Second Graders Present at Guggenheim

Our second graders took center stage at the Guggenheim last week when they presented "Look, Imagine, Create: Collages, Paintings, Drawings, and Constructions." The event was the culmination of the boys' fall semester art unit, which takes place at the Guggenheim over several weeks, through Saint David's partnership with the museum.

In the first part of the event's program, the boys led gallery tours for visiting parents, first graders, and faculty and staff, presenting what they had learned about particular works, such as Picasso's Mandolin and Guitar and Hilma af Klint's The Ten Largest.

Then it was down to the Guggenheim art studios for a display of the boys' original art creations, which had been inspired by their learning throughout this unit, under the expert guidance of their art teachers Melanie Fidler, Emily Melander, and Jenna Boccella, and Guggenheim Museum Educator Hollie Ecker.

Saint David's art program in second grade revolves around the boys' firsthand interaction with works of art at museums. Boys develop a sound vocabulary about art and are able to articulate their learning abut line, color, abstraction, texture, attachment techniques, and materials, all while having the opportunity to study masterpieces up close.

This partnership exemplifies the school's commitment to its aesthetics pillar, and enables our boys to benefit from all that the Guggenheim offers, just a few doors down from our school.

Comments

NE Patriot Tom Brady at Saint David’s

Last night, Saint David’s was honored to have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, four time Superbowl champion and three-time MVP winner Tom Brady, as the guest speaker for our Alumni Parents Council Lecture Series. Tom, who is the father of one of our Saint David's boys, addressed a standing-room-only audience in Hyman Hall comprised of our eighth graders, alumni, alumni parents and faculty. Friendly, introspective, witty, and wise, he directed his talk to the delighted eighth graders in the front of the room, and focused on the topic of leadership. “You are the young men and leaders of Saint David’s,” he noted. Tom debunked the perception that leaders are born not made, and credited his leadership abilities to “standing up to and facing fears” and to “cultivating a mental strength,” which he cited as “more important than being physically strong.” He also stressed the importance of working hard, honoring teamwork, believing in oneself and being a good lis

Digital Universe Unit With AMNH-Hayden Planetarium Kicks Off

The second year of our unique partnership with the American Museum of Natural History-Hayden Planetarium kicked off on Friday when the sixth grade had their first session of the Digital Universe unit. The session included a private viewing at the planetarium in which boys were able to explore the entire universe. They and their teachers were invited to view the show from the vantage point of the floor in the center of the round theater, staring up into the apex of the dome. What an amazing perspective! Museum educator and astro-visualization expert Nathan Belomy took the boys on a tour of the observable universe, allowing them to get a feel for the scale of distance and size in the universe. In a fun activity related to scale, the boys set down a volleyball (representing the sun) at 79th Street, and walked for blocks down Columbus avenue with the planets in our solar system represented by a variety of smaller objects – a cupcake sprinkle, a marble – predicting and then measu

"Lord of the Flies" Survival Game

Seventh graders are immersed in an "island survival" adventure related to their study of William Golding's 1954 classic Lord of the Flies . The novel tells the story of a group of school-age boys marooned on an uninhabited island, where they struggle to survive without a government or rules. In this creative, unique activity that spans 10 class sessions, our boys are assigned to belong to one of two "tribes." Using knowledge gained from history classes in the fall, they first determine what type of government system to adopt. During the simulations, they strategize methods to overcome obstacles and acquire resources such as wood, food, shelter, and water. The simulation requires the boys to negotiate, debate, and reflect critically on their decisions as they face challenges to their survival. In journals, they regularly write about their thinking, their decisions and consequences. Writing skills are further developed and honed. In addition to analy

Headmaster's Blog

Search This Blog