Friday's Art Show!

Art Show Reception after school.

 It's the first Friday of April and St. Mary's had a First Friday Opening! After a long day of preparation, the small art show came together quite nicely, and I even had a minute or two to add some finishing touches before the end of the school day. I only taught half a day of art, and the rest of the afternoon was devoted to set up. Utilizing the idea from North Pole, I hung the art work on black butcher paper banners in the library and on tables. I also typed up small signs to explain each project to the parents and teachers.

After the art show was over, I felt like I had run a marathon (or since I have never actually run a marathon, I felt like what I imagine it would feel like). I cleaned up all the art supplies that were laying scattered about the school and the office I had been given to work in and headed back up to the high school.

....Meanwhile....
The superintendent informed us that he thought it would be better if we left St. Mary's this weekend, since next week is testing (which is very important to these rural schools: AYP (annual yearly progress)= money. He encouraged us to change our flight, so Dustin waved his magic MVP card and got our flights changed to tomorrow with no fee. We leave tomorrow morning at 9:30am for Bethel and will be back to Fairbanks before dinner.

We still get to enjoy one last meal with teachers before we leave! All the young teachers (all three of them), invited us to our last dinner in St. Mary's. After that, we'll pack, sleep, and zip off to the air-strip in the morning.

It's been a great week. I have grown in my confidence as an elementary teacher, and student manager. I have also really warmed up to the idea of doing Artists-in-the-schools state-wide so I can go out to more villages and do fun art projects/clinics. Because truly, I think all my summer visits to Tenakee Springs as a child made my heart happy in a small quaint village/town setting. I enjoy being about to walk to the store and the post office, and wave to everyone on the street, and have all the children know my name. It's quite nice.

6th graders helped me make a poster for the show.

Kindergarten Table.

Watercolor paper collages.

Sarah, if you're looking through these, this is the project I wrote up inspired by your "Loretta." I had them paint paper and rip it up to make their favorite mode of transportation in the village.

--Giselle