SACS Unified Arts

Giant Grid Portraits in the Art Gallery

2012-01-18T13:03:00.005-05:00

If you haven't already noticed the "Giant Grid Portraits of Famous People" on the walls at the Student Art Gallery (by the cafeteria) then you haven't been to City School lately. These creations are the product of Mrs. Brown's and Ms. Haberman's 7th and 8th grade art classes. They are awesome!!!

4th Grade Music link

2011-11-17T09:14:00.002-05:00

Listening Adventures

Winner of 2011 Lions Club Peace Poster Contest

2011-11-10T11:15:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Amber Cooper an 8th grade student on the Renaissance Team. Amber won the local district level in Franklin County Vt. The Lions International Peace Poster Contest is an international contest that encourages children, ages 11-13, to creatively express what peace means to them. The 2011-2012 contest theme is "Children Know Peace". The contest allows students to share their unique image of peace with other so that we all may have a greater tolerance and international understanding. This is the third year in a row that a St. Albans City School student has won the contest. Congratulations Amber Cooper!!!

Incredibles and Discovery 4th grade

2011-11-03T08:54:00.004-04:00

We are working on composing using several different tools. We are composing for our recorders.

We are using the following tools:

Noteflight

Music Counting
Drum Machine

Learning music is fun!!!

Testing 1, 2, 3...

2011-07-11T13:44:00.003-04:00

This is a test. I'm showing off for my Google buds. This image was created using Google SketchUp.

Winner for the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest

2011-01-25T11:59:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Mikayla Gabree, whose "Vision of Peace" artwork won a poster contest for the local Lions Club. Her winning entry has now been entered into the state level of this international contest. Congratulations Mikayla

2010-12-09T08:47:00.002-05:00

The Franklin Central Supervisory Union

Annual Student Art Show

will be Dec. 13-17 @ the St. Albans Armory

Reception Monday Dec. 13 @ 5:30-7:30. Refreshments will be included.

Show will be open from 8:00 am to 5:00pm. Tuesday through Friday

Day of the Dead

2010-11-16T13:04:00.003-05:00

For the first nine weeks of the new 2010 school year 7th and 8th grades students from Dynamic Design, Renaissance, and USA created decorative skulls after studying The Day of The Dead of Mexico a Mexican holiday celebrating and honoring relatives who have passed on in life.

Kindergarten Mosaics

2010-10-27T13:27:00.003-04:00

The Kindergarten kids have been working on making mosaics these last few weeks. Mosaics are usually created using small pieces of glass or stone, but these are made of construction paper--hundreds of tiny pieces of paper! Each student was given the same drawing, and had to fill it with color on their own. The end result is a colorful, texture-rich, marine mosaic!

9th Annual Franklin County K-12 Art Show

2010-05-05T09:58:00.002-04:00

ART SHOW COME SEE THE WORK OF OUR TALENTED STUDENTS!!
May 3rd 2010 through May 10th 2010 at the Collins Perley Sports Complex in St. Albans Vermont.

Vermont Midi Project Opus 20 Winners

2010-04-06T09:33:00.002-04:00

Three eighth grade students have had their original compositions chosen by the Vermont Midi Project to be played in a public performance. Emily King was chosen for her composition called "Happy" and Joann Barton and Tracey Crocker (both second time winners)were chosen for their piece "The Song With No Name". The three girls will travel with their teacher, Miss Jarvis, to Brattleboro on April 28 to attend workshops and rehearse their pieces with professional musicians. The day will culminate with a public performance of all the pieces. Students from all over Vermont participated in the composing and on-line discussions and revisions with mentors. There were only 24 pieces chosen state-wide for this honor. Congratulations!

ART SHOW !!

2010-03-26T14:52:00.001-04:00

ART SHOW

COME SEE THE WORK OF OUR TALENTED STUDENTS!!

