Painting Everything But The Yellow Brick Road

We were fortunate to have beautiful, warm weather so that we could paint the sets for Oz outside.  Thank you to the 5th graders who helped prepare the scenery for the upcoming school play!

Take the Fairy House Tour

A huge thank you to all who participated in our Fairy House/Gnome Home Build!  We had over 30 kiddos build 19 structures around the grounds of the school.  The fairies, gnomes and elves have been checking out their new digs and excited about taking up residence in their new homes.

Fairy House/Gnome Home Build

It's coming soon!  Mark your calendars:  Saturday, October 18th at 10 a.m.
The Fairy House/Gnome Home Build will be held annually in the fall instead of the spring to help these tiny creatures prepare for the impending winter.

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements are an integral component to the culture of Pleasant Valley School.  As such, we look at and discuss how the Agreements look, sound and feel in the art room.  This year students looked at several examples of famous artists working in their studios.  We observed what they looked like while they were hard at work.  We imagined what their studios would sound like in the midst of the creative process.  We entertained the idea of what it would feel like to be an artist working on their artwork in their studio.  Since the students are the artists and the art room is their studio space, they were quick to make the connection that if we all promise to follow the Four Agreements, our art room would mimic the atmosphere of any of the famous artists' studios.  With a high five, each student at Pleasant Valley promised to follow the Agreements and I kept a hand as a visual reminder of that promise!

Meet Me at the Museum

Don't forget to "meet me at the museum" next week!  I'll be going to the 

New Britain Museum of American Art on Saturday, June 14th at 10 o'clock
to see the current exhibitions.  Join me!!!  

***Hint, hint... The museum is free on Saturday mornings between 10 and noon.***

http://www.nbmaa.org/

Meet Me at the Museum

Please join me on Saturday, June 14th at the New Britain Museum of American Art at 10 a.m. to view the latest exhibitions.  The artist Soo Sunny Park has an installation in the large space by the main staircase.  The fifth grade classes have recently watched a short video on this artist and her approach to her artwork.  The following link will lead you to the video... http://vimeo.com/71980357

The New/Now show is currently up and featuring the work of Joe Fig.  Fig makes miniature reproductions, as well as paintings, of fellow artists' studios.  It's an opportunity to view the "behind-the-scenes" space and tools utilized by artists before completed work is exhibited for public viewing.
Here is a link to the New Britain Museum's exhibit details...
http://www.nbmaa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=56

***The New Britain Museum of American Art has free admission on Saturday mornings from 10-12 noon.  If you wish to go at another time, Groupon is currently offering discounted passes.
http://www.groupon.com/deals/new-britain-museum-of-american-art-1

Pleasant Valley's New Additions

Fairies and Gnomes Abound at Pleasant Valley

To prepare for Saturday's fairy house and gnome home building event, kindergarten through grade 3 students are making their very own wings, wands, hats and beards!

Please check back here on Saturday morning!  In the event that our outdoor activity gets washed out, I'll post an updated message here.
Keep for fingers crossed for sunny skies :)

Calling All Fairies and Gnomes!

Come to school on a Saturday?  Dressed as a fairy or gnome?!  

What exactly is going on at Pleasant Valley School on May 10th from 10 to 12?!?!

It's our first ever (of, hopefully, many more) gnome home- and fairy house-building event.  

Students, accompanied by a parent or guardian, are invited to build a small home made out of all natural materials fit for a wee creature!  We'll be meeting in front of the entrance to the school to go over the ramifications of the project before students and adults head out to gather sticks, twigs, rocks, leaves and the like.  If you have a basket or bag, bring it along to use to collect your building supplies.  Students will then work independently or in groups to build their best and most natural architectural structure.  

*If you plan on attending, please send in the slip that was included in last week's Panther Points.

**Everyone is encouraged to dress up!  

***Please check this blog if there is inclement weather.  The rain date will be May 17th!

New Jobs Posted!

There are two new jobs posted on the P.V. Job Board!
Art Selection Board
If you are interested in critiquing the art submissions to the Magical Mailbox and selecting the next Artist of the Week, apply!
Artist in Residence
Artists will have an opportunity to design and create an independent art project in any medium.
Both jobs are available to fourth and fifth graders only!