February 2 & 3

This week in our Architecture residencies in the 4th grade at Laurel Dell Elementary our enthusiastic students had a fantastically productive day.  We were joined by our excellent Dominican University mentors Teresa Asano, Angeline Gloria, and Kaylei Weston. Each gave the students a brief introduction to their journey from 4th grade to college.

The young students added details to embellish their Towers of Power, then created observational line drawings of their own tower. They then made portfolios in which to put all of their drawings, sources of inspiration, notes, and project specifications.

We had some action-packed days, but thanks to the huge boost from our Dominican mentors, all of the children had great success!

February 9 & 10

At Laurel Dell this week our dynamic fourth graders started studying, drawing, and building bridges.  It was a challenging session, as constructing a bridge is not easy!!  We were lucky to have a big boost from our mentors from Dominican University, Kaylei, Angeline, and Teresa, to offer the students assistance and emotional support while they built and assembled their trusses, arches, and beams.

Children who constructed a solid bridge were able to add words and details to express their personality, as well as their aspirations for the future. These will be incorporated into our larger model representing Pathways, Gateways and Bridges to College and Beyond.

February 23 & 24

Our stalwart 4th graders at Laurel Dell Elementary are continuing on their journey to investigate the Bridges, Gateways and Pathways to College and Beyond in their Youth in Arts/Y-PLAN residency.

After inspiring presentations by Dominican University students Teresa Asano and Angeline Gloria, about their journeys to college, the young students finished embellishing the wonderfully creative bridges they designed and built last session.  They then started to work on their pathways, infusing each creation with aspirational words and exciting designs, as they imagined walking on that pathway in the coming years.

March 2 & 3

Our 4th grade students at Laurel Dell are continuing to explore the Pathways they may take on their journey to college and beyond.  We also introduced the children to the concept of Community Engagement as an important way to build their skills while contributing to community organizations along the way.  

In Seligman’s class Carly Pucci from WildCare shared a dramatic video featuring the animals and ways in which the children could volunteer there starting at age thirteen. She also included slides of her own compelling journey to college - showing the children how each experience builds upon the last, and leads to the next.  

In Wilson’s class Kaylei Weston from Dominican shared her very relatable and unique experiences that led her from 4th grade to college and a nursing career.  Both speakers were really inspiring.

The children then reflected upon their own lives, both in the past and the future, as they created visual pathways showing some highlights so far, and hopes for the future. 

The students also wrote short letters to their parents thanking them for supporting them and inviting them to our fieldtrip to Dominican on March 24.

They accomplished so much!  With enthusiasm and aplomb! 

March 9 & 10

Our 4th graders at Laurel Dell are continuing to explore Pathways, Bridges and Gateways to College and Beyond.  In Ms. Wilson’s class we had a guest speaker Diana Benitez, an urban planner from Canal Alliance, who shared her interesting journey to college. She introduced the children to a vital community organization and encouraged them to become involved as she stressed the importance of community engagement.  She was terrific and so inspiring.

In both classes we started our study of Gateways by viewing images and making observational drawings of some unique gateways around the world. Then each student created a model of a symbolic gateway leading them into the future. 

It was another action-packed session. With our Dominican mentors on spring break, two outstanding women came into both classes to support the students.  Architect Sarah Kovalsky, and Recreational Therapist Margaret Wallace were super nimble and knowledgeable as they supported the students while they built their beautiful gateways.

Another lovely session, with some outstanding results!! 

With Dominican students joining in to answer questions and encourage the children, the fourth graders and their families strolled through the gorgeous campus to the library building.

At the luncheon Vice President Mojgan Behmand warmly welcomed the students and parents with  strategic information and thoughtful questions, as well as a bit of humor.

March 30 & 31

Our 4th graders are continuing to flourish as they investigate Pathways, Gateways and Bridges to College and Beyond.

This week we launched a new part of our curriculum.  Each class is writing and illustrating a 10-chapter Story Walk, an outdoor book, about the journey from 4th grade to college.  https://bookriot.com/making-a-storywalk/One story walk will be displayed outdoors on campus at Dominican and one at Laurel Dell.  

This week the students worked in teams developing their characters and writing “sloppy copies” of their chapter. Each chapter will feature a grade level and a story that aligns with our Community Engagement themes:  friendships, environment, leadership, elders, different abilities etc. They are drawing from the visits from guest speakers and slide shows about non-profits in San Rafael to develop the content of their stories. 

April 20 & 21

Our 4th grade Architecture classes at Laurel Dell Elementary were quite productive and creative this week. 

On the theme of community engagement, Librarian Daniel Avalos and Children’s Services Librarian, Maria came and shared their journeys to college, as well as opportunities for the children to contribute to San Rafael’s public library system while in middle and in high school. 

The students completed writing, illustrating, and editing their Story Walks with help from Dominican mentors Kaylei and Angeline. (Report about that to come soon), 

The students viewed slides of college campuses around the country, then each child set to work designing and building an awesome mini-model of their ideal campus.  This will be the final piece in their big models of the entire pathway to college, which they will complete next week.

April 27 & 28

We held our last 4th grade Y-PLAN / Youth in Arts - Architecture session this week. The classrooms were buzzing!  Each student created a 32” x 8"  transect featuring their Tower of Power, and their pathways, bridges, and gateways to college. The final models were stunning, as each student crafted their own unique and meaningful journey toward the future. 

Dominican University President Dr. Nicola Pitchford and Pepe Gonzalez, Director of Community Partnerships in San Rafael City Schools, kicked off the afternoon with inspirational words about the importance of the collaboration between the universities, public elementary schools, civic leaders, and community organizations. 

June 2

Five students from Ms. Wilson’s class went on a field trip to install their class’ "Pathways to College" Story Walk on the Dominican Campus, on the outdoor walkway leading to the library.

They were met on site by Julia Van Der Ryn, Emily Wu and Jenny Bray from the university, and Leslie Stone, their graphic designer. Abner, Gloria, Keira, Michelle D., and Saliana were fantastic, as they dug holes, hammered in the stakes, and adjusted each of the signs. We had a small ceremony in a circle under the tree canopy, and then together we read each of the 10 chapters written by the students.  It was a lovely day for all! It will be on display throughout the summer into the new semester.

Mr. Seligman’s class' Story Walk will go up on display at the Design Thinking Through Art and Architecture Exhibition at Youth in Arts from July10-September 4, with a closing reception September 4, from 4-7PM.