Tuesday, October 30, 2007

GEE'S BEND QUILTS
































Thank you to the outstanding parents who drove us to the Tacoma Art Museum field trip today. You made it all happen for we simply could not have done it without you. I greatly appreciate you all!!




Today's field trip was exceptional. The "architecture" of the quilts was outstanding. Students were given a fabulous tour by the docent. They were able to draw the quilt design on a piece of graph paper. Students then went into a workshop room where they were all given a block of wood, scissors, some colored self adhesive 1/8" foam squares, squares of construction paper, and large stamp pads full of vibrant colors. Students made their "quilt patterns" on the wooden blocks by using the foam and "inking" it with the stamp pad. The designs were transferred onto the construction paper squares. The squares were then arranged and glued onto a larger piece of construction paper as the quilt. I was incredibly impressed with the caliber of artistic talent in my students. They are amazing.
For those of you who may not be aware of the rich history of these exceptional, architectural, and vibrant quilts, I have information below which I know you will enjoy reading.
Gee’s Bend is a small rural community nestled into a curve in the Alabama River southwest of Selma, Alabama. Founded in antebellum times, it was the site of cotton plantations, primarily the lands of Joseph Gee and his relative Mark Pettway, who bought the Gee estate in 1850. After the Civil War, the freed slaves took the name Pettway, became tenant farmers for the Pettway family, and founded an all-black community nearly isolated from the surrounding world. During the Great Depression, the federal government stepped in to purchase land and homes for the community, bringing strange renown — as an "Alabama Africa" — to this sleepy hamlet.
The town’s women developed a distinctive, bold, and sophisticated quilting style based on traditional American (and African American) quilts, but with a geometric simplicity reminiscent of Amish quilts and modern art. The women of Gee’s Bend passed their skills and aesthetic down through at least six generations to the present. In 2002, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in partnership with the nonprofit Tinwood Alliance, of Atlanta, presented an exhibition of seventy quilt masterpieces from the Bend. The exhibition, entitled "The Quilts of Gee’s Bend," is accompanied by two companion books, The Quilts of Gee’s Bend, and the larger Gee’s Bend: The Women and Their Quilts, both published by Tinwood Media, as well as a documentary video on the Gee’s Bend quilters and a double-CD of Gee’s Bend gospel music from 1941 and 2002.
The "Quilts of Gee’s Bend" exhibition has received tremendous international acclaim, beginning at its showing in Houston, then at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the other museums on its twelve-city American tour. Newsweek, National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation, Art in America, CBS News Sunday Morning, PBS’s NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, the Martha Stewart Living television show, House and Garden, Oprah’s O magazine, and Country Home magazine are among the hundreds of print and broadcast media organizations that have celebrated the quilts and the history of this unique town. Art critics worldwide have compared the quilts to the works of important artists such as Henri Matisse and Paul Klee. The New York Times called the quilts "some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced." The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is currently preparing a second major museum exhibition and tour of Gee’s Bend quilts, to premiere in 2006.





Halloween Party tomorrow! Please refer to October 26th's blog entry if you have any questions. It will be a fun-filled day tomorrow!






NO school on Thursday nor Friday
Teacher In-Service days.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Field Trip Tomorrow!















































FIELD TRIP TOMORROW TO THE TACOMA ART MUSEUM:

This exhibition examines the extraordinary quilts made by the women of Gee’s Bend, an isolated community in rural Alabama. For four generations, the women of Gee’s Bend have been creating quilts of exceptional artistry, revealing a remarkable command of design and a painterly approach to a traditional art form. The exhibition will explore in depth the impact of architecture, environment, and traditional quilting motifs upon the Gee’s Bend distinctive aesthetic. The exhibition will further explore examples of family quilting lineages and improvisational interpretations of traditional motifs.
We will eat lunch at school tomorrow. Please wear the Seabury sweatshirts. We will leave Seabury at noon and will return by 2:00. MANY thanks to the wonderful parents who have come to the rescue to say they would drive!! We simply could not have done this field trip without you!! THANK YOU so very much!








Homework for the Explorers:

Tonight is MATH and SCIENCE. Mr. G. has assigned homework for both subjects.

Mrs. Gellert's Math class: Page 211 is due tomorrow and the orange logic sheet is due on Wednesday.

EXPLORERS:

Lesson 6 Wordly Wise packet is due MONDAY, Nov. 5th

Social Studies Packet due on Monday, Nov. 5th

Spelling Test on TUESDAY, November 6th


NAVIGATORS' Social Studies:

Social Studies packet is due on Monday, November 5th.






















