Jube School Reflection Our Lady of the Assumption School

As I sit back and reflect on my experiences and the students’ experiences, I can’t help but wonder, what’s next?  Our big idea for our proposal was, “Choose Your Path”.  As educators, we were hoping to introduce our students to new experiences, opportunities and ignite a passion to explore and inquire through various lenses.  Have we introduced them to new options?  Have we captured their interests?  Have we allowed them to express their passion?  What path will they each consider? 

JUBE SCHOOL was exactly that; an opportunity to introduce the visual arts, to learn to ask questions and inquire beyond the obvious and to investigate how others before them have travelled this “path”. At JUBE SCHOOL, students worked in multi-age groups to explore the Visual Arts by questioning, inferencing, critiquing and making connections to personal experiences.  Working with a talented artist,  like Brianna Strong, every day allowed the students to create a relationship with her as they slowly began to step away from their uncertainties and allow themselves the freedom to explore each piece of art work she presented to them.  Before they had even realized it, they were gaining knowledge and incorporating it into their collective masterpiece, our Instragrammable wall.  Our Instagrammable wall is a representation of students, parent volunteers and teachers gained knowledge of colour, lines, texture and shadows.  Each day, students were introduced to each artistic value and asked to explore it, observe it and connect with it.  This new found way of looking at art naturally flowed into their Instagrammable wall.

Our week at JUBE SCHOOL introduced the students to various career options that ranged from make-up artists, technicians, stage designers and union representatives.   Each expert that the students spoke with shared their story of how they entered into this career field, the “paths” they journeyed along.  It became evidently clear that each expert followed their passion and trusted the process as they explored various career options.  Students gained an awareness of how this truly is a process.  They were fortunate to see a multitude of experts who were proud to share their passion.

 JUBE SCHOOL, has been a rewarding experience for all students, volunteers and teachers.  A process that has taken almost a year, from proposal writing to planning and attending; has enlightened many of us through various ways.  New doors and opportunities were introduced to our students and an awakened vision of the Visual Arts has been instilled within us.  I have a new found appreciation of the process that has led the students and I to this learning experience.  Thank you for this amazing opportunity Campus Open Minds and JUBE SCHOOL.  This will forever be part of our story to share with others on our life journey.

Deena Alexander- Our Lady of the Assumption Junior High Teacher