Welcome back to the Westlawn Art Blog!

Hello Westlawn Families!

I'm so excited to be returning to Westlawn on November 27th! Of course it is bittersweet, since it means I will no longer be able to spend days at home with my 3 month old daughter, Naomi (I'm sure many of you know what that's like... pray for me)! Despite that heartache, I am truly excited to see all my students and get back to creating art with them!

I was so fortunate to have an excellent long term sub while I was on leave. Johanna Schread has an extensive art background and is currently enrolled in UWM for art education. Her role as my long term sub gave her a good look into the life of an elementary art teacher, and she did a great job diving right in! Her last day at Westlawn is tomorrow (November 21st). Please join me in thanking her for her hard work and dedication to our Westlawn students over the past couple of months. She did a wonderful job!

I look forward to updating the blog at the end of December with pictures and descriptions of students and their work. I hope you have had a chance to talk with your kids about what they have been doing in art so far this school year. Lots of good stuff!

While I don't have any pictures of student work, I do have a few photos of our sweet daughter (at 10 days old) and our new family of three!

Naomi Rose
Born August 15, 2017

April Art Update!

Thanks for stopping by to see what our Westlawn students having been doing in art class throughout the month of April! THANK YOU to all who sent in t.p rolls and newspaper! You can keep the newspaper coming, but we are sell set with the t.p. rolls☺

Perhaps the greatest highlight from this past month was the Monster Project that took place between our Westlawn kindergartners and the Cedarburg High School art students! Earlier in the school year, the kindergarten students completed two-dimensional paintings of a monster that they invented. They even gave their monster a name and described their personality. I then (secretly) sent the paintings to the high school, where art teacher extraordinaire, Julie Grisar, worked with her high schoolers to make 3-D versions of the monsters. This is new project that we tried district wide and it was a great success!

Of course, the most exciting event that took place was the monster delivery this past week. The high school students walked over to WL and delivered each of the 3-D monsters to their kindergarten friend. The students were basically speechless. Many of them said they went home and ate dinner with their monster, played with their monster, and of course slept with their monster. We made sure to write some sweet thank you cards to our talented high school friends!❤

Part two of the high school group (the students came to deliver monsters on two separate days). We even had a couple WL alumni in the mix!

Here are some other pictures to give you a taste of what each grade level has been working on... ☺

Kindergarten

1st grade

2nd grade

3rd grade

4th grade

5th grade

March Art Update!

Welcome to April! Only ONE week away from spring break☺ Yahoo!

ART SHOW season is among us! The Student Gallery of Art opened TODAY (4/2) at the Cedarburg Cultural Center and the Student Art Matters exhibit opens THIS WEDNESDAY (4/5) at the Cedarburg Art Museum! Even if your child did not receive an art show letter this time around, it is still worth going to see if you have some time! At each location there is a variety of artwork represented including K-12 artwork, as well as artwork from professional artists! We are so fortunate to live in such an art enriched community!

Here are some pictures from the artist's reception...

Westlawn art display at Cedarburg Cultural Center 2017

This past month has also been a time of continued growth in the art room. Please take a look at each grade level to see what the students have been up to. Here's a preview...

Kindergarten The Little Engine That Could paintings

First Grade VanGogh Inspired Sunflowers

Second Grade Fantasy Tree Houses

Third Grade Creative Color Wheels

Fourth Grade Radial Record Designs

Fifth Grade Clay Cake Slices

February Art Update!

How was your February? Here in the art room it was a busy month, particularly with the BIG Westlawn Carnival! Were you able to go? If so, hopefully you had a chance to see your child's artwork on display! Every grade did a fabulous job creating artwork to fit the theme, "Around the World." Each student was so proud to have their artwork up for all to see!

February was also a month of LOVE, it being Valentines Day and all 💗 This year, Valentines Day was pretty special for my husband (Craig) and me, since we announced that we are going to be parents at the end of the summer! Baby Miller is due August 14th! We are beyond excited!

As always, please take a look at your child's grade to see pictures and descriptions of their latest art project. Here's a little preview of what took place in February...

January Art Update!

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by!

During the month of January we transitioned to working on projects for the upcoming Westlawn Carnival on February 11th! Did you hear this year's theme? AROUND THE WORLD! Such a cool theme, and so fitting for art! I spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas of what to do... the options were numerous! Eventually I settled on having each grade focus on a mini theme that fits the BIG theme. Each grade level is learning about either a culture or artist from different parts of the world. Russia, Japan, Brazil, Egypt, and many other places are being represented through the students' artwork! You'll have to check out each grade level to see what type of "worldly" artwork they are creating! I hope you are able to come and see the artwork in person on Saturday February 11th, as every student will have something on display!☺

Here's a little preview...

Also... this month I put up an art display at the District Board Room. In the past students have received a letter and ribbon for being selected, but this year with so much of the artwork on display being digital copies (due to the Original Works fundraiser), the artwork was put up simply for viewing pleasure by those that have meetings in the board room. I have received lots of compliments and pictures were even posted on the District Facebook page! This is a compliment to the students and their many artistic talents. Way to go WL kids!☺

December Art Update!

Hello and happy new year everyone!!! I hope you enjoyed your holiday celebrations and time spent with family☺

Here we are in a new year, and what an exciting year it will be! Lots to look forward to here at Westlawn, including all of the happenings in the art room.

Please take a look at your child's grade to see what they were learning during our few short weeks in December.

Here are a few pictures to highlight what each grade has been working on... Enjoy! See you at the end of January!