ECOLECLAIRE FONTAINE MARCH2017 NEWSLETTER
352 West m in st er Ave. Ven ice 90291 (310) 314-9976 laclair ef on t ain e.or g
CO N T EN T S ECOLE CLAI RE FON TAI N E M ARCH 20 17 N EW S
I M AGI N AT I O N
p3 p4 p6 p8 p 10 p 14 p 4 p 15
C al en d ar B i r t h d ay s I m agi n at i o n & I n sp i r at i o n C o sm o l o gy A r ch i t ect u r e Yo ga Ch oi r
p 16 p 23 p 24 p 26 p 30 p 32 p 33 p 34 p 36 p 45 p 46
A r t i st s O cean o gr ap h y Fr an co p h o n i e I n t h e K i t ch en Gau f r es P i s f o r Pl ast i c M agi c M i l k st o n e W e B i k e! I n t h e Gar d en Fl ow er o f M ar ch Com m u n i ty
CA L EN D A R
T h u M ar 9
B i r t h d ay C el eb r at i o n s C am p er C am p u s 12:30 p m A b b o t K i n n ey C am p u s 1p m
Fr i M ar 10
C al l i gr ap h y Ex h i b i t & Po t l u ck 5- 7p m o n A b b o t K i n n ey C am p u s (f o r A K & C C st u d en t s & p ar en t s)
Su n M ar 12 D ay l i gh t Sav i n gs T i m e B egi n s 2am (Sp r i n g A h ead !) Fr i M ar 17
Fêt e d e l a Fr an co p h o n i e 5- 6 :30 p m A b b o t K i n n ey C am p u s, al l ar e i n v i t ed p3
BI RT H D AYS Cel ebr ate M ar ch Bi r t h d ay s on T h u r sd ay, M ar ch 9th at 12:30 on t h e Cam p er Cam p u s an d 1p m on th e A bbot K i n n ey Cam p u s.
Pl ease keep t h e su gar an d i ci n g l ow, an d r em em ber , n o n u t s!
p4
p5
At Ecole Claire Fontaine we live in the wonder of art, language and imagination, where everything we do is dedicated to the greatness of children. I t is the children, in their exploration, who bring the ideas for our classes.
LIVINGINTHEEXPANSE OFIMAGINATION p6
INSPIREDBYTHECHILDREN
p7
CO SM O L O GY
T he children often ask about space, about the moon, the planets and stars. "W hat is the gas made of? Are meteors hot?" We have created a class to answer their questions and spark more. As of January, we offer Cosmology twice a week on the Abbot Kinney Campus with the hope that the children will begin to see themselves in the dimension of the universe. Our teacher, Bavna, is the mother of former ECF student, Achille. She teaches the children about the beauty of the Universe, including details of the planets in our solar system, and some fantasy as well. A child asks a teacher after class, ?Did you know that there are aliens living in the craters of the moon?? p8
IMAGINING COSMOS the
Children live in their imaginations; their worlds are charged with untold promise. T he response levied to this particular student was teeming with wide eyes and curiosity. ?Oh, Really? Tell me, what do the aliens look like? And what do they do with their day?? T hrough stories the children are learning about our solar system, our planets, and the galaxy and beyond; it is the science of the origin and development of the universe, embodying the limitlessness of imagined and observational astronomy, along with particle physics. And what a magnificent time for this study as new planets, that may support life, are being discovered. After a lovely day at ECF a child announces, ?Did you know, Mother, that the sun is the hottest planet?? Marveling at the possibility of fire in his palms, the child gestures and asks, ?Would I burn my hands if I touched it? W hat about the ring around Saturn? Would it freeze me?? Falling asleep under a mobile of stars is familiar for many of our children, but where their minds wander while eyes flutter is explored through the Cosmos. Cosmology class is held on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons on the Abbot Kinney Campus
p9
CONSTRUCTING THEWORLD
ARCHITECTURE: On a foggy Friday in February, Architecture class continued for an hour and a half ? generally unheard of in preschool where newly generating attention spans wane in 15 minutes. Architect and new ECF studio teacher, Genesis asks the group of 15 students, ?I n 1889 who wanted to make the tallest building in the world?? Voices call out, ?Gustave Eiffel!? ?W hat is the name of the building?? ?The Eiffel Tower!? ?How did it stand so tall? With its legs wide open and its hands up high!? Demonstrations follow all around with stretching arms and firmly planted feet. T he glittering pipe cleaners used to build the structure of the Eiffel Tower that represent the strong metal, steel, are strewn about the table, with paper and pens nearby to color the face of Monsieur Eiffel himself. Steel pipes were also represented in an earlier project based on the Pompidou Center?s 40th anniversary. Proudly the children show their work and prepare to wash their hands for Goûter. To leave the room, each child must tell full-time ECF teacher, Marina the magic password: Télésnober. p 10
