James Morris School
Weekly Newsletter, Vol. 12.14.2017
4th Grade at the Morris Senior Center
Mrs. Bills and Mrs. Maritano's 4th Grade Class serenaded at the Morris Senior Center last week with holiday songs and cheer!
Norman Rockwell Museum Field Trip
Celebration of Reading Tomorrow!
The JMS Book Rejuvenation Project is ready for our friends from across the three elementary schools!
Pajama and Movie Party?
If we reach our school-wide goal for the number of minutes read December 21st goal, all JMS classes are welcome to hold a pajama-party movie-viewing (G-rated film version of a book of the class's choosing) on Friday, the 22nd. In order to reach this target, it will be important that all students do their part each week. The challenge is on!
Teaching for Artistic Behaviors (TAB). What is TAB?
By: Laurie Sweet
Greetings from the art world!
My initiative for teaching a new philosophy and different methodology, Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB), was inspired originally by attending the National Arts Education Conference in New York City (March 2017). I attended a presentation about Samantha Varain’s MA thesis, Choosing Creatively: Choice-Based Art Education in an Inclusive Classroom. Ms. Varain’s research showed 100% engagement by students in a choice-based learning environment. When I attended the Northwest Arts Council workshop at EdAdvance (Spring 2017), the TAB model, which was originally founded in Massachusetts over 35 years ago and is a “nationally recognized education approach in teaching,” was also a top topic of discussion.
Through TAB, students experience authentic exploration and learning practices that are interest based. Centers may vary but often include: Drawing, Painting, Collage, Fiber Arts, Clay/Ceramics, Sculpture, and Printmaking. In the Region 6 elementary art classroom, an additional center may include Mixed Media, in which more than one material is used in the artmaking process. TAB aligns with the workshop model that promotes student-centered choice-based learning through centers in the art room. Choice-based art experiences support multiple intelligences and learning modalities, which in turn generate student engagement.
All elementary students are now on the journey of art center-based learning. Primary grades have more modeling and introduction to skills for the success of experimenting with various tools and materials, while the upper grades have more independence in designing and implementing an Art Project Plan. There is an openness and willingness to make mistakes and to be reflective of self and peers during the process and the final product. While one objective is to strive to develop Craft (quality work with use of materials), other objectives include: Engage and Persist, Envision, Express, Observe, Stretch and Explore, Understand the Art World, and Reflect. These Studio Habits of Mind objectives are credited to The Art of Education, which link directly to the TAB mindset.
Students have been unpacking centers by experimenting with tools and materials and generating artwork that does not necessarily look the same as everyone else’s. There may be times that students create a similar project to learn a new skill, but more often than not, the art experiences may be messy as a means of revising. The TAB journey allows for mistakes, revisions, and abandonment of a project (at times) to allow for authentic and real-world experiences.
As past practice, most 2D art projects will come home, as a collection, in a portfolio in early June. The portfolio allows for work to come home undamaged and to house a body of work throughout the academic year for displays, art shows, and assessment. Students will keep sketchbook journals to include drawings and reflections of their process.
There will be projects and/or practices in the trying out of tools and materials that come home from time to time, but the real journey will be in student exploration of projects of interest. Please do not hesitate to volunteer in the art room or reach out to me at lsweet@rsd6.org. Thank you so much.
Of note: Donations of materials such as magazines, newspapers, cardboard, egg cartons, etc. are always welcome.
Little Hats, Big Hearts
Holiday Assistance
To the families of Region 6:
In collaboration with representatives from town hall, Region 6 has managed to streamline a network of care for local families in need during the winter holidays. This year, we are once again organizing our annual district-wide holiday drive and we need your help! This drive will run from Monday, November 13th - Tuesday, December 18th, and we are looking for food items, gift cards, or stocking-stuffers that we can use to supplement packages for identified families.
For further information regarding donations, please follow the link to our donor letter below for all of the details regarding dropoff and specifics on what we are looking for:
Donor Letter for Holiday Assistance
If you are a family residing in Warren, Morris, or Goshen and think you may need some support this holiday season with gifts, food, clothing, etc., please follow the link below to your corresponding town and complete the confidential needs assessment to be used during our scope of service. Please read and follow all of the directions carefully as they include essential information regarding the drive and the logistics involved.
Holiday Assistance Needs Assessment: Warren
Holiday Assistance Needs Assessment: Morris
Holiday Assistance Needs Assessment: Goshen
Holiday drive contact information by town:
Morris - Laurel Gillotti (860) 567-7430
Goshen - Colleen Kinkade (860) 491-2249
Warren - Samantha Sommerer (860) 868-7881
Wamogo - Steven Bagley or Sarah Bolton (860) 567-7410
GCS/Warren Elementary - Kristin Lutz (860) 491-6020 or (860) 868-2223
James Morris School - Gina Fleming (860) 567-7420
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Instrumental Band Concerts
Instrumental Band is gearing up for their winter concerts! The Fourth Grade Informance will be Tuesday, December 19th at 5:30pm at Warren School. It will be their debut on stage altogether as a band! Jazz Band will open up this concert. We hope to see many faces there. All are welcome!
Pre-Kindergarten Winter Performances
4-H Club's Special Guests: Rabbits!
Technology
Upcoming Calendar Events
Fri., December 15th: Three-School Reading Celebration @ JMS, 9:30 AM
Tues, December 19th: 4th Grade Concert with Jazz Band at Warren School, 5:30 PM
Mon., December 25th-January 1st: Winter Recess
Mon., January 8th: BOE Meeting @ 7:00 PM at District Office
Wed., January 10th: Early Dismissal @ 1:30 PM - Teacher's Professional Development
Thurs, January 11th: 5th & 6th Grade Winter Concert at 6:30 PM in Wamogo Auditorium
Mon., January 15th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
Flyers and Forms
Our School Vision
Our vision for James Morris School is to be highly regarded for our students' academic growth, and for instilling in students the desire to strive for the intrinsic value, rewards and opportunities that result from quality, professionalism, and pride in one’s work. To achieve this vision, we believe in:
A culture of academia
A strong partnership with parents and the community
A growth-mindset for students and staff
Research-based practices
Authentic hands-on learning experiences for all students
Awareness and understanding of issues related to diversity - social, cultural, and cognitive
Embedded character education and promotion of strong habits of mind
Regional School District No. 6 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Title IX - Contact
Debbie DeLisle
98 Wamogo Road, Litchfield, CT 06759
860-567-6656
Section 504 - Contact
Debra Foley
98 Wamogo Road, Litchfield, CT 06759
860-567-6642