The 2016 Daughters Dance was a HUGE success! Despite the weather, dads, granddads, uncles and daughters came out in droves.
The Clifford MUB was transformed into an enchanted fairyland complete with a red carpet, mystical fog, and sparkling lights.
The girls enjoyed the art project, dancing, and hanging with their friends in the photo booths. The dads enjoyed waiting in line for the photo booth, wearing the newly made crowns, and eating pink cupcakes fit for a king! We even had a special guest appearance by our principal, Josh Swerdlow, and his daughter!
A tremendous THANK YOU to all who donated and volunteered to make this event so special!
Be sure to take a look at the complete Spring 2016 After-School Enrichment offerings at Clifford! We’ve got a great lineup of classes that make learning fun for our students; from Reading and Math to Art and Dance to Computer Programming and more.
Check out the video of dance instructor Danny G! We are fortunate to have such talented people teaching our kids.
On March 7, our young 2nd and 3rd grade artists got a chance to have their art featured at Peets on Laurel Street. It was a wonderful and fun evening for our school community to gather while taking in the art work from our students. The artists loved seeing their art work on display and LOVED their complimentary hot cocoa!
A huge thank you to the Laurel Street Peet’s for hosting us!
On February 24, the RWC school district put on the “Future Chefs Healthy Breakfast Culinary Competition” at Hawes School. For more about the event, see the RCSD photos.
Congratulations to two of the finalists in the event, Natalie Donnelly and Mikaela Sargis! Thank you for representing Clifford; we are so proud of you!
Here is a sampling of 3rd Grade artwork inspired by Native American traditions: The students use clay and glazes to create their own shields; then they decorate them with beads and feathers.
WORKING WITH CLAY
Thank you for leading a clay class, as part of Art in Action — or for helping out during a lesson! Clay is such a fun medium to work with; our students love it!
Scroll to the end of this post for some handy definitions.
And have fun!
Firstly, here are some lesson tips:
Clay fresh from the bag has been pre-wedged; all of the air bubbles have been removed. Since air bubbles in the clay can cause pieces to break when fired, encourage students not to overwork the clay, and keep this in mind when recycling extra scraps.
Try to keep finished pieces not more than about an inch thick. If too thick, the clay may not be able to dry completely and can break when fired. If a sculpture is thicker, you can carve out clay from the base or poke a hole to make it hollow.
Etch the students’ initials, name or student number on the bottom of each piece.
After your class with raw clay is complete:
DO NOT ALLOW CLAY TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN! Always have students rinse hands in a bucket of water, and dump the bucket outside.
Place finished pieces in cardboard flats–extras are available in the art closet–and label the flat with the teacher/grade and the date it was finished.
Place boxed pieces on the shelves in the back right of the art closet to dry. They will dry for 2-3 weeks before being bisque fired. When fired, they will be returned to the shelves (leave your name and # on the box if you want to be called when they’re done).
After the pieces are fired, if you want to add color, they can be painted with Tempera, then sprayed with a clear varnish, or glazed with the ceramic glaze. When painting with the ceramic glazes, 2-3 coats should be used for best color (the glaze dries very quickly and extra coats can be done immediately).
After glazing, the pieces will need to be fired again, so use the same boxes and labeling as described above, and put them back on the drying shelves to wait for the next firing.
Some definitions:
Kiln: The oven used to harden clay. When clay is “fired” in the kiln (typically at 1800-2500 degrees F), all the water is removed and the clay is chemically changed so that it is permanently hardened.
Slip: Clay mixed with a lot of water. Slip can be used as a glue to hold pieces together. First scratch or “score” the clay surfaces to be connected then apply slip like glue and make sure the pieces are well connected so they don’t fall apart as the clay shrinks in the kiln.
Wedging: This is a method of carefully kneading clay to remove any air bubbles . Air bubbles in the clay can cause pieces to explode in the kiln.
Bisque: This is the first firing. After a piece is bisque fired, it can be glazed, painted or left as is.
Glaze: This is like a “liquid glass” that is painted on bisque fired clay to add color and give the piece a smooth shiny finish. After glazing, pieces will require a second firing to finish.
Two Clifford artists pose with fun “arty” props during our first Peet’s event in October 2015.
What do you do on a (potentially) chilly Monday afternoon in March?
Why, you go to Peet’s in San Carlos, of course!
Come soak up our students’ artwork, enjoy fun activities, and sip – or knock back – Peet’s delicious beverages. And/or eat!
Clifford families, teachers, and staff: You are all invited to this special Art in Action show!
Thanks to classes taught by parent volunteers, 2nd and 3rd Grade artwork will be on display.
Here are the details:
What: Clifford Art Show & Cocoa Night Where: Peet’s Coffee & Tea, 677 Laurel Street, San Carlos. When: Monday, March 7, 2016 Time: 4:00-6:30PM
2nd Graders and 3rd Graders will be entitled to a coupon for one free hot chocolate to be used on March 7 at Peet’s during our event (check your 2nd or 3rd Grader’s folder for the coupon to bring to Peet’s, closer to the time).
Back in October, Peet’s very kindly let us celebrate 1st Grade and 4th Grade artwork with our debut Art Show & Cocoa Night, so we are grateful to Peet’s for welcoming the Clifford community again.
Get together with fellow Clifford Moms over drinks, appetizers, and shopping at Poppy Boutique on Thursday, January 28 at 6-9 PM!
There is no obligation to buy anything BUT 10% of sales will go to Clifford. You’re welcome to bring a bottle of wine or appetizers to share. No RSVP necessary.
The K-5 Read-a-thon kicked off on January 19th and goes through February 16! Don’t forget to encourage your kids to read and gather pledges for how many minutes they’ve read in a month. Please ask friends, family members, and neighbors to make a pledge or donation. Every little bit counts!
Classrooms with the most participating students will win a class party. There will also be prizes for the student who collects the most pledges and for the student who reads the most minutes.
As a bonus the Read-a-Thon works in conjunction with Stanford University’s reading program, Classroom Cardinal. Students are eligible to earn a FREE ticket to the Stanford Women’s Basketball game on February 28.
And there’s more! As an extra incentive, each individual classroom will receive a classroom visit from a Stanford student-athlete just for participating!
This awesome fundraiser promotes literacy, sports, and going to college! Thank you for your support in helping make this Read-a-thon a success!
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Tips for Success:
Set a daily reading goal. The Read-a-thon is based on minutes read, which allows students with different reading speeds to compete on a level playing field for recognition.
Pick a quiet, well-lit and comfortable place to read.
Use a clock to ensure accuracy of how many minutes read.