I n preparation for the upcoming 2017 Jeux de la Francophonie, ?Dis-moi dix mots,? Marina and Genesis relate projects to the celebration of the diversity of the French language. TĂŠlĂŠsonber is a verb, meaning to be deeply involved in ones telephone call without realizing who is in front of you. Marina mimes a distracted parent and the children laugh. ?We make the class inspiring for them... it?s also important that they work on their fine motor skills in this particular way ? building these towers was not easy for them. I t?s complicated for them to manipulate these materials.? T he sparkles of silver, the pink accents and the tiny French flags infuse the classroom with the air of a breezy architect?s office within a well-worn art studio. Marina explains that the trajectory of the class began with basic geometry: squares, triangles and circles were naturally represented by the contours of a house. (continued on p12)
?After doing shapes and houses, we moved next to bridges in our progression. We also have practiced with rulers to get the idea of tall, small, medium. At first they did simple squares, doors, circles, triangles. Now they are getting more complicated.? Utilizing sizes and shapes as basic functions of architecture, the class has been able to move through an array of fantastic cultural icons. ?Although it?s clichĂŠ to recreate the Eiffel Tower, they really are learning a lot. And it relates to what is going on in school, particularly this month,? Marina explains, she has a Masters Degree in teaching, is a native Russian speaker and fluent in French. L ast month, during January?s Galette des Rois, represented in part by a circular cake, the class recreated the Cercle de Guangzou, a preeminent piece of Chinese architecture. ?You know, we?re really studying everything architects use. Genesis is bringing a professional perspective to the class.? Genesis is new to ECF, generously spending Friday mornings away from the Venice firm where she works, Duvivier Architects, in order to help train the next generation of shape makers and movers. T ry these free online architecture books for extra inspiration. Architecture class is held on Friday mornings on the Abbot Kinney Campus. p 12
p 13
W e r el ax an d st r et ch m i n d s an d bod i es w i th Yoga i n El od i e's cal m i n g cl ass.
p 14
I m agi n i n g t h e l i f e of season s w i t h son gs. Ch oi r i n st r u ct or A n aĂŻs h as r et u r n ed w i t h a n ew baby !
p 15
IMAGINING THEART AROUNDUS p 16
O r an ge Peel Beau t i es T his project shows the children how to express beauty with something that might otherwise be tossed in the trash or compost bin. Peel the clementine, orange or tangerine that you were going to eat anyway and cut the peel into heart shapes. Voila! T he peels are soft enough for the children to use their own scissors or cookie cutters. L et the hearts - or whatever shape you like dry in paper between the pages of a heavy book, as ECF icon, L illy is doing, and you have created beautiful art. p 17
p 18
Ex p l or i n g p ai n ts, p aste an d p en s w i th Pi er r ette.
I n th e stu d i o . p 19
Bu i l d i n g w i th p ap er .
p 20
W eav i n g w i th sti ck s an d str i n g.
p 21
M i xed m ed i u m sel f - p or t r ai t.
p 22
Imaginingthedepthsof theocean A field tr ip to Oceanogr aphy teacher , T im's, ocean museum evoked the wonder of seeing what the childr en had often imagined. "H e has shells and bones and ever ything he finds in the ocean! I t's ever ywher e! I love it!"
p 23
Francophonie Fifty-six countries around the world speak French. I n March we celebrate the diversity of the French language with La Fête de la Francophonie. T he words chosen as 2017?s Dis-moi dix mots relate to a world where our sounds and ideas travel through clouds in hopes that the vastness of our technical options for communication bring us closer together. T hese words represent sharing a world without borders, vast communications, and the possibilities that come with an infinite imagination. Avatar Canular Émoticône Favori (te) Fureteur (euse) Héberger Nomade Nuage Pirate Télésnober Each year a group of academics and Nobel Prize winners choose 10 words to define a special part of the language. We see how the French language travels, welcoming us the world over. T he children are preparing a special performance to be presented on March 17th, from 5-6:30pm at the Abbot Kinney Campus. A potluck celebration will follow, affording us all the opportunity to communicate eye to eye. p 24
FromArt &LanguagetoGarden&Kitchen p 25
p 26
CREATINGINTHE KITCHEN
I n si d e a co co n u t !
p 27
T h e ch i l d r en begi n ever y l u n ch w i t h vegetabl es: f i ber , f l avor an d v i tam i n s!
p 28
D u r i n g t h e af ter n oon goĂť t er , y ou n g voi ces h u m , "Pain et confiture, s'il te plaĂŽt!"
p 29
RECETTE de GAUFRES
p 30
L o n gt i m e EC F t each er , L au r en ce gu i d es t h e ch i l d r en t o d ev el o p n ew t ast es an d t ech n i q u es. "T h ey l ov e t h e p r o cess o f b ak i n g."
