the cover: Sue Gillio, owner of Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory in Peru, stands with a contrabass flute that was made by a Dutch flute maker.
PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
NCI ARTworks encourages school-aged artists throughout the Illinois Valley
For children who love to participate in art, the start of the school year can be filled with excitement or, in other cases, a sense of dread. If the school they attend has a strong art program they love being a part of, they may be counting down the days until school begins.
But if their school’s art program isn’t as robust as they’d like, they may view the upcoming school year as something that will interfere with
their time and ability to work on their art.
The good news is that even if a child’s school district doesn’t offer as many artistic opportunities as they’d like, they can still find inspiration and like-minded peers at NCI ARTworks, located in the historic Westclox Building in Peru. Sara O’Dell, the executive director of NCI ARTworks, said the organization can help support the artistic endeavors
of students, and she believes that viewing and creating art is important for a variety of reasons.
“I believe art helps foster imagination, creativity, fine motor skills, and self-confidence in children. Exposure to art not only helps build imagination and creativity but also fuels social and emotional development. It can allow children a freedom of expression when words fail them,” O’Dell said.
Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette
This artwork, titled Pyramid Head, was created by Nicholas Beebee, a student at Illinois Valley Community College, and is on display at NCI ARTworks in Peru.
NCI ARTworks champions young artists in the Illinois Valley by holding professional-level exhibitions and showing the work of emerging artists.
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NCI ARTworks can play a role in a student’s relationship with the arts and what they’ll get out of their commitment.
“By engaging students in different areas of the arts, we hope to spark creativity and cultivate critical thinking,” O’Dell said.
The staff at NCI ARTworks continues to work hard on its educational outreach program. O’Dell shared some of the highlights from the outreach program’s last five years. She said they have showcased more than 160 emerging artists and have hosted 65 professional-level exhibitions.
“Some of our emerging artists of the area come from our local high schools and community college. Our current emerging artist show has students from IVCC, St. Bede, and Streator High School,” she said.
By engaging students in different areas of the arts, we hope to spark creativity and cultivate critical thinking.
Sara O’Dell, executive director of NCI ARTworks
The Emerging Artists’ Exhibit began June 12 and will run through July 31 at the NCI ARTworks gallery.
O’Dell said NCI ARTworks also continues to recognize and celebrate the top talent at the high school level.
“This is done yearly at our Mad Hatter Ball. The Mad Hatter Ball is our annual event where we showcase local student performers from the local schools in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties in all of the arts – visual, music, performing, literary, etc,” O’Dell said.
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In addition, NCI ARTworks, partnered with local municipalities, has hosted workshops, summer art camps, and classes, she said. They have also provided rural schools with musical instruments and have facilitated local concerts, she added.
“This fall, we are partnering with a local music school to bring Sarah McQuaid to the area for a performance at a local school. This will bring a performance to a rural school that might not be able to showcase a Lifetime Achievement Award-winning musician,” O’Dell said.
Striking A Chord
Enriching
students’ lives at Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory
When Sue Gillio was 9 years old, she had some small and big wishes for the future – she wanted to play the flute, meet renowned flutist James Galway, and travel to Italy. Decades later, Gillio has managed to check each item off that fantasy list she dreamed of as a child.
In 2012, Gillio fulfilled her other childhood dream when she opened and began running her own music school, Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory, located at 408 5th St. in Peru.
“I come in every day and pinch
myself and say this is the coolest thing ever,” Gillio said.
Gillio, a graduate of LaSallePeru High School, has expanded that initial space multiple times as Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory has grown and evolved over the years.
“It’s not just a music studio. We think of ourselves as an enrichment center,” she said.
The business now offers more than just music – students can also sign up for Spanish lessons, math tutoring, ACT prep, indulge in art
exploration, and dive into other interests.
For those interested in music, the business offers lessons for all abilities and ages.
“We’ll take you where you are and go from there,” Gillio said.
The studio has teachers who cover many different instruments, said Gillio, who is also a flute instructor. The business has more than 800 students, 34 teachers, and 10 teaching rooms, providing the
Sue Gillio welcomes students of all abilities to take music lessons at Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory in Peru.
Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette
Music
FROM PAGE 7
space for multiple lessons to be conducted simultaneously.
The music instructors at Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory are experienced and work well with young students.
“A lot of them are band directors or retired band directors,” Gillio said.
Whether someone is a beginning musician or has already had several years of instruction, learning and playing music can benefit them.
