June 2017:  Saint Mary School (SMS) in Branford received a 2017 Regional Initiative Arts (REGI) grant entitled "SMS Students Create New World Art from Old World Printing," from Shoreline Arts Alliance, Inc., the Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts and the National Endowment of the Arts. This grant is supported in part by Shoreline Arts Alliance, Inc. in partnership with the Connecticut Office of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mrs. Corina AlvarezdeLugo taught the awarded art project to SMS sixth grade students, including how to use Photoshop, and how to utilize their newly learned Photoshop skills in manipulating their images and create beautiful background prints. Additionally, the students learned how to enhance their computer-generated images by using monotype, and how to use printing plates with an old fashion printing press for Relief and Intaglio printing techniques used by artists across time.

Valley Shore Toastmasters in Madison is a club of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. A couple of members from the Valley Shore club helped the sixth grade students learn how to present their art to the public.

Professional Artist and Toastmaster Richard Newton came to SMS to guide the students on how to present their artwork from an artist's perspective. Susan Anderheggen, President of Valley Shore Toastmasters, came to the school to help the sixth graders present the Toastmaster way.　

The goal of this grant project is for the students to share and present their art to selected area communities. On June 8, students presented their art to residents of Cedar Woods, a retirement community in Branford, with the artwork remaining on display for the residents to enjoy for a week. The next SMS student presentation will be on Thursday, June 22, at the James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford at 6 p.m. This presentation is free and open to the public.