2006/2007 School Year:
ArtLinks was launched at Salvador Elementary School in August 2006. The first year of the project involved 1st – 5th grade students learning dance, music, and visual arts – and directly applying their lessons to their other academic subjects.
In the Spring of 2007, an after-school element was added to the ArtLinks program at both Salvador and McPherson Elementary School. 40 students participated at Salvador, while 80 students engaged at McPherson. The programs bridged artists from the in-school day into after school to provide a truly organic art experiences for all students involved. In addition, all grades contributed in painting a community mural.
2007/2008 School Year
This year, our programs have developed to provide even more enriching experiences to children at Salvador and McPherson Elementary Schools.
Salvador Elementary School
At Salvador, 2nd – 5th grade students began the during-school program by engaging in visual arts classes. Students explored the mediums of water-color painting and collage, and integrated the experiences into their academic writing standards. Students developed a wider vocabulary by learning concepts such as “monochrome”, “hue”, “warm/cold colors” and “primary colors”. They also integrated writing concepts such as telling a story, building upon drafts, and idea development – into their artwork.
In the Winter, the program expanded to include Kindergarten and 1st grade students, who have learned mosaics. Students are culminating their experience by participating in a community project, constructing mosaic stepping stones for their school. 2nd through 5th grade students shifted their focus from visual to performing arts. These students are engaging in an interactive theater arts class, which is providing many of the California Content Standards for Theater.
The After School program also expanded to 80 students, and has benefited from the strong leadership of community artist Miki Hsu-Leavey. Miki, who coordinates the program, has brought in many artists to work with children during the after school hours, including artists specializing in painting, illustration, mosaics, ceramics, origami, and kung-fu. Miki has also been an invaluable resource and consultant for the during-school programs as well.
Students in both programs will culminate their creative work during Community Performances and Art Galleries at Salvador’s Open house on May 21st, 2008.
McPherson Elementary School
Our during-school program has expanded to McPherson Elementary this year, and now provides all 617 students with weekly arts instruction. Students Kindergarten through 5th grade are learning painting, collage, mosaics, illustration, ceramics, sculpture, dance, theater, or kung-fu. Students, teachers, and artists alike have expressed appreciation and excitement for the new program – and look forward to each day art comes into their classroom.
The After School program at McPherson expanded to 180 students this year, and has built upon last year’s model to provide arts-based enrichment activities to participating students. Children have engaged in painting, drawing, chorus, dance, drumming, and ceramics – as well as weekly Physical Education and Nutrition programs.
In December of 2007, students in both programs culminated their creative work from the Fall in a Winter Celebration of the Arts. Children’s excellent art work ordained the entire Multi-use building, and children performed story-telling, dance, chorus, and percussion productions. Students will culminate the second-half of their year’s creative work at McPherson’s May Fiesta on May 16th, 2008.
