Let's Celebrate....Police Week!

May holds many special celebrations for school buildings.  There are plays, concerts, graduation, art

shows, field trips, and so much more for students.  During May, there is also teacher and nurse appreciation week.  What most people don't know about though, is that the week of May 15th, is also National Police Week.  Every year on May 15th, there is a ceremony held at the United States Capitol to honor and remember the fallen officers from the past year.  I have realized in the past few years, that many times our police and security officers within our school communities work below the radar of the average person, and we don't show the thanks and appreciation that we could. 

 This year, I decided we would celebrate and show our thanks to the wonderful officers of the 3rd district within Washington, DC.  I shared with students that it was police week, and they began rambling off stories of interactions they've had with officers, as well as how much they like to see them.  Students had so many experiences to share.  From a time when there were mean dogs in a child's backyard and the MPD saved the day, to an officer getting the ball out of the street for a student, the stories were precious and endless.  Take a peek!

Police officers of the U.S. Capitol

" One day I was looking for the aquarium with my Mom.  She didn't know where to go so we asked the police officer.  He told us where we should go and said..well blah blah blah... and then we passed Michael Kors.  But we got to the aquarium because he knew where to tell us to go!"

 

It's amazing how much effort and excitement the students put into their work.  I've really never seen my students so excited about creating a piece of art for someone else.  Usually they back out because they want to take their creations home(and who can blame them, they work hard!)

I found our local police district headquarters, and dropped off the cards from Bancroft and the art room.  I didn't leave my name, or e-mail, or phone number but the next day in my inbox, I found an e-mail from the DC MPD officers thanking me for the cards and time.... and they send me this picture of their lobby bulletin board.... 

So, THANK YOU and a huge Bancroft R.O.A.R to all the police officers out there! 

Happy Police Week 2014!

DCPS End of the Year ART SHOW!

As the 2013-2014 school year comes to  close in Washington, DC our schedules just get busier and busier.  Between graduations, concerts, and of course the most important ART SHOWS(okay, I could be biased) I wonder where the year has gone and realize we are just weeks away from summer.   The evening of May 8th marked the opening reception for the district wide art celebration at Reagan National Airport.  Bancroft has ten student art pieces within baggage claim areas "B" and "C" amongst roughly 55 schools across the district.  The opening ceremony included a "Fashion Trashion" show, which featured student, staff, and local artists designed clothing made 100% of recycled materials.  To check out those amazing designs, check Ms. Foy's photography blog by clicking here.  The event was exciting and inspiring not only to myself, but to the students in attendance.  One parent said, " As we were watching, I could see the wheels turning in her head..." in reference to her daughter observing the various designs and materials they were made from.  I apologized in advance if she started mass collecting recyclables to become a fashion designer! 

 

 

 

A GIANT R.O.A.R. to the families, artists, and many volunteers who came out to help make this night such a great success. 

Amanda Boggs, DCPS graduate, Current Leader in Art Education at DCPS Central Offices

Brian Pick, DCPS Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning

Support from families is possibly the most empowering, and personally touching support I could receive as a teacher.  However, support from school leaders including those from central office is something which additionally, touches me deeply.  To know there are individuals within the leadership and "office world" of education who appreciate, value and support the arts within our school has made DCPS a system which I am proud to work for.  Without the support of the two amazing leaders our district has this event could not have happened. 

Make sure you check out the amazing Trashion Fashion designs our DC area staff, students, and companies submitted!!

Mt. Pleasant Youth Art Celebration

Well, it's that time of year again that the art shows, celebrations, and festivals come around.  May is always a crazy month for art and music teachers, so if you get a chance, give them a high-five or a "thanks" for all their hard work.  The music teacher at my school is holding Chorus, Drumming, and a musical, with all boys in the cast with the exception of two girls... Anyhow, here is the first round of photos from the Mt. Pleasant Community Art Fair.  I apologize for the poor photo quality, my I-phone was not quite up to par with my usual DSLR.  If you see any of these students around the building, be sure to give them a "GOOD JOB!". 

Also in attendance at the celebration was first grader Henry Mills, sadly Ms. Foy slacked on her documenting skills and didn't get a picture.

ARTventure DC: A Summer Art Program for Ages 5-8!

