Ichabod Award

After much deliberation, Washington Irving's students have awarded the first-ever Ichabod Award for the best new fictional children's book of 2011 to Storm Runners by Roland Smith. Fifth grader Brayan Tenesaca designed the award. A committee of students selected six new books which were presented to students during a recent library media class. When told of the award Roland Smith said, “Thank you so much for honoring me with this award. You made my day!" (Posted 1/2812)

See, Hear, Feel, Film at Jacob Burns Media Arts Lab:

In the month of October third graders took trips to the Jacob Burns Media Arts Lab to participate in the See, Hear, Feel Film Program. The program teaches students active viewing skills and the techniques of telling a story through film. Viewing short films from around the world to spur their creativity, the children learn to write with clarity and confidence, improve their storytelling skills, and become keener observers of the world around them. Students viewed two short films, partcipated in creative writing exercises, and creative collaboration. All students received a JBFC Film Journal for their personal writing, drawing and reflection. Students can't wait to return in the spring and further develop their observational and storytelling abilties! In the interrim, we are working in class to apply the strategies we gained from the trip to our writing, listening, and speaking. (Posted 11/11/11)

Hitachi’s Universal Design Program

Students in Miss Cristella's class have just completed a two-session program in conjunction with Hitachi. During the first session, the concept of Universal Design (creating products that can be used by people who have handicaps or limitations) was discussed, and examples were shown.  In the second session, students worked together to brainstorm, develop and present ideas for a futuristic remote control that would follow the basic principles of Univeral Design. Students found this program enjoyable and worthwhile. They learned empathy, strengthened their observational skills, creative thinking skills, and collaborated to make some terrific final products!

Mrs. Hickey's  ELA Enrichment classes at WI have launched their first newspaper of the year this October.  Look inside The Gazette for informative articles on school happenings, events around town, restaurant and store reviews, opinion pieces, movie reviews, book reviews and more.  These students in Grades 3-5 worked very hard to make this issue the best yet and look forward to keeping their readers informed throughout the year. Click here to read the The Gazette. (Posted 11/5/11)

New York, New York! The 20th Century and Storied City: New York in Picture Books

Students in Mrs. Sharkey's and Mrs. Zerafa's 4th grade classes at Washington Irving School recently visited New York, New York! The 20th Century and Storied City: New York in Picture Books at the Katonah Museum of Art.  They viewed exhibitions featuring over 100 paintings, photos, sculptures and illustrations that capture New York's urban atmosphere.  The children saw New York through the eyes of the 20th Century's most significant artists and picture-book illustrators including Childe Hassam, Edward Hopper, Donald Crews, and Brian Selznick.  During the tour, the children discussed the meaning of New York's important landmarks and examined how the city has changed through the course of the 20th Century.  The children also created their own vision of the urban landscape with a hands-on activity that tied directly to the works in the gallery.  The remaining 4th grade classes will be touring the museum in November. (Posted 10/26/11)

Abstract Art on Display at Washington Irving School

The entire school began the school year with a study of abstract art. Abstract artists do not try to show people, animals, or places exactly as they appear in the real world. They use line, color and shape to show their ideas and emotions, expressing many different visions as seen by the amazing variety of paintings currently on display in the lobby at Washington Irving.  Third grade artists used overlapping geometric shapes to create paintings inspired by Cubist painters Sonia and Robert Delaunay.  Their work will also be on display at The Warner Library later this month.

Fourth graders added the dramatic use of the line to what they had learned last year when they studied Cubism.  Their work was inspired by Wasilly Kandinsky, a Russian painter whose works from 1910 are considered the first abstract paintings.  Students worked with a variety of templates and created their own unique shapes using pencil, marker and paint.  (Thanks EPTA for the new cake temperas.) 

Fifth grade artists built on what we studied together by adding organic shapes to their repertoire.  Using the work of Jean Dubuffet to spur our imaginations, students used jigsaw puzzles as templates and designed their own original works.  He had a 'self-taught' approach to art.  Dubuffet questioned what was beautiful and what art should look like.  He was not afraid to experiment. Some people refer to him as a French Pop artist.  We decorated our designs with patterns and characters inspired by Dubuffet’s playful paintings.  Art can be funny and what makes art great is the amount of effort, heart and creativity that goes into it.  Come and see the work! (Posted 10/7/11)

Summer Reading!

Students at Washington Irving were asked to READ over the summer and respond to their reading in a variety of ways. These were their options…

-Write a letter to the Author
-Make an alternative book cover
-Write interview questions for a character in  the book
-Design a T-Shirt
-Write a song or a poem about the book
-Create a comic strip re-telling the story
-Design a timeline of major events in the story
-Bring your book to life...create a movie
-Create an advertisement/poster for you book
-Create a commercial

Click here to see SOME of their creations! Enjoy. (Posted 10/1/11)

WI Playground Has Lift Off!

If you have passed by Washington Irving school recently, you might have noticed some new structures on the lower field. On the weekend of 9/11, students, parents and teachers from the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns all worked together to build the new playground. They mulched and moved heavy pieces over 2 days to have the playground ready to go by Monday. Students have been receiving lessons during their physical education classes about safety when climbing the Spaceball and Orbius. On Monday, September 19th, you will see students having fun in the new play area during recess. Exercise and fun all in one! (Posted 9/18/11)

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