Several presentations by students were offered at the beginning of the Feb. 18 Northwestern Lehigh School Board meeting.

Some of these had been held over from the January meeting when bad weather resulted in a shortened meeting with items retained for the February agenda.

The Maker Club was started at the initiative of the students. Dustin Yost thanked the board for the opportunity to show what they were doing. Students are encouraged to be creative.

Some projects involve programming computers, 3D printing and woodworking.

Yost said members went to Weisenberg Elementary and made snowflakes for the students. Another project was making ornaments with clear balls dipped in melted crayons or the balls became snowmen when coated on the inside with sugar or salt.

The Maker Club has become a national and worldwide phenomenon, said Yost. A warehouse in Allentown offers supplies and ideas. More ideas come from a Maker magazine and over the Internet.

One young girl told Julie Rotondo she wanted to join a Maker Club because it was so much fun.

The club has 30 attendees from grades nine through 12.

Board President Paul Fisher said the board was privileged to support the initiative. Five years ago people had never heard of the things the students are doing.

Christina Fogel, middle school art teacher, said she was proud to show off the wonderful skills the middle schoolers have. They donated sculptures and framed pictures to decorate the board meeting room.

Fogel presented a short video introducing the students and showing their work. The theme for sixth grade work is Words of Wisdom, for seventh grade - Influential Faces and for eighth grade - Making a Connection.

Superintendent Dr. Mary Anne Wright said it was powerful to have the artwork in the room but more so to see the faces with the art.

Fogel said she thanked the board for doing the work the members do to help students meet their potential.

Fisher said it was a privilege and an honor to have their work in the room.

"Parents and grandparents should continue to immerse the students in art," Fisher said.

For board appreciation month each member received a poster highlighting why the board members are important from the elementary schools, a collage from the middle school and a large poster depicting the members.

"We encourage all of you to thank a board member," Wright said. "They put in a lot of time and they are volunteers.

"They put in about 20 hours a month. It is a way to give back to the community.