Muir Specialist Newsletter 12/11/23

Good afternoon John Muir community. See what students are learning in Art, P.E., and Music.  

From Studio 14 ~

We have been having so much fun in the art room this trimester! Kindergarten has been learning how to draw and paint using different materials, and we just started a unit on designing and building robot portraits using recycled objects! First grade has been learning about Japanese Pop Art inspired by the patterns of Yaiyoi Kusama and the designs by Takashi Murakami. It’s all about bright colors and playful images. Second grade has just started a unit on architecture starting with Islamic Design and the magnificent Taj Mahal. Third grade has been exploring printmaking using symbols that reflect our identities. This unit is connected to our collaboration with Seattle Art Museum. Fourth grade just finished creating their own mini food trucks paper sculptures. It was fun to share them with some of our kinders and 1st graders. Fifth has been making AMAZING fantasy figure sculptures using wire, tin foil, plaster and paint. We are in the final stages of making clothing and accessories out of fabric and other materials. Next trimester all grades will get an opportunity to explore hand building techniques using clay. Please reach out if you have any questions, expertise to share, looking to volunteer, or just to say hi! I can be reached at jltrout@seattleschools.org. Thank you for sharing your student with me! Xo Ms. T

PE is off to a Roaring Start!

We have been hard at work on skills, fitness, sports, and games this first trimester. I am prouder of our continual work on sportsmanship that has been on display. This year, I have really seen an effort of students trying to encourage each other in their successes and pick each other up when someone is having a hard day! Did you know? Seattle Public Schools has a long standing partnership with Cascade Bicycle Club. Every year, elementary schools in SPS get a 3 week bike and pedestrian unit thanks to Cascade Bicycle Club. In addition, SPS has a partnership with Outdoors for All. Outdoors for All provides adapted bikes and equipment for students on an as needed basis! This bike unit has been a part of my program for 3rd through 5th graders at John Muir for about a decade now. Starting this year, SPS also has a partnership with All Kids Bike which will allows me to teach Kindergarten and 1st grade students how to ride a strider bike. I’m so excited for great partnerships and for the ability for all students to get a chance to ride a bike! If you are a bike person and would be interested in helping out when I do the bike unit for Kindergarten and 1st graders, please reach out! Or, if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to say hi, I can be reached at drdowns@seattleschools.org. Thank you! -Mr. D

Music Notes ~

This year, the students will be performing in music concerts during the school day! Our first concert will be in January, so I will be sending out more information soon. Every grade has been working on their own piece — singing, dancing, signing; playing Boomwhackers, xylophones, and all sorts of percussion. They are excited to get to share their hard work! The fourth graders have also been preparing an extra piece that they will be performing as the last act of the John Muir Kwanzaa Celebration on December 13 (4:30pm—6:30pm). If you have any questions, musical experiences or expertise to share, or if you just want to say hi, please email me at mlprince@seattleschools.org! Thank you!

Mr. Prince