Pictured left to right GI Joe Museum volunteer Mrs. Carol Cantu and Parrott art teacher Samantha Rouse with the display of first-grade poppy paintings.  Submitted photo.

First-grade art students at Parrott Academy recently painted vivid impressionistic poppies for Veteran’s Day. Art teacher Samantha Rouse helped her students explore the significance of the red poppy as an emblem of sacrifice from the poem “Flanders Field” by John McCrae. A selection of the students’ work is currently on display at Kinston’s GI Joe Museum. 

“I reached out to the museum staff to see if they would like to display the work. We were both excited about this collaboration for such a meaningful occasion,” Rouse said. “Displaying more student art locally is part of my personal goal for the Parrott Visual Arts program.“