Environmental Awareness Expands as Composting Comes to Campus

A year ago we reported on Bridges Academy students’ newfound respect for the “Four Rs” upon returning from their three-day outdoor education trip at Camp Arroyo. Hearing reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot all rolling off the kids’ tongues, Bridges staff resolved to build on that environmental enthusiasm in 2010-11.

“This year,” says 4th-grade teacher Soo Hyun Han, “we really wanted a post-trip project that was more far-reaching than projects in the past, one that would definitely affect everyone on campus.”

Conveniently, there was already movement in that direction, from Bridges’ garden program. “Our after-school coordinator Alia, who is in charge of the garden, already wanted to start a composting project here,” says 4th-grade teacher Pat Kaplan. “So it worked out that we were wanting the same thing.”

“One of the great things has been seeing the older kids learn about it and then train the younger kids,” reflects Kaplan, who says student leaders made up the posters pictured here, and went from classroom to classroom presenting the composting process. “They’ve shown a lot of leadership.”

In the cafeteria, the impact is on compelling display. As students finish their lunches, they approach the middle of the room where three receptacles await their garbage, compost, and recycling. With an assist from Bridges Custodian Mr. Robinson and Cafeteria Supervisor Ms. Cross, two students monitor the compost station, helping kids sort their items.

“I’m happy we’re protecting the environment because if we don’t, the landfills get bigger,” explains 4th-grader Yajaira. Her fellow compost crew leader Janelly elaborates, explaining how landfills produce methane, a major culprit in polluting our air.

“They’re known as the experts now,” says Han. “They’re in the cafeteria every day, taking turns monitoring.” The composting bug has caught on school-wide, with all school staff in the mix, plus support from partners at Waste Management and stopwaste.org (which also sponsored the school’s Camp Arroyo scholarships this year). “It’s really been a team effort,” says Kaplan.

4th-grade teachers Stephanie Pool and Rosa Kurshan have seen the spirit extend into their classrooms. “They like to police me a lot,” says Kurshan. “I call them my eco-police, always looking around and asking, ‘Where’s the compost?’”

“They’re very aware in class,” concurs Pool, “saying, ‘Oh, could we compost this?’ It’s something they’re really trying to think about.”

If you would like to support Bridges Academy, you can donate online here (picking “Bridges Academy” in the pull-down) or by check: “OSF/Bridges,” P.O. Box 27148, Oakland, CA 94602. Thank you!

"You Could Make a Masterpiece"

Of Starry Nights, Mona Lisa's Eyes, and the Next Picasso

"Whenever you look at that painting," says Bridges Academy 5th-grader Sabrina, "it seems like her eyes are moving and always watching out."

Sabrina and her classmates Cristian, Joan, and Gemma are deep into a discussion of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Channeling the 16th-century masterpiece, Gemma strikes the subject's enigmatic, enduring gaze. "That's why it's famous!" says Cristian. They all nod.

"I've actually seen her move her eyes," offers Joan.

Bridges Academy's 5th-grade artists Gemma, Joan, Cristian, and Sabrina
with their portrait projects

"Well, it seems like they move because you see her looking at you," muses Gemma, momentarily breaking her Mona Lisa pose. "But that's the thing: It's all in your imagination. [The painting] really gets in your mind."

Art is clearly in the minds of Bridges students, both their own and that of legends like da Vinci, Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol. "We drew a picture that this famous guy Van Gogh painted," says Joan. "Starry Night. It's awesome. Beautiful."

"The wind," says Gemma. "He looked out his window and he painted it, that swirly wind."

Sabrina's rendering of Van Gogh's Starry Night

(Note: You can click on the images to see larger versions.)

"It's cool with all the stars," says Sabrina. "We did hatching with pastels [to recreate Van Gogh's technique]. Making art is important because you can show your feelings and express yourself. If it's your own art, then you're not copying anyone and they're going to think it's cool that you created something all by yourself, just out of your own thoughts."

"Art gives students an outlet for expressing themselves and a chance to be creative in a way they might not normally have during the school day," says the kids' teacher, Jessica Jung.

"It's fun times when you're doing art," says Gemma. "You feel excited about how it's going to turn out, and then when it's done you're proud of it."

"Some kids learn better through art or music, or social studies or science, and these all work together to create a full education," Jung says. In that spirit, she and fellow Bridges teachers connect art to standards in math, English, and other areas whenever they can. When her class studied Van Gogh's Starry Night, she tied it to an astronomy lesson, and building dioramas became an opportunity to explore history as the kids constructed scenes of different colonial regions. "It's all a way to process information in different and more entertaining ways," she explains. "They're not just writing and answering questions, but showing a real understanding by creating this scene."

"Art is important," says Cristian, "because some kids can draw their feelings on a piece of paper, and if they're happy they could draw the world, and their neighborhood, and houses, and they can inspire people."

