10/14/2026

Over the Summer, I was able to raise $690 through Donors Choose to give our students the opportunity to experience LEGO DOTS. Our 1st and 2nd grade students are already discovering new ways to create with LEGO DOTS. When I first introduced the materials, some students excitedly exclaimed, “Those are LEGOs!” while others looked confused about how building toys could possibly be used to make art. Well, they were about to find out! Our 1st and 2nd graders recently created mixed-media sun-and-moon masterpieces inspired by Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. Students explored warm and cool colors, experimented with different techniques, and even used LEGO DOTS as printmaking tools to add patterns and textures to their artwork!

One of my favorite moments was giving students the option to add printmaking to their creations. Every single student said yes. Watching their curiosity turn into excitement as they discovered the different marks they could make was such a joy. More importantly, it reinforced something we’ve been exploring in our art studio: art is a process! Sometimes the magic happens when we experiment, try something unexpected, and discover a whole new way of creating. Who knew LEGOs could do more than build? 

Next, our young artists will bring their sun-and-moon creations to life by writing imaginative stories inspired by their artwork. Meanwhile, our older artists will explore mosaic-making with LEGO DOTS, drawing inspiration from patterns and cultural art traditions around the world. The best part is that these materials can be used again and again, opening the door to endless creative possibilities for years to come. Thank you to our donors for helping us.  

08/27/2025

We’re looking for art supply donations, and all contributions are welcome! Whether new or gently used, your generosity supports creativity, exploration, and expression for all our students.

What we appreciate: Clean and usable items like paper (construction, sketch, watercolor), paints (acrylic, tempera, watercolor), brushes, markers, crayons, colored pencils, clay, beads, canvas, glue sticks, and more.

Supplies that are still in good, reusable condition—because everything helps transform our art experiences into something special!

What to avoid donating: Items that are broken, damaged, moldy, dirty, or leaky.

Hazardous or toxic materials like dried-up paint, aerosols, flammable solvents, or materials that pose safety risks.

Why it matters: Your donations not only equip our art room but also ensures that every child, regardless of background, has the tools to explore, experiment, and express themselves. Art education strengthens problem-solving, fine motor skills, and emotional awareness. 

Thank you for helping us keep creativity flowing—one brushstroke at a time!

05/12/2025

“The truth is most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive,” (Watterson, 1990) could easily be one of the most accurate descriptions of my latter years in art education. It’s not that I lacked direction early on, but rather I’ve grown in such a way that my mindset has shifted through experience. Recently, comparing a lesson taught last year to second grade with the way it was delivered this year to fifth grade offered me a unique perspective that supported my growth as an educator. Refining and reflecting on your lesson through teaching the same content to both younger and older students can improve your instructional practice. Allow me to explain. 

In discovering the lithograph work of Argentinian artist, Malala Tiscornia, I knew I wanted to teach her work to my second graders as a way to emphasize organic shapes and to explore various art-making techniques. In planning my lesson I considered potential challenges that led me to incorporate a variety of animal stamps, sharpies, and scraps of brown paper bags as well as turquoise colored construction paper. While the students seemingly enjoyed experimenting with the plethora of materials, I was not satisfied with the end results. Although the students did what was asked of them, I thought the artwork looked too disorganized and lacked focus. This caused me to reevaluate the lesson and reteach it. With the assumption there were too many variables involved the first time around, I made some adjustments like subtracting a few materials, and I retaught the same lesson to fifth grade this year. 

Here’s what I learned. They both did amazing. It was only after reteaching the lesson did I realize that. The second graders' work was not unfocused; instead, they engaged with all the materials in a playful yet intentional way, demonstrating a strong understanding of the assignment’s objectives. Typically, when teaching younger students the lessons are more tactile and can involve more materials for that reason. The implementation of offering a variety of materials proved to be an effective strategy when teaching this lesson to second grade. In contrast, simplifying the materials for fifth grade was equally impactful. While students weren’t limited from accessing additional supplies as some requested colored markers for specific areas of their work, the materials were not freely laid out on the tables. Instead, students were encouraged to think critically about their artistic choices and determine what their art truly needed. This type of autonomy allowed space for personal interpretation. Hence, resulting in varied results that were more authentic to each student — something I personally strive for as an art teacher.  

