation meant teachers had a project for students to focus on immediately rather than simply reviewing expectations for the year.

"When students came back we were already able to talk about the installation," Williams said.

Fiorentino is chairwoman of a Sept. 11 memorial service that will be held at 7 p.m. today at Sims Park in New Port Richey. Williams said Wiregrass Ranch High plans to distribute information about the art installation at the Sims Park event.

Students, parents and the public can visit the high school's exhibit from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday. Wiregrass Ranch High is at 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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