ATLAS students learn about cityscapes through pop art
Students in the Academy of Talent, Leadership, and Scholars program (ATLAS) in grades four through six participated in a 3D cityscapes course after school once a week from January 24, 2023, to March 21, 2023. Students created their own cities in the style of Charles Fazzino, an artist who is known for pop art.
The Mount Vernon ATLAS Program provides a variety of research-based services that give students an opportunity to address their unique needs. This includes a curriculum that promotes higher-order thinking such as inquiry skills, problem solving, and creative thinking.
“They learn about what you find in a city, such as how many cars and how many people,” said Ana Saura, art teacher at Pelham Arts Center, who is teaching the class. “So, they learn perspective, and then they can create their own environment where they would love to live.”
Saura allowed students to be creative with their cities. One created an underwater city; one created a dinosaur city called Dinoland. There was also a snowy city and many more creative city designs.
“It’s really fun,” said Laiyla Morrison, third grade student at Pennington School. “I learned that art can be in many different forms. It can be anything you want it to be. We’re making cities that can be imaginary or a real place. You could even make it your own city.”
Students were introduced to various architectural styles to determine what type of city they wanted to make. They then learned how to design, plan, and produce a cityscape.
They designed the cityscapes by drawing them on poster boards. They then cut out the residents and buildings of their cities in cardboard. Once they had the cutouts ready, they added them to the cities with tacks to make the buildings and people of their city pop out. The combination of city-planning and art made for a fun and educational experience for the students.
“It’s a lot of fun, and I made a lot of new friends here,” said Hadley Durousseau, fourth grade student at Traphagen School. “I just really like art, so when my ATLAS teacher gave me the paper, my parents signed me up. We’re learning about 3D cityscapes, so basically, we draw it and pop it, and then you can hang it up like a picture.”
Principals throughout the district set up tables with brochures highlighting the District’s accomplishments at the Mount Vernon High School cafeteria to showcase their school for potential applicants during the Mount Vernon City School District Community Fair on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Secondary students in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council stood in front of the room and showed off their leadership skills during their presentations on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Each student was given a scenario where they would need to lead, and they presented the methods they would use to reach their goal.
Cheers erupted with every basket made in the Mount Vernon High School gym, as students with disabilities from Mount Vernon High School and Woodlands High School competed in a game of basketball on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The game was held through the New York State Pioneer League, which provides students with disabilities the opportunity to play on a team.
The winners of the Mount Vernon City School District “Biggest Loser” challenge gathered around the Education Center with smiling faces, holding their plaques and checks during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
Another friendly face took place as superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District for a day on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Dr. Colleen Seivright-Crawford, principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy, fulfilled the position of superintendent for Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith’s “Superintendent for a Day,” series. In exchange, Dr. Smith served as the principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy.
The annual Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance hosted by the Mount Vernon PTA Council was a night filled with music, laughter, celebration and a strong sense of community. The event, held on Friday, April 12, 2024, not only raised money to provide scholarships to seniors from all four high schools in Mount Vernon, but also celebrated the accomplishments of 20 exceptional individuals within the District.
Dear PTA Council,
Thank you for hosting the wonderful Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance last week. I am always happy to see the amazing faculty and staff in Mount Vernon schools be recognized, and I am so grateful for the money raised to support our graduates.
Click here to view the remainder of the letter from Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith