Multicultural Day 2014

Another Multicultural Day has come and gone at Vista. As I have blogged before, my favorite part of the day is when the whole school gathers at the end with all our flags and we sing three songs together. This year we threw in Pete Seeger's If I Had a Hammer. The Kinders made up motions to go with the song and everyone sang it with such gusto.

It occurred to me that we should incorporate singing into other assemblies for the whole school, not just for Winter Sing and MC Day. I will be thinking about what songs those should be and when we can sing together when I come back.

I loved these photos of the kids in Room 4 - looking all Italian!

ARTstART

Another brief, but worthwhile exhibit in the Ginger Elliot Hall next to the Garner House in Memorial Park. This exhibit showcased art from students at Vista, Oakmont and Sycamore. These upper grade students were part of ARTstART sponsored by the Claremont Museum of Art. This program works at many levels starting with college students who mentor high school students to lead the elementary children through three art lessons. 

The Courier's lead story on Friday led me to the exhibition. It gives a more fully detailed explanation of the work that is being done with this exciting program of arts integration across the curriculum, and leadership training for high school students. The exhibit will be open once more - this Wednesday from noon - 4, and if you are free then (and the exhibit is also free), I highly recommend a visit! 

Vista Track Meet

I stopped by Vista's Track Meet this morning (I don't remember it ever being at the end of May before), and I took some photos in sports mode. I was flipping through the pictures on the back of my camera to show one of the 2nd graders who was watching the meet and she told me that it reminded her of a flip book. She didn't know the term flip book, but she told me that in the olden days people would draw very slowly on paper and then flip the pages to make it go fast. Yup. 

Annual Vista Orchestra and Recorders Concert

Last night I finished up my music year at Vista with our annual Vista Orchestra and Recorders Concert. Our principal asked if this was our second such concert, and I said no, that we had been doing this for many years.

That made me wonder, "How many years?"

I know that we've had a Vista Orchestra since 2003, and I'm not quite sure when I started teaching recorders, but I'm thinking it was 2005. That was before I started blogging. Here is a link to what I think is my first blog post about an Orchestra/Recorders concert in 2009.

What was interesting and different about this particular concert:

1) I dropped one piece and added a different one at the last minute (never done that before!)

2) The recorder students played a song they made up to go with a story

3) Recorders and Orchestra played the Vista Ostinato, a piece composed by the string students

The CUSD EIMP (Elementary Instrumental Music Program) still has another week or so of classes, so I still have a reason to stay out of trouble.....

Grades of Green Assembly

When Vista found out that we had won the Grades of Green Trash-Free Lunch Challenge, I made sure I put the assembly on my calendar so I could cheer on our school. It was a pretty big deal. The superintendent, three school board members, the Claremont mayor and a few other dignitaries were in attendance. The promoters of the challenge came and made some speeches and then recognized Vista's Green Team before presenting them with a check for $1,000.

Students are sorting their trash and recyclables. 

Two presenters are getting the students to yell - Trash Free!

The dignitaries had chairs in the shade. It was hot out!

 Two of Vista's awesome teachers!

The Green Team assembled

Missing Tree

I could see more sky than usual as I walked up to Vista's music room today. It quickly came to me that a tree was missing. They must have removed it over spring break. Several years ago I blogged about how I always had to sweep up the pink flowers from the tree so that students would not slip on them on the way to class.

Apparently I don't have that issue any more, but I hope that they replace that tree with some other kind.

Vista's Green Team - Follow-Up

Last night two of Vista's fabulous 5th graders made a pitch to the Claremont Community and Human Services Commission for funds for the Vista Garden. Here they are, making last-minute adjustments to the speech they gave with the teacher leader of Vista's Green Team. I blogged about this project in January, noting that Vista was participating in the Grades of Green Trash-Free Lunch Challenge. As one of 23 schools in LA County, we found out recently that we were in the top three. Perhaps this video helped us get to the top....Yesterday the officials from the program visited the school and by the end of the day we found out that Vista had won first place! 

Council Chambers

Here is a video of the girls speaking before the commissioners. I am so proud of how they spoke clearly and with obvious enthusiasm for their work on the Green Team.

