There was no shortage of activity in Karon Miars’ art class at Brandywine Elementary School Wednesday morning.

Sixth-grader Ava Doctor was helping classmate Caleb Nikodem trace lines on the back of what would soon be a Chinese fan, while Mierai Leinonen was busy cutting her fan out of a piece of white paper.

In the back of the room, Miars was helping students glue finished fans onto pieces of colored construction paper that would soon line the hallways of the Niles school.

Scenes like these would not have been possible a year ago at Brandywine or Merritt Elementary schools.

That is because school officials decided to reinstate a dedicated art class at Brandywine’s elementary schools after a several year absence.

Students are applauding the move.

“I love art because I get to use my imagination and my mom has always said that I have a big imagination,” said sixth-grader Leinonen. “Sometimes, when I am painting, I feel like I am in that place.”

Miars is in charge of teaching art to approximately 650 first through sixth grade students at Merritt and Brandywine Elementary schools.

She believes the weekly dose of art will enrich the lives of all her students.

“I try to make the art classes I teach comprehensive, so the kids are getting multiple subjects like social studies and math,” Miars said. “It is a way that they can express themselves while demonstrating knowledge.”

Students incorporated Chinese landmarks, colors and symbols into their Chinese fan project. They used rulers to make sure each fold in the fan was properly spaced.

“I like it because we can learn all of our subjects in one class while having fun doing it,” said 11-year-old Bianca McGee, who painted the Chinese symbols for “beautiful” and “moon” onto her fan.

Supt. John Jarpe said the elementary art program was cut about five years ago due to budgetary constraints brought on by the recession.

Jarpe said he expects it to stay for many years to come.

“We decided it was important for kids to have the skills and an appreciation and knowledge of art, which can’t always necessarily be taught by a classroom teacher,” he said. “We have a good teacher in there now, good materials and the kids seem to be reacting well to it.”

The community will have a chance to see the students’ work at an art show next month at the Niles District Library. Works will be displayed there from Jan. 3 through Feb. 2. An open house will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 15.