LWSD is committed to the arts

Director Siri Bliesner, a strong advocate for the arts, attended the Community Center Task Force meeting at VALA  ​Lake Washington School District recognizes the arts are an important part of a balanced education. Schools provide an opportunity for students to participate in band, choir, orchestra, drama, art classes, and more. Read recent stories of arts in education below. Additional activities will be added to this page throughout May. Wall of woven fabric welcomes Sandburg/Discovery families for art walk. Students braided and wove more than 1,000 pieces of fabric into the chain link fence at Sandburg Elementary and Discovery Community School before their art walk on May 18. They worked on the art installation throughout the week, mostly during lunch recess. The project allowed them to explore the process of weaving on a large scale and experiment with different weaving techniques. This year, teachers at Sandburg and Discovery have been field testing the art curriculum, “Deep Space Sparkle.” The curriculum was recently approved for use in LWSD elementary schools in the fall. The art walk gave students a chance to display their artistic creations. The walk also featured student work created with PTSA art docents, who facilitate art lessons in the classrooms. Second-graders learn to express themselves through artBenjamin Rush Elementary second grade students explored the element of “space” in art by using overlapping shapes and various placement of objects to make 3D pop-up cards. A parent volunteer art docent gives art lessons to Julia Goldblatt’s class twice a month. This year, they have painted cherry blossoms, shaded 3D shapes, and colored plastic cups and melted them in the oven to resemble glass blowing art. Goldblatt explained that “art allows the students a way to express themselves. It gives them the freedom to relax and create. They have learned so many strategies, techniques and lessons beyond my wildest belief.” Ahoy matey! After one week of rehearsals, Muir students perform “Treasure Island” First-graders at John Muir Elementary pretended to walk through a windstorm and swim through honey during an acting workshop on May 16. Then, on Saturday, May 20, more than 50 Muir students performed “Treasure Island”, after one week of rehearsals with actor-directors from Missoula Children’s Theatre. The timeline is condensed, but the company’s “Missoula method” helps students feel prepared to sing and act by the opening performance. The company aims to boost children’s self-esteem by developing skills such as communication and self-discipline, while they learn to work as a team. “We’re super silly, but then we’re professional,” said actor-director Morgan Summers.  Students who did not perform still got a taste of the performing arts during in-class workshops. Want to read about other arts in education events earlier this year? Click the links below! Frost Elementary School students performed The Lion King KIDS High school students earned first place in music competitions Thoreau Elementary School choir sang at the state capitol  -- lwsd.org