Shortened Classes, Shortened Week...

Well, I hope you have been enjoying the beautiful fall weather, and have had fun
cheering on the football team who are battling for their right to the State title it seems!

The Elementary classes continue to work on learning various Art Elements and Principles,
draw (keeping in mind that it's only a series of lines and shapes put together) and occasionally
paint, do a collage or other creation.  The 2nd grade drew pictures of a "Halloween Parade"
showing children in various costumes going down the street.  Something they may have actually
witnesses last weekend!  Next week they will finish those and the "Things I'm Thankful For" acrostic
drawing.

First graders will discuss Thanksgiving and specifically, turkeys.  What do you know about turkeys?
Why do we eat turkeys on Thanksgiving anyway?  Who was at the first Thanksgiving?  Why did they
give thanks?  We should end up with a fine gobbler to display on the fridge in the end.  I'm sure they
will be colorful!

Kindergarteners will be discussing Pilgrims.  Who were they?  Where did they come from?
What did they look like?  We'll be creating Pilgrims that bare a strong resemblance to ourselves.
We may have to discuss the Native Americans and the role they played in the Pilgrim's lives, but
we'll keep that short and sweet!

The high school students are working on a variety of things:
Art I --Op Art designs, tesselations, with a discussion of M.C. Escher  http://www.biography.com/articles/M.C.-Escher-39783
Photography--Photocubism pieces created by taking multiple pictures of one thing or a "theme" and
putting them together in a sort of collage via Adobe Photoshop (or Illustrator).  We will also talk a little about Pablo Picasso (who co-founded the Cubism Movement).  He was an interesting man...
http://www.biography.com/articles/Pablo-Picasso-9440021
Graphic Designers--The Wiki has new "hands-on" assignments for those who are getting "antsy" or for when the internet is down and we need to keep everyone on task.    There are always tutorials to try and a grade can be negotiated if you learn from the tutorial and teach it to others!
Independent Artists--Kristi has been taking and editing photos after finishing her pastel piece of cherry blossoms.  Kady has been working on a mosaic piece, and as usual is all about quality and making sure it is precise!  Love that, of course!  Brandon has been doing a lot of tutorials and trying to learn Adobe Illustrator which will help him in his endeavor to be a Graphic Designer oneday.

We have a "groupie" or two, Skye and Baylee.  They continue to produce pieces to suit their mood and will hopefully join a class next semester and get credit for their work!

In my (HS TAG) Advisory we will be hosting our first "Lunch 'N' Learn tomorrow (Wed. Nov. 3).  An attorney from CA (Gretchen Shipley) will be discussing legal issues and ethics in this "digital age" via Skype.
It will be in the library during lunch and advisory.  I'm planning to videotape and keep it handy for future use as well.

The Elementary TAG students are working on creating booklets about themselves which will aid in a direction to take them this year and help them realize that they are different (aren't we all?) in a GOOD way!

I'm looking forward to hosting a Dance Clinic where girls will learn 2 dances on Saturday November 13 from 2:30-4:30 pm here in the G-T gymnasium.  Laura Fandel, former Captain of the ELC Drill Team will be teaching, having choreographed a jazz/hip hop and pom routine.

We will begin planning Prom soon.  Looks like it will another unique theme this year!  I always love that...I'm up for a challenge, for sure!

Next week I take Payton in for a yearly check up with his Neurologist(for his seizures), Pulimonary Specialist (for his asthma), and his and my favorite the dentist (Dr. Burke).  It is never a fun day for either of us...but we endure it to make sure he stays as well as he can!  (Payton turns 13 on the 25th.  Man, how time flies!)

Okey dokey...as always, you are welcome to stop in and visit whenever you wish.  My door is open (even though it's shut to keep the heat in!).

: )  Have a GREAT week!
df