Head of School's Message: October 28
A spa broke out in Spanish class last week. I walked into Mrs. Vasquez’s 8th-grade classroom on Wednesday and saw ten students on their backs, arms by their sides, on the desks covered in blankets while their classmates covered their faces with soft, damp strips of material.
A spa broke out in Spanish class last week. I walked into Mrs. Vasquez’s 8th-grade classroom on Wednesday and saw ten students on their backs, arms by their sides, on the desks covered in blankets while their classmates covered their faces with soft, damp strips of material. There was everything but cucumber slices, wet towels on the forehead, and the sound of a babbling brook in the background. Was this a distinctly new-age foreign language learning experience? What was going on?
The students explained that the set up was an exercise in mask-making. As part of Chandler’s 8th-grade curriculum, students learn how Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated throughout Latin America with different cultural traditions. The masks are a Mexican tradition. Students took their dried masks home to decorate over the weekend. Later this week, they will learn about La Cumbia, a traditional Mexican dance. They will wear their masks and costumes as they perform La Cumbia on the field.
The activity highlights how Chandler approaches diversity and inclusivity. Every student produces a mask, but every mask is unique. The exercise simultaneously affirms individual identity and celebrates the community. The students learn that Latin America is not one homogenous, monolithic block but a multicultural region that throughout the continent celebrates Dia de Los Muertos with different traditions and customs.
One of the visitors at Chandler’s Open House last week talked to me about being impressed at the variety of student artwork on display. She was accustomed to seeing student artwork in which every piece is similar, but Chandler’s art program was more appealing to her as it encourages students to express their creative individuality once they have mastered core, basic skills. The art program is sufficiently differentiated for students to have control over what they produce while meeting high expectations for skill development.
Halloween is always an excellent day for creative expression as the students (and their parents) put their skills to work. Thursday’s costume parade is one of Chandler’s festive traditions. If you’re able to join us on Thursday, we look forward to seeing you.
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The students explained that the set up was an exercise in mask-making. As part of Chandler’s 8th-grade curriculum, students learn how Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated throughout Latin America with different cultural traditions. The masks are a Mexican tradition. Students took their dried masks home to decorate over the weekend. Later this week, they will learn about La Cumbia, a traditional Mexican dance. They will wear their masks and costumes as they perform La Cumbia on the field.
The activity highlights how Chandler approaches diversity and inclusivity. Every student produces a mask, but every mask is unique. The exercise simultaneously affirms individual identity and celebrates the community. The students learn that Latin America is not one homogenous, monolithic block but a multicultural region that throughout the continent celebrates Dia de Los Muertos with different traditions and customs.
One of the visitors at Chandler’s Open House last week talked to me about being impressed at the variety of student artwork on display. She was accustomed to seeing student artwork in which every piece is similar, but Chandler’s art program was more appealing to her as it encourages students to express their creative individuality once they have mastered core, basic skills. The art program is sufficiently differentiated for students to have control over what they produce while meeting high expectations for skill development.
Halloween is always an excellent day for creative expression as the students (and their parents) put their skills to work. Thursday’s costume parade is one of Chandler’s festive traditions. If you’re able to join us on Thursday, we look forward to seeing you.
