Elementary and Jr. High

News of February 6-10

PRIMARY

            Our students continue their investigation of famous artists and their works during our “Art Masterpiece” unit.  Each child is creating an original work at home in preparation for our big art show on Saturday, March 3.  In class this week, we will view the works of Pablo Picasso who was a painter and sculptor.  We will make “people pottery” in his style and fire them in the kiln.  Seurat was an unusual artist who created his works using tiny dots of paint and let the viewer’s eye mix the colors!  We will create our own pointillism works of art using this method.  Hokasai was a Japanese artist who used intricately carved wood blocks to print his landscape scenes.  We will try our hand at block printing this week!  Children develop fine motor skills, appreciation of beauty and balance, and an understanding of history and culture through this unit.  They also learn to follow directions, open the creative side of the brain, and build self-confidence.  On Thursday, February 23 we will go on a field trip to the Phoenix Art Museum in the morning.  If you would like to accompany us, please sign up in room 2.

INTERMEDIATE

            “The Ancient Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans” carved intricate designs in stones.  Our students will create their own stone sculptures this week as they mix vermiculite and plaster in a mold and then carve a design in the style of the art we see in the ruins.  These cultures also created elaborate jewelry and both men and women wore huge gold medallions embossed with designs of birds and other animals.  We will emboss our own golden jewelry to display in our classroom “museum”.  Students are continuing to work on a month long research project about a specific aspect of these interesting cultures.  We can’t wait to see what you will display for our open house on Saturday, March 3!  On Tuesday, February 21 we will go on a field trip to see the Childsplay musical, “Rock the Presidents”.  If you would like to join us, please sign up in room 3 or see Rylan.

UPPER DIVISION

            Our “Photography” students will investigate portraiture.  How do we capture the inner person?  We will go on a field trip to take pictures of reflection, patterns, and design.  We are learning to see beauty in peeling paint, alleys, and rusted metal.  Using a Lomography camera, students will work with experimental photography and learn to use computers to edit and manipulate photos.  Each student will complete a biography and photo critique of a famous photographer as a month long project.  On Thursday and Friday, February 16-17 students will go on an overnight trip to historic Bisbee to photograph this picturesque town!  We will visit the Copper Queen Mine and hike and photograph the historic buildings on the hillside.  We will make stops along the way to photograph the Arizona landscape as well!  We will stay in the Gym Suites Inn…a building from the early 1900’s that originally housed the first YMCA for the miners! 

MONTESSORI PARENTING GROUP

            What a interesting and fun time we had sharing our parenting challenges during last week’s Montessori in the Home discussion group!  We are planning another session in the spring so plan to join us!

VALENTINE’S PARTY

          All children may bring Valentines for their peers.  We ask that children bring a valentine for every child in their class to avoid hurt feelings.  Our primary students will have their party with a dance and games during the regular class time on Tuesday, Feb. 14.  Parents may sign up to provide healthful snacks for the party.

          Intermediate and Upper Division students are invited to the annual Valentine Dance on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 3:30-4:30 in room 3.  FREE! Trevor will be our DJ!  He’s spinning all the latest tunes and will transform our room with the disco ball, fog machine, and pulsing lights! No need to know how to dance…plenty of games and activities.  Parents may bring healthful snacks.  Sign up in room 3.