Dear Parents and Friends,

GIFTS FOR GIVING was a huge success this year THANKS to the dedication and imagination of our supportive parents: Buffy Root and Regina Thompson with the initial ideas, Ulrica Hudson, Julie Bristol, Amy Emler Shaffer, Pam DeAndrea, Amy Saunders, Paige Canfield, Donna Legare, Sage Kennedy, and our guest parent and presenter Nel Emlen. Our principal, Grace Hoffman, and Julie Bristol helped with sewing the pouches, and Ulrica Hudson cut many motives from felt to use for decorations. Nancy Pulsifer, our great cook, spoiled us with breakfast treats and lunch bags. Monie Hudson donated wrapping paper and PTO reimbursed parents for larger amounts of supplies. Thank you all in behalf of the happy children!

All students finished their self-portrait paintings from Kindergarten to the 3rd grade.  4^th grade completed a texture bank of animal fur or scales using pastels. When using charcoal, they developed positive/negative shapes that describe the art element of ‘value’.  5/6^th graders printed their “famous artist” reproductions with several colors and they did a fabulous job writing the artist’s biographies. You can read and see them in the hall outside their classroom.

We started our 3-DM projects with clay: Kindergarten students worked on pinch pots and small animals like snails or snakes. First and Second graders learned to score and they created snowmen, gnomes, or penguins. Third grade students integrated with their classroom unit of Native American, and they worked on coil pots as ‘spirit bowls’ and rattles for the children. 4^th graders built an animal puppet from their VT animal studies with textures. And, 5/6^th grade students worked on a small self-portrait bust with a profile by adding and subtracting clay. They finished their clay projects with a mask that describes different expressions.

Now, that the Holiday Season is near, I am wishing all of you a restful vacation and a very creative and Happy New Year!
Mrs. Holmes-Heiss