kindergarten children work with 3d paper sculpting techniques to make faces

4th graders finish their clay sculptures.....

kindergarten kids in Ms. Fitzpatrick's class create paper sculptures

3rd graders working on their Joseph Cornell All-About-Me boxes using magazine cutouts of words and images that describe them

Sample paper sculpture by Shannon Acar (k-Fitzpatrick)

Thank you parents!!!

A Murch parent dropped off cardboard for our fourth grade boardgame design unit.....love my parents.....

Sample drawing using facial expressions by prek student Max Washington

Prek children practice drawing various facial expressions by combining simple lines and shapes (E.Stewart)

Opportunity to shine!!

Mike Hefner (Emma :Fitzpatrick and Neil : Bogan) and John Wix (Ruthie: Bickart) have kindly offered to produce another thank you banner for the teachers! The one that they did last year is still hanging outside of the principal's office and it's beautiful. They still do not have enough, so please don't forget to take advantage of this great opportunity to have your child's face on the banner.

If you'd like to participate, simply email a photo of your child directly to Mike at :mike@202design.com by 8pm this Sunday May 8th.

Thanks to Mike and John for continuing a great tradition!

I love all the notes I've been getting for Teacher Appreciation week.....I feel very lucky to teach such great kids.

Mr.P's students are designing boardgames.....we need these items

Magazines, small items that could be used as game pieces, and thick cardboard. Thanks in advance for your support.

4th graders in Mr.Patterson's class explore board games to gather ideas to later design their own board games

Mr.P had asked me to collaborate on a unit that would incorporate math, ,creativity and language arts....this will be amazing!

2nd Grade explore collage as a form of self-expression making ALL ABOUT ME posters

These types of projects are great writing prompts....I'm curious to read what they write about themselves.

3rd grade Aboriginal-inspired animal design by Leah (Friedman)

3rd grade (Friedman) enlarging their favorite Aboriginal animal design

Kindergarten bowls waiting to be detailed

1st graders practice drawing each other's profile (Bergin)

Kindergarten kids in Bogan's class painting their clay bowls-a two-step process

Pk -Momma bears, pappa bears and baby bears waiting to be painted this morning

Thank you parents

I come to my art studio this morning to find a stack of magazine. Thank you Murch parents!

Ms. Levy's Class finish their Joseph Cornell-inspired 'times capsules'

The objective for this unit was to create personally meaningful time capsules inspired by Joseph Cornell's boxes. Students had two weeks to bring in items and/or images that were of importance to them personally. Ms.Cutelis shared items that she has kept from when she was in 5th grade, such as a card from her Garbage Pail card collection. Pictures of all boxes will be posted soon....keep checking.

Thought I'd pass this along...being a super creative idea and all

Parents Mike Hefner and John Wix have kindly offered to produce another thank you banner for the teachers! The one that they did last year is still hanging outside of the principal's office. If you'd like to participate, simply email a photo of your child directly to Mike at :mike@202design.com by 8pm this Sunday May 8th. Thanks Mike and John!! I love that banner it brightens my whole day every time I see it.

Mr.Patterson's class REMINDER- bring in board games to explore Wednesday

In art class, Mr.Patterson's class will be designing board games from scratch. They will write the rules in class, yet every other aspect of the design will take place in the art studio. Wednesday we will explore familiar games on the market today as a way to expand our possibilities. The games will be sent back the same day.

Art room needs magazines....don't throw them out, donate them to Ms. Cutelis

Chinese acrobats visit Murch

Parent donations of plastic or styrofoam egg cartons make great palettes in the art room

kindergarten artists detailing their clay bowls using detail brushes

Joseph Cornell-style rime capsule cigar boxes waiting to be finished (5th grade)

kindergarten kids wrapping up their Mother's Day ink paintings.

4th Grade clay food creations- not yet done

Two Murch Students Visit with Sec. of Education, Arne Duncan

As part of a new student discussion series with the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, called Student Voices, two 5th grade students from Murch, Sophia Galligan and Leonie Aksyonov, were invited to the Department earlier this month to speak in a discussion on topics of effective teaching and learning. This was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have student's voice and ideas possibly affect policy changes in education for the whole country.

Sophia's reaction to the meeting:

"It was great! I'm so glad that I could be there to share my input.

It went roughly as I expected. It was a very enlightening experience.

I really enjoyed it. Thanks for considering me for this opportunity,

Leonie reaction to the meeting:

"The meeting went great and we basically only talked about how teachers inspired us. I told the story of how when I came from Russia in the middle of first grade, and how Ms. Cresswell got me caught up with everyone's level. It was funny how the secretary couldn't sit because of his back. Also, he left early because of another meeting. "

Storytelling Class-Details on the last 5 dates

These are the last 5 dates for the Friday's storytelling class. If you are in the arts series class please save these dates. Dates are: 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27. Email me if you have if you have questions.

You are cordially invited to attend the reception for the District of Columbia Public Schools Annual Citywide Student Art Exhibition

11th Annual District of Columbia Public Schools

CITYWIDE Student Art Exhibition

You are cordially invited to attend the reception

for the

District of Columbia Public Schools Annual Citywide Student Art Exhibition

on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:00 p.m.

in the Historic Lobby of Terminal A

at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The DCPS Citywide Student Art Exhibition is a showcase featuring an array of students’ artistic achievements to the national public, Washington, DC and DCPS stakeholders. The artwork has been on display since April 9, 2011, and will remain through May 30, 2011, on the baggage claim level of Terminals B and C. The theme for this year’s event is “Celebration of Artistic Expressions.” Reagan National Airport is accessible via Metro. Take the Yellow or Blue lines to the Reagan National Airport station. If you choose to drive, you can park in Garage A. Please bring your parking ticket to the reception area to be validated.

Please RSVP for the reception via email at mildred.washington@dc.gov or call

202-442-5030 by Monday, April 25, 2011. We look forward to your support of

the District of Columbia students and teachers.

Note from Ms. Cutelis to all parents: I will be taking the metro, please email me at Miriam.cutelis@yahoo.com if you want to ride there together. I will be leaving the Murch area around 5:20 pm.

The 9 Murch Students in the show are

Gus confalone, Nate Coates, Eva Robertson, Claire Lewis, Melissa Jefferson, David Jefferson, Stella Magee, Hadley Carr, Tessa Furlow.

student ART seen at Ms. Cutelis' high school reunion in NYC this weekend...

Aside from having a great time this Saturday at my high school reunion, the school, (Marymount School of NY which runs from k-12th grade) was filled with art everywhere....it was a dream come true to an art teacher like myself. Oh, and don't even think about asking what year reunion this is for me....!!

Below, are sample book covers done by students......my mind is already trying to figure out ways to do this with elementary children. These were done by high school girls. I keep saying 'girls', for the school is only for girls...

These are amazing portraits done by the high school students.
Now these (below) are to drool for......they are......clay shoes!!!! aren't they just the cutest things ever?....I am absolutely trying these with my kids.
You can tell this artist is growing up in NYC!!!
Paintings.....
These are portraits done on using Apple Ipads....



Marymount was the only girl school out of three schools across the country that got an award from Apple for being innovative education using technology. They are busy creating online textbooks that incorporate sound, videos, and digital kid drawings.....I am ready to try some of these ides out at Murch. See award below.
Check out this computer area!! Looks just like Murch....Dragons....
These are Marymount students here for their 50th reunion (below).....I hope I look this good at 67ish....