Friday, October 26, 2007

Upcoming Week's Worth of News























Tacoma Art Museum Field Trip on Tuesday, Oct.30th

We leave Seabury at 12:00 and we will return at 2:30. I am still in need of drivers! Thus far I have only 2 drivers with only 9 seats available. If you are interested, please contact the school and let me know. Thank you!!




HALLOWEEN PARTY


2-2:45 on Wednesday,



October 31


Explorers will bring their costumes to school. Please remember that there is not to be any blood nor guts. Students are to make sure that their costume will not scare the Ladybugs.

Explorers will change into their costumes after lunch (12:30). At 1:00 we will have our traditional Seabury Halloween Parade. Weather permitting, the entire school will congregate outside the school for the Seabury keepsake Halloween photos. From 1:30 until 2:00 Explorers will be at French. Then the Explorer Halloween Party time begins! From 2:00 - 2:25, Explorers and Navigators will be at the Harvest Festival in the Multi-Purpose Room. After that we will return to our classrooms for our Explorer Halloween Party!!!! Whew! It will be a lot of fun.






Spelling test for Explorers
on Tuesday!


There will be a
Social Studies test for the Navigators and Explorers on Wednesday morning. Both classes will review information on Monday and Tuesday. I have no doubt that ALL of my students will do VERY well.



TEACHER IN SERVICE

NO SCHOOL ON

Thursday, Nov.1

nor on Fri. Nov.2




DON'T FORGET:
On SUNDAY, November 4th,
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME officially ends at 2 a.m. and STANDARD TIME BEGINS. So, don't forget to "fall" back an hour and to re-set your clocks.
Just in case you were interested:
Starting in 2007, daylight time begins in the United States on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time. These dates were established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. no. 109-58, 119 Stat 594 (2005).





Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Great Day at the Burke Museum


























What a wonderful, educational day today! Our field trip to the Burke Museum was filled with fascinating artifacts and hands-on activities. Because it was an all school field trip, and because the Burke Museum required us to have two groups of students for our tour, we broke the classes with Explorers being paired up with Superstars' and Sharks' classmates. It was a fantastic opportunity to see how compassionate and caring the Explorers were with the younger members of our Seabury community.

Our first incredible experience was having the docent provide artifacts for our students to touch and pass around. Artifacts of particular interest were two ceder baskets, one for collecting clams and the other for collecting water. These ceder baskets were stunning. We also learned about the ceremonial drums and one was also given to us to use and pass throughout our group. We felt a patterned, vegetable dyed,woven blanket made out of mountain goat wool and compared it to a ceremonial Bear button blanket. The tools (especially the "D" tool and the others used for carving the totem poles) illustrated the difference between the Native Americans' solid wooden tools prior to European interaction and after European interaction with the dawn of metal portions to their wooden tools. We saw and talked to the Totem Pole master carver who was using authentic tools to carve the huge totem pole. The interactive televisions with the language and videos of the various Pacific Rim indigenous peoples' cultures was fascinating. We had to answer specific questions on a "treasure hunt", if you will, which provided an enlightening experience for the younger and older Seabury "buddies".
Afterwards, a second docent provided us with additional insight of the Pacific Northwest Native Americans with our hands-on workshop of Salmon fish baskets. Students made models of a fish basket and many students consider it a source of pride for they really turned out beautifully. Please be sure to ask to see your child's. They are truly outstanding.
All the teachers and chaperones were duly impressed with the caliber of educational experiences provided to the students (and adults) today at the Burke Museum.

















Yuen Lui school photo retakes are tomorrow !


We will have a new class photo taken tomorrow for we have a new student who is an awesome member of our class! We need to have a class photo which reflects our NEW class!!


























Please note that tomorrow, Friday, October 26,2007 is Stream Study Day. Once again we will be departing Seabury at 12:45 and will be going to Dash Point State Park. We will return at approximately 2:45. I am still in need of drivers. So, if you would like to help, Mr. G. and I would be very grateful.


Tomorrow's Stream Study experiment is one Mr. G. and I learned about at the WETAG conference last week. It is definitely one which I know will be talked about for a VERY long time.




Tonight Explorers are to finish writing their letter to KING 5 regarding the contest for a new green house and $1,000.00 prize. We have an excellent opportunity to shine. The class is very excited about it. Just ask your child for I know you will hear all about it!
Spelling words for next week's Tuesday Spelling Test were passed out today. Every student received his/her individualized list.







Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Field Trip Tomorrow !




