GaufresdeCyril Lignac T r ès f aci l e Pr ép ar at i o n : 15 m i n C u i sso n : 30 m i n I n gr éd i en t s PO U R 4 PERSO N N ES 250 g d e f ar i n e 1 sach et d e l ev u r e ch i m i q u e (10 g) 4 0 g d e su cr e 2 o eu f s 50 cl d e l ai t 10 0 g d e b eu r r e f o n d u (50 g so n t su f f i san t s d 'ap r ès l es co m m en t ai r es) 1 p i n cée d e sel Pr ép ar at i o n PO U R GA U FRES D E C YRI L L I GN A C 1. M él an gez l a f ar i n e, l a l ev u r e et l e su cr e. 2. A j o u t ez l es o eu f s b at t u s et m él an gez b i en . 3. A j o u t ez p eu à p eu l e l ai t , en r em u an t av ec u n f o u et , p o u r év i t er l es gr u m eau x . 4 . I n co r p o r ez l e b eu r r e f o n d u , u n e p i n cée d e sel et m él an gez b i en . 5. C o n f ect i o n n ez l es gau f r es d an s u n gau f r i er ch au f f é, en l es cu i san t 3 à 5 m i n . C o n sei l : v o u s p o u v ez l ai sser r ep o ser l a p ât e à gau f r es 1h au r éf r i gér at eu r av an t d e l es cu i r e. C h ef C y r i l L i gn ac i s t h e ow n er an d ch ef o f t h e go u r m et r est au r an t , L e Q u i n zi èm e, d eem ed "m agn i f i q u e" by EC F t each er El o d i e, an d al so o f t h e Par i si an b i st r o i n t h e 11t h A r o n d i ssem en t , L e C h ar d en o u x . p 31
IMAGINEAPLANETWITHOUTPLASTIC Our planet Ear th, which the childr en study in Cosmology with Bavna, cannot digest plastic. I ts pr esence in our oceans, whose health the childr en monitor in Oceanogr aphy with T im, outnumber s all sea life six to one. Just as Fr ance has banned plastic cutler y, cups and plates, the childr en ar e lear ning thr ough exper ience sever al simple ways to manage without plastic.
Some ideas we have come up with as a gr oup: - Buy and car r y r eusable splades, spor ks and str aws. - Car r y a r eusable water bottle and coffee ther mos. - Eat in instead of getting to-go boxes. - Buy in bulk. - Use a plate to cover food in the fr idge. - Use a bamboo toothbr ush and - Remember our shopping bags! p 32
W hile the way most plastic has been made and used is clear ly devastating, it is possible to cr eate the chain of polymer s that constitute something similar , but that is biodegr adable. T his is what L aur ence did with the childr en when they made Milk Stone, other wise known as Galalith (Fun-fact: Gala is milk and L ithos is stone in Gr eek), used in the ooh-la-la jewelr y that Coco Chanel made famous. I n addition to being biodegr adable, this r ecipe for Milk Stone is odor less and non-aller genic. 1 cup hot milk - 4 tsp white vinegar - A few dr ops of food color ing (Acid changes the pH of the milk, making the casein molecules unfold and r eor ganize into a long chain, cur dling the milk.) Put the vinegar in a glass or metal bowl, stir in the hot milk and food color ing. Stir slowly and watch clumps for m. Spoon out the cur ds onto the center of a few paper towels. Fold the paper towels over the top of the cur ds to push out any r emaining moistur e and kneed into a ball of dough. Now you have up to an hour to make it into any shape you like ? the childr en used cookie cutter s to make hear ts. T he shapes should sit to dr y on paper towels for 48
BEAUTIFULLYBIODEGRADABLEMILKSTONE
p 33
p 34
WEBIKE! We are connected to our community, and love greeting one another on the street. ?I recognize your face? you are from Ecole Claire Fontaine. Bonjour!?And so it goes. Walking, biking, scooting or carpooling to school is a great way to combat climate change by improving the quality of air, bringing down the temperature in our immediate area and teaching our children that they hold a great deal of the power needed to quell chaos in the world. Our own Karen, Ecole Claire Fontaine?s Coordinator, rides her bike everyday, even in 25 mph winds! Xavier?s bike carrier came with a Christmas tree during the Holiday season, some of our youngest arrive on bike back seats, and we have even noticed Madame Dumas being taxied in an elegant pedicab. We have seen Roman arrive on a scooter, Edward on a bike with training wheels, and Astrid tucked under a rain shield in a little cart behind her mother?s bike. Come one, come all children to Ecole Claire Fontaine for your day, and get started with fresh air on your happy cheeks.
