Hero's Project at Taub School 2021/2022 Academic Year

The Hero's Project at Taub School 2021/2022 Academic Year Honoring the First Responders During the Pandemic

This unique, interdisciplinary arts integration project involved all 6th grade teachers at Taub School (except for the math teachers) and was led and supported by Jennifer Post, 6th grade science teacher and WP Professor in Residence Robin O'Brien. Social engagement and community service were embedded themes for these students. Art teacher Patty Kaminski was constantly involved assisting the content area teachers and the students with the art making part of this project.

Art Professor in Residence Triada Samaras interviewed both Ms. Post and Ms. O'Brien for this blog post. In the words of Ms. Post: 

"This project started by wanting to thank our local hero’s in the city of Paterson through the 21/22 school year and into the 22/23 school year. Being virtual for the 20/21 school year we were unable to do that so we thought why not now and why not always. We chose to thank the Paterson Fire Department first because they were truly at the frontlines on the pandemic in the city responding to calls and treating patients before transporting them to the hospital. They are truly out there putting their lives on the line each day and rarely get a thank you."

"We made each member of the Paterson Fire department ornaments with their names on them and decided them per house per tour. We also made cards of thank you for them to have especially since some do end up working the holidays and miss precious time with their families. We also wanted to recognize those who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the city and those ornaments had each fallen firefighters name on it and was given to headquarters for them to display each holiday season to remember the supreme sacrifice that these men and woman gave for the city."

Art for Ukraine from The Taub School: Part One

This past spring, the sixth grade team of Joseph A Taub School, Paterson, NJ responded to the invasion of Ukraine with concern and empathy for the Ukrainian people. They also planned with WP PIR Robin O'Brien and WP Art PIR, Triada Samaras.

The teachers met and decided that a cross curricular lesson would be implemented in the 6th grade classes. Each subject chose a different method in honoring the Ukrainian citizens. The culmination of their work can be seen in the attached photos. The students worked with diligence on their projects and learned a great deal about the crisis on the other side of the world. The Joseph A Taub school honors the bravery and perseverance of the Ukrainian citizens. 

1. Math: Creating sunflowers using graph paper 

2. Social Studies: Mapping work and culture 

Above:  Multi-disciplinary display case with works from art, math social studies ELA and Bilingual Bengali classes

3. Science: Discovering the anatomy of a sunflower 

4. Art: Making sunflowers from paper (See Part Two)

5. ELA letters to Ukraine (See Part Two)

6. Bilingual Bengali letter to Ukraine

The following people contributed to this project:

Taub Students

Cecilia O’Toole Fredericks, Principal

Phyllis Delgiodice, ELA

Jennifer, Post, Science

Mathilda Muniz, Social Studies

Barbara Grabowski, Math

Yasmine Chowdhury, Bilingual

Kozeta Bido, Math

Edmund Yanson, math

Shannon Allejo, ELA

Jeanette Cordero, ELA

Molly Nawoichyk, Special Ed

Patricia Kaminski, Art

Robin O'Brien WP PIR

Triada Samaras WP Art PIR

Art for Ukraine at the Taub School: Part Two

This past spring, the sixth grade team of Joseph A Taub School, Paterson, NJ responded to the invasion of Ukraine with concern and empathy for the Ukrainian people. They also planned with WP PIR Robin O'Brien and WP Art PIR, Triada Samaras.

The teachers met and decided that a cross curricular lesson would be implemented in the 6th grade classes. Each subject chose a different method in honoring the Ukrainian citizens. The culmination of their work can be seen in the attached photos. The students worked with diligence on their projects and learned a great deal about the crisis on the other side of the world. The Joseph A Taub school honors the bravery and perseverance of the Ukrainian citizens. 

