Right before 6th-graders went on Winter Break, we had an opportunity to visit the Pacific Standard Time exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center. We studied murals that can be seen throughout L.A. and even noticed that there was a lot of fabulous street art right in our school community! The students engaged in an art project that replicated the process of mural making by collaborating together to create one art piece.
ESM Sixth Grade teachers were awarded a $1,500 grant from Keeping History Alive. The grant supports integrating history with other subjects in project-based learning lessons, and will provide field trips to Tall Ships in San Pedro where students will learn to sail on brigandines while engaging in STEM and history activities. https://lamitopsail.org/programs/topsail-stem-program/
After a 2+ hr. bus ride worthy of Odysseus himself, the 6th-grade Gifted Arts/Tech classes of Mr. Purdy, Mr. Piumarta, Mr. Gabriel and Mr. Garnett enjoyed their annual trip to the galleries of the Getty Villa Museum in Malibu, CA. They viewed Greco-Roman statues of Zeus and Athena, Roman mummies, ancient coins, pottery, jewelry, and experienced the Family forum where they could act out Greek myths and decorate vases. They look forward to returning next year!
On Sunday, November 5, animation students were invited to the red carpet to welcome the stars from Paramount Pictures ‘Daddy’s Home 2’. Many students were able to take pics and collect the autographs of many of the stars from the film, Mark Walhberg, John Cena, Will Ferrell and Mel Gibson. After the red carpet welcome, students were treated to the movie.
100 Animation students attended Warner Bros. Pictures ‘Lego Ninjago Movie’ on Saturday, September 16, 2017. Fun was had by all and all students attending, walked the green carpet of the premiere!
The sixth grade ESM received a Havasi Grant to participate in collaborative workshop between the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Audubon Society. Students traveled to Malibu Lagoon State Beach where they studied Estuary Ecology.
During the first week of May, ESM sixth graders set sail with the Top Sail Program in San Pedro. Students boarded brigantines, 110-foot ships. and the adventure began! Students were not merely passengers on this journey, but crew trainees. They raised and trimmed the sails, stood lookout, steered the course they set, and climbed the rigging to furl sails while balancing on foot ropes. A pod of about 25 dolphins swam up to starboard and continued to swim underneath and then surfaced on the port side of the ship. They were incredibly close, and it was an amazing sight. Plus, there were lots of sea lions and pelicans swimming along with the ship. Students sailed the ships out of San Pedro Harbor into the open ocean. It was a very exciting day!
Underwood Farms Visit: After an in-depth study of sustainable agriculture, 7th grade ESM students visited Underwood Farms. Students were treated to a talk about vegetables, fruits and sustainability at the farm, and were able to pick their own vegetables to take home to prepare for a family meal. Ms Munoz, Ms Altounian, Mr Clifford and Ms Burke joined the students on this memorable day!
