Bueno,
Here is a copy of the newsletter your child might be bringing home the first week of school.
<3 Mrs. Knight
¡Hola, estudiantes y familias de Glendale!
Hello! I thought I’d post an update on my life. My family just welcomed our baby girl into the world, Cleo Wren! We are overjoyed.
Be on the watch for this newsletter that summarizes how to get in touch with me throughout the year.I’m so excited to partner with you in your child’s art-making. ¡Bienvenidos a mi clase de arte, estudiantes!
Goodbye, Hound Dogs
To all the families at Harpeth Valley Elementary,
I am making a post here to say goodbye to all of you. I’ve enjoyed working with all of you and your children, and have learned so much from being an art teacher at your school. In just a year, I watched our fourth graders transform into middle-school ready learners and saw Kindergartners become elementary school children. It never gets easier to watch the work we do as teachers grow up and walk away, but that’s what’s supposed to happen! *sigh
With mixed feelings, I must tell you that I will be leaving Harpeth Valley after one year of being with all of you. I’m sure this will be difficult for returning students to understand, so I encourage you to reach out to me at any time with questions. I will be transitioning to the art teaching position at Glendale Elementary. Because of my background in bilingual education and pedagogical focus on culturally relevant instruction, I feel I can serve Glendale with my full skill set.
I will always have a special place in my heart for Harpeth Valley. I have loved your children and loved many of my colleagues. Goodbye does not mean forget. :)
I hope all of you enjoy your summers and I look forward to the amazing artwork your children will create in the coming years.
All good things,
Mrs. Knight
Hound Dog Run!
Last week we had our Hound Dog Run! This is our school’s “fun run” fundraiser and it was my first time to really interact on a grand scheme with the parents and stakeholders of our school community that are not faculty or staff. Covid has not affected enthusiasm or love for this school community, and that was so evident last Friday. The joy in the children’s faces, as well as teachers’, really reflected how deep the bonds are between people in this school. I’m so grateful to have been able to help with the t-shirts this year and make the vision of the PTO come to life. :)
All Good Things,
Mrs. Knight
The clay is glazed and we're starting our eco-art....
The clay is coming out of the kiln and is looking great! Because I’m pregnant, it’s taking me a little longer than usual to fire all of the work, but hopefully all of it will go home very soon.
The kids are so proud and surprised to see their work as it comes out. I hope you cherish these keepsakes that are 100% child-made. What a precious object that lasts a lifetime with care!
We are coming back from Spring Break and I was able to visit the Frist with my family. The Frist offers free admission to children. I encourage all of you to visit this Spring before their exhibits change.
We are starting some of our Eco-Art projects this week! Southwest Airlines and Turnip Green Creative Reuse have partnered up with Pencil Foundation and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to generate thousands of art kits for elementary-age schoolchildren. Check out the video that our third graders will be watching and learn about this awesome collaboration in the Nashville community.
Here are some photos of the brainstorming happening this week with the art kits that arrived from Turnip Green:
If you want to get in touch with me for any reason, just shoot me an email.
All good things,
Mrs. Knight
Harpeth Valley Elementary School!
Hello! This is my first post as a teacher at Harpeth Valley Elementary School!
I plan to keep these posts fairly simple and mostly just include pictures of what we’re learning about in our art room.
Lately, we’ve been glazing our ceramic work that we constructed in December….!
I’ll post again when the work comes out of the kiln! It’s been really fun to explain to students how a kiln works, how the glaze will melt and transform into a vibrant sheen….real-life science-art MAGIC!
Today and tomorrow, I am attending NAEA to continue my learning and professionalization. I’m taking classes on….
Meaningful connections between artmaking and children’s literature
Children’s Artistic Development Theory
An artist talk with Lesley Dill
Weaving using recycled materials
An artist talk with Shaun Leonardo
Incorporating local artists into lesson plans
An artist talk with Alex Simmons
Collaborative schoolwide murals'
Meeting sensory needs for improved learning
AND so many others!!!
I also recently found out that I’m expecting a baby girl this July! Staying hopeful about this rainbow baby and excited to meet her.
As always, if you need to get in touch with me, send me an e-mail. :) I usually get back to folks right away.
All good things,
Mrs. Knight