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Enchanted garden to sprout at Skyway Elementary

by CAROLYN BOSTICK
Staff Writer | April 23, 2025 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — Art inspired by nature became a celebration on Earth Day as elementary students collaborated with high schoolers.  

Dinosaurs, mushrooms, fairy houses and even a Spider-Man sculpture were some of the artworks created to populate the new Enchanted Garden at Skyway Elementary School.  

Ceramics students at Lake City High School tested their imagination and artistic mettle as they brought the words of elementary students to life this spring.  

Student Jerren Bailey and Lake City High School art teacher Dawn Myers pursued a grant for $2,430.90 through the Excel Foundation to create the garden.      

Emmery Fuller explained to the younger kids how she had worked on her ceramic pot, which was decorated in bright red, orange and yellow shades. 

“I started with 6 pounds of clay, so I had to maneuver that a lot, but you lose a lot of weight when you use the pottery wheel,” Fuller said. 

Madison Nelson has moved outside her comfort zone to make something the younger students had asked to see.  

“Maddy really enjoys making things that are functional like a bowl, but she really pushed herself to make something magical for you guys,” Myers said.     

“Pottery has taught me a lot,” Sydni Packer said. “It’s taught me patience. It’s taught me grace.”      

A mushroom fairy house made by Khana Burns became a popular favorite for students and families as they stopped to admire the pieces after school.    

While being picked up from school, the Selles took a tour of the completed artwork on display. 

“I liked the Lightning McQueen one and the treehouse,” Braxton Selle said.  

Indigo Selle’s favorites were Spider-Man made by Haylee Christensen, as well as a ceramic tree. Her brother, Ezra Selle, agreed when it came to Spider-Man and also favored a flower the artists had made for them.  


   Students at Skyway Elementary School admire ceramic art created by Lake City High School art students. Left to right: Swayze Gustin, Brody Houston, Kinzley Halden, Kobra Dockins, Austin Schindelbeck, Alabama Romine.
 
 



    Some of the favorite ceramic pieces of the elementary students included the tree, the mushroom fairy house and Lightning McQueen.
  
    Ellie Hunt holds up a student-made ceramic piece inspired by "The Very Hungary Caterpillar." Students from Lake City High School received input from Skyway Elementary School classes about what they would like to see in the school's "Enchanted Garden."
 
 
    Kaylee Scharnow, Madison Nelson, Sydni Packer, Haylee Christensen and Kendel Lawrence shared ceramic art they created Tuesday at Skyway Elementary School.
 
 
    Emmery Fuller shows off the colorful ceramic piece she made at Skyway Elementary School. Students from Lake City High School shared their completed work Tuesday to elementary students whose words helped inspire the designs.