Category Archives: Enrichment

Community, Enrichment

Enrichment Performances/Demonstrations – Thursday, November 16

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On Thursday, November 16, two of the After School Enrichment programs will be demonstrating what they’ve worked on this semester.

Mr. Chaumont, who is running the Robotics Enrichment class, writes, “Everyone is invited to see what our very own Clifford robotics enrichment class has done! Come see the robots our five teams have built in action: you’ll discover how they were built, programmed and you will even be able to test drive some of them!  Please join us from 3:00pm-3:40pm in room 26!

Mrs. Mugglebee, who is running the Mugglebee Mini-Musical, writes “Our final performance of the Wizard of Oz will be November 16 at 3pm in the MUB.  Our cast has been working so hard on their show and I am so proud of the characters they have developed and the bond they have formed as a cast. We are excited to share it with all of you.”

Enrichment

Mugglebee’s Mini Musicals at Clifford!

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New enrichment option for Spring 2017!

CREATE. PLAY. PERFORM.
Welcome to Mugglebee Theatre! Our Mini Musicals offer hands on experience for all performance levels. Actors will design and CREATE their costumes, props, sets and more. They will PLAY drama games, learn warm up exercises for acting and dance as they rehearse songs, scenes and musical routines. Finally, on the last class they will PERFORM for friends and family a mini musical that is truly their very own! Bring a snack to each class. Find out more at www.mugglebeetheatre.com tel: 650.290.0202, or sign-up here http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d4caba72ea6f49-mugglebees2.

CREATE and design sets and props.

PLAY Drama games to build theater skills & confidence.

PERFORM a mini musical for invited friends & family.

Date: 04/06/2017 (Thu.) Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm EDT Location: Clifford School

Community, Enrichment

April Events at the RWC Downtown Library

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Whether you’re looking for fun and educational activities or awesome Spring Break staycation ideas, the Redwood City Library has you covered!

The Discover & GO program offers free and discounted passes to many local museums and attractions! All you need to access the passes is a library account!

Did you know the library offers enriching and creative events each month? April is chock-full of good stuff!

Community, Enrichment

Alice in Wonderland, Jr!

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BUY TICKETS NOW FOR THE BIG SHOW

February 10 & 11, 7:00 pm and February 12, 1:00 pm

Clifford School PTO and San Carlos Children’s Theater proudly present, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr. as our Musical Performance this year.  Join the fun and sign up to be in Alice in Wonderland Jr., Clifford’s All-School Theater Production!

The ever-curious Alice’s journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit.  Her adventures become increasingly more strange as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!

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Music and Lyrics by Sammy Fain and Bob Hilliard, Oliver Wallace and Cy Coban, Allie Wrubel and Ray Gilbert, Mack David, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston

Music Adapted and Arranged and Additional Music and Lyrics by Bryan Louiselle

Book Adapted and Additional Lyrics by David Simpatico

Based on the 1951 Disney film, Alice in Wonderland, and the novels, “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll

Director-Melody Cole. Choreographer-Daina Block. Music Director-Theresa Ames,
Ensemble Music Director-Jennifer Overbey & Nikki Kolokithas

 

 

Main Cast Auditions & Information (Grades 3-8):

**All students (Grades 3-8) who audition will be cast in the play.**

3rd grade through 8th grade Main cast Auditions for Acting and Singing  will be Monday and Tuesday October 3rd and 4th, with starting time slots at 3pm. All who audition MUST also sign up for a dance audition on Wednesday, October 5th, 3pm or 3:45pm time slot. To sign up for auditions, go to www.sancarloschildrenstheater.com. Once on the site click the “Auditions” tab and then on “Alice in Wonderland Jr. – Clifford School”.  The audition tips on the site are very helpful.

Cost for being in the show is $75 and due at the acting/singing audition. Families are also required to volunteer a minimum of 30-35 hours toward the show. Rehearsals start on Monday, October 24th, and continue up until the performance dates of February 10-12, 2017. Rehearsals will be on Mondays and Wednesdays, with a few Fridays, from 3-6pm on the Clifford Campus. If you have any questions please contact Trina Licht at cljl06@mac.com.

Ensemble Information (Grades K-2):

Students in grades K-2 are invited to join our Ensemble Cast which will be led by our amazing duo, Mrs. Jennifer Overbey and Niki Kolokithis. The Ensemble rehearsals will begin on Monday, December 5. Rehearsals will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30pm to 3:30pm. The cost for being in the Ensemble is $40. Families are also required to volunteer a minimum of 10-15 hours, per child, toward the show.

The Ensemble will be the opening act for the main cast performance of Alice in Wonderland, Jr.  The children will learn 2-3 songs with dance moves for the opening act and perform them, in costume, at McKinley Theater before each show on February 10-12, 2017.

To register, go to http://www.sancarloschildrenstheater.com. No audition necessary. All who register, pay the fee, and come to the first parent meeting on Monday, December 5 at 6pm, will be in the Ensemble. If you have any questions, please contact Trina Licht at cljl06@mac.com.

Key Dates

  • October 3 and 4 – Acting /Singing Auditions (Main Cast, Grades 3-8)
  • October 4- Dancing Auditions (Main Cast, Grades 3-8)
  • October 25- First rehearsal (Main Cast, Grades 3-8)
  • December 5- First rehearsal (Ensemble Cast, Grades K-2)
  • February 10-12- Performances (All Casts)

Alice in Wonderland Jr. – Audition Flyer

Art In Action, Enrichment, Volunteering

Art in Action Volunteers Needed

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AIA_Stacked_Logo_RGB

Our students love their Art in Action lessons! We need parent volunteers in every classroom, grades 1st-5th, to make sure all students get these fabulous, fun lessons that teach our kids how to talk about art and express themselves through drawing, painting and sculpture. Each classroom needs a parent docent, and a few classroom helpers for a 1-2hr lesson, once per month (scheduling is flexible!). No art experience necessary. All the lessons are pre-planned and materials are provided. If behind the scenes is more your style, we also need helpers who can prepare art supplies at home.

