Math Art inspired by M.C. Escher’s Tessellations (2nd grade).

Sculptures and Mobiles inspired by Alexander Calder (Kindergarten).

Plaster Castings inspired by African masks (8th grade).

Beginners and Pre-K: They have been busy working on symmetry and using the elements and principles of design to create patterns. They created patterns with dot markers and cut symmetrical shapes out of paper.

Kindergarten: They have been using math and art to create geometric shapes for Picasso Cubist style collages. They looked at paintings and sculptures by Frank Stella and created sculptures and mobiles in the style of Alexander Calder. Here is a link to the first place winners from last year. Last year, The Summit had two kindergartners win first place in two different categories. www.moctm.org/mctm-math-contest

1st grade: Studied Inuit masks from Alaska and created some of their own with hoops, appendages, and feathers. Currently they are creating 3-D sculptures to correlate with their study of the Pacific Northwest Coast style of totem poles.

2nd grade: We discussed M.C.Escher and looked at his art to see how he combined science, architecture, math and art. They learned how to create tessellations and cut out interlocking shapes to create designs.

3rd grade: Created faux stained glass snowflakes using math art and colored cellophane and now they are starting to study Missouri state fish. *Last year one of our 3rd grade Summit art students, Lucas Reed, won place first in the national contest for his painting. www.wildlifeforever.org/home/state-fish-art

4th grade: Some students have been working on drawings of their state fish to go along with their classroom studies of the USA. Others are working in groups to create 3-D dioramas about books they have read for the Language Arts competition, LAD Fair.

5th grade: They are finishing their Asian art paintings with some creative frames. After an introduction to Pre-Columbian art they started creating 3-D animal vessels out of clay. Soon they will start carving soapstone to create amulets.

6th grade: They are working on drawings to go along with their bio poems that they wrote in their Language Arts class. Each student is illustrating their original poem with mixed media techniques using drawing and painting.

7th grade: They are finishing acrylic paintings on canvas boards and getting them ready for display. Next they will be starting a unit inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, where they will create 2-D renderings and 3-D architectural structures.

8th grade/HS: They just started a study of African mask designs using exaggeration, distortion and simplification. Next they will use these characteristics to create 3-D masks with plaster gauze and then add details with paint, beads, feathers, and raffia.

Early Learners, Beginners-Pre-K, are excited to see the snow!

They have been working on 2-D and 3-D projects in art class. Please stop by the first floor outside the art room to see their creations.

Dear Parents,

Each year as our school hosts the State of The Summit, I reflect on my involvement in your child’s educational experiences and the importance of the Arts. I might not have time to speak to each of you individually, so I thought I would express my thoughts and gratitude in this letter.

First of all, I truly LOVE teaching! I especially love teaching all subjects through the ARTS. That is why I have develop an integrated art approach to reinforce the STEM/STEAM movement and to establish the importance of the design process in education. Neuroscience research supports the relevance of art instruction and reveals it to be a necessary component of each child’s education. It illustrates the impact that arts education has on each student’s cognitive, social and emotional development. My hope is to continue to implement an evolving integrated art approach as a vital component of your child’s educational experience at The Summit.

I’m most at home when I am in the classroom and when the kids are engaged in learning. It is a magical moment when you see that spark of creativity in a child’s mind. It is a privilege few people ever have the chance to experience. I do know how fortune I am because by having this opportunity, I get to share those special moments of educational enlightenment with them. That is what inspires me, they inspire me!!!

It is truly amazing to watch them engage in learning and see their educational experiences become a reality. You can see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices, and feel it in their hearts! That is why I will always be a lifelong learner as I continue teaching the next generation.

I would like to express my appreciation and to thank you for affording me this opportunity. I love teaching at The Summit and inspiring children to use their creativity and imagination through the Arts. Thank you for sharing your children with me. As I continue teaching your children to become lifelong learners, I am confident that they in turn will continue to amaze and inspire me!

Sincerely,
Lisa Murphy
Art

BEGINNERS and PRE-K have been learning about snowflakes and creating radial symmetry. They loved watching the Broadway version of Let it Go, from the musical Frozen. Then they added blue glitter paint for ice crystals to decorate their giant snowflakes. They are currently working on painting snow on their snow people.

KINDERGARTEN learned how to cut out snowflakes to make their own stencils. They enjoyed using a stencil brush to fill in the negative spaces. They even used colored tissue paper to create some cool colored designs. Then the class did a group project to make a giant snowflake that will be displayed in the art room.

1st GRADE students created large paintings of Dream Catchers to correlate with their unit of study about Native Americans. Now they are working on Inuit mask designs, using hoops and appendages.

2nd GRADE students used their fine motor skills to create circular weaving patterns with yarn. Currently they are using all of the colors in the rainbow to a paint coral reef habitat for their sea creatures.

3rd GRADE students created dinosaur silhouettes to glue on top of their tissue paper collages. Currently they are working on framing them with dinosaur tracks. When they are finished they will be displayed at the Missouri Institute Natural Science.

4th GRADE started collaborating on a language arts group project. They will use alliteration to write about animals and then create illustrations for an original book. This group project will be entered in the LAD Fair Competition in the spring.

5th GRADE just finished their clay cartoon characters. Some students created flip book animation, while others filmed stop motion animation videos. Now they are learning about the Sumi-e brush painting style of Asian brush painting. They will be painting bamboo and landscapes. Each student will learn to write their name in Chinese calligraphy using the Sumi-e brush strokes.

6th GRADE students studied the Japanese art of Notans and learned how to use positive negative shapes for collages. They will be able to use these for the Math Art contest in the spring.

7th GRADE students have been learning about Graphic Design. They are creating Logos, Illustrated Words and Visual Word Pictures.

8th GRADE/HS students created Op Art paintings, using geometric shapes, which can be used for the Math Art contest in the spring. Currently they are working on expressionistic style seascapes or landscapes using oil pastels.

Dear Parents,

Please check your child’s backpack when they get home. I sent home all of the items from our Art to Remember fundraiser today. I want to thank everyone for helping us raise money for art supplies. The kids were very excited to see their art printed on the various items!

If you did not have a chance to order items you may still do so until the end of the year online at arttoremember.com.

Thank you and have a wonderful week with your family!

Dear Parents,

Please feel free to stop by the art room for a visit during parent teacher conferences. I truly enjoy working with all of your children and I would love to share with you some of their latest creations. Don’t forget to look for your child’s artwork in The Summit Art Exhibit in the first floor hallway, Beginners through High School. It starts in the art room and goes all the way down the hall to the music room.

At The Summit, ART is an integral part of a child’s educational experience. I have developed a curriculum that integrates the expressive arts: painting, drawing, and sculpture, and drama with a STEAM/STEM approach. This includes the integration of math, history, language arts, science, engineering and technology in art lessons throughout the year. An Integrated Art curriculum helps students make the necessary connections for a well rounded educational experience at all grade levels. This integrated STEAM/STEM approach enables children to develop confidence in critical thinking and communication skills, while learning to use innovation and creativity. My goal is to integrate art so your child can build their self-confidence and achieve higher learning skills that can be used for years to come throughout their educational journey. Hope to see you soon!

Thank you,
Lisa Murphy

ART

Beginners and Pre-K have been working with geometric shapes (circles, squares, triangles) and with warm colors for fall (red,yellow,orange). They have been learning to use scissors, crayons, markers, and watercolors to create their art projects.They loved creating ribbon dancer spirals with fall leaves and using them when dancing to fall songs.

Kindergarten created family portraits after viewing the art of Norman Rockwell. Then they created some very impressive paintings of flowers in vases after studying Vincent van Gogh. The class used warm colors of tempera paint to create the objects and cool colors to paint the backgrounds.

1st Grade art students created pet portraits as a collage project. Then we started studying animal adaptations.They especially enjoyed learning about how clever crows and ravens can be by watching videos of how these birds use tools. For a fall project they created monochromatic paintings with a full moon and added silhouettes of bats in various sizes.

2nd grade art students used textures to print leaves and added fall colors with chalk pastels which are on display outside the art room. Then they created space craft patterned after animals. The students had the opportunity to send their final drawings to NASA for the annual art calendar contest. This class also really enjoyed learning how to use their computers to create technology art for the math art contest.

3rd grade art students studied birds of Missouri and their habitats. They enjoyed listening to the bird calls while drawing their favorite birds in their sketchbooks. They loved creating 3-D sculptures of birds, including nests, eggs, and even baby birds. This class also had an opportunity to participate in the NASA art calendar contest.

4th grade has been studying ocean ecology and the importance of recycling. They have used a variety of recycled plastic objects in their art projects to create their sea creatures. They used acrylic paint to blend cool colors and used monochromatic blends to simulate light shining through the ocean. They added silhouettes of sea creatures for an underwater view of a coral reef.

5th grade has been working on cartoon comic strips and creating their own original 3-D cartoon characters. We viewed old video clips to understand the history of animation and discussed flip books, as well as computer generated animation. We viewed the art of a local Missouri artist, Kent Melton. His sculptures have been used by Disney and Pixar to create many animated movies over the last few decades.

6th grade just finishing working on their large Pop art sculpture projects inspired by Oldenburg. After studying the art of Andy Warhol and Peter Max they are creating 2-D Pop art projects with mixed media techniques. Some students are using their computers to create technology art using patriotic symbols of eagles and the Statue of Liberty.

7th grade finished relief printing techniques followed by scratch art etchings and charcoal drawings. Currently they are working on their giant insect sculptures.

8th grade and High School students have been working on improving their drawing skills by using pencil to complete black and white photographs. This study of photo-realism helps each student build confidence in their drawing abilities. Their drawings will be on display for parent teacher conferences.

Middle school and High School art students are currently working on 3-D insects. After studying the Pop art style of Claes Oldenburg, they drew sketches and then enlarged their ideas. They are using a variety of materials including styrofoam and wire for their sculptures. We are hoping to display some of these outdoors in the springtime in the backyard garden

Dear Parents,

Just a reminder, I will be mailing the checks in next week for our annual art fundraiser. You may return the order form with your check if you would like for me to mail it or you may order online by using the personal order code on the back of your order form. If you order online please do so next week, that way you will receive the items in December with our group order. You may order later online but the items may not arrive with the group order and there may be additional shipping charges.

Also, a few parents asked if they could order from previous years. I called the company and found out that you can do so, if you are interested. The company can make quilt blocks and a couple parents wanted to order them so they can make quilts with their children’s artwork from the last few years.

The company will also accept additional artwork that your child creates at home if you scan and email it to them. Then you can have it put on any of the items included in the order form and the proceeds will go to The Summit’s Art Department.

If you have trouble locating past artwork or have any questions about scanning new artwork you can call Art to Remember. 800-895-8777.

Art students, Beginners though High School, have been working on our annual art fundraising activity called ART TO REMEMBER. Students created original artwork that was sent to a company so their images could be printed on a variety of objects. Parents have the opportunity to purchase their children’s artwork on items such as mugs, cell phone cases, tote bags, greeting cards, etc. The proceeds will go towards art supplies for this school year.
The personalized order forms were sent home last week and should be sent back to school by Monday, October 28. You may also order online at ArtToRemember.com using your personalized online order code on your order form. The items will be delivered to The Summit in about a month and will be given to the students to take home.

Art to Remember is an annual favorite of students as well as parents. It is empowering for the students to see their own artwork printed professionally on objects. Parents are able to purchase these items for themselves or give these items as presents to grandparents and relatives. These are truly special gifts that provide an opportunity to show off each child’s artistic and creative talents. My own children participated in a fundraiser like this when they were in school and I cherish those special keepsakes. As my mother always said “We are making memories!”

Thank you for supporting ART at The Summit!!!

Sincerely,
Lisa Murphy

The NATURE ART CLUB has been focusing on BIRDS during the first after school enrichment session. There were 11 students in the class and each learned a unique bird call for their favorite bird. We went outside and practiced while they sketched the birds in The Summit’s BIG BACKYARD. Students were very excited to have three LIVE BIRDS visit our class from the DICKERSON PARK ZOO, a Sussex Chicken, a Screech Owl and a New Guinea Cockatoo. A new class will start in a few weeks with a new theme and we plan to feature another ZOO animal visit.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The 7th grade students had a blast working with Mrs. Swinney and the alcohol inks to create their Gala Galaxy designs. They loved seeing their colors mix and change as they used the straws to blow the ink. They were able to apply what they had learned in art by mixing primary to create secondary colors. A BIG thank you to Mrs. Swinney for helping the 7th grade students with their gala art project. Each student made two paintings that will be used for the class collage. The group work will be mounted and framed for the Gala Art Auction. The next art project for 7th grade will be relief printing.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.