Cornell School Board - Art is everywhere around us, if you just look
Cornell art teacher Kelleen LoMenzo shows the portfolios she keeps in her elementary room, for each class and the certain projects she’s had them work on throughout the year. LoMenzo’s pride and joy, is the drying rack she obtained, so students’ paintings can dry without getting ruined. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
Cornell Elementary School has a lot of good things going for it and the art program is one that is on the rise. New art teacher Kelleen LoMenzo has her own unique approach and that is drawing in more students wanting to take the class.
LoMenzo is so much in demand, it’s likely she’ll increase her time at the middle/ high school next year. “I absolutely love it here,” said LoMenzo, Jan. 27, before the board of education.
As part of the meeting, LoMenzo shared what she’s had students do so far this year, and what plans are going forward. For example, LoMenzo likes to show the students how to use resources available to them and to take on a challenge.
She’s also had them create their own paint pallets.
“I find if students create their own supplies, they tend to take care of them better,” said LoMenzo.
Another way to give the students more responsibility, are banker-like tubes, which hold color-coded paint brushes. Once they are issued, the student must take care of them and clean the brushes, before receiving their grade.
LoMenzo has stations around her art room, as she teaches a 30-minute lesson, then has 20 minutes of “free time” at one of the stations. The students can do flower rubbing or some other form of art, which is what LoMenzo stresses – that students look for art in their surroundings.
“Art is everywhere,” she said.
On the subject of painting, superintendent Paul Schley mentioned that he is aware of the peeling and flaking off paint on the elementary doors.
“We don’t know what the heck happened, for sure,” he said.
The doors were just spray painted last year, but moisture must have gotten underneath. Schley said maintenance will take care of it when the weather warms up.
As for the new cell phone policy, administration feels the transition of students not having their phone in school hours has been a smooth one, with the exception of having to get more board games for the students to play during their free time, which is a good problem to have. Middle/ high school principal Craig Braaten says it’s been nice to see the kids interacting again, instead of being glued to their device.
“I think it’s gone pretty well, for the most part,” he said.
Braaten also reported that the district is trying out ALEKS Math on a few of the students, which is an AI model, with slight teacher supervision.
“The kids work at their own pace, which is what makes it personalized,” said Braaten.
However, Braaten and Schley feel it could be a long way off before the program is fully integrated, and want to take it slow, to make sure it’s viable for Cornell, and useful to the students.
“It’s on our radar,” said Braaten.
During the meeting, the board approved the teacher and support staff compensation models, as well as the retirement of math teacher Nancy Schlageter and the resignation of English teacher Maricel Namacpacan.
Having spent the last 37 years, as a mathematics teacher at Cornell Middle/High School, the decision to retire has not been easy, wrote Schlageter. However,
I feel it is the right time for me and my family, to step into this next chapter of my life. The memories and achievements accomplished over the years, will always hold a special place in my heart.
After careful consideration, I have concluded that my teaching style and approach may not be the best fit for the specific needs of the students here, wrote Namacpacan. I believe it is in the best interest of the students to have an educator who is ideally suited to their learning environment.