This experience reminded me that growth often comes from revisiting our own practices with fresh eyes. Teaching the same content to different age groups deepened my understanding of how students interact with materials and ideas. It also reinforced the value of reflection and adaptation in teaching. Ellen Wexler notes in Study: Post-Lesson Reflection Boosts Learning, that research supports the importance of reflecting directly after a lesson; yet, we often don’t make the time—seeing reflection as a “luxurious pursuit” rather than a necessity. The truth is that in the end, it’s not always about perfecting a lesson, but about learning through the journey. We must not overlook it. Instead, we must embrace reflection as it is where real growth begins. 

**The artwork shown here is by our 5th grader Michael Pates. 

4/10/2025 

In honor of National Poetry Month, Library in collaboration with Art, engaged students in a meaningful exploration of poetry, focusing on the creation of acrostic poems. As part of this enriching literary experience, Ms. Panti taught the students some tools they could use to create their poems, while I guided students in designing their bookmarks, with their original poems thoughtfully incorporated as the focal point of their designs. When is the last time you sat down and creatively wrote something for fun? Now would be a great time to join in on the fun.

03/24/ 2025

Whitehall recently completed a highly successful run of its very first play, Annie Jr., under the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Farmer and Mr. Brian Cuvo. The production's success was made possible through the dedication and hard work of many individuals, including the support of the Performing Arts Committee: Alyssa Malenab, Amanda Marcus, Isabel Martin, Jade David, Jasmine Gunn, Nicole Williams, Lana Scott, and Carmela Hall. Additionally, the 3 sold out shows would not have been possible without the support of our family, friends, and neighborhood. 

We are excited to share that the Intermediate Art Club, led by Mrs. Hall, played a critical role in bringing the streets of New York to life, with a wonderful backdrop, and other one-of-a-kind props for Hannigan's office to the orphanage, and the "Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile" scence. Stay tuned for pictures and a special feature on the contributions of the Art Club.

If you haven’t had a chance to experience Annie Jr. yet, be sure to check it out! While it shares a name with the movie currently streaming on Netflix, Annie Jr. offers a unique take on the classic story, sure to delight audiences of all ages.

01/24/2025

Recently, our Whitehall student artist participated in the City of Bowie's, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art Contest. We took home a few medals. See the slides attached here in this post for the finalist along with our winners. If you are interested you can view the ceremony online here! 

08/30/2023

Our art studio has a new location. If you stop by looking for us inside the school building you won't find us. We are now outside in learning cottage #5. Look for the ramp and you'll find us on the left. 

04/26/ 2023

Plan to take a trip to see our 2023 PGCPS Central County Visual Art Exhibit that will be on display Tuesday, April 18, 2023, starting at 9:00 a.m. through Thursday, May 4, 2023, until 9:00 p.m. 

Location: 

Prince George’s Community College, Center for

Performing Arts, 301 Largo Road, Largo, MD

The Following Students Artwork is on Display: 

Sadia A., Lindberg C., Yoselyn C., Kunmi F., Lunay D., Bria L. , Aloria G., Jayeira O., Kayla J., Alyssa M., Erin L., Mila C., and Juliana E.

Congratulations to all of our hardworking student artists! 

09/06/2022

Welcome Wildcats! We're back in school and the art studio has a new look. It's been a great first week and a half of school and there's so much more to look forward to. While, our young artists have been able to tour our new and improved art studio, and participate in various design challenges, they are currently finishing up their pre-assessments. 

04/26/2022

The young artist at Whitehall celebrated Earth Day last Friday, April 22, by not using paper. Instead, student artist were able to use the "Tate Art" program to create digital art. Can you think of other ways artists could help improve the earth? 

04/21/2022

Our last scheduled art club meeting will be the week of May 16th. We are scheduled to work with clay some more, paint, and sew. 

The recently finished paint blowing and subtractive drawings that student artists have done will go home next week. Thank you everyone for your continued support of the arts at Whitehall.