It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

The last week of school found us outside sketching what our eyes can see (finding the trapezoids and rectangles, details and textures of the houses on Broad Branch Road) and playing with shaving cream finger painting style (which had the added benefit of scrubbing our art room tables fresh and clean!) Thankfully the weather cooperated and a good time was had by all!

Lafayette Artists Enjoy Kudos From the Greater Community

The richly colored Underground Railroad Code Quilt assemblage created from the digital artwork of 15 Lafayette 5th graders, was auctioned last week to benefit the DC Ed Fund and raised $3,250!!!

The Justice Department has requested a similar piece for an upcoming art exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act.

And today, some of our talented 5th graders received ribbons and prizes as winners of the DC division of the Jr. Duck Stamp Contest during a joint ceremony with the Maryland winners at the Patuxant Wildlife Refuge.

One of our 3rd place winners holding her ribbon in front of her artwork.
First, second, and third grade artwork will be touring for the next 6 months.

Send Them Onward, Send Them Upward, Send Them Home… What a Lot of Goodbyes!

Yesterday we said goodbye to our student teacher Ms. Johnson in an assembly where we presented her with a Lafayette t-shirt and an apron signed by all her students. We serenaded her with "Happy", and danced and celebrated our thankfulness that she was in our lives all school year! Some of us also made cards, paper chains, paintings, and sent her off with words of wisdom. We will miss her dearly!!!

Ms. Johnson in her Apron amidst singing dancing children:)

This week we also sent work to two citywide art shows: at Reagan National Airport and a fundraiser at the Pepco Building to benefit the DCEd Fund (a group Underground Railroad code quilt assemblage that will be auctioned to the highest bidder this coming Tuesday, May 6.)

And finally, PORTFOLIOS are making their way home as I say goodbye to the masterpieces your children have created and they choose their selection for ARTS NIGHT! (A few final pieces and their matted Arts Night work will come home the last week of school.)

Lafayette Students Get a Little Silly For IMAGES!

Pre-K through grade 5 had their photos taken this week for IMAGES 2014, Lafayette's beloved art and literary anthology. Want a book that includes photos of the cutest kids in town, the most engaging stories and poems, and the most charming illustrations? Come purchase IMAGES at Lafayette's ARTS NIGHTS May 8 and 22!

Here's a SNEAK PEAK!

The End of a Wonderful Era

Each year as the 5th grade begins to explore events from the early 20th century, Principal Main has come into the art room with her engaging stories about the role of feed sacks in quilt making during the Great Depression. She lets our 5th graders crawl all over her 1930s double wedding ring quilt in search of the characteristic rough feed sack fabrics. She hands them batting to hold as she shares the process of making a quilt. 

And then she shows them a number of her own creations. Students start to ooh and aah as they begin to see Principal Main as not only our school's "leader,"  but also as an artist with a life outside of Lafayette's walls.

Her Singer Featherweight sewing machine from the 40's is also an object of fascination… she shares how her mother taught her to sew and lets us know she still uses this lightweight quiet little powerhouse for most of her piecework. The patchwork quilt that the 5th graders produce for our auction takes on a new meaning. 

Our 2014 5th grade quilt during the quilting bee 2 weeks ago

When March rolls around next year, we will sorely miss this great learning experience. I videoed her last presentation this year, but it just won't be the same!

An American Story… 5th Graders Explore the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Great Depression Through an Informance... and by Sewing our Very Own Depression Era Quilt to Sell at the Lafayette Auction!

Song, poetry, visual art, dance, tableau, and music helped 5th graders experience a deeper understanding of some of the events that took place during the early part of the 20th century. They shared their learning with parents last Thursday in a culminating Informance!

5G re-imagined the Great Migration Story by Jacob Lawrence with drawings to tell his story and through a giant map recreating the routes travelers took to the northern cities…

…5JL drew the well known artists, musicians, and writers that became the faces of the Harlem Renaissance, then created 6 word poems to describe their contributions. In music, all of us learned to sing and swing dance in the style that became popular during the Harlem Renaissance.

…5JB let Dorothea Lange's photos speak to them visually and then responded with haiku poems as they experienced the Great Depression through her eyes. And 5C shared their learning about the murals created as a result of funding by the Works Progress administration through an engaging and witty Reader's Theater. Our learning in 6 classes all culminated in a moving evening Informance for our parents last week.

…and finally, our quilt in progress made in the traditional flying geese pattern with fabrics mostly donated to Lafayette! 

Dragon Shadow Puppets Perform to Wish You a Happy Chinese New Years!

Earlier this month spiky dragons danced and cavorted to traditional Asian music in a magical shadow puppet show. First graders were very excited to perform for staff members, parents and our teacher, and then pose for a photo op. 

We hope our dragons bring us much luck in the New Year!!!