South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley didn't have to ask students at East Aiken School of the Arts twice to yell "Get Excited!" as loud as they could during a visit to the elementary school Monday.
When she gave the signal on three, the children, sitting side-by-side, cross-legged on the floor, filled the cafeteria with their booming voices.
"I love that because I'm so excited about East Aiken," Haley said. "I went through your school and saw all the artwork that you did. I just want you to know that we are so proud of you.
"We know in South Carolina that you're going to be very successful. We can't wait to see what you're going to do. Get excited because South Carolina is on the move, and it's because of you."
Haley, who rescheduled her visit from an earlier date, toured East Aiken with Principal Lisa Fallaw, who painted a picture for her of what an arts-integrated curriculum school looks like.
The governor observed several of the school's open classrooms and two arts-infusion lessons.
The governor also viewed samples of students' artwork and writing that cover almost every square inch of the school's halls. She was impressed, particularly, by the interactive displays that allow viewers to download an app on their mobile devices, scan the artwork, and watch a video about it.
To end the visit, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students entertained the governor with two animated numbers, "It's a Hard Knock Life" and "Tomorrow" from the Broadway musical "Annie," which the school will present in May.
The chorus, drama and dance students ended their performance with the school song with the children, visitors and the governor clapping along in rhythm.
The song's opening lyrics capture the school's mission to integrate arts through the academic curriculum to engage students in learning: "Tell me a story, sing me a song. Just let me dance, and I'll know I belong. I can paint you a picture of what I will be."
After the presentation, Haley said she had heard about the arts program at East Aiken and the positive impact it was having on children's educations before her visit.
"It's a tribute to the school district, the teachers and, really, just to the kids who have put so much into it," she said. "It's impressive."
She hopes other schools throughout South Carolina can follow East Aiken's lead in arts integration, she said.
"When you have a model this good, we also want to see how we can duplicate it throughout the state because we know it's a model that works."
Haley said Aiken, in particular, is the right community to support a school like East Aiken.
"This is a community that supports East Aiken because they appreciate the arts already," she said. "We have to look at other communities and say, 'Are you incorporating the arts into your schools? Look at what this school is doing. Look at the results.'
"The school districts need to be given the flexibility to be allowed to do this if they see that it is something they want to incorporate. That's the biggest thing we're trying to do is give school districts flexibility so they can get creative and start doing programs like this on their own."
Fallaw said integrating arts throughout curriculum has transformed East Aiken into a high-achieving school.
"I'm so excited to show our school off and brag on our teachers and students because they have worked so hard," the principal said. "I do believe we have the best arts-integrated school in the state of South Carolina."
A native of Aiken, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter.