Students at Grady Middle School got a lesson in the creation of site-specific art installations recently when they made 12 life-size human-figure sculptures as a part of their studies on public art.
After studying the work of renowned artist Mark Jenkins and his creative tape sculptures, students were asked to examine a specific section of the Grady campus which is exposed to high volumes of traffic during morning and afternoon commutes, and then conceptualize a sculpture installation that would best use the unique layout of the space.
To create the sculptures, students first posed one of their classmates in the desired position and then encased them in multiple layers of packing tape, one body section at a time. Once each section of the form was complete, students carefully removed it, and then assembled the full figures. Students then faced with the challenge of how to install the work so that the art was safe and secure and resistant to movement or destruction from the elements.
“The artwork has created a buzz in the neighborhood with parents and community members stopping to comment on the creativity of our students,” said Principal Gretchen Kasper-Hoffman.
The sculptures—which range from realistic to whimsical to surreal—will be on display at the corner of San Felipe and Sage through May 15.
Red Elementary recycling project at benefits cancer research
Fifth-grade Student Council members at Red Elementary School organized a schoolwide recycling project for Earth Day. Red students collected more than 175 pounds of cans, and earned just over $100, which they donated to Texas Children’s Hospital for pediatric cancer research.
Pictured in front of the truck loaded with some of the cans are Jayden Brown, Kitty Occhipenti, Lauryn Maxie, Dariana Salgado, Brian Spencer, and Yoli Diaz.
Long Academy students use Meadows grant to benefit TX Children’s patients
Due to their school’s focus on pharmaceutical studies, students at the Long Academy used the Meadows Grant they received to buy books, toys, and games for children at Texas Children’s Hospital to enjoy.
The students delivered baskets of colorfully organized goodies to the hospital on Good Friday, where volunteer staff noted that the students had donated enough goods to serve an entire wing of the hospital. The students would like to extend a special thanks to their biology teacher Regina Viktorin and English teacher Morgan Dewitt, who chaperoned and aided them with their service project.
Giant hot air balloon appears at T.H. Rogers
It’s a bird; it’s a plane; it’s a giant, seven-story tall hot-air balloon on my kid’s elementary school playground!
A 70-foot-tall red, white, and blue hot-air balloon owned by RE/MAX tethered at T.H. Rogers School on April 15 to illustrate the principles of thermodynamics (hot air rises) to students.
“Thai Klam, a realtor with RE/MAX 360 arranged this “How Hot Air Rises” program for us,” said science teacher Susan Smith, “and the kids have been really looking forward to seeing a demonstration of what we’ve been studying.”
Sherman ES students dissect owl pellets, study slime at annual science day
Fifth-graders at Sherman Elementary School hosted its annual science day for fifth-grade students on April 21, and students explored a variety of stations in the cafeteria targeting specific state curriculum objectives, including adaptations, weather/climate, shadows/tides, and sedimentary rock formation.
Students dissected owl pellets to find the skeleton of small animals and figure out their adaptations. They also created balloon rockets, learned about the phases of the moon, and prepared a batch of “oobleck,” a type of slime made with water and corn starch that was popularized in a Dr. Seuss book.
Brookline ES recognizes retired educator on Librarian’s Day
Brookline Elementary School celebrated Librarian’s Day on April 16 with a reception in honor of Cheryl E. Hill, the campus’ librarian from 2002 until 2011. Because of the hard work and passion of Ms. Hill, the library was transformed into a full-fledged reading resource room, complete with updated shelving, new books, an office, and a bathroom.
Principal Marco I. Morales presented Ms. Hill with a portrait that is now hanging in the library. Special guests included current and former HISD employees, as well as friends and relatives of Ms. Hill.
Burbank ES hosts ‘crocodile encounter’ to reward perfect attendance
Burbank Elementary Schoolrecognized students who have maintained perfect attendance and good conduct records recently by letting them get up close and personal with a variety of reptiles.
The principal arranged for professional animal handlers and their charges from The Crocodile Experience to come to her campus on April 11.
Eighth annual livestock auction shatters previous records
The annual livestock show and auction conducted jointly by the animal husbandry programs at Austin and Chavez High Schools broke records this year in auction totals, attendance, and sponsorship.
The total auction proceeds were $85,986 this year, which topped previous 2013 by more than $4,000. In addition, 114 buyers registered at this year’s show, topping last year’s 105, and there were more than 300 people in attendance, bettering last year’s estimate of 250.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment that is owed to the hard work of our FFA faculty sponsors, our students, sponsors and families involved on a day to day basis in the program,” said Austin High School Principal Arredondo. “For two urban schools, Austin and Chavez have vibrant National FFA Organization (formerly Future Farmers of America) (FFA) programs whose success is unmatched across the state.”
Students from Madison High School and Harper Alternative also showed and auctioned their livestock and projects at the event.
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