1. Math: Creating sunflowers using graph paper (Part One)

2. Social Studies: Mapping work and culture (See Part One)

3. Science: Discovering the anatomy of a sunflower (See Part One)

4. Art: Making sunflowers from paper

Above:  Multi-disciplinary display case with works from art, math social studies ELA and Bilingual Bengali classes

5. ELA letters to Ukraine 

 

6. Bilingual Bengali letter to Ukraine

The following people contributed to this project:

Taub Students

Cecilia O’Toole Fredericks, Principal

Phyllis Delgiodice, ELA

Jennifer, Post, Science

Mathilda Muniz, Social Studies

Barbara Grabowski, Math

Yasmine Chowdhury, Bilingual

Kozeta Bido, Math

Edmund Yanson, math

Shannon Allejo, ELA

Jeanette Cordero, ELA

Molly Nawoichyk, Special Ed

Patricia Kaminski, Art

Robin O'Brien WP PIR

Triada Samaras WP Art PIR

WPU Annual Professional Development Schools Conference on May 26, 2021

WP Art PIR's Triada Smaras and Simone Sandler presented together with several others at the WP Annual Professional Development Schools Conference on May 26, 2021.

The topic "Using the Smithsonian Learning Lab-A Collaborative Team-Centered Approach with PDS Schools in the Paterson Public Schools to Teach Lessons Around Equity & Diversity" was presented by:Neil Grimes, Education and Curriculum Materials Librarian,David and Lorraine Cheng Library, William Paterson University; Triada Samaras, Arts Integration Specialist, Professor-In-Residence; Professional Development Schools (PDS), William Paterson University; Kayo Denda, Librarian for Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies; Rutgers University-New Brunswick Libraries; Simone Sandler, Arts Integration Specialist, Professor-In-Residence; Professional Development Schools (PDS), William Paterson University.

Below are artworks from the Taub School (the formerly DBTA). In this school, 8th grade bi-lingual students worked with the theme of Bangladeshi-American Identity in their art.

Below are artworks from School 21. In this school students third grade students studied the theme of social justice and protest art and created virtual billboards expressing their points of view.

Don Bosco Technical Academy Gets a New Name and a New School Building!

(Above:  Kindness Tree at Joseph A. Taub School by Art Teacher Patty Kaminski and her students.)

Paterson Don Bosco Technical Academy has a New Name!

The new school name is the:

JOSEPH A. TAUB SCHOOL 

"TOGETHER WE CAN AND TOGETHER WE WILL"

"The new middle school being built on Union Avenue will be named after the late philanthropist Joseph Taub, whose foundation has funded youth basketball and other programs in Paterson for decades.   LINK

"DTBA is committed to educating not only our students' minds! Our teachers also educate the students' characters. The Kindness Project was adopted as an initiative to build strong positive character traits. The leaves of our Kindness Tree are hearts, colored coordinated to which grade is in and has been "caught being kind." Acts of kindness are aligned to one of the Six Pillars of Character. Special thanks to Mrs. Kaminski for creating and painting such a lovely tree. We here at DBTA cannot wait to see our budding tree bloom with Kindness! " LINK

Social and Emotional Learning in Paterson this Fall

Art PIR Simone Sandler is working virtually this year with students at School 9.  Here are some photos of first and second graders.  This project deals with social and emotional learning. Ms. Sandler's focus this year is also on cultural diversity. 

 

More Arts Integration Lessons Taught in Google Classroom

Below, WPU Art PIR Simone Sandler co-taught a variety of arts integration lessons with classroom teachers using Google Classroom to communicate with Paterson students.

Students at School 9 and Dr. Hani Awadallah School are learning about the Great Barrier Reef. After observing different animals that are endangered to our environment and our earth, students wanted to learn how to make a shark.  Here are some screen shots of the steps taken in creating their drawings of sharks.

In another lesson, fourth graders were studying colonial times. Students looked
at portraits from different museums and then created their own
portraits in the style of artists of the times.

These photos show how first graders interpreted the concept of abstract art as the students.

The work below is inspired by the artist: Mondrian.

In the lesson below, students learned how to create Zentangles, a drawing technique that 

promotes mindfulness.

 The first graders at School 9 had to design a snow globe after viewing different dome shapes.  Students were then challenged to create a snow dome using found objects in their homes. Students wrote several sentences about their creations. 

The photo below shows how first graders interpreted the concept of abstract art as the 

students were exposed to the artist Picasso. The heart was used as the main shape for this lesson. 

In addition, classes attended virtual field trips at these on-line sites: M &M Factory;  

Crayola Factory; Space Ship and Slime; New Jersey Farm hydroponics; Northern Lights; 

Lego Factory; How Glass Marbles are made; Ramen Noodle Factory;  Various Art museums