Tomorrow morning at 9:00 we will be departing Seabury to go to the Burke Museum in Seattle. We should return by 1:30. Please make sure your child comes to school with a SACK LUNCH and a DISPOSABLE DRINK such as water or juice. Please also make sure your child is dressed appropriately for weather. We will be eating outside if weather permits. Thank you for your assistance.




That having been said, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you wonderful parents for adjusting your busy schedules to take care of your child last Thursday, Friday, and Monday. As a parent, know how challenging it can be to work outside the home and have your child not have school due to teacher in-service days. As a professional educator, it is challenging to have to spend days away from the classroom, and my family, in order to attend out of the area in-services.


Here's a little bird's eye view of my last week and this week's in-service days:


This year's in-service for the Washington Association of Talented and Gifted (WETAG) was east of the mountains. Even though we left in a windstorm on Thursday afternoon after school and traveled for 6 hours (from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.) in a van full of our faculty with Mrs. Wollum as the driver and I as the co-pilot, we managed to arrive safe and sound.


The marathon drive over the mountains to WETAG was certainly well worth it for the WETAG conference was filled with valuable and innovative information. We were with other gifted educators who understand gifted students. We had seminars from university professors who teach gifted education (a rare commodity) and who understand the challenges of teaching numerous twice exceptional gifted students in a class of profoundly gifted students. My time in these classrooms went from 7:30 in the morning until nearly 6:00 p.m.and I can truly say it was time well spent. All of the seminars were excellent. I have already implemented numerous WETAG gems into the classroom. Truly, this WETAG conference provided numerous outstanding ways in which to enhance your child's Seabury education.

The conference was over late on Friday afternoon and we all got in the van and headed back to Tacoma in the dark. We hit snow as we crossed the pass. While the snow was beautiful to see, it couldn't compare to seeing my home once again.

Monday was another productive, yet very long day for the faculty and administration. Many of us arrived at school prior to 7 a.m. It was a full day. Mrs. Wollum and I left at 6 p.m. I hear it was a beautiful day on Monday; but we teachers were inside all day working hard on enhancing Seabury's excellent curriculum and on starting our two year Self-Study.

Mr. H and I are Seabury's Self-Study Co-Coordinators. In case you were wondering, yes, Seabury is fully accredited by the State of Washington. Every 7 years we work extremely hard to renew our PNAIS accreditation. It is a two year process and involves an unbelievable commitment of time and talent from the faculty, staff, administration and the Board of Directors. These teacher in-service Self Study days that we attend throughout the year are long, and require a lot of work, yet they are extremely worthwhile. The school's Self Study process is of enormous value to the continued exceptional quality of education that Seabury provides for your child. So thank you for assisting us as we strive to achieve our goal.



Have a wonderful evening and I'm looking forward to the sack lunches, disposable drinks, appropriate clothing for the weather and of course, our awesome all school field trip in a bus to the Burke Museum!

Mrs. Gellert's Math Class: Only page 5 of the math packet.
Please note that your child will receive tomorrow his/her next week's spelling test words. Every Tuesday is our Spelling Test Day. I was so involved in teaching today that I completely neglected to pass out the individualized spelling lists! YIKES!! It is thanks to the awesome and amazing parent volunteer who comes in every Tuesday and Thursday to assist with the individualized spelling program that these lists were ready to be passed out today. I wish I could compliment her by mentioning her name, but school policy will not allow any student's name, parent's name nor their initials to be mentioned in our school websites or blogs. So just ask your child who the amazing spelling volunteer is who gets the individualized lists ready for me each week. Thank you!! Please be looking for your child's spelling list tomorrow!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

OPI Fun Photos



































There are many more OPI photos which I will continue to post on my blog. I shared my OPI powerpoint with the class this afternoon and they loved it. I am planning on putting all the photos on a cd and having your child bring it home next week. So be looking for my OPI gift to you!
Explorer homework :
Students are to complete their thank-you notes and write their OPI Reflections paper. Students will have time in class tomorrow to complete their Wordly Wise packet.
Today, students received their Spelling words for next week's Spelling test. Students will have their Spelling test in one week, next Tuesday, October 23rd.
The Thursday packet will be going home tomorrow, Wednesday. There will NOT be a Friday folder going home this week. Due to only two classroom days last week and a different schedule the few days we were in class this week, the Friday Folder will be going home NEXT week. Be looking for your child's GRADEPRO report in it NEXT week.
Due on Tuesday:
Explorers' classwork notebooks and their Reading Logs.
REMEMBER:
No school on Thursday, Friday and Monday. I will see my wonderful Explorers on Tuesday, October 23rd. I know they will be ready for their Spelling Test the day we return!

