Special Events

ARTISTS WORKSHOP

January is the month for starting and finishing art projects.  All the students will be creating, and sharing art work for SQUARE 1 ART Fundraiser. Work will be submitted and  then notices go home to access your child’s work on-line  (Catalogues also available). Part of the cost will return to EKES through the PTO to help with all its good work. Stay tuned.

Also, at the end of the month, Kindergartners will be bringing home report cards. Most of them selected the smaller sketchbooks in the fall to be able to bring one home mid-year. Usually, sketchbooks, and portfolio work all comes home at the end of the year.  Sketchbooks are where students do different kinds of work.  Occasionally, they have the opportunity for “free draw”,  other times they work out plans with thumbnail sketches and there are pages where post-it sized sketches of classmates’ work are done during Museum Shares.

As with all art work, what is created by each student is unique; it is unique in its style, skill and refinement. One person’s dog will never look like another’s. Some work may look like scribbling, and I have discouraged this work. But as I listened to explanations of the work, I have learned that it is not aimless, or destructive. It has a story behind it and is a freeing way to acquire eye-hand coordination and even build up strength in one’s hand.

Weaving with students is always a satisfying experience. Most of them love creating something with their hands. The fifth graders finished their pouches, and used them at the Trade Fair. Several have started larger woven pieces; some started a second pouch and took home the cardboard looms to finish them at home over the winter break. Third and fourth graders have started small woven projects that we will get back to after Square 1  work is finished. The communal, Friendly Loom is warped for one small piece that each of  the classes will add to little by little.

January 22 will be the Theme Day celebration. In the Art Room, gears will be our focus. Where they appear, how the work and how the shape can be a canvas for art. Since the kids will working with acrylics, those who are signed up for this activity, should wear old clothes. I have some oversize t-shirts, but somehow paint can avoid the protected areas.

January Events
SQUARE 1 fund raiser  All classes will be creating art for this project. Watch PTA information about dates for purchasing.www.square1art.com

THEME DAY
On January 22, two groups of mixed age student will create paper gears, paint them, and they will be mounted to create a school-wide machine. We'll be using acrylic, and it is permanent, so wear old clothes.