Robb Elementary hosts Recognition Rally
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS A cafeteria at Robb Elementary was packed for the school’s recent assembly.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Retired KCSD/Robb Art Teacher Kraig Brady poses with his grandson, Selah Bird, next to the newly presented wildcat statue he carved. The statue will be displayed at Robb Elementary for years to come.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Mrs. Newlen’s class, from left, Sheldon Wetzel, Noah Straub, Noah Erb, Gabe Weaver and Remington Bilbay. These students will be performing at Kents Fest. Not pictured are Easton Frye, Layla Brickley and Taylor Maggs who will also be performing with their class.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Pictured is Mrs. Casilio’s class, from left, Brantlee Meskell-Breasette, Danellia Gallagher, Ryleigh Watkins, Kianna Kinley and Dontae Hoffman. These students will be performing at Kents Fest.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Lock Haven Police Department Officer Andrew Fisher is seen flipping a coin during Robb’s Recognition Rally.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS A cafeteria at Robb Elementary was packed for the school’s recent assembly.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Retired KCSD/Robb Art Teacher Kraig Brady poses with his grandson, Selah Bird, next to the newly presented wildcat statue he carved. The statue will be displayed at Robb Elementary for years to come.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Mrs. Newlen’s class, from left, Sheldon Wetzel, Noah Straub, Noah Erb, Gabe Weaver and Remington Bilbay. These students will be performing at Kents Fest. Not pictured are Easton Frye, Layla Brickley and Taylor Maggs who will also be performing with their class.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Pictured is Mrs. Casilio’s class, from left, Brantlee Meskell-Breasette, Danellia Gallagher, Ryleigh Watkins, Kianna Kinley and Dontae Hoffman. These students will be performing at Kents Fest.
BREANNA HANLEY/THE EXPRESS Lock Haven Police Department Officer Andrew Fisher is seen flipping a coin during Robb’s Recognition Rally.
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LOCK HAVEN -- Robb Elementary School held an assembly recently to recognize the incredible achievements of their students and staff, as well as unveil their new Wildcat.
Hundreds of students packed into the cafeteria at Robb Wednesday morning, jamming out to tunes played by their very talented DJ and hitting beach balls back and forth.
School Facilitator Brad McCloskey was the emcee for the event, announcing the various games students and staff would be playing to earn "seen, heard, loved" stickers.
The rally began with the announcement of 3rd and 4th grade PSSA testing, and a reminder to the younger students how they should behave while their fellow wildcats are taking the tests.
One of the highlights of the morning was when retired KCSD/Robb Art Teacher Kraig Brady, who did a woodcutting presentation for the students a week before, finally unveiled the long awaited wildcat.
Brady began his foray into three-dimensional art when he was young, and has been whittling for decades.
"When I was 12 years old my dad got me my first set of wood chisels, and I would go into our basement and whittle away. The idea of three-dimensional art fascinated me," said Brady.
Brady began selling his creations -- such as small hand-carved owls for just a few dollars.
"His dad was also an art teacher and their family would travel during the summer. They would go up to Banff School of Fine Arts -- his dad would teach while the rest of his family would stay at the campground. On the to and from, he would be whittling in the back seat," said Brady's wife, Kimber.
"The car was full of wood chips," Brady added.
This love of wood-carving has continued for Brady's whole life, and it's this passion that allowed him to give a special presentation for the students.
Brady wheeled the sheet-covered sculpture into the cafeteria with his grandson, Selah Bird, for the dramatic unveiling.
He briefly explained to the students what he did since they last saw the sculpture -- describing how he carved out more details into the sculpture using his chainsaw and chisels, burned the wood to bring out the texture, sanded the sculpture to make it smooth and used bicycle brake cables to create the wildcat's whiskers.
The students were screaming with excitement as the wildcat was unveiled -- everyone in attendance thanking Brady for his gift to the students.
The wildcat will be displayed in Robb school for years to come.
Mrs. Casilio's and Mrs. Newlen's classes gave their fellow students a preview of their Kents Fest performances before and after the unveiling.
From Mrs. Casilio's class, Brantlee Meskell-Breasette, Danellia Gallagher, Ryleigh Watkins, Kianna Kinley and Dontae Hoffman gave an excellent performance to the delight of their fellow students.
From Mrs. Newlen's class, Sheldon Wetzel, Noah Straub, Noah Erb, Gabe Weaver, Remington Bilbay, Easton Frye, Layla Brickley and Taylor Maggs showed their fancy footwork while they danced to "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets.
Their classmates cheered them on -- giving them three loud Robb Power Claps.