Friday, March 8, 2013

Snow Day..Snow Day!!

Well, yet another snow day!

While you are enjoying this additional day off from school, why don't you check out the latest additions to the word of blogging by going to......


Ms. Ruggiero's new blog...

 
 
Or you can check out Grasso Tech's Health and Physical Education's new blog....
 

 
 
 
 
Have a great weekend everyone! Make sure to "Spring Forward" on Sunday and set those clocks one hour ahead. You don't want to be late for school on Monday!


Sunday, February 17, 2013

To tweet or not to tweet...that is the question...

 
Is it possible? Say it isn't so?!?.....
 
Afraid so.....To Tweet or not to Tweet is no longer the question...
it is the answer!!
 
Stay tuned while I learn the in's and out's of this particular form of social media.
Maybe I'll just ask the kid's to show me!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Academic Open House February 21st

Come join us for Grasso Tech's First ever Academic Open House!

February 21st from 5:30- 7:30 pm

Join us for information on the following important topics:
AP and Honors Classes
Course Selection Information
Music and Art Programs
CAPT Testing
PSAT and SAT Information
College Placement
Financial Aid for college help
Sports
ACE 21st Century Afterschool Programm
Class 2017 Course Information
Why attend this event? Well... you will be able to pick up your course selection
sheet for next year and select those classes that you want to enroll in!!
The Fine Arts Department here at Grasso Tech will be offering
the following courses:
Sophomores~
Elements of Art (.50 credit)
Juniors~
Drawing I (.50 credit)
Digital Photography (.50 credit-first time at this level for next year!)
2D Design (.50 credit-new for next year!)
AP Studio Art (1.0 credit)
Seniors~
Drawing II (.50 credit)
Studio Art (.50 credit)
Digital Photography (.50 credit)
2D Design (.50 credit- new for next year)
Printmaking (1.0 credit)
3D Design (1.0 credit)
AP Studio Art II (1.0 credit)


Monday, February 11, 2013

Something to look forward too!!

With the bleak weather we have been experiencing for the last few days, and if you like me are feeling a little bit stir crazy. Here are a few things to look forward too!

The 3rd Annual Tech Schools take Washington, D.C. Field Trip  May 2013!
Grasso and Ellis Tech students will be heading to our Nation's capitol via a Chartered Bus. Although we leave very early in the morning on May 2nd. We have an action packed adventurous time planned for everyone.

One of the first stops we are going to make once we arrive in Washington, D.C. will be the White House!
 
Although with the new security measures, we are unable to take interior tours, the excitement of setting eyes on it is still a thrill!
 
 After a short walk, we will be arriving at the Smithsonian Institute: American History Museum. http://americanhistory.si.edu/
Not sure about you, but seeing "Old Glory" is something inspiring. There is so much to see and do at the museum, if you are going on the trip, you might want to check out the website and decide your "must-see" items. For me it's the Ruby slippers and Kermit among other things.
 
Our adventures do not stop there...next it is off to the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
 
All I can say is...powerful. 
 
Dinner on Thursday is going to be at Carmine's Italian Restaurant. http://www.carminesnyc.com/locations/washington-dc/
This is a new venture for us this year. Student's will have a choice of menu items and should provide enough energy to get us through the Night Light Monument Tour.
 
The Night Light Monument tour begins at the Washington Monument, goes to the WWII and WWI monuments, then to the Lincoln Memorial, and concludes at the Korean War Memorial.  Please kid's don't text all day if your are going to take photos with your cell phone, these night tours are really something!
 
 
Mr. Lincoln is quite impressive!
 
 Don't worry kid's, we arrive at the hotel around 10:00 pm, just in time to for sleep and light's out!      
 
Wow! All that is just the first day! Friday and Saturday morning, we start the day with a hearty Deluxe Continental Breakfast before heading out: eggs, homefries, bacon, sausage, cereal, fruit, yogurt, milk, juice are just some of the things you can expect to eat each morning. Eat up kid's because we are off for another filled day of learning and fun times!
 
