Unlike the ancient monks who made these gems of art, students used ideas from Greek mythology to create their own versions of illuminated manuscripts.  Students learned about Greek mythology, picked out their favorite characters and hybrid creatures, and then came up with their own versions of hybrid characters. They wrote original stories about these characters and then illustrated the text with beautiful drawings. 

 

With this project, we are learning to develop an eye for detail and the role composition plays in art. We learned how to make a drawing/painting look better and present itself better. The art of workmanship is learned and practiced. The beautiful results of applying ourselves to make art 'work' becomes apparent for all to see. 

 

Students worked diligently and with un-flagging dedication to the finished product. Congratulate your young artists for successfully completing their illuminated manuscripts. The art works are beautiful and highly imaginative. 

 

 

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Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2:  Integrating Art with General Studies

Art projects at the K-2 levels are designed to be fun exercises that use the lessons taught in other subjects to make art. 

 

For example. the last project involved drawing apples. Together, students reviewed some fun facts about apples. The older children were asked to draw apple trees set in an appropriate environment, with details about other kinds of objects that might appear in that setting. They were also asked to write at least five sentences about apples. Younger children were asked to make drawings of an 'even number' of apple trees with an 'odd numbers' of apples. They were encouraged to use text wherever they wanted, and because the older children were writing about apples in their art, the younger ones showed great interest in writing a whole sentence to illustrate what their drawings were about!

 

Some other noteworthy projects that have been highly successful are recreating impressions of a field trip to the geology museum, drawing buildings using squares, rectangles and circles, and making self portraits. 

 

The goal is to encourage students to use visual language to express what they are learning. At the end of the day, students' minds are refreshed by approaching the topics in a graphic manner. 

 

Maya is 28 years old was born and raised at Tel-Aviv, Israel. Growing up, she was a leader in the youth movement and spent a year volunteering with Olim in Haifa working to minimize the gaps in Israeli society. 

 

Maya knows three languages: Hebrew, English and French. In the army, she was an education officer.  While studying psychology and business management at Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva, Maya worked with gifted children and served as a director and advisor in the youth scouting movement.  

 

Maya spent the last four years teaching debate and public speaking skills to elementary, middle and high school students and teaching the Israeli equivalent of SAT preparatory courses to post high-school students.  In her spare time, she volunteered for Beit Hagalgalim (House of Wheels), an NGO that works intensively with 350 children, teens and young adults with severe physical disabilities to provide them with essential life and social skills needed to integrate into Israeli society. 

 

The Hebrew meaning of her last name, "Pney-Gil," is "happy face."

 

 

Tyler Williquette has joined the staff of our afterschool program on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  He is looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of you soon.   In the meantime, Tyler writes:

 

"I am 22 years old and am originally from Green Bay. In 2008, I began my college studies at  the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and after a year, I transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to be closer to my family. I attended UWGB for two years studying in the psychology program.  I recently moved to Madison and will be attending the Madison Area Technical College for nursing, as well as completing my psychology degree.

 

"While in Green Bay, I worked full-time for two years at Family Services Residential Treatment Center as a Behavior Management Crisis Intervention Supervisor. This program was for at risk youth ages 10-18, children with behavior and mental health issues.

 

"I am currently applying for jobs in the Madison area and would like to work with at-risk youth or in special education.  In my spare time I enjoy playing as well as watching sports and staying active. I look forward to working with your children and have many plans for the after school program.  I will be doing various arts and crafts as well as going outdoors to do activities with the children.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me via e-mail at tyler.williquette@gmail.com."

 

 

Fri. Nov 18:      Swimming Lessons

Kabbalat Shabbat Together 1:25 pm

 

Sun. Nov 20:    Board Meeting, 8 pm.

 

Thurs. Nov 24-Fri. Nov 25:  No School.  Happy Thanksgiving!