Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Diners at Peppermint Parlor and Eatery have the opportunity to see what art students have been up to at Southwest Junior High School.

Students in Katie Callanís Design Basics art class at SWJH created the menu covers as part of a graphic design assignment.

ìI wanted to get some kind of graphic arts into the community,î Callan said.

The teacher called area restaurants and Peppermint Parlor was most receptive to the idea, she said.

The students took information from the Parlor, such as business name, address and telephone number, then added their personal pizzaz.

Each student came up with two designs and then, with the assistance of Callan, picked the best one.

The students, she said, benefit from seeing their work put to a practical use. The community benefits by having an appreciation of what our youth are up to.

ìI think itís good to get kids excited about real world situations, if they were to have a career in the arts,î she said.

Wendy Chelberg, who owns the Parlor with husband, Scott Chelberg, said they were happy to give the ninth graders a place to show their work.

The Chelbergís attached tags to the menus letting customers know the work was done by students at Southwest Junior High School.

ìWeíre always supportive of the schools,î she said. ìWeíve had quite a few comments on the menus.î

Callan, who stresses the importance of arts, said this is a project she would like to do again.

ìTo design a menu and leave it in the classroom is kind of boring. To bring it out into the community, thatís fun for the kids,î Callan said.

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