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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s a piece students create to honor a teacher who has made an impact or a difference in their time here at VB Middle,\u201d explained VBMS art teacher Anne Baker.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids really look forward to it at the end of the year,\u201d added Jessica Provow, VBMS art teacher. \u201cIt\u2019s a gift to the teachers \u2013 a thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
And the recipients are so grateful for the thoughtful gift.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy favorite part of the piece is the central focus \u2013 the continent of Africa, which is cut out and filled with newsprint \u2013 because it clearly shows that she recognized my love of traveling and reading when she thought of what she wanted to create,\u201d said Pignaloso. \u201c[I] was honored when the final product was revealed\u2026now to frame it and put it in my house!\u201d<\/p>\n
To better understand what may be meaningful to their selected teachers, the student artists interview them in addition to reflecting on what makes the teachers special to them.<\/p>\n
Providing a listening ear is what has made VBMS School Counselor Kasey Lahousse a special person to Alyssa Serrano.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started going to her last year because I had a lot going on and I wanted to talk to her about it,\u201d reflected Serrano. \u201cAnd I had a house fire this year and I went to talk to her about it, and she gave me school supplies for me and my brother. She really helped me a lot with what was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Serrano said it made her feel \u201creally happy\u201d to present the gift to Lahousse \u201cbecause she gave me something so I wanted to give her something in return.\u201d The painting incorporated Lahousse\u2019s favorite animal, favorite color and favorite flowers \u2013 one flower from where she used to live (Japan) and one from where she will be moving after this school year (Hawaii).<\/p>\n
According to Lahousse, who said she loved the very personal artwork, Serrano gave her an even greater gift.<\/p>\n \u201cI am happy to hear that I have supported her over the past few years, but the truth is, she has inspired me and helped me grow professionally as a school counselor,\u201d Lahousse shared. \u201cAlyssa works hard academically, is kind to everyone she meets, and never gives up.\u201d<\/p>\n Mutual admiration is also evident in the collaborative piece created by eighth-grader Madison Washington and her art teacher, Leah Krueger. The unique installation features circular silk paintings of fish, coral, shells and other items that represent various symbols between the student and teacher.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never worked with a student on a collaborative project before,\u201d Krueger said. \u201cI knew I wanted this to be something different; something that truly reflected our relationship: that we inspire each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Painting on silk, Krueger\u2019s favorite, was new to Washington and provided an opportunity for her to further grow as an artist while creating a meaningful piece with her teacher.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s always been there for me and she\u2019s just such a great person,\u201d said Washington. \u201cShe\u2019s the nicest person I\u2019ve ever met. I love her so much. I call her \u2018my school mom,\u2019 because it\u2019s that kind of bond.\u201d<\/p>\n Krueger has equally positive feelings about Washington.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I admire so much about this young lady,\u201d said Krueger, \u201cis her positive attitude, her selfless nature and her ability to make beautiful, meaningful works of art. She is the type of person who will go out and change the world.\u201d<\/p>\n While some students, like Washington, honored teachers they have known for their entire middle school career, other students\u2019 pieces show that teachers can make a positive impact in a short amount of time.<\/p>\n Nina Wilson created artwork to honor Lateesha Green, a long-term substitute teacher for Wilson\u2019s social studies class. The piece includes a profile portrait of Green surrounded by blue circles that include classmates\u2019 handwritten words to describe her: strong, fun, fashionable, inspiring, outgoing, caring, empowering. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou were only subbing for the last few months,\u201d wrote Wilson in the artist statement with the piece, \u201cbut you still managed to make a strong connection with the students that was unlike any I\u2019d seen in my three years here. As the year is coming to a close, I want you to know that I will never forget you. You gave us a meaningful talk about never throwing away our education that I know I, as well as many others, will hold on to and remember. I\u2019m very thankful I got to have you as a sub in my final year of middle school because you have made an unforgettably positive impact in so many of our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Selena York recognized another substitute teacher, Ali Roane, who works as a permanent substitute at VBMS. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the teachers that cares about you\u2026[and] he has a sense of humor and makes learning fun.\u201d<\/p>\n York used a reference photo from Roane\u2019s wedding day to illustrate a memorable dance on a cruise ship overlooking the Miami skyline.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said one of the most important things to him is his family and his wife, and this was an important day to him,\u201d York explained.<\/p>\n Roane said he was honored that York selected him as the teacher for her final project. \u201cShe wrote some very warm words that let me know that I am truly making a difference, no matter how small. To capture such a beautiful moment and display it in such a unique way was amazing. I showed my wife and she loved it as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Eighth-grader Nick Samuels also used a ship \u2013 a pirate ship \u2013 in his artwork for first-year teacher Dakota Harmon. The pirate standing on the ship\u2019s bow is on a quest for a treasure chest full of coffee \u2013 a beverage Harmon talks about regularly, according to Samuels.<\/p>\n \u201cJust to spruce it up,\u201d shared Samuels, \u201cI painted it with coffee water to try and make it smell like that.\u201d<\/p>\n The student artist was also mindful of the fact that Harmon is new to the profession. \u201cI thought it would be cool to do this one for him especially since it\u2019s his first year. I just wanted it to be kind of like a welcome gift for him,\u201d said Samuels.<\/p>\n He shared more of his thoughts about Harmon in his written artist statement: \u201cIt\u2019s been an honor to have The Great Mr. Harmon as my eighth-grade civics teacher. Not only is he a teacher but a friend to his students. He can be serious at times when needed, but he likes to have fun, making the curriculum innovative and fun for students. For his first year of teaching, I give him an A+.\u201d<\/p>\n While Harmon concludes his first year, Arthur Simon is wrapping up his final year teaching and Serenity Steet wanted to honor him.<\/p>\n \u201cHis class is one of my favorites because he\u2019s really funny and he makes the class interesting,\u201d she said of her math teacher for two years. \u201cHe\u2019s a really good teacher\u2026and he\u2019s retiring this year so I wanted to make something for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Steet painted a portrait of Simon holding two of his cats, who she said have featured prominently in many class stories. The math teacher also has told students about his career in the Navy, which inspired the background of Steet\u2019s painting.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n