Monday, October 15, 2007

We're BACK!!




















It doesn't get much better than this!! We had such an incredibly wonderful time at the Olympic Park Institute that I can hardly wait to go back again next year!

The educational programs with their hands-on science were fantastic. I greatly appreciated how each instructor used the proper scientific terms and discussed scientific facts with the students as if the discussion was with adults. I also was so impressed, yet again, at the critical thinking questions and environmental exploration that the instructors provided. Our instructors, Claire and Megan, were extraordinary. It was an amazing experience!

The weather was perfect. Clear blue skies welcomed us each day and the sun was shining throughout our stay. Our 5 mile plus hike through the diverse eco-systems of the rain forest up to the falls was amazing. It was remarkably calm on the water which made canoeing a joy. The team building and class camaraderie exercises were incredible experiences. We had a spectacular time!

I am including numerous photos in tomorrow's posting and as the week progresses.

Please note: There will NOT be any school this week on Thursday, Friday, nor on Monday due to a two day conference at WAETAG (Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted) conference in Richland, WA and also our School Inservice Day. So, even though your child does not come to school, I am still "in class". It is amazing what we all learn from these conferences that help enhance the quality of your child's gifted education.



Tonight is a Math and Science night.

Mrs. Gellert's Math Class:

Page 6, entitled, "And You Call That Equal?" fraction paper. Also, students are to bring in one page of either today's or tomorrow's newspaper's stock market listings. If you do not subscribe to a newspaper, and I have learned today that there are two of you, then your child may tell me in the morning BEFORE CLASS, and I will provide one for him/her.

Science:

Students are to read the science sheet that is entitled"The Biggest Boosts" about liftoff locations. It is fascinating to learn why launching near the equator gives shuttles extra speed. Even though tonight is not a social studies/geography homework night, I do want each student to read this scientific article to his/her parents, and share how this relates to what they have learned in geography class. I love our thematic curriculum!







Saturday, October 6, 2007

OPI IS TOMORROW!! YEAH
















YEAH O.P.I. is TOMORROW!




Please check your child's bags to make sure EVERYTHING on the list is packed. Just in case you might have mislaid the list, please refer back to October 1st blog entry which is listed as Olympic Park Institute Clothing and Equipment List. It has EVERYTHING your child needs to bring. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, PLEASE put your child's name on the black trash bag! (Feel free to do so on the items inside as well.) For the sake of clarification: Please feel free to pack a duffel bag, and then have the bag in a black garbage bag with your child's name on it. A separate labeled garbage bag is to have the child's sleeping bag, bath towel and wash cloth, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, pajamas, robe, pillow, and flip-flops for the bathroom. Please pack a few zip lock bags for the tooth brush and a separate one so the soap can be put in it. Perhaps one for the washcloth, too. Just a suggestion from a veteran.
Never fear, Mrs. Gellert's here! I have black plastic 45 gallon garbage bags with masking tape on them for your child's name. They will be here tomorrow morning for us to put your child's gear into if need be. So, please do not fret if you do not have a large black garbage bags at home or masking tape. Not a problem.


Make sure your Explorer gets a good night's rest. I know all Explorers will be excited, but sleep is essential. So is a good breakfast. I will be serving snacks on the bus to OPI. ALL SACK LUNCHES MUST be in the student's hands as they board the bus for we will not be able to get their lunches out of the bags in the back of the bus nor the bags underneath them. Thank you.


That should about do it. Please check on yesterday's blog entry and reread it for the times of departure and arrival. We will be LEAVING at precisely 8:30 tomorrow morning. Please ARRIVE at school by 8:00 so we can start loading the bags.


ONE LAST CRITICAL ITEM: If you have ANY medications either prescription or over the counter, we MUST have them in their prescription bottles or for over the counter drugs (Tylenol, cough syrup) they must be in their boxes and/or original bottles. Please refer the following which was from Joslyn's e-mail regarding this:


From:
"Joslyn Kearns" View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert
To:
"seaburyoffice"
Subject:
One more OPI thing about meds
Date:
Thu, 4 Oct 2007 16:22:51 -0700

OPI meds need to be in their original containers - not a ziplock bag of pills we hope are what the parents say they are. That applies to Tylenol and other OTC meds as well.


It's going to be an awesome 3 days and 2 nights!! I look forward to this every year! I can hardly wait!