To find out more, email one of Clifford’s Art in Action Coordinators: Rachel Winmill (wade_rachel@hotmail.com) or Kay Rim (kaysuzu70@yahoo.com).

Already know you love Art in Action and can’t wait to get started? Sign up for one of the hands on training sessions at AiA headquarters in Menlo Park. These fun, free, hands on lessons are open to anyone interested in volunteering, and will guide you through the curriculum and give you a chance to make some art of your own! Training sessions are offered throughout September and early October, check the Art in Action website for dates.

Academic, Enrichment

NEW! Spring Enrichment Classes

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Be sure to take a look at the complete Spring 2016 After-School Enrichment offerings at Clifford! We’ve got a great lineup of classes that make learning fun for our students; from Reading and Math to Art and Dance to Computer Programming and more.

Check out the video of dance instructor Danny G! We are fortunate to have such talented people teaching our kids.

 

Art In Action, Enrichment, Volunteering

Art in Action: Top Tips for Clay Classes!

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3rd Graders create their own clay shields, and decorate them with beads and feathers, inspired by Native American Art.
Here is a sampling of 3rd Grade artwork inspired by Native American traditions: The students use clay and glazes to create their own shields; then they decorate them with beads and feathers.

WORKING WITH CLAY

Thank you for leading a clay class, as part of Art in Action — or for helping out during a lesson! Clay is such a fun medium to work with; our students love it!

Scroll to the end of this post for some handy definitions.

And have fun!

Firstly, here are some lesson tips:

  • Clay fresh from the bag has been pre-wedged; all of the air bubbles have been removed. Since air bubbles in the clay can cause pieces to break when fired, encourage students not to overwork the clay, and keep this in mind when recycling extra scraps.
  • Try to keep finished pieces not more than about an inch thick. If too thick, the clay may not be able to dry completely and can break when fired. If a sculpture is thicker, you can carve out clay from the base or poke a hole to make it hollow.
  • Etch the students’ initials, name or student number on the bottom of each piece.

After your class with raw clay is complete:

  • DO NOT ALLOW CLAY TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN! Always have students rinse hands in a bucket of water, and dump the bucket outside.
  • Place finished pieces in cardboard flats–extras are available in the art closet–and label the flat with the teacher/grade and the date it was finished.
  • Place boxed pieces on the shelves in the back right of the art closet to dry. They will dry for 2-3 weeks before being bisque fired. When fired, they will be returned to the shelves (leave your name and # on the box if you want to be called when they’re done).
  • After the pieces are fired, if you want to add color, they can be painted with Tempera, then sprayed with a clear varnish, or glazed with the ceramic glaze. When painting with the ceramic glazes, 2-3 coats should be used for best color (the glaze dries very quickly and extra coats can be done immediately).
  • After glazing, the pieces will need to be fired again, so use the same boxes and labeling as described above, and put them back on the drying shelves to wait for the next firing.

Some definitions:

Kiln: The oven used to harden clay. When clay is “fired” in the kiln (typically at 1800-2500 degrees F), all the water is removed and the clay is chemically changed so that it is permanently hardened.

Slip: Clay mixed with a lot of water. Slip can be used as a glue to hold pieces together. First scratch or “score” the clay surfaces to be connected then apply slip like glue and make sure the pieces are well connected so they don’t fall apart as the clay shrinks in the kiln.

Wedging: This is a method of carefully kneading clay to remove any air bubbles . Air bubbles in the clay can cause pieces to explode in the kiln.

Bisque: This is the first firing. After a piece is bisque fired, it can be glazed, painted or left as is.

Glaze: This is like a “liquid glass” that is painted on bisque fired clay to add color and give the piece a smooth shiny finish. After glazing, pieces will require a second firing to finish.

–Rachel Winmill

Clay_shield2

Art In Action, Community, Enrichment, Social, Volunteering

Clifford Art Exhibit Topped with Hot Chocolate

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Two artists pose for the camera with fun "arty" props during the Clifford event in October 2015.
Two Clifford artists pose with fun “arty” props during our first Peet’s event in October 2015.

 

What do you do on a (potentially) chilly Monday afternoon in March?

Why, you go to Peet’s in San Carlos, of course!

Come soak up our students’ artwork, enjoy fun activities, and sip – or knock back – Peet’s delicious beverages. And/or eat!

Clifford families, teachers, and staff: You are all invited to this special Art in Action show!

Thanks to classes taught by parent volunteers, 2nd and 3rd Grade artwork will be on display.

Here are the details:

What: Clifford Art Show & Cocoa Night
Where: Peet’s Coffee & Tea, 677 Laurel Street, San Carlos.
When: Monday, March 7, 2016
Time: 4:00-6:30PM

2nd Graders and 3rd Graders will be entitled to a coupon for one free hot chocolate to be used on March 7 at Peet’s during our event (check your 2nd or 3rd Grader’s folder for the coupon to bring to Peet’s, closer to the time).

Back in October, Peet’s very kindly let us celebrate 1st Grade and 4th Grade artwork with our debut Art Show & Cocoa Night, so we are grateful to Peet’s for welcoming the Clifford community again.

Questions? Contact us.

Presented by Clifford’s Art in Action team.

4th Grade artwork inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe.
On display at Peet’s during our Hot Cocoa gathering: Artwork inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe (4th Grade, above) and Marc Chagall (1st Grade, below).