Date:
March 29 – April 2
8:00 – 5:oo pm
Place: St. Albans Armory

Reception:
Thursday, April 1
5:00 – 7:00

Recipe for Stuffed Fish

2010-03-11T14:12:00.011-05:00

Ingredients:
2 fish shapes on white paper
3 oil-pastel stripes (may substitute crayon for low-fat alternative)
1-2 trays of watercolor or cake tempera
1 sheet of fins
1 stick of glue (or margarine)
Scrap paper (for stuffing)

Draw stripes, eyes and mouth on first fish. Color stripes liberally with oil pastels so paint won't stick. Add watercolor until the fish reaches the desired color. Repeat for second fish. When dry, cut out fish and fins (save your scraps for the stuffing!). Glue the edges and stuff fish with paper. Seal ends with ample amounts of glue. Let dry. Enjoy your 3-D stuffed fish with a wedge of lemon and wild rice.

5th Grade Noteflight

2010-02-17T08:55:00.006-05:00

Voyagers and Triumph are using Noteflight to compose their own music. Noteflight is a web-based composition software. We are using the Learning Edition of Noteflight sponsored by the Vermont Midi Project. We hope to post some of our songs as we complete them.

To login click here.

City School Art Dept. Receives Vermont DOE Grant

2010-01-25T11:57:00.003-05:00

The Art Department at City School recently applied for and received a very generous grant from the Vermont Department of Education. This grant is providing technology, education and training creating e-portfolios using the Elements and Principles of Design.
The purpose of this project is to redesign the approach to art education within our school to support the development of an “arts” magnet 7-8 team within a thematic interdisciplinary project based learning environment. Our goals are to
strengthen the students' understanding of the elements and principles of design through the art curriculum,
provide students the technology skills needed to create or document their knowledge and skills in arts, academics and other areas using elements and principal of design in an electronic portfolio, guide students in the design of culminating event projects that integrate academic content, arts, and technology.
For more information about we we are doing please check out Dynamic Design's wiki:http://dynamicdesign.wikispaces.com/

Cast for HMS Pinafore

2010-01-18T08:05:00.003-05:00

Cast for HMS Pinafore

This was a VERY hard decision! Everyone who auditioned really did a great job. With all the strong actors we have, I know we’re going to have a great show. If your name is not on the list below - don’t worry - I may have just missed a sheet! Everyone needs to come to practice on Tuesday, January 19 from 3:15-5:30. Have your rides arranged!!!

Captain Corcoran Machaela Maille
Buttercup Brooke Spence
Sir Joseph Joe Cava
Ralph Rackstraw Nathaniel Miller
Dick Deadeye Geran Miter
Cousin Hebe Emily King
Boatswain Kaela Bonnett
Josephine Joann Barton
Solo Sailor Skylar Perocchi
Solo Cousin Tracey Crocker
　
Cousins and Aunts Sailors
Marina Nadeau Jackson Walsh
Kayla Messier Abigail Perocchi
Lonna Neidig Alison Ireland
Brenna Douglas Timothy Crocker
Meg Spence Kameron Fleming
Lucia Pelkey Kalob Gabree
Arnela Grujic Gina Neidig
Katie Grubb Michael Warren
Genna Davis Damon Lynam
Taylor Anne Pidgeon Nate Gunter
Jasmine Smith Shaun Waite
Camille Gunter Jesse Lavigne
Jori Helms
Danielle Stisser

Showing Learning in Music Class with Miss Jarvis

2010-01-12T12:44:00.008-05:00

Lots of music has been happening in room A1! On this blog I would like to highlight some of these fun projects. The link below will lead you to all the audio files in this entry.

Mrs. Aliquo's class met once a week for a special singing session. These students in grades 4 and 5 learned a two-part song titled There Is A Melody. Follow the link to hear an excerpt from their performance.

Every student in the 6th Grade learned to compose their own music using the program "Sibelius". For the first part of the year we learned new rhythm patterns, time signatures and writing rhythmic and melodic motives. We used our motives to write our first melodies. We then entered the melodies into the computer and added both an easy rhythmic and melodic ostinato. One of the compositions is seen above. In the audio files listen to Ronnie and Tanner.

In 7th and 8th grades students have been working on the Orff instruments. Dynamic Design recorded Music Magic. Again, you are able to hear their work by clicking on the audio files below.