“Music uses both sides of the brain,” she said.
Those who play music or work in the arts tend to do better in school, Gillio said. Through music, students can learn about teamwork, responsibility, self-awareness, empathy, and time management, she said. It can be a positive outlet for students when they’re feeling stressed or want to work on something that brings them joy.
“It’s not just music we’re teaching.
We’re teaching life skills and responsibility,” Gillio said. “We talk a lot about balance. Be kind to yourself.”
Plus, playing an instrument isn’t something that has to stop when a student leaves school.
“You can do it your whole life,” she said.
From a social perspective, Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory is a no-judgment zone, where everyone is welcome and supported.
“We have the environment of inclusivity,” Gillio said.
Students will get to connect with other people who share their interests in music and self-improvement, and they’ll find that those people enjoy cheering them on, Gillio said.
While music is an important endeavor for students, it can also be just as crucial for adults. Gillio said many adults are taking lessons, either relearning instruments they played as children or learning another instrument altogether.
For those who have never been to Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory, Gillio welcomes them
to stop by the building, and she can show them around.
She rents out the Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory space for events when it’s not being used for performances. The community event space can be used for meetings, holiday parties, school functions, benefits, fundraisers, birthday parties, baby or bridal showers, and more. The space can accommodate 75 people when seated and 150 standing. To learn more about pricing or to book the space, contact Gillio at Music Suite 408.
Even though she is at the studio nearly every day, it’s still sometimes hard for Gillio to grasp the success of Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory. If 9-year-old Gillio could look into the future and see what it has become, what would she think?
“She’d still probably pinch herself,” Gillio said. “I think if you dream big, you can do these things. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, and you can create your own opportunities.”
Sue Gillio (left) said she couldn’t run Music Suite 408 and 408 Fine Arts Factory without the help of her husband, John (right).
A New Chapter
Stock up on back-to-school reading materials at Prairie Fox Books
As children get ready to tackle another school year, parents can help them prepare by focusing on their reading skills. Reading is one of the most essential skills they’ll use in school – it can help them in every subject, from dreaded word problems in math to their English classes, where they’ll read book after book.
For families who don’t currently have daily reading time at
home, there is no time like the present to create a new nightly reading ritual. Having interesting reading material at home can be one of the first steps for encouraging a child to read more. Prairie Fox Books, located at 719 LaSalle St. in Ottawa, has books for students of every age.
Mary Olson, co-owner of Prairie Fox Books, said reading is important for school-aged children because it factors into every
subject in some way and will be crucial as they get older – even in today’s tech-driven society.
Kids who are read to or who read a lot independently, generally speaking, do better in school, Olson said.
“Schooling is a lot of reading,” she added.
It’s also essential for life beyond the classroom. While reading can
BOOKS, Page 12
Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette
Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa has a good selection of children’s books.
Top: Prairie Fox Books offers puzzles for all levels.
Middle: To brighten your young child’s backpack and mood as they head off to school, Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa sells these plushies that can attach to backpacks.
Bottom: If your child doesn’t like reading yet, it may be that the material isn’t appealing to them. Comic books can draw some children into reading when traditional materials don’t.
Below: A new bookmark is often appreciated by readers of all ages, but especially for children making the jump to chapter books.
FROM PAGE 10
offer many benefits for young children, it’s also more necessary than ever in this day and age because of the rise of artificial intelligence, Olson said. People need to have the ability to question the validity of the material they’re seeing.
“It’s important to hone critical thinking skills,” she said.
It doesn’t take a huge time investment to improve a child’s reading skills. Devoting 20 minutes a day is a great start and can offer many benefits for a child, such as learning new subjects, improving vocabulary, and becoming a stronger reader. Reading aloud to your young children can teach them about the rhythm of the words, feelings, and inflection. It can also help teach them
emotional intelligence, since there are books about sensitive subjects such as bullying, being a good friend, dealing with conflict, and more.
Even if your child is too young to read to themselves or understand the words as you’re reading from the book to them, they’ll still benefit and be interested in what you’re doing. Parents may find they enjoy this time together as much as their children do –even if they are reading books for beginners.
“I personally love picture books,” Olson said. “Picture books cover every topic out there.”
Even if parents don’t have that much time to spend reading to their children on a busy day, a few minutes is better than none. Olson said reading can draw parents and children closer together. It’s an activity that can be en-
joyed together and helps families make cherished memories.
“It’s a bond that you share – a nightly ritual,” she said.