Kangaroos activity

This week in first and second grade music, we had a fun activity relating to the Kangaroo music from Saint Saens' Carnival of the Animals. We made our first two fingers into kangaroo ears and hopped them up and down our other arm to the music. Then we looked at a visualization of the music on the board which consisted of dots and wavy lines. We made our own sounds as we traced the patterns in the air. We "painted" in the air with our fingers. Then we opened up each piece of felt (one per student) and saw the dot stickers and piece of yarn. Each student created their own music. We practiced following the dots and lines while we made our own corresponding sounds. Some students chose to share theirs with the class. It was awesome, and every kid (every kid! was engaged).

I must credit Sandy Stauffer, who taught us that at a recent workshop.

As you can see from the photo in the lower right side, the music rug is still going strong! Every day I am so happy to have that rug in the music room.

Musical Gift

This week a former Vista student from many years ago (before I ever lived in Claremont) donated some musical instruments to the school. I was not there when she came by, so I have no idea who she is, but I am very grateful to have these for the music room.

I Hope I Get a Letter Redux

Looking back through my blog, I realize that Valentine's Day is not the huge holiday around here that it might be. That's okay. We usually have a nice dinner. Tonight we are grilling salmon and our daughter brought over some delicious-looking desserts for us. We'll probably watch some Olympics, too. I will also enjoy the fact this this is a Friday night of a 3-day weekend.

For your edification, I refer you back to a cute Valentiney video from Vista from several years ago. You can see it here.

Farewell to Vista's Librarian

It comes with the territory of working with a group of people. For one reason or another, the players change due to retirement, moving, career change, or something else. Now Vista is saying good-bye to our librarian. Yes, even though each elementary school has the position of "Library Media Aide", Cindy Dewey (so aptly named for her job) is an actual, certified librarian. She has done so much for the kids from book clubs, blogging with student book reports (written and video), encouraging every reader as well as buying books with her own money to make sure kids have the books they really want to read.     She is moving to Albany, NY since her husband is starting a new job, and although we wish her well in her new life, we will miss her terribly.

Last night the staff had a party to celebrate Cindy's last 8 years with Vista, and we enjoyed this cake made by one of our recently retired teachers. If you click on the photo of this little story on top of the cake, you can read about our love for Cindy.

Vista's Green Team

I have been hearing about Vista's Green Team, and I knew it had to do something with reducing waste at lunch time, but I didn't know too much about it. Then the teacher who is in charge of the program handed me a song that she wants me to help teach students. The tune is John Lennon's Imagine, the words all about reducing trash, written by students. She is going to make a video of Vista's participation in this venture and this song, so I just had to know more.

I learned that Vista and Oakmont represent Claremont in the Grades of Green Trash-Free Lunch Challenge, a competition between 24 LA County schools to see who can reduce the most lunchtime trash. Students wrote essays if they wanted to be part of the Green Team, and three students were chosen to go on a field trip to a landfill along with the principal, custodian and teacher. They learned all kinds of things and were taught how to sort waste. A total of 21 students are on the Green Team, from 2nd-6th grade.

Vista has gone from 8 bags of trash per day to less than one bag per day. Waste is recycled or turned into the compost (to go along with Vista's great gardens), and there is a HUGE dumpster on the side of the parking lot which takes all kinds of things, from clothing and batteries, to cans, bottles and e-waste. Vista earns money from this recycling, so it's a double bonus!

I am so proud of our kids who have taken an initiative and have great follow-through. I am also proud to be part of this community of teachers who teach the three Rs and more to our kids. 

Winter Sing!

I have a new attitude about Vista's Winter Sing. I have always just dreamed about the moment that it is over and I can start my vacation. This year I found myself looking forward to the actual event. I think I am finally remembering that we are not having dress rehearsals (the very worst part of the whole thing), and that for the past few years when it was over I thought, "that wasn't so bad."

This year I felt excited about all the pieces the kids were going to perform. We had two audience sing-a-longs (I'm not sure how much the audience participated in Feliz Navidad and Winter Wonderland, but I know the kids enjoyed the songs). I had 18 beginning strings perform along with the Vista Orchestra, our (now) traditional Jingle Bells. I loved the Ks in Gingerbread Cookies and the 1st graders were adorable in I Want to Be an Elf. I was amazed at the beauty of the 2nd graders singing Simple Gifts - so clear, loud and on pitch. You would think that I would know they could sing that way, but, really, they ratcheted it up two notches for the performance.