Connect with the larger community this month? CicL Avia is on Sunday, the 26th of March from 9am-4pm. Many more of our streets will be will be closed to cars, and our city will take on an expanded air of Venice?s labyrinthian walk streets. T his year we will celebrate our ability to move ourselves and greet our neighbors with ?Culver City Meets Venice?. p 35
PAINTINGIN
p 36
THEG ARDEN
p 37
Com p osti n g ou r l ef t- over s to cr eate r i ch , n ew soi l
p 38
T h e ch i l d r en ad d eggsh el l s to th ei r gar d en to d i scou r age cr i tter s f r om n i bbl i n g th e m i n t th ey l ove to sn ack on . T h e sh el l s al so h el p bu i l d th e cap aci ty of th e soi l to su p p or t n ew l i f e.
p 39
p 40
W hat ar e the childr en doing in the gar den when it r ains? Digging, finding peanuts in the pots hidden away by squir r els, sear ching for ...
gr ubs and wor ms, spr inkling fr esh soil, spr outing peas, studying r oots, tossing wildflower seeds, watching a hopping bir d hoping for a nibble.
p 41
Our garden sings in the rain...
w i t h p u d d l es sp l i t t i n g si d ew al k ch al k f an t asti c, ti p p i n g l eaves to ver d an t, d r u m m i n g th e r oof s of sw el l i n g sch ool r oom s, ou r r u bber boots keep i n g ti m e. p 42
Ch i l d r en i m agi n e t h ei r ow n cl ass to cr eat e su n sh i n e on
a r ai n y d ay u si n g ch al k , w at er an d p ap er t ow el s.
p 43
p 44
T h e f l ow er o f t h e m o n t h o f M ar ch i s t h e D af f o d i l , r ep r esen t i n g sp r i n g, r eb i r t h an d d o m est i c h ap p i n ess.
p 45
SU PPO RT I N G M om i eGo, En ch an tés cr eated by ? T h e Fr en ch M i l a?s m oth er , Vocal W or k sh op of avai l abl e on th e L .A . i Ph on e A p p Stor e Ch an son s M éd i éval es et f or p ar en ts & d e l a Ren ai ssan ce ch i l d r en m ak i n g $10 / 15 p er cl ass, p l ay d ates M on d ay s 7:30 - 9p m 2122 L i n col n Blvd . We Ven i ce 90 291 Gar d en , Satu r d ay M ar ch T he 4th 10 am - 1p m , Ven i ce A r t Read i n g Gar d en Cr aw l T h u r sd ay, D ay - W estm i n ster M ar ch 16, 6- 10 p m El em en tar y ECF?s M u r i el w i l l be ex h i bi ti n g h er jew el r y an d p ai n ti n gs at Can al Cl u b on t h e cor n er of Paci f i c an d Ven i ce
Sp r i n g B asebal l at O ak w ood Par k (W h er e ECF Pl ay s Soccer ) Si gn U p N ow ! 8 w eek l eagu e begi n s A p r i l 22, Gam es on Sat u r d ay s, Pr acti ces an n ou n ced by Coach $75 i n cl u d es u n i f or m s, of f i ci al s an d tr op h i es! oak w ood .r c@l aci ty.or g (310 ) 452- 7479 p 46
O U R CO M M U N I T Y Fr ei ja?s Jan e's m oth er , Jen n y , m oth er i s of f er i n g a 20 % sor ts & m akes d i scou n t to ECF p h oto al bu m s. D i scou n t f or f am i l i es f or th e ECF f am i l i es. beau t i f u l w al l h an gi n gs m oosh .com an d p oster s sh e cr eates. T h i s m on th th e T h e bam boo d i sh es ar e VCC Ed u cati on ad or abl e. Fol l ow @f ox f r ogan d p en gu i n Com m i ttee, ch ai r ed by M ad am e D u m as, br ou gh t on i n stagr am togeth er l ocal r eal tor s an d p r i n ci p al s to p r esen t p r ojects an d i m p r ovem en ts at ou r l ocal sch ool s. Br eak f ast w as ser ved i n th e m i d st of or ch i d s at Ven i ce H i gh Sch ool . ?T h i s i s th e l ar gest gr ou p w e?ve seen , i t w as f an tasti c,? r ep or ts ECF?s K ar en . T h e V H S p r i n ci p al m et sep ar ately w i th h er col l eagu es an d p l an n ed to coor d i n ate r egu l ar ly i n or d er to su p p or t on e an oth er ?s w or k an d con ti n u e i m p r ov i n g ou r l ocal , p u bl i c sch ool s.
p 47
© Ecol e Cl ai r e Fon tai n e 20 17