Band Plus worked on projects of their choice. Two students did a report about Beethoven. As part of their presentation, they made brochures to pass to their classmates. Again, you are able to open the brochure by clicking on the link. They did a great job.

It's been a great half year. I'm really proud of what the music students have accomplished.

Click to hear
music files

Art Chairs!!

2009-12-04T13:47:00.002-05:00

"Sitting in Style"

Seventh and Eighth grade art students from Dynamic Design and Cats in Motion have been painting chairs to benefit the PTO at City School. These chairs were inspired by famous paintings and children's books. The PTO is planning to auction the chairs sometime soon. Stay tuned for more information.

8th Grade Artist Wins Local Lions Club Poster Contest

2009-12-04T12:24:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to Dynamic Design 8th grader Jennah Garrison for her winning entry in the local Lions Club Poster Contest. The theme this year was "The Power of Peace". Her poster now has moved on to the state level of this international contest Congratulations Jennah!

http://sites.google.com/a/stacsvt.org/dynamicdesign/unified-arts-connection

4th Grade Composers-Incredibles

2009-12-02T12:27:00.004-05:00

4th graders from the Incredibles have become composers. First, they learned to write songs using the notes they know on the recorder. Next they used Groovy Jungle to put their songs on the computers. Here are some of their compositions.

Click to hear music files

Schedule for HMS Pinafore Auditions & Rehearsals

2009-11-05T13:01:00.003-05:00

Any student in Grades 5-8 is welcome to be in our musical production. The schedule should be considered before you decide to be a part of the show. We are going to have two meetings in December to read through the show. They will be on Tuesday, December 15 and Friday December 18 from 3:30-4:30 in room A1. Auditions for the leads will be held on Tuesday, January 4 and Friday January 8th from 3:30-4:30 in room A1.

In January we will practice every Tuesday & Friday from 3:30-5:30. In February it will be the same schedule, plus we will practice on Saturdays February 6 & 13 from 1:00-3:00. In March we will have the same schedule of Tuesday, Friday and Saturday for the first three weeks. Dress rehearsals and performances will be the 3rd week of March. A detailed calendar will be passed out in December. I'm looking forward to starting our work. If you have any questions, please contact Miss Jarvis at jarvisa@sacsvt.org

Gorillas in Kindergarten!

2009-11-02T14:14:00.002-05:00

Mr. Galle's Kindergarten Art classes turned a page of shapes into a colorful gorilla. Each student was given a photocopy with shapes. They had to add lines, shapes and colors of their own to decorate the page. Once finished, they had to cut and glue the pieces together to create a dynamic gorilla. This is just one example, but each was unique and exciting. I went bananas when I saw them all!

The Story of HMS Pinafore

2009-10-09T08:46:00.003-04:00

Some time before the opening of Act 1, Ralph has fallen in love with Josephine, the daughter of Captain Corcoran, commander of HMS Pinafore. Buttercup, a peddler woman, has fallen in love with the Captain. Social class and pride keep both the Captain and his daughter from returning this affection, although both would like to do so. The Captain has pledged his daughter in marriage to Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty, who is in a social class even higher than the Corcorans'.

At the opening of Act 1, the sailors are busy preparing the ship for Sir Joseph's visit. Ralph and Josephine each sing a sad song bemoaning the fact that they both love in vain. Buttercup hints that she is hiding a secret, and Dick Deadeye grumbles that there is only trouble in store.

Sir Joseph arrive, attended by his sisters, cousins and aunts. He explains how he became Lord of the Admiralty and examines the crew, assuring them they are any man's equal, excepting his own!

Josephine finds Sir Joseph unbearable. Ralph confesses his love to Josephine. When she rejects him, he threatens suicide. She then confesses her love for him and they agree to elope. The act ends with great rejoicing.

Act II finds the Captain in despair that his daughter is not happy with Sir Joseph. Buttercup tries to cheer him, saying there is a change in store. Sir Joseph appears and says he wishes to call off the marriage since Josephine does not take kindly to him. The Captain suggests that his daughter may feel inferior to Sir Joseph and urges him to tell Josephine that difference in social rank should not be a barrier to marriage. Sir Joseph does this, not knowing that he is really convincing Josephine that it is acceptable for her to marry Ralph! Sir Joseph thinks she as accepted him and they are all happy again.