Finding time for 20 minutes of reading per day isn’t too tricky when you build it into your normal routine. It can be done at any time of day, but many families prefer to do it at night.
“I think bedtime is the perfect time to do it,” Olson said, adding that reading helps children wind down from their day.
Parents can also encourage a love of reading in other ways, such as attending special events.
Prairie Fox Books has an event coming up this fall that young children will likely enjoy.
“We’re going to have a big Winnie the Pooh 100th birthday celebration,” Olson said, adding that it will be held on Oct. 10th and it will also commemorate the store’s tenth anniversary.
Kitchens Designed with Life in Mind
Looking for the right environment for your child?
Consider Trinity Rose Montessori School in Ottawa! Trinity Rose Montessori is a private nonprofit school serving preschoolers and kindergartners in our Illinois Valley community. We offer both half-day and full-day programs tailored to your child’s needs, and we look forward to growing alongside your family as we expand into an elementary program.
- Internationally trained Montessori teachers - Beautiful Montessori classroom environment and abundant outdoor play spaces
An environment created to respect and support the human potential of each child as it unfolds.
Back to School: Set up your child for success
By Katlyn Sanden
Going back to school can be filled with every emotion under the sun – excitement, anxiety, curiosity, and fear of the unknown, but there are ways parents can help set their child up for success.
Kaliesha Miller, a kindergarten teacher in the Bureau Valley School District, says there are some simple, but important, things parents can do to support their child, not just in kindergarten, but throughout their entire school journey.
She’s about to begin her third year teaching kindergarten in the district, but she has been involved in education since 2006. With the skills she accumulated as a juvenile counselor for adjudicated wards of the state, as well as paraprofessional and substitute teaching,
Miller strives to create a positive, supportive partnership with her students’ families every year.
When children see that the important adults in their lives are working together, it gives them the confidence and support they need to truly thrive, Miller said.
Creating a ‘home away from home’ is what teacher Kaliesha Miller strives for. Her goal is to help her students feel comfortable and look forward to coming to school every day. One way she does this is by filling their room with their own artwork, creations, and even pictures of their families, so they have those connections with them throughout the day.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“Children thrive on structure, and having consistent routines and expectations at home makes such a difference,” Miller said. “When children know what to expect and have clear, developmentally appropriate boundaries, it helps them feel more secure and confident. In many ways, it mirrors what we are working to build in the classroom, so that consistency between home and school really sets them up for success.”
Another big piece, she said, is simply taking the time to talk with your child.
“In today’s world, it’s so easy for kids to spend time on devices, and while those have their place, we are definitely seeing an impact on communication skills and attention spans,” Miller said. “Kids need conversation. They need back-and-forth interaction, storytelling, questions, and connection. It’s also important for them to learn patience, that not everything is instant, and that’s okay. Learning to wait, to work through something, or even to be a little bored at times helps build independence and creativity.”
Helping children learn to regulate
their emotions when they hear ‘no’, or when they don’t win at something is a huge life skill that Miller said will carry far beyond the classroom.
“Learning that failure is okay is another critical lesson a child must learn,” said Miller. “One of the most repeated phrases in my room to my students is ‘Mistakes are ok, they help us learn.’ My students would repeat that back to me all the time,” Miller said.
“Helping your child learn that making mistakes is a part of learning and life will help them to understand that they do not always need to be perfect. They will not always get it all correct, and that is okay. Sometimes we learn best through our mistakes,” Miller added.
Another easy way to enhance learning is in natural, everyday moments.
“Reading together every day is one of the most powerful things families can do,” said Miller. “It doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork. You can turn a car ride into a game of I Spy, practice rhyming words, talk about beginning sounds, or point out letters and numbers in the world around you. There
are so many ways to build learning into daily life without it feeling overwhelming, for either the parent or the child.”
Maintaining open and respectful parent/teacher communication has been huge for the success of Miller’s students.
“I understand as a parent that it can be hard to hear something less than positive about your child — it’s natural to want to jump to their defense,” Miller said. “But when families and teachers can work together, listen to each other, and focus on solutions, it makes such a difference for the child. I promise that if a teacher is reaching out with a concern, it comes from a place of care and wanting the very best for that student.”
Most importantly, Miller encourages parents to simply enjoy this time with their child.
“The years when they are little go by so quickly,” said Miller. “There is so much beauty in this stage of their lives. Being part of their school journey and helping to make those years special and meaningful is something that will stay with both you and your child forever.”
