Thursday, April 28, 2011

Musem Magnet School Springs Forward



Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.
                                                                                           -Rilke

It's been a busy time at the Museum Magnet School for Inquiry, Innovation & Imagination.  We spring forward toward new and exciting adventures.  Here are some of the highlights of what we've been up to and a look ahead this month:

Congratulations to Mr. Rafael Picorelli & staff for the beautiful, musical theatrical production, SPRING IMPRESSIONS featuring the Pre-K through Grade 2 students.  The children donned various costumes representing living creatures, our earth, flowers and butterflies. Their song and dance performances awoke in us all the memory of being carefree and full of wonder. Kudos to all!

The April Studio in a School parent/child workshops have been very successful - the sessions have been informative and exciting for all and the turn-outs from our PS 191 community have been unprecedented.  We thank Studio in a School for their efforts in providing the means for our families who participated to create and play together!  

A few members from the Magnet Leadership Team met with two key members from The New York Historical Society's Education Department during the Spring Break to discuss our plans to partner with them in the upcoming school year.  This venerable institution will include the new DiMenna Children's History Museum and the new Barbara K. Lipman Children's History Library, a combined 2,300 square foot facility designed by Lee H. Skolnick Architecture & Design Partnership in a dramatic, vaulted space on the lower level; and the relocation of the museum café to a light-filled, 1,800 square. The New York Historical Society will provide assistance in creating our newly developing Social Studies curriculum, discussing options of how their teaching artists will partner and collaborate with our Pre-K - 8 teachers, and discuss exciting and effective ways for our students to benefit from their world-renowned resources and collections.  You will continue to receive updates on our progress in this effort.

I am currently working with teachers in each grade, brainstorming ideas for Academic Fairs (Museum Exhibitions) and End of the Year projects. There are a number of exciting ideas percolating and we are anxious to share the visions and collaborative efforts of the teachers and students in the coming weeks.

Ms. Sandler's Third Grade class recently visited the American Museum of Natural History, where Ms. Salas, the Museum Magnet Specialist, guided them through the North American Mammal Gallery and the Central America/Mexico Gallery.  We started by looking at and examining the North American Continent wall map in the North American Mammal Gallery.  The students learned about the geography of Mexico and its location in relation to the United States and Central American countries.   We visited the Jaguar diorama and discussed the features and various facts of this animal and its relationship to the culture and artistic style of the Aztec, Mayan and Mexican people.  Our final stop: The Aztec Sun Stone, where the students observed and discussed the features and meaning of this amazing artifact.

Ms. Tiffany and Colette Giglio's 2nd/3rd grade class will also be touring the same galleries with Ms. Salas on April 28, 2011.

Members of our teaching and administrative staff attended the District 3 Rubicon Atlas Curriculum Mapping training at Columbia University in Lerner Hall during the Spring Break.  Atlas Rubicon is a  customizable curriculum management mapping tool for the newly developing magnet schools. We have formed sub-committees and teams of educators to turnkey, update and manage this system to all staff.  We will continue to provide updates and information about this system and welcome any questions you may have.


NYCMER CONFERENCE: The NYC Museum Educators Roundtable Conference is offering a learning and networking opportunity on Monday, May 16th, 2011, co-hosted by the New York Hall of Science & the Queens Museum of Art.  There's an engaging session for everyone.  Topics include:
  • play-based learning
  • evaluating field trips
  • inquiry, interpretation, and gallery experiences
  • engaing communities through partnerships
  • programming for ELL students
  • empowering volunteer docents and more!
Registration information:  By Friday, May 6:  $65 members and $75 for non-members
After Friday, May 6:  $75 for members and $85 for non-members.
Scholarships available.
Please visit www.nycmer.org for more information about the program and registration.

June 9, 2011 Magnet Conference:  We are currently working with Bank Street College of Education preparing for the upcoming June 9, 2011 District 3 Magnet Conference to be held at Columbia University.  These all day workshops are being specifically designed to address and support all staff in understanding project based learning, among other critical and important tenets of meeting our magnet goals and requirements.


More updates and information will be forthcoming!  Happy Spring!















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