I also learned that for the 5th and 6th graders, who do not like to sing in public, having them lead the group singing for Winter Wonderland and then do a body percussion with a rap about wrapping Christmas Presents was a fine option. I totally stole the choreography for the final number (4th and 5th graders) from this youtube video which the kids LOVED rehearsing. If more of the kids had actually shown up for the performance, it would have been better, but, for those of us there, it was really fun.

Recorders, were, as usual great, even though this is the smallest class - about 22 kids total - but they just rocked their pieces.

The kids were just amazingly good and so happy to be there, and I enjoyed watching them be their very best.

I have also come to appreciate, more and more, how easy my job on the actual night is. The teachers are there to keep track of their classes. They set up and clean up, and they make the kids look great. Special thanks to my fabulous husband who helped move risers and chairs and stands, and then got out the vacuum at the end and stayed to turn out the last light.

Preschool Conversation

Preschool Art

Earlier this week before the rain started, I was out sweeping the walkway to the music room at school. I do this just about every day because if I don't, the kids will track in all kinds of stuff to the room, and then the rug is not nearly as pleasant to sit upon.

The music room is in a portable next door to the state preschool, and some of the children have taken an interest in what happens in and who comes to the music room. While I was sweeping yesterday, I had this little conversation with Charlie after he discovered that their broom had been hiding behind a little bench and he got it out to sweep with me.

Charlie: You are good at sweeping.
Me: I've had a lot of practice.
Charlie: That's because you are old.
Me: Yup.
Charlie: And then you'll die.
Me: Not for a long time.
Charlie: That's because you don't have white hair yet.
Me: Not yet.

Student Musician

A new second grader has come to Vista, and after his first music class, he appeared in the music room after school with his mother and her friend in tow. I asked him if he left something in the room (someone is always forgetting something). Nope. He just wanted his mom to meet me.

His mom said that he loves music, picks out tunes on the piano, etc. He said he wants to learn to play violin, and I told him that he could take lessons in school in 4th grade. I said that we do lots of pre-music notation activities and she said, "J said that you did a little bit of theory, that's great!" Wow, a parent who knows to say music theory...

Vista Fall Garden

Last week I spied this bulletin board at the CUSD Office. I had heard that the pumpkins in the Vista garden were especially plentiful this year, and the PFA sold them recently, depleting their stock in less than 20 minutes.

First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of the school year for music classes at Vista. As much as I love the slow pace of summer vacation, I am happy to be back at work. I find that I do so much better with my time when I have some structure. I usually think that I am going to get so much done during the summer, and while I get to about half of my list, it's never the amount I think I'm going to do.

Not only that, I truly enjoy spending time and playing music with my students. I used some of my favorite old lessons and added a few new ones which keeps me fresh. Also, at the start of the year, the students are more receptive to learning. They aren't tired of school yet, and their new teachers, new classmates are still exciting.

Signs of Summer and Fall at the Same Time

Signs of Fall:
First Day of School for CUSD today (lots of Facebook photos to enjoy!)
More Students at the Colleges / More Students at the CMC gym
My music schedule for Vista arrived today
Working on Lesson Plans

Signs of Summer:
It is HOT (and even muggy!)

Generations at Vista

On Friday we celebrated the retirement of one of Vista's longest-serving teachers - Teri Tondee. Teri was already a leading teacher when my daughter arrived as a kindergartener in 1990, and she has been an integral part of the Vista Family.

As I thought about those years past when I started out as a Vista parent, then the Vista Librarian (officially the Library Media Aide), and now the music teacher, it occurred to me that in the fall only one person will have more seniority than me, and that is our custodian.

At the party, many of the Vista people who I've known for the past 23 years arrived, and it revived many good memories, reminding me of Ley Yeager's saying, "Looks like a school, feels like a family."

We wish Teri all the best in her new endeavors.

Annual Concert at Vista

It's the summer countdown! Thursday night my 3rd grade recorder students and the Vista Orchestra performed their end-of-the-year concert which is a sweet, informal gig in the school Multipurpose Room. I am especially pleased with the quality of my orchestra players this year, and it has been a pleasure to work with them. Next week the CUSD strings concert and in two weeks after that, my private students recital.