MS and US Spring Music Concert
Friday, May 15th, 1:30-3:00 PM, Fitzpatrick Hall
Middle School Chorus, Middle School Band, Upper School Band, US Vocal Ensemble
Lower School Music Concert
Friday, May 29th, 1:30 PM, Furey Hall
Lower School Chorus
Kindergarten Children
Join us on Thursday, May 14, between 5:00 and 7:00 pm, for the spring trimester’s Open Studios event! Arts faculty and students will be present to lead families and friends through the Furey Hall Art Studios to view and talk about finished artworks and works-in-progress. See demonstrations by Upper School students, take the potter’s wheel for a spin, and add your mark to the “Scrawl Wall”! Refreshments will be served.
The Drawing & Painting Studio was abuzz this morning as Second grade students stood collectively around a large table with large sheets of white paper before them. Cups of tempera paint and non-traditional painting tools were placed next to each student but their task at hand was about to be explained by Mr. Spitzer, stop-watch in hand. “As you know we have been doing some very careful drawings from observation over the past few weeks. Now we’re going to mix things up by making some big paintings!” Response: excitement and a lot of bodies wiggling about in anticipation. “Use the tool and the paint in front of you to make marks on your paper in whatever way you want. BUT after three minutes, you will pass your paint to the left, your tools to the right, then continue working.”
“READY-SET-GO!”
Students dove right into the process, experimenting by dipping objects such as seashells, wooden spoons, and wire into paint then applying to the paper, spontaneously inventing various methods of doing this along the way. As paint cups and tools rotated, colors mixed into new hues, objects took on unanticipated functions, and artworks emerged. Students had multiple layers of paper, allowing them to peel away a painting that was deemed ‘finished’ in order to begin again.
This playful, collaborative, and active project certainly succeeded in its intention to depart from technical drawing and last week’s lesson on the rendering of light and shadow. In addition, Mr. Spitzer imparted an important lesson about the value of process and how, like sports and language and mathematics, it is important to exercise skills often and in different ways. Oh, and to have FUN doing it!
Hello Everyone,
We have been very busy since the return from March vacation. We finished the Science Unit, “Sates of Matter.” We did a total of 15 experiments or investigations. The best was the last one, where we made ice cream! I asked Neal, “Why are we making ice cream in Science class?” He responded, “Because the liquid will turn to a solid in the machine and then it will be go in our mouths and turn back to a liquid.” Perfect!
Each child wrote a non-fiction book all about matter. They had to include a table of contents, headings, labeled diagrams, and an experiment. They were quite comprehensive and a wonderful assessment of what was mastered and retained. They will be bringing these home as they are finished. Look for them in the backpacks. We are now onto amphibians and reptiles. We will be going to Bartholemew’s Cobble on April 30 to explore a vernal pool and possibly a few friendly snakes and turtles. More details will follow.
We are in the middle of our study of Mexico and its culture, food, music, language, history, and holidays. Mrs. Hilliard is working with the children on songs and movement. Ms. Velez, the BCD Spanish teacher, came to the class as a guest and played a game with the children in Spanish. Our Mexican Fiesta is Friday, April 24, at 10:45. All are welcome to celebrate learning and eat delicious foods.
In math the first and second graders completed a study of geometry. They studied 2-D and 3-D shapes. There is a great deal of vocabulary: prisms, hemisphere, trapezoids, quadrilateral, nets, faces, vertices, edges, and much more. The first graders used their knowledge of shape to create a 2-D mural of a town, and a 3-D model of a hotel. They named it “The 3-D Hotel” – very appropriate. Next, we are onto place value for first grade and fractions for second grade.
Everyone’s reading is improving, but they still need practice to remain fluent. Please continue to encourage your first or second grader to read a bit every day. It really makes a huge difference! Thank you for your support.
On Wednesday, April 15, we will be traveling by bus with the Lower School to the Mahaiwe Theater to see the play, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” It should be very fun and is supported by BCD. We will leave at 9:15 and return for recess at 11:30.
One morning this week, we announced “NO SNOWPANTS FOR RECESS!” A huge shout of joy erupted in the cubby area. We are more than ready for spring!
Fondly,
Ms. Milani