Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

I want to start off by saying a huge congratulations to our talented 4th grader Paige Lehman for winning 2nd Place in the Foto Week DC photo contest!  Paige entered a lovely photograph she took outside of school and will be awarded $50 and a new camera!  Way to go Paige!  Parents, if your student ever wins an art related contest, please let me know so I can feature them here on the blog!  Here is Paige's award winning work:

Good news!  Square 1 Art projects were mailed to the Square 1 company headquarters last week and I expect the stickers and order forms to be in by October 30th.  It is an exciting time and I think you will really enjoy the projects that your children completed for Square 1.  I encourage anyone interested in ordering this year to do so online, using your students' unique access code (which will come home with the order from packet).  I find that this is the quickest and easiest way for everyone involved to complete their ordering.  Here are some fantastic examples of projects from this year's round of fundraising:

3rd grade completed hot air balloon designs that showed emphasis and rhythm.  I found this one a student made commemorating his family's dog to be quite touching.

4th grade truly impressed me with their radial printmaking designs.  I hope you are as impressed as I was!!

This past month we began projects to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month which was September 15th - October 15th.  We are nearly finished with these cultural works and I hope to be able to share some with you soon here.  4th grade is creating an original sugar skull design from the Mexican holiday Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), 1st grade created colorful cut paper, "papel picado" which is used as decoration for the same holiday, 3rd Grade is illustrating their name in ancient Mayan glyphs (a civilization originating in Latin America), 2nd grade is creating ceramic suns like those seen in popular Mexican folk art, and 5th grade is studying symbols to create a design for a colorful yarn painting, inspired by the Huichol people.  In an unrelated lesson, kindergarten has been discussing and using texture in their artworks.


I wanted to remind you of the fabulous opportunity to extend your child's arts education beyond the classroom at one of the great art centers in our community:  The Washington County Museum of Art.  The WCMFA offers many great exhibitions throughout the year, which is a great way for students to see original art for themselves.  One of their current exhibits is geared towards children: "Folk Art for Children", and a visit would be a great way to spend an afternoon as a family.  Keep in mind that the museum also offers classes for children and adults of all ages taught by art education professionals, including myself.  Please contact me, or the museum, for more details.  Another fantastic opportunity to take classes is at the Creation Station in downtown Hagerstown, with WCPS teacher Andy Iverson.

Don't hesitate to email me with questions or concerns: conneemi@wcps.k12.md.us