Dick Deadeye informs the Captain of the planned elopement and the Captain angrily halts the couple's get-away. Sir Joseph hears the disturbance, learns what has happened, sends the Captain to his cabin in disgrace and orders Ralph put in irons.

Buttercup must now come out with her secret: She tells that many years ago she was a nurse and had in her charge two babies - one a commoner and one of noble birth. Her secret is that she made the dreadful error of exchanging the babies, so that when they grew up, the nobleman became a sailor - Ralph - and the commoner became the Captain of HMS Pinafore. Sir Joseph orders the two men to assume their real identities, which prevents him from marrying Josephine (the daughter of a commoner), but permits her to marry Ralph and her father to marry Buttercup. Sir Joseph is left with Cousin Hebe. There is great rejoicing for a happy ending!

Musical Being Planned

2009-10-09T07:33:00.004-04:00

Yes, there will be a musical play at City School this year. We will really miss the guidance of Mrs. Smith as our Drama teacher (who retired last year), but I have promised her and the students that this tradition will continue. Any student in grades 5,6, 7 and 8 is welcome to be a part of this production. Auditions are held for the lead roles, but a student may participate without auditioning, if they choose. Students who decide to be a part of this show must commit to the rehearsal schedule.

I have chosen the operetta H.M.S Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan. (This is the same team who brought us Pirates of Penzance which City School has staged in the past.) One of the fun things about this show is that the chorus is on stage for much of the time. Everyone in the cast will have alot to do!

Rehearsals will begin in January (which is our usual schedule). Almost all the rehearsals will take place on Tuesday and Friday after school and also on some Saturdays.

The art department has graciously accepted the task of creating the sets.

Since I am taking on the task of both the dramatic (with some help) and the musical direction, I am hoping that there will be parents who are willing to help with props, costumes, publicity and whatever other tasks arise. If you are interested in helping, or if you have any questions, the best way to contact me is via email at jarvisa@sacsvt.org.

I'm looking forward to the challenge of this, and working with the students. Doing these productions is my very favorite activity here at City School.

Team Discovery Drum Circle

2009-09-29T11:23:00.002-04:00

Team Discovery Drum Circle

Students from Team Discovery are playing drums. Every Wednesday morning we gather together to play congas, djembes, gathering drums, bongos, tubanos and dumbeks. We also will be playing other percussion instruments as we gather throughout the fall. We are using the drum circle as a community building activity. 75 students ( grades 4-6) participate in the activity.

Warm & Cool Monsters

2009-09-23T13:27:00.004-04:00

Ah! Look out! Monsters! Check out this sampling of monsters drawn by 2nd Graders from Mr. Galle's and Mrs. Brown's art class! The students learned about warm and cool color schemes, and then created monsters that illustrated their choice. Does one of these pictures remind you of being someplace warm? Is there one that makes you feel chilly? That's the power of warm and cool monsters...and colors!

Line and Shape in 1st Grade

2009-09-11T12:36:00.005-04:00

These first few weeks, the 1st Graders have experimented with the building blocks of Art: Line and Shape. Once they are proficient with these techniques, they can start to learn and use the other elements and principlest. Mr. Galle's class created Line Design Turtles and Robot Collages to practice their skills.

Technology Design -- Land Sailing

2009-09-08T15:48:00.001-04:00

Middle school students are designing and testing model land yachts, sailing craft that move on land rather than water. Our hope is to make a version large enough to haul a student.

Mr. Smith
Middle School E-Learning
Http://Site3E.Com

City School Band/String Program

2009-09-05T19:22:00.002-04:00

The beginning of this school year has been challenging in trying to build a music lesson schedule during the school day. One of the features of the new team approach has been to have exploratories within grade levels at different times during the school day. This would require music students to possibly miss core academic classes, rather than classes in art, music, practical arts, technology, and occasionally core classes for strong music students, as we have done in the past. I have been reluctant to propose that this happen, as we have restructured to improve student performance in math and language.

