Students decorate Sisters shops

Festive holiday scenes appeared on the windows of businesses all over town - but it wasn't by magic. The art is compliments of Sisters Elementary School fourth graders through a project that brings together the students' creativity and parents' desire to volunteer.

Fourth grade teacher Clay Warburton, an artist in his own right, brought the idea of adorning Sisters window fronts with him from Portland when he started teaching in Sisters seven years ago.

"The project for me started my first year of teaching in Portland. There was a building next to the school that was being demolished after the holiday times, and so I got my class to paint those windows, and it was really fun," Warburton said.

When Warburton came to Sisters the next year, he thought that Sisters was a perfect place to refine his idea. To launch the project he approached parents of fourth graders in his classroom who owned or worked at businesses around town. One of the first to come on board was Your $12.99 Store.

"Over the years I've just connected with more and more businesses, and every time we paint somewhere, they're just like: 'Hey, we want you to come back,'" Warburton said.

As more and more businesses have asked for students to paint their windows, Warburton has been able to expand the program to include all fourth grade classes at the elementary school. Last year students painted some 35 windows, and this year the project is even larger.

Significant planning is required, and the assistance of parent volunteers is vital. Painting the windows is only the first half of the project; all designs are removed and the windows are cleaned in January.

"It's a free service that we offer," said Warburton.

According Annette Ehrenstrom, the owner of High Desert Hair Co., the students provide a wonderful service for the community. Before the students started painting her windows, Ehrenstrom always hired someone to paint them.

"I just like this a lot better. It's one less thing I have to do, because they deal with the whole thing," she said. "It doesn't cost a cent, but I am planning on donating this year, giving them (the elementary school) money for their art program."

Before going out and painting, fourth graders create their own designs. Warburton gives a PowerPoint presentation that illustrates examples of what students have done in the past.

"First they brainstorm, and then they work with a partner (to create their designs), and I always have my class a boy and girl partner. It's really good team building," said Warburton.

"I think it's really great that they're just able to be artistic and come up with whatever they want, and they work together," said parent volunteer Lisa Arnone, who has triplets who participated in this year's project. "The fact that they (businesses) even allow the kids to do this, just brings us all together more. People driving around know that kids from the elementary school came to share this with the community."