What’s Happening
From September’s opening day to June’s closing ceremonies, we document and share events from all over our campus in an attempt to continuously communicate all the diverse goings-on at The Unquowa School. From school-wide events, assemblies, visiting presenters and other highlights from around campus, here’s a sample of what’s happening…
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Art, Thought and Community: Voices of Change 2020
Posted by Krissy Ponden
This is the third year that Unquowa students have explored issues that matter to them, examined areas of injustice, delved into topics usually reserved for contemplation and debate by adults, and created works of art to reflect it.
The depth of thought, the care and diligence of the research, and the resulting concepts that ask you to consider your views on a topic without telling you what to think are indicative of the true and lasting learning that these students gained from participating in this project. These are the issues that matter to them, this is what is on their minds, and this is what they seek to change about their world. To say that young people do not have the ability to enact change is myopic, to assume they can not have opinions on controversial issues is naive; they see problems and they seek solutions, sometimes without the preconceptions of the adult world. The vision of our youth offers a fresh and real perspective.
Listen to CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTISTS Here
Music Technology
Posted by Megan Kirk
Students have been exploring so many areas of music technology during distance learning! A favorite has been using Chrome Music Lab. Students across all levels have been able to use this chrome extension to enhance their understanding of many elements of music! The younger grades have been working on their steady beat and rhythm through this program while the older students are putting together melodies and rhythms to create their own short songs. It has been really fun listening to all of the students’ creations! Students have really enjoyed expressing themselves through these lessons!
Closing Ceremonies 2020
Posted by Karen Williamson
Social Studies and Art From Home
Posted by Wendy Kerr
Third Graders spent the year learning about community and culture from a local and global perspective in Social Studies. In the fall we partnered with the organization Artlink to learn about global citizenship through an exchange with students in the Gambia, Africa. This spring we partnered with Artlink again for a project called Art at Home. Students were invited to join artists from around the world in creating pieces of art illustrating what they were doing, thinking or feeling about during this time at home. The goal was to help students reflect on what they are experiencing, to express their resiliency, creativity, and joys as they share their concerns and hopes together with their global peers. Third graders came up with unique, clever and thoughtful ways to express what their experiences have been like at home.
Organic Portraits
Posted by Alice Desgranges
Lower school classes studied the work of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, the Italian Renaissance painter. He is best known for his creative portrait heads made entirely of organic objects such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and fish. His whimsical portraits were designed to amuse the court. Our distance learning provided the perfect opportunity to create portraits by raiding our kitchens and gardens for materials to create art.
Fourth Grade “State” of Mind
Posted by Wendy Kerr
Fourth graders spent the year learning about the geography, history and government of the United States. They spent the spring trimester researching a state of their choice. While distance learning created some challenges, these resilient students found creative ways to complete their projects in unique ways. Some students prepared to give their state speeches by practicing to an audience of stuffed animals! While others created interactive slideshows to deliver information about their state. The trimester culminated with geography practice of the names and locations of all of the United States. Perhaps this will inspire students to visit and explore a new state this summer!