What I would like to do, as a way to start lessons, is this. I am willing to give lessons for 6th grade band and string students, after school, 4 days a week. These lessons would be in the music room (the new and improved band room) and would be for a half hour on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. I could have lessons at 3:15, 3:45, and 4:15. Students who stay after school, are welcome to be in the music room before their lessons, where I would take the responsibility for their supervision. Our full Jr. Band rehearsals are still in the school day, on Tuesday and Thursdays during recess. As a “thank you” to your young musicians for giving up 2 recess periods a week, I am hosting all band students and a friend, to eat lunch in the music room and show a movie, while they “dine”. This is the City School version of Dinner and a Movie.

As I build this lesson schedule, I will try to get individual students in lessons during the school day, as much as possible, but given the importance of the core subjects, the after school lesson may be the only possible option available. I will be calling parents over the weekend and the beginning of next week, to get your imput on if this will work, and to work out the details.

The only thing that I would ask, is that your kids occasionally endure my greyhound, Maggie, and golden retriever, Belle, who are both VERY GOOD PUPPIES, as I am reluctant to leave them at home alone 2 more hours a day!

I am hopeful that we can get more lessons back into the school day as the kinks in our new schedules are worked out, and I believe that this adjustment will enable us to get going. Thank you.

Frank Mehaffey

8th Grade Super-Sized Superheroes

2009-06-10T12:52:00.007-04:00

Okay, so the title is misleading--only a few students actually chose superheroes. The rest took cartoon characters. Everyone followed the same steps to create poster-sized paintings. Once they settled on a character, they printed a hardcopy, traced over it with overhead transparency, and projected it onto poster board. The enlarged drawings were traced, inked and painted with tempera. I'm really impressed. In fact, I think they're super!

Which Came First...?

2009-05-21T08:04:00.002-04:00

The Kindergarten classes have been caring for eggs for the last three weeks, and they've finally started hatching (the eggs, not the K's). Our Digital Storytelling Learning Lab students were on the scene to capture the action.

This video has been edited for time and formatted to fit your TV screen.

2009 District Art Show

2009-05-01T12:01:00.007-04:00

In preparation for the upcoming regional art show, I thought it might be nice to revisit the district art show from earlier this year. This video should give you an idea of the wide variety of materials, techniques and projects being offered by the City School Art teachers.

Franklin County Regional Art Show

2009-04-30T14:49:00.002-04:00

Please join us Monday, May 4th-May 11th for the Franklin County Regional Art Show at Collin-Perley Sports Complex in St. Albans. This show features the work of K-12 students from our district and area schools in Franklin County. There will be an opening reception on May4th from 5:30-7:00. Come and support the artists in your community!

Student Activities to Write About

2009-04-14T20:42:00.004-04:00

Students in the 21 Century Writing Skills Learning Lab have been commenting on BLOGs and Podcasts long enough. Now they're doing something about it.
-- Bottle Rockets
-- Web Widgets
-- & Videos (Oh My!)

Http://21stSkills.Blogspot.Com

Harry Bliss Visits City School!

2009-04-14T14:51:00.005-04:00

Author/Illustrator Harry Bliss came to City School on Monday to share his work and insights with K-4 students. He showed slides of his various work, including magazine covers, book illustrations, and sample cartoons. After a short presentation, he played "The Scribble Game" with students. Children were selected from the audience to draw a scribble (a simple shape or line) on the page, and Mr. Bliss put his skills to work changing the simple scribble into a fantastic drawing. The students were very excited and seemed very pleased with the opportunity to meet this local artist. Thanks for visiting City School, Harry Bliss!

Harry Bliss to present at City School

2009-04-12T17:18:00.000-04:00

Local cartoonist/illustrator Harry Bliss is scheduled to visit St. Albans City School on Monday April 13. He'll be sharing and drawing with a group of 7th graders, as well as addressing a larger group in an elementary school assembly.

Stay tuned to this blog for pictures and stories about the day!