"Art is a way of exploring the world," reflects Sabrina.

Joan agrees. "If some people see your picture of New York, they might like and want to go to New York."

"It might also make them want to do something creative like us," adds Gemma.

"Art gives students a chance to succeed in their own way," says Jung. "Particularly kids with behavior issues or who aren't as successful academically, other students can say, 'Wow, this student did a really beautiful job.' It's an opportunity for every student to feel successful in one way or another in class, and we see different parts of their character come out when they're doing certain projects."

"When I draw," explains Joan, "I think in my mind that one day I will become an artist. It's so cool. I might create the beautiful sea, a picture of New York, or my face in a self-portrait."

"Like a Picasso," adds Sabrina. "But instead of it being a Picasso, it will be a Joan."

With art, you could do anything you want," says Cristian. "You could make a masterpiece."

Cesar Chavez Day Celebrates Legacy, Inspires Community Spirit

If you set foot on Melrose Leadership Academy’s campus on March 29, you would not have known that all California schools were closed in observance of Cesar Chavez Day. That Monday, dozens of students, staff, families, and community partners from both Melrose and Bridges Academies gathered for an inspiring celebration of Cesar Chavez’s legacy.

AmeriCorps volunteers kicked off the day by working with students and school staff to weed and plant the campus garden, while also building more planter boxes and constructing trellises. Meanwhile, community partners such as the Oakland Farm to Schools program set up information tables for families. There was also support for parents of 5th-graders heading on to middle school (some of whom will attend Melrose, a K-8).

“One of the reasons this event is exciting: We do it collaboratively with Melrose Leadership Academy [an East Oakland K-8 school],” says Bridges Academy Garden Coordinator Anne Louise Burdett. “It’s a great way to bring both school communities together and share resources and know that this is bigger than just one school site.” Students also collaborated on a new mural celebrating Chavez, drum troupes from both schools performed in the courtyard, and kids read aloud from Chavez’s writings and speeches.

Laying a foundation for the event, Bridges classrooms spent the previous month studying Cesar Chavez and integrating that learning into the after-school program, art lessons, garden class, and more. By the day of the event, says Burdett, “Students had a great idea of what he represented and why the event features him as a symbol of why we’re all there together as a community. The event is a really nice culmination of what he stood for: social justice.”

Camp Arroyo Expands Students’ Horizons, Increases Environmental Awareness

At Bridges Academy, the traditional “Three Rs” – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic – are just the beginning. Through field trips like the three-day, two-night adventure at Camp Arroyo in Livermore, they are becoming experts in “The Four Rs” as well. Fourth-grader Leslie explains:

“I had a good time at Camp Arroyo because we learned about nature and ‘The Four Rs’: reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink,” she reflects.

Learning about the camp’s green architecture, use of solar power, and organic garden, students got a hands-on look at conservation, composting, and other forward-thinking environmental practices. Using field guides, binoculars, and magnifying glasses, the students got up close with the 138-acre camp’s flora, fauna, and animal life. “My favorite part was when we hiked to Cresta Blanca [a demanding three-mile hike overlooking Lake Del Valle]” says Leslie.

“It was a great opportunity for students… to thrive and learn in the manner that they best learn, which is through experiences, dialogue, observation, and fun,” says 4th-grade teacher Candice Camp.

“Camp Arroyo is a good experience because you can learn more about the wild,” says 4th-grader Erika. “[It was] also good because you go on a bunch of trips. I felt amazed to know there are a bunch of things we can do to help the environment like recycling all the plastic bottles and glass. I especially liked the solo hike because we got to walk in the woods alone.”

“It is always an enriching life experience to be away from home for the first time in a setting where you need to depend on yourself and your friends to take care of the everyday tasks of living,” Camp adds. “I always see a great development of independence and trust [on these trips].”

And the learning doesn’t end in the woods. Back on campus, 4th-grade classes connect the experiential lessons to grade-level science standards.

“We did a lot of fun activities like go hiking, gardening, and go see animals from the forest,” says 4th-grader Jorge. “We saw wild turkeys in a big group of about 13 of them. The people there were really nice and you get to make a nametag out of wood and take it home.”

“[If you go], one thing you will absolutely enjoy is the breakfast, lunch, and dinner because they make good stuff like fruit,” says Leslie. “One thing I liked was when we went to the garden and tried new fruits and vegetables.”

Fourth-grader Joshua also has a message for next year’s Camp Arroyo attendees: “You should go to Camp Arroyo because you will go on adventures to the mountains, learn about ‘The Four Rs,’ plants, trees, how to save our world, and try new vegetables. You can eat, drink, and sleep for two days in cabins that have names like Walnut, Pine, Willow, and Madrone.”