On May 20, at the Dennett Elementary Spring Band and Chorus Concert, Dennett Docent Art Leader Krystyna Puljanowski, grandmother of Dennett second grader James Puljanowski, presented a plaque to Dennett principal Peter Veneto, in menmory of Dennett and Halifax Elementary schools Docent Art founder Cathy Drinan.
Puljanowski’s remarks follow:
“Welcome to Dennett Elementary celebration of art and music. While admiring student’s creative work and talents, we need to remember a person who enhanced the arts for the past 30 years. Cathy Drinan’s contributions should be acknowledged and remembered.
My name is Krys Puljanowski: and I am proud to say I am an art docent at Dennett Elementary School. This would not be possible if I hadn’t met Cathy in 2018, at which time she encouraged me to join her docent art group. I was warmly welcomed, encouraged and nurtured in Cathy Drinan’s program.
Cathy initiated and cultivated the Docent Art Program at the Dennett Elementary School about thirty years ago. Her program brought art to Dennett Elementary classrooms. Cathy created a program based on a deep respect for the ability of others, in these cases children, to make observations and to learn from those observations. She often said to us, “the more you look, the more you’ll see”. Cathy looked and saw the best in all of us.
This program could not have come to pass without Cathy’s vision. She exposed students to paintings and allowed them to form their individual opinions about creativity within the world. She gave students a way to share their opinions and encouraged docents to listen to their ideas. And ultimately she encouraged all of us “to have fun.”
Dennett Elementary students, docents, parents and the Plympton community have all been enriched by her dedication to help everyone see and think about the beauty around them. Her passion for life and enthusiasm in making everything better is evident in the program she created and relationships formed.
Cathy Drinan was a truly remarkable and inspiring person. I feel privileged to have been shown how to be a docent and become a friend. It is with heartfelt gratitude and respect I say thank you for making all of us better for having known you.
Therefore, the program will now be known as the Cathy Drinan Docent Art Program and am delighted to present a plaque commemorating Cathy’s Dedication to the Dennett Elementary School. ”