Elementary Specials
- Art
- Gardening
- Music
- Physical Education
- Spanish
Art
Andrea Fiore Ewen has a BFA in art and a passion for working with children. Andrea’s Art Class encompasses a “learning by doing” approach using auditory, visual and kinesthetic means of learning. Included in her class is an introduction to famous artists. When giving lessons on an individual artist, Andrea might show up in character in order to visually connect the students with the artist. Additional focuses have been jewelry, drawing with pastels and print making. Art is included in the Elementary curriculum.
Gardening
Every elementary student attends gardening class once per week, which are led by our on-staff Gardening Teacher, Scott Dubois. Scott has been gardening in Austin for more than six years, and am the former owner of Urban Homestead, an edible and native plant landscaping company and a certified Permaculture designer. His gardening classes focus on cultivating ecoliteracy, good nutrition, mindfulness, and persistence. These classes maintain our garden classroom and receive hands-on lessons with sustainability, nutrition, botany, weather, and ecology. The majority of the garden space is allocated to annual vegetables and cut flowers, which are either eaten during class or sold by students at a makeshift farm-stand to raise money for the garden.
Music
Our K-1 classes have weekly music classes with K-1 Guide and musician Deborah Way-Salinas. Our Early and Upper Elementary students have weekly music classes with Johann Wagner. Johann is a professional musician who has recorded several albums. He is the crew leader for the Kidsville children’s program at the Kerrville Folk Festival.
Physical Education
The goal of our Physical Education program is to show each child how to possess the healthiest body, spirit, and mind possible, taking into account that what’s right for one child might not be right for another. Modeling values, ethics, and character-build
Spanish
Mariposas Spanish School has been teaching children Spanish since its inception in 1999. Home grown in Austin, Texas, we bring extra-curricular Spanish classes to your child’s school. Mariposas is a hands-on, thematically organized program that allows children to learn Spanish through music, literature, games, visual aids, sign language, art, and beyond. Spanish is included in the Elementary curriculum, and is offered to YCC and Primary children for an additional cost.
