Now you can sign up to volunteer online for the new advisory

JUST CLICK ON THIS BUTTON ABOVE

to

sign up to help out in the art classroom.

Job description: You might be asked to:

1. wash brushes

2. cut paper

3. help individual children

4. walk around and make sure kids are on task

5. help with a special project

6. Take pictures of kids at work

7. write down quotes of what kids say about their work

Volunteers need to be a Murch parent. You don't necessarily need to volunteer in your own child's class.

Thank you HSA....

The HSA has recently bought the art room 3 display panels like the one you see above that will greatly enhance the way art is taught at Murch. Children will now be able to hang their 2D art when done and having visual access to every one's work will allow for more furtive discussions about process, specific skills they see utilized and learn from each other's observations and comments. The displays are very light and have wheels which means they could serve as temporary wall or art displays anywhere in the building. Thank you HSA!!

My next task in getting a state-of-the-art visual arts program in place at Murch is improving the dire storage situation in the room. As it's apparent to all parents who have come in to volunteer, the classroom is overwhelmed by too many needed supplies and too few placed to put them on. Please check back soon for more information on my progress in this area. In the meantime, of you have any extra shelf furniture or bookcase you no longer need, I'd love to have them....Aesthetics is not as important as sturdiness. I can always repaint them to freshen them up.....

Again, thanks HSA.....!!

Thank you parents!

I tell people over and over again about how amazing the parents are at Murch. I have been getting a steady set of 2-3 parents a day coming in to help daily in the art room. I am very grateful to these parents, and grandparents for coming in and rolling up their sleeves and risking getting dirty.....I just hope you all enjoy yourselves as much as I do. Your children too glow when they see you come through the doors and I feel it's most important for them to know that we all are just a big community and enjoy working together.

I also know there are parents out there who tell me they feel guilty not coming in to help mote. I am a working parent too and neither my husband or I have much time to go to see my son's class either. Which is why I think this blog and other forms of social technologies are so important in maintaining this community. It keeps you in the loop and a conversation starter with your child and you can always send in your recyclable contributions, which are just as important.......

Thanks again...my heart is warmed by your support and enthusiasm.

Amazing landscapes by 4th graders

Landscape paintings finalizes the initial intro to painting unit for 4th graders. Although my goal is to soon be able to integrate the curriculum and include social studies and math in my lessons, basic painting skills are my priority this first year. being able to mix colors and make various shades using primary colors and making varied marks with brushes are all skills that make for a great painting. it's logical to me that as an art teacher, the teaching of these skills is preliminary and once they have attained these skills use them at higher levels later. When looking at these paintings I can see very clearly how they have developed skills in color mixing, blending and varying their brushwork. I am very proud of how far they've come!

Handmade Cards For Sale NEXT WEEK- Help Haiti

In the art room each child has made a greeting card as a way to make a personal contribution to help Haiti. These beautiful cards will be for sale next week for 3$ each (10 for $20) to raise funds for Haiti Relief. Each card is sold blank with a 5x7" envelope and signed in the back by the artist. Cards come in various mediums, from collage and painting, to drawing and oil pastels on thick 90lb. paper. If you area parent and want to help just send me a note to my e-mail, Miriam.Cutelis@yahoo.com . I will need help with handwrite in the back "created by Murch Student for hait Relief in back" and with hanging them on a rope using clothespin before the sale.

Times and dates for the sale will be:

Tuesday, Feb 2, 2:50-3:30pm in playground

Wednesday, Feb 3, 8:30-8:50am in playground

Thursday, Feb 4th, 8:30-8:50am in the entrance to school