Judge Memorial Catholic High School seeks presenters for Arts Appreciation Day

Friday, Feb. 21, 2025

SALT LAKE CITY — Since the 1980s Judge Memorial Catholic High School has given its students an opportunity to explore the arts in a nontraditional way through its biennial Arts Appreciation Day. For many years this celebration of the arts was named for Nancy Miller, who taught Latin and humanities at the school; she died suddenly in 1994. Eventually the event was renamed Arts Appreciation Day.

For the day’s curriculum, Judge faculty and friends offer workshops in areas that fall under a broad definition of the arts. Past workshops have included fitness, ballroom dancing, soap and bath bomb making, makeup techniques, fly fishing, fly tying, flower arranging and juggling. This year organizers are hoping to have presenters from the wider community share their hobbies, passions or interests with students on April 16. Presenters need not be professionals in the field.

Among the workshop offerings already scheduled are “Spies And Lies: the Art of Espionage,” one that which will guide students through the creation of a fictional world for use in their own writings, poems or RPG uses; chocolate-chip cookie making; creating mini memory books; fly casting; interior design; hip-hop; and a movement class. Organizers are hoping to add other “arts” to that list. 

“I would love somebody to come in and do, like, a little gardening workshop, or how to keep your potted plants alive,” said Liz Betty, the school’s associate director of advancement. “Things like that would be awesome and really anything that could be a hobby that you could share. We definitely do need something with gardening or flowers.”

Arts Appreciation Day exposes students to “something that might become a hobby or an outlet,” Betty said. “We all need something to go to when work is heavy or school is heavy, your life is heavy, and [it can] just expand their horizons, give them kind of a meditative outlet.”

Judge students love the nontraditional, hands-on learning that takes place at the event, Betty said. It’s also a great opportunity for the presenters to share what they love with interested individuals, she added. “When the kids come into things like this, I feel like they’re so interested and attentive and because it’s not like it’s their regular math class or history class, it’s something that they truly choose. So I think it’s rewarding for the students and it’s also rewarding for the presenters.”

Presenters commit to leading students in two 90-minute workshops between noon and 3:30 p.m. on April 16. Each workshop will have about 15 to 20 participants. Materials costs will be covered by the school. Any arrangements or prep work can be accomplished by email or Zoom to make it easy for presenters who have limited time to donate, Betty said.

For information about volunteering as a presenter, contact Liz Betty at lbetty@jmchs.org or Darrin Hathaway at dhathaway@jmchs.org by March 7.