February 8-15

In the first week of February, we launched our Youth in Arts / Y-PLAN Architecture sessions with both classes creating their I Am Poem Posters.  After writing a “sloppy copy” with prompts, each student “vetted” their writing with the best editors ever, their teachers!  The students then wrote each stanza on a strip of colored paper, and affixed them to their poster.  Early finishers embellished their work with decorative features.  The results were quite beautiful and meaningful, as each student showcased their talents, ideas, interests, passions, hopes and dreams.  The students then worked in pairs, reading each other’s work, and creating symbolic bridges joining their poems together.

On February 15, Ms. Wilson’s class was joined by 4 professors and 8 college students visiting our UC Berkeley program from Japan.  The guests read a few I Am Poems of their own, then observed and interacted with the children as they worked. It was so meaningful for the adults to see the children in action.  Ms. Wilson’s students were so welcoming and poised as they focused on getting their I Am Poems and bridges completed while engaging with the visitors.  Our Dominican University service-learner, Isabella Sandino, had a great first day with the children, as she engaged with individual students and encouraged the teams.

February 29

The 4th graders visited the campuis of Dominican University of California.  Dr. Mojgan Behmand (DUC Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty) met with the elementary school students and gave them a task: create proposals for gateways, pathways, and bridges from their homes and school to college and beyond.  The 4th graders shared some of their dreams and aspirations through their I AM poems, and toured DUC campus to get inspirations for their proposals.

March 5

After their wonderful trip to Dominican on 2-29, the 4th grade students at Laurel Dell continued to explore the question: What are the pathways, gateways, and bridges that will lead me from my home and school to college and beyond — and how can the people at Dominican University help?

For last week's Youth in Arts / Y-PLAN architecture session they studied images of gateways around the world. Each student then created a symbolic gateway representing their hopes and dreams for the future.

Mr. Seligman and Ms. Wilson's classes each created a beautiful final “quilt" filled with the aspirations and affirmations of all the students!

March 21

The students from Ms. Wilson and Mr. Seligman’s classes met Monica Cañas, our inspiring speaker from Marin Latino/a Leaders. Monica shared the story of her journey from childhood to college and beyond.  She was fantastic as she encouraged the students to believe in themselves, to seek out opportunities, to work hard, to ask mentors for help, and to commit to lifelong learning.  The students really resonated with Monica, and opened up about their own lives to her. She was particularly warm and helpful for Keysbert, a newcomer who just arrived from  Venezuela via Peru and New York, and is just starting to learn English and acclimate to San Rafael.  After her perfect talk (in English and Spanish), Monica stayed and worked with individual children as they started to create a Pathway representing the journey of their lives so far.  In Ms. Wilson’s class, we were joined by Dominican University service-learner Isabella Sandino, who offered additional support and inspiration to the students as they reflected upon their own lives. Students also had the opportunity to go outside the class to play the Pathways, Gateways and Bridges to College game that Mr. Seligman’s class designed and built last year.  (See two photos at the end)

April 6

For the past two weeks our 4th grade students in Mr. Seligman and Ms. Wilsons classes have been working hard designing, writing, and illustrating their life Pathways.  Part One of the project was to document events in the first ten years of their lives:  joys, hardships, accomplishments, challenges, and celebrations. Each student created a vivid representation of their lives to date.  For part two, they added an additional Pathway, imagining what the highlights of their lives will be for the next ten years, as they journey through middle school, high school and on to college.  It was very exciting to see them render their hopes and dreams for themselves, their friends, and families.  We were lucky to have Isabella Sandino in both classes presenting in English and Spanish her journey from elementary school to college, and Kano Sugawara from Dominican University in Mr. Seligman’s.  Both of them inspired the students and offered them advise and information about the opportunities and challenges on the Pathway to college.

April 29

Our fourth grade students wrapped up their four-week project mapping their pathways representing the first ten years of their lives, and imagining the opportunities awaiting them in the next ten years as they journey  to college and beyond.  Each student’s project was infused with hopes, dreams, and inspiration, as they articulated and validated the events in their lives to date….and challenged themselves to visualize an affirmative future.  I was so uplifted by each and every project.

Inspired by a fantastic visit from Josue Castillo, Director of the La Vida program Dominican University, we began our final project: “College Bound in a Box”. For this project each student is creating miniature 3-d models of pathways, gateways, and bridges to college, all of which will fit in an 8” x 8” box.  Each piece features messaging about what awaits them in the future: making friends, studying subjects of interest, participating in music and sports, and more.  Josue shared his own journey and a treasure-trove of information about resources the students can access on their journeys.  Thanks Josue!

May 15

This is the day before the Culminating Event, and the fourth grade students practiced public speaking together to best present their beautiful work!  Dominican University professors Julia van der Ryn and Dr. Emily Wu came to visit, and encouraged the students to say more (and speak a little louder) about their ideas and visions for their paths to college and beyond.

May 16

This is the Culminating Event featuring the 50 fourth graders at Laurel Dell Elementary presenting their work!! Ms. Wilson's and Mr. Seligman's students spent the spring semester studying the pathways, gateways and bridges from elementary school to college.  The Dominican University team, headed by Dr. Pitchford and Dr. Behmand, was incredible once again! You each put so much effort into encouraging and inspiring these children to not only imagine powerful opportunities for themselves in the future, but to understand how to work hard and to take advantage of resources available to them in Marin.

The fourth grade students were extremely proud of the work they created in our Youth in Arts / Y-PLAN sessions. They were especially enthusiastic about their “Journeys to College in a Box” project. Those of you in the audience that day offered them positive affect and encouragement to speak up, speak out, and be proud of their talents and aspirations. Dr. Lucia Leon and her student Isabella added so much care and inspiration to the mix as well.  To top it off, each young student was surprised and excited to receive their $200.00 scholarship to Dominican—bestowed upon them by Dr. Behmand and Dr. Pitchford.