Welcome Back!

It's a new school year!  I usually take a break from the blog over the summer, so don't worry that I haven't posted since last June.

I have about a zillion new ideas for this school year, plus I'm trying to do it all while being pregnant!  Mr. Leban and I are expecting our first baby this January, so this year will be an EXTRA adventure!

This year, we have a SMARTboard in our classroom.  We'll also have use of three iPads in the classroom, thanks to an Elmhurst Education Foundation Thiems Grant!  I can't wait to see how much fun we can have using this new technology.

Check back on the art blog often, as I'll usually post some photos from the classroom and interesting art-related news from both in and out of the classroom.  If you're in art class with me, you can leave comments and start a discussion in order to earn extra credit in art!  Woo hoo!

Super Cool Mouse

The other day I was walking out of school and spotted this awesome little mouse running around in the wood chips.  He wasn't even afraid of me!  I was actually able to get close enough to snap this picture, and take this short video, in which you can see him helping us out by eating up the dandelions!

Sandburg at 60!

I'd like to thank everyone involved with this year's end-of-year art exhibition and birthday celebration for Sandburg's 60th!  Special thanks to everyone (students, families, friends, faculty, staff, and community members) who attended the event!

Unfortunately, my photographer never showed up, so all I had was my camera phone to snap a few quick shots. If you have any photos from the event, please please please email me with them!

Above, students work on decorating cardboard pieces of a "universal" puzzle that will become a mural, which will be installed on the walls of Sandburg Middle School next year!  I can't wait to see how huge it ends up becoming!

The crew at Blick Art Materials in Wheaton ran a demonstration table all about fish printing!  It was super fun to paint these squishy fish shapes with bright colors and press paper onto them.  After peeling away to reveal the results, we added eyes and other fun details.  My brother made me a fish print, and it is currently hanging up outside the art room.  Have you spotted it yet?

Mrs. Draganowski does face painting and body art.  All night she made incredible designs on the faces of students and visitors!  I had fun with the stencils she had out for us to try.  I made a pink and blue unicorn on my arm, and added glitter!

Did you come to the show?  What fun things did you see and do?

Graduation Program Design Contest

Congratulations to Maria, the winner of our 8th grade Graduation Program Cover Design contest!  All 8th grade students are welcome to submit designs, and I choose the finalists.  The winner is chosen by vote from the 8th grade teachers.  This year, there were eight finalists.  You can see all of the finalists' designs on our Artsonia gallery.

CONGRATULATIONS MARIA!!!

Please come to our art show!

"Sandburg at 60" is this year's culminating fine arts event, with dual purposes: 

1. To celebrate the 60th birthday of Sandburg Middle School
2. To showcase student achievement and talent in the fine arts

Please come if you can!  Students, families, community members, and alumni are all welcome!  There will be refreshments, art demonstrations, face painting, a community mural that you can participate in, and more!  Festivities will begin at 6:30 pm and continue until 8:30 pm. 

There will be a special performance of the choir, band, and orchestra in the auditorium.  There will also be art exhibits in the cafeteria, library, and hallways.  The crochet coral reef club will be working on their crochet projects in the library, and tours of the building will be available that evening.

Fun for all!