Melody Lane Preschool: January 2013

1/28/2013

MEET OLIVIA BLAIR, our new Arts Specialist!

Olivia Ballam Blair has recently joined our Melody Lane Preschool family as Arts Specialist. She received her Elementary Education degree, with a Music Emphasis, from Utah State University in December 2012. She studied extensively the power of music and the influence it can have on young minds, and is passionate about nurturing creativity in young children.

Olivia also has extensive teaching experience, with children from preschool age through college. She has been a faculty member at Melody Lane and has also run Melody Lane Kids creative summer camps for children ages 3-10. She is currently a drama teacher at the Utah Festival Conservatory.

We are also thrilled that she will be joining us as a full time afternoon preschool teacher March 1 in place of Ashley Anderson, who will be having a baby!

Olivia has a broad background in theatre and music, performing since the age of 3. You may have seen her onstage with Pickleville Playhouse, Unicorn Theatre, and Utah Festival Opera Company, where this summer she will play in her 31st UFOC production, this time as Hodel in "Fiddler on the Roof".

More than dramatic play...

This week the children will have many opportunities to engage in dramatic play designed to strengthen various skills that will help them throughout their life. Each child will be given an opportunity to portray characters in different fairy tales,an excellent and 'safe' way to express emotions, gain confidence, find courage to speak in front of peers or a group, and develop important memory and pre-reading skills!