Throughout this week long summer program, students will not only get to enjoy the places and spaces within our city, but they will get to make art along the way!  ARTventure DC, is a small week long camp which runs from 8:30-12 noon each day.  A unique aspect of this experience is that it is a small group of campers who can build relationships with one another and receive the maximum amount of individualized time with Ms. Foy and the camp assistant.  Students will have a basic art kit which will be theirs at the end of camp which will consist of crayons, colored pencils, drawing pencils, erasers, a hand held pencil sharpener, and a 8.5x11 hardbound sketchbook.  Campers will also have the opportunity to explore a variety of other supplies such as tempera sticks, watercolor paints, monotype processes, sun art, oil pastels, and more! 

Want to make sure you don't miss out on this summer fun?  E-mail Ms. Foy for enrollment forms and more detailed camp information!

E-Mail: msfoysartroom@gmail.com

Spring Break Craft: Paper Weaving!

Hey Parents!  Wondering what to do with the kids on this rainy spring break day?  

Check out the mini-post below, all you need is strips of any kind of paper!

 

  Students have been finishing up their projects in art and I started to wonder what quick, fun activities could I expose them to in the spare time they find within the art room?  Well, suddenly it hit me; paper weaving!  I made the example shown to the many different ways this one technique, can look so different!  During the introduction to the concept we talk about pattern (pulling in that math vocabulary!).  I found that students many times look at a pattern within colors or shapes, but don't connect that a pattern can be a way of doing things or a technique.  This project helped them make that connection!

Now, for all those teachers out there yes, this may sound like a bit of work but trust me it's worth it (and if you can see through the practice loom, I did with my feet up, watching tv after a long day!). I took 4x6 inch pieces of black construction paper, laminated them, and then cut strips almost all the way to the top. This made a great practice loom for the students to get the hang of the "under, over, under, over..." pattern technique.  Then, it was onto the "Super Duper Challenge Weave" as we called it in class.  Students were given strips of construction paper but this time, there was no loom they were shown how to begin with a "+" shape, and add onto each side maintaining the "over and under" technique.  The challenge is, the paper doesn't stay still and students need to think about not only the horizontal weaving aspect but in addition the vertical weaving.  Students have done an AWESOME job!  Check it out!

*Parents:  turn this into a recylced art project by using strips of paper from newspapers, magazines, circulars, and so on!*

Walking with Paul Klee

First grade students have been working so hard the past month or so on projects that take multiple weeks.  For a change in pace, we took a look at Paul Klee's use of lines, shapes, and colors to do as he did and take our lines on a walk.We looked at his artwork to talk about what we saw within it.  Some students saw anywhere from one to three people, some said they saw animals, some said they just saw lines and shapes.  It's always unique to hear what students see when they look at art.  Students were then shown and told that Paul Klee once said....

"Drawing is taking a line for a walk."

Students were then given those awesome Play Color Sticks, shown an example where I had taken my lines on a walk, and then took their lines on a walk... here is what they "walked" within the art room!

A HUGE R.O.A.R to the

first graders in the Dominican Republic Class!

Dinner Party in the Art Room!

   ...A Dinner Party, in an Art Room, with three year olds?!...

I know, you probably think I'm crazy right now, but IT WAS AWESOME! previously I posted about a project(CLICK HERE!) where a parent volunteer came in to lead and work with students to look at art, interpret, and then be inspired to create their own.  Well, Mrs. Phaedra (Otherwise called Augusta's Mom) out did herself!  We looked at the concept of The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago (just the ideas of place settings of course-for those of you who know more about the piece...).  Phaedra worked to envision, collect, and drill all of the materials to the bamboo serving trays for students to create and collage upon their own food and things they'd like at their dinner party!

Students were given those AWESOME Tempera Playcolor Sticks (Check out the blog post on them HERE!)  to begin their artwork with, then after 10-15 minutes of paint creation, we brought out a variety of supplies to collage onto the plates as well!  The final touch was putting tissue paper in the glasses to represent what they students would drink at their dinner party. I think my favorite and funniest quote came from Eliot, who put brown tissue paper in his cup.  I assumed this was chocolate milk however he informed me it was his Dad's DIET COKE!  He then talked to me for about fiver minutes about how he loves to steal sips of his Dad's Diet Coke! 

Check out some pictures of the process, and final results.  We had a BLAST! And a very special  THANK YOU to MRS. PHAEDRA for making this possible and such a hit success!!

 

 * I LOVE the lighting in my classroom  in the morning!

Doesn't our dinner party look delicious and fun!?