Visit August Knodt, George Komure, Great Valley, and Taft Schools of South Stockton and you will find hidden gems of vibrant paintings of World and United States maps on its blacktops.
Paint, Learn, Play, a yearlong project that supports, stimulates, and strengthens the arts in Stockton kicked off in July 2013. Spearheaded by Jill Fritchen, a San Joaquin County Board of Education board member, the project demonstrates to students the extent of the reach of the arts. Directly impacting over 3,400 kindergarten through eighth-grade students and thousands of future students, the project serves as a foundation for other subject areas, such as Geography, History, and Physical Education, and enhances students’ free play and directed play experiences.
Paint, Learn, Play is supported in part by a grant from the Stockton Arts Commission. This project was made possible through the collaboration of San Joaquin County Office of Education Educational Foundation, San Joaquin County Office of Education, Manteca and Stockton Unified School Districts, school principals, and by student volunteers from Excel Academy, San Joaquin Building Futures Academy, and Venture Academy, and community and parent volunteers who spent a countless number of hours giving back to the community by painting.