Whirled Peace!

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two Florida art teachers as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. The project was quickly embraced by their students and the entire school community and by millions of art teachers, teachers, parents, children and adults who desire peace in our world. Last year in 2012, over four million pinwheels were spinning in over 3,000 locations around the world! (If you go to their website and click on the "locations" tab, you can see where pinwheels are installed. You can even zoom in to Baltimore and find Calvert School!)

In advisory this week, all middle schoolers were invited to create pinwheels for the project. On one side, students wrote their thoughts about peace / tolerance/ living in harmony with others, and on the other, they visually expressed their feelings through art. September 21st is International Day of Peace, so we displayed the pinwheels outside today as a public statement and art exhibit/installation. Again this year I was so excited to have the lower school on board and we have over 550 pinwheels outside created by 6th agers-8th graders, lining the path between the two schools. We hope the spinning of the pinwheels in the wind spreads thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country, the world!

 My 8th grade advisory girls working on their pinwheels:

 I grabbed a group of students from the Atrium early this morning to help install the pinwheels out on the path:

 Thanks guys!

 Can't leave out my littlest helper- my two year old daughter!

Happy International Day of Peace!

Advisory: First Day and Big/Little Sis Ice Cream Social

Here are a few photos from our first day of school together last Wednesday- Advisory activities on the field:

Getting settled with schedules, lockers, etc.

This afternoon in Study Hall, 8th graders met their 5th grade "Little Sisters" (and the boys, their brothers) and had a little ice cream party in the Atrium. We match up 5th and 8th graders every year in order to give 5th graders someone to look up to, seek advice from, or just to wave to comfortably in the hallway... Here are a few pics from the event!

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Congrats!

Wishing my very special advisory group of young ladies love and luck as they graduate today and head to high school! Here is a pic of us from the Dixon Dinner last night- I will miss them all!

Empty Bowls!

 8th Grade girls spent four advisory periods in February creating bowls to donate to St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore's "Empty Bowls" fundraiser (learn more about the event and see the girls at work here). Well, the event was on Saturday and I had the pleasure of attending. I stuffed myself with delicious soup (my favorite was the Chunky Cajun Tomato Bisque provided by Whiskey Island Pirate Shop), was entertained by singers from Loyola College, checked out the auction items and of course, I got to take home a bowl of my choosing. It was neat to see some of the bowls our 8th graders created among the mix, although many had already gone to their new homes! Here are some photos of the event:

Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls is St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore's signature fundraising event. St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore is a leading provider of community services that build better futures. Each year, over 55,000 people are helped through their comprehensive services that stabilize families, meet basic needs, and foster self-sufficiency. Every $100 raised through support of the Empty Bowls event provides 50 meals for people in Baltimore who are hungry.

At Empty Bowls, ticket holders get to eat a soup supper (soups from Baltimore's top restaurants!), partake in raffles, a silent auction and family entertainment... and each gets to choose a handcrafted ceramic bowl to take home to remind them of those whose bowls remain empty. This year's event is:

Saturday, March 23, 2013
Lunch from 12:00-2:30 or
Dinner from 5:00-7:30
at
Timonium Fairgrounds
2200 York Rd. 
4-H Building

Tickets are $20 per person (children under 5 are free).

To support the movement to prevent hunger and homelessness in our community, eighth grade girls spent two days in advisory constructing ceramic bowls and two days glazing them. We will donate 26 bowls to the event and hopefully, many can attend as well! Here are some photos of the girls working on the bowls, and the finished pieces:

Door Decorating Contest

Last week's Space Week involved a door decorating contest, and my advisory did a really cute space alien theme that covered my whole classroom window. We came in 2nd place, and, not that we are sore losers, but we were totally jipped :)

Outreach Trip to Paul's Place

Yesterday after school, the 8th grade girls' advisories traveled to Paul's Place, an outreach center in Baltimore. The girls worked with kids in their afterschool program, helping with homework, sharing a sweet treat and making a holiday craft. We had a great time bringing smiles and service to others. Here are some photos from our trip!

Homework help:

Making our messy but fun craft project- Quart sized mason jars filled with the dry ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies, complete with a handwritten recipe card and decorative lid! (Want to make your own? Recipe here!)

Cupcakes... Yum!!