For the past six years Merrimac has had an Art Club that focuses on art therapy. It helps students learn how to express their feelings and thoughts. Art increases children’s positive self-concept. Art helps children come to terms with themselves. Through art students appreciate one another’s efforts.
Art fosters positive mental health by allowing a child to show individual uniqueness as well as success and accomplishment. The act of “doing” rather than “talking” can allow for a comfortable passage towards healing. With the use of art in conjunction with bibliotherapy (therapy using books), and journaling children can reach unexpressed concern and therefore reach a positive solution in a creative, safe, and controlled environment. Art goes beyond verbal language to communicate feelings that might not otherwise be expressed.
This year, ideas were flowing with third grade teacher, and Art Club advisor, Danielle Gagnon, art teacher, Jenna Matthews and Principal Veronica DeCicco. It was decided that the Art club would work on a school-wide project of painting ceiling tiles in the Merrimac Lobby.
The children were given the instruction to paint “what peace means to me”. The project took several months as the students had to carefully plan out their ideas on a paper cut to the size of the hallway tiles. Once this was completed the drawing on the tiles was begun, then the painting of the tiles.
The tiles are masterpieces of the school and reflect the students’ leadership. The Art Club students feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. They have taken great ownership over the project.
PHOTOS: Click here to see images from the Merrimac Art Club Gallery
Merrimac’s Yoga Experience
Third grade teacher, Danielle Gagnon has been on a yoga journey for a while but it really has made a significant impact on her over the past three years. Sayville Hot Yoga has been her place of inspiration. Over the past several years Danielle has taken a journey through yoga that is unexplainable and would like to foster children to experience this journey in a safe, creative, fun environment. Danielle has been trained in the Yoga Rocks Kids method.
Children are required to fulfill very specific tasks in school and this can cause heavy stressors on children of all ages. Throughout her yoga journey Danielle has realized that yoga can have a very similar impact on children that it did on her. She uses stretching and breathing in her own classroom to increase stamina and promote healthy living. Danielle believes that yoga can help children deal with their emotions and help children to become strong, centered individuals.
Merrimac has been very open to the idea and has had several events this year that include yoga. Merrimac has had a PTA night where the parents dropped the kids off at yoga and the parents attended the monthly meeting.
Danielle has been doing yoga during her class’s gym period with Mrs. Kessinger, on Fridays, for six weeks before NYS testing, in hopes that the students will learn techniques to relax and focus. There was a special SEPTA yoga hour at Merrimac in the Fall.
-Text submitted by Merrimac Elementary School