SLO school was about to lose art classes. A book of cat drawings saved the day
A book of cat drawings from two children attending C.L. Smith Elementary School in San Luis Obispo has captured the hearts of readers — and helped save the school’s art program.
The self-published, bilingual book, “You Can Be That Cat / Tú Puedes Ser Ese Gato,” was inspired by the sketches of C.L. Smith students Jack and Luke Haring.
Book sales and donations helped raise more than $35,000 as part of a digital fundraising campaign.
The book — published through the efforts of students, parents and community members — carries the message that people are unique, and that’s OK.
“Embrace and celebrate differences,” the book’s subtitle states. “Be creative. Be silly. Be kind. Be you!”
The drawings in the book depict a number of fantastical and amusing hybrid cats — Hamburger Cat, Taco Cat, Dinosaur Cat and Cactus Cat (“El Gato Cactus” in Spanish), to name a few.
Lindsey Haring, the boys’ mother, wrote the book based on her sons’ drawings.
“Jack and friends at school had drawn Ice Cream Cat in May 2019,” Haring said. “Jack, age 8 at the time, came home and created a bunch of these cat characters and made a book called ‘Different Types of Cats’ without knowing it would inspire an actual book. He drew everything from Sushi Cat to Top Hat Cat, Parasailing Donut Cat to Soccer Ball Cat.”
Her sons’ drawings inspired illustrations by professional graphic designer Melissa Ormonde Guzman, owner of Lookie Here! Illustration + Design in Santa Maria.
“You Can Be That Cat,” aimed at younger children, describes how each person is different and the world needs everyone.
“You can be that cat,” the book says. “You can be that one, too. The world needs different cats. The world needs you.”
Art program cuts prompt SLO school fundraiser
One reason behind the fundraising drive is that C.L. Smith Elementary was facing cuts to its arts programs. School art classes are supported by non-school funding contributions, and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)‘s funding pool was low.
C.L. Smith Elementary has about 400 students, many of them bilingual. Nearly 60% of the student population is socio-economically disadvantaged.
The school, located in the Laguna Lake neighborhood in San Luis Obispo, is one of three Title I schools in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, meaning it has high percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students.
Haring said she knew the PTA would have a hard time asking some parents who are already strapped for money to contribute.
“We didn’t want to have to ask struggling parents for money, but the arts are so important and we wanted to find a way to fund the programs with a bigger, longer-lasting impact,” Haring said. “We’ve sold 800 books so far. And we’re hoping to sell 200 more.”
Sales of the “You Can Be That Cat” book will fund at least 10, hourlong classes per year for the next five years for grade levels 1 through 6.
Campaign offered different funding levels
The “You Can Be That Cat” book campaign asked buyers to pay $25 for a copy, but donors could contribute more under seven different funding levels, with opportunities for name printing in the book or to choose a “custom cat” illustrated and added to the final version.
The Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust provided a $5,000 grant to help with printing costs for the project. Online fundraising software Classy, designed to help nonprofits reach donation goals, was used for the drive.
“A lot of people in the community may not realize that the arts aren’t just funded by the school district any more,” Haring said. “It’s a necessity for outside funding sources, and it’s so valuable for students.”
“We live in this beautiful place here in SLO, but it’s easy to forget there are parts of our community that have needs,” she added.
The initial goal was to raise $20,000, which the group well exceeded through its outreach. The additional money will serve future needs by adding art classes or to potentially fund the annual 10 art classes if enrollment increases.
For local buyers, there will be a book pick-up party at C.L. Smith Elementary on Feb. 12. Donors will be contacted with details if they can’t pick up their books in person. All donations are tax-deductible and go directly to the C.L. Smith Elementary PTA.
The publishing, graphics and community outreach effort was coordinated by a group that included:
▪ Kyle Ahlgren, parent of a C.L. Smith Elementary student and owner of Push Creative Co., who assisted with graphics
▪ Jessica Morris, an employee at Salesforce.org and Haring’s sister, who was the first to suggest the boys’ artwork be made into a book
▪ Kendra Aronson, author of “The San Luis Obispo Farmers’ Market Cookbook” and owner of Kendra Aronson Creative Studio, who joined the project for all video and photo needs.
“When I visited the classroom, the students were extremely focused and extremely concentrated on their work,” Aronson said. “You could tell they were really into it.”
C.L. Smith Elementary students say arts classes bring joy
In a promotional YouTube video for the book, C.L. Smith Elementary students talk about the happiness the art classes brings them.
“Art makes me feel like I’m in the clouds,” one unidentified student says. “It’s just unlimited space and I can do anything.”
Haring said some students who may not naturally be as inclined to math and analytical subjects blossom intellectually through art, which translates to success in other subjects and activities in and out of school.
Not only are the students learning to be creative through various forms of art, they also have been exposed to great artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Andy Warhol, Haring said.
“One of the great things about learning art and students being in art class is that they realize through art that mistakes are okay and there are many different ways to solve problems, and that just enhances their confidence and learning abilities,” C.L. Smith’s art teacher Tisha Smith says in the video, produced by Aronson.
School principal Aaron Black says in the video that C.L. Smith Elementary is “a proud school, with a strong academics, dedicated staff, and involved parents.”
“The challenge, however, is fundraising,” Black said. “And this project, this book, can definitely help raise the enrichment of our students through arts.”
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 5:05 AM.
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