 Saturday we start out at viewing Ford's Theatre and then off to the U.S. Capitol Building for our guided tour. This is one of the most extensive security checkpoints we will have to go through on our trip. Please kid's leave everything but the necessities for the day in your hotel room or on the bus, although we won't see either until later in the evening. 
 
 
U.S. Capitol Building 
 
Inside the dome...it's stunning!!
 
 
Not bad for a cellphone camera!!
 
 
 
 
Also on the agenda for the next two day's are.........
National Zoo~ oh yes, I am heading to see the Panda's!!  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
Arlington National Cemetary  http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/
Iwo Jima Memorial: National USMC Memorial
Smithsonian Institute: Air and Space Museum   http://airandspace.si.edu/ 
Night Light Monument tour: ML King, FDR and Jefferson Memorials
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial
National Archives http://www.archives.gov/  
Smithsonian Institute: Museum of Natural History   http://www.mnh.si.edu/
National Gallery of Art     http://www.nga.gov/
 
 
 
Whew...it's going to be fun! Here are just a few photos from previous trips... 
 
                                                   
The Sculpure Garden at the NGA

 
 
The Smithsonian Museum  of Natural History
 
 
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
 
Newseum
 
 
Inside the Newseum they have a September 11th Exhibit.
When I was there there was a little beam of light shining in creating this rainbow!
The photo is a little fuzzy...but still pretty awesome!
 
Part of the Berlin Wall inside the Newseum
 
Iwo Jima Memorial: USMC
 
Korean War Memorial
 
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetary
 
 
 
 
One of the things I personally bring, is my Passport to your National Parks book.
It's small and portable and let's me collect "stamps" which are dated and specific to each national monument. It's a fun (to me) way to record my adventures. You don't have to buy the official Passport book, you can use a postcard or what-have-you to collect your stamps. Not sure if the location we are at has a stamp? Just ask me, or follow me to the stamping/cancellation station!
 
Not sure if you could tell, but I personally can't wait to go on this trip!!
Come on Spring!!

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 


Sunday, January 6, 2013

Washington DC Trip May 2013


It's that time of year again, hoping and wishing we get enough students enrolled in the Ellis Tech/Grasso Tech Annual Washington DC Field Trip. Right now, I am sad to say, we are shy about a dozen students. Yes, I realize money is tight for everyone and field trips aren't a priority when you are worried about paying for heating oil, gas to get to work and food for the family.

Field Trips aren't just for fun, well ok, they are a lot of fun! They are also suppose to be educational and make a lasting impression on everyone involved. Traveling to our nation's capital and viewing things we see so often in the news makes everything come together.


Did you know there was a law that prohibits any building to rise above the Statue of Freedom?

Here is some quick info on her.. from wikipedia....
The Statue of Freedom—also known as Armed Freedom or simply Freedom—is a bronze statue designed by Thomas Crawford (1814-1857) that, since 1863, has crowned the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Originally named Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace, official U.S. government publications now state that the statue "is officially known as the Statue of Freedom".

Let me share a few photographic highlights...

At the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden..



Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.... I love planes!..


At the Newseum...



They have some of the most amazing artifacts from our history....I've been a few times and I still haven't seen everything!

They have a piece of the Berlin Wall!


Their display artifacts from September 11th is very moving....
learn more at...
http://www.newseum.org/


The deadline for sign-ups for this trip has been extended for the last time.. until January 11th. I hope between the two schools we can get the forty students needed to make this trip happen. If not we'll try again next year!!   We use CTA Field Trips as our preferred trip provider. They are amazing, provide overnight security and have the best guides! We've been lucky enough to get Mr. Foxx (aka. The Hat), in fact we request him. He knows his history and keeps the kids interested.

For more information as always, please feel free to contact me at:
paula.roswell@ct.gov




 







Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Drawing I Class......


Meanwhile in Drawing I class..... we have used several different types of media so far this year....



 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A new year dawns in art class....

Wow!!
I can't believe we are welcoming another new year! Where has the time gone??

My students and I have been very busy so far this school year. I thought I would share some of their artwork.....Enjoy!

3D Design Class   And Studio Art....