One of our goals this year was to include the external community and we started doing so with the Wildcats newspaper. Students interviewed members of the school community and showcased the interviews in the Wildcats Newspaper bulletin. We were hoping to start going outside the school to interview people from the neighborhood community but we ran out of time, so we plan to focus on that in the fall. 

For the first session of SCALE, we were in a large group composed of students from various grades, teachers, teacher assistants, and teaching artists. 

In January 2022 we were able to return to our normal setting of a smaller group, with students from 4th grade and up, one teacher, and a teaching artist. From the beginning, we gathered a crew of students from 4th grade and above, to be part of the Wildcats News, a newspaper bulletin board located at the entrance of the school. 

Every Thursday, students would meet downstairs with the big group to participate in the daily big group movement activity, and afterward, we would go upstairs to plan the latest edition of the Wildcats News. Although the students had fun participating in the introductory activity with the other younger students, they seemed excited to be part of something with a bit more responsibility and they especially liked the relaxing editorial atmosphere of the room. 

Each student had a different newspaper section responsibility, which they took very seriously and had pride in producing. Relaxing but upbeat instrumentals in the background along with an essential oil diffuser created the perfect setting for the students to be creative and productive.  

After we were able to meet in our own room regularly, we recruited new students, and the new group began to claim different areas of the room to create and meet with their friends; they also started to explore the room and the closet with all the materials, and they found different artifacts and photos from past years, which seemed to make them feel excited to know they are part of it now. 

To start out the second session of the Meraki program, we asked the students what different artistic skills they would be interested in learning about, and we would let the students decide what we would work on as we finished each project. They also enjoyed choosing their own designs to represent who they are and what they love. The majority of students reflect on their family life, their traditions and nationalism. 

In the end, the students created a lot of beautiful work that truly represented who they are as individuals. 

Students were very vocal about making art like artists and not in a directive way like an art class.

Ephemeral moments in SCALE

Ms. Patty regularly talks to students about High School, what to expect and prepare for, recommendation letters, and class offerings.

The students help each other with homework across the various grade levels, and the teachers help at times too.

Ms. Hooper prompts small dance parties at the end of class.

Students share their day, week, or home-life during pick-up.

Students are respectful of the school's common areas like hallways and bathrooms while they go clean their art tools or make art in the hallways.

Students are excited and proud to be part of a program that has a big legacy in the school.