Snowmen project keeps Ryle festive

by Justin Duke

UNION — When school opens back up at Ryle, there will be a few more bodies in the building.
Art teacher Brandon Stropko assigned his students to make papier mache snowmen to put around the school.

“We were just trying to cheer up the environment a little bit,” Stropko said.

So far, the snowmen are serving their purpose, he said.

“The teachers really love them,” Stropko said.

Students worked in groups to make 33 snowmen – a few were traditional, but most were made with themes like Yoda, Lady Gaga and others.

Making the snowmen took about three weeks, and most will sit in the school’s media center and commons. Stropko hopes to display them on the school sidewalks when school lets out for a few days and eventually give some to local businesses to display.

Before all of that, students will vote on the best snowman. Before school let out for winter break, the Lady Gaga snowman was in the lead.

Stropko originally planned for the main display to take place before winter break, but the project took a little longer than expected.

“I’m hoping when we get back, the spirit will still be there,” Stropko said.

With students eagerly awaiting snow days in January, Stropko doesn’t think the snowmen will be out of place,” he said.

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