"It is just as degrading to the young child as to an adult to
have someone constantly doing everything for him."

—Elizabeth Hainstock, Teaching Montessori in the Home

Please scroll down for the list of important dates.

Current Families & Any Siblings (Preschool-8th)
Re-Enrollment: Feb. 19th - March 2nd

Preschool
Open Enrollment: March 5th, first-come, first-served basis

New Families
Open Enrollment: March 14th - March 28th

Lottery:
March 30th

Meet Our New Custodians

FCMA is pleased to welcome, Shaun Marvin and Carrie Albright to our team.  Shaun has been a custodian at the elementary and middle school levels for over 6 years.  His day will begin at 10:30 a.m., so you may seem him throughout the building, working to keep our environment clean and beautiful.  Carrie should be a familiar face as she has been serving lunches to our students for the past year and a half.  She will be working during the evening to get the building ready for the next day.

Please join us in welcoming Shaun and Carrie!

Parent Literacy Workshop, for families of K-3 students

Hello FCMA Families,  

The artists at FCMA are looking forward to the inspiration that Spring will bring. Here are a few highlights from the past month. 

 K-1 After reading an entertaining book called Iggy Peck Architect, Students worked on architectural sketches using thick card stock. Using techniques from their experience making 3D paper animals, they mocked up models of their building ideas. As students finished their architecture, they participated in a small radial symmetry lesson. Next, we studied figure drawing and created a drawing/watercolor painting about one of our favorite memories. 

2-3 The Vincent Van Gogh Oil Pastels were a success and they inspired a discussion/project on personal style. Next, we explored the medium of Collage And used found images to personalize our writing journals. Many of these collage materials were found in the free books section at John K. King books store in Detroit (located on the carts in the store's lobby). Paints were added to the covers on the following week. 

4-6 The Optical Illusion lesson was a hit and the upper el illusions were mind-boggling. Ms. Megan from the willow room came up with the idea to integrate art and history for the next project. The results were air-dry clay sculptures inspired by the Olmec civilization. Modge Podge was applied after the sculptures were dry to seal and strengthen them. Continuing with inspiration from the Olmecs, students assembled anthropomorphic animal portraits.  

Middle School  Experienced skill-building lessons and produced chalk pastel experiments and photorealistic Caribou drawings. Each student submitted an Independent project request form and have been diligently working toward completing their projects. Here are few of the project ideas they are working toward : skateboard branding, make-up design, digital pixel art, footwear design, acrylic paintings, fashion design, photography, etc. 

Doodle 4 Google.  All grade levels have had the opportunity to complete a design challenge set forth by Google. After talking about the meaning of the word inspiration, students utilized their personal inspirations and adapted them into a doodle for the Google homepage. This design challenge is also a contest with scholarship rewards for students and grants for schools. I will be selecting 20 of our student designs to send into Google on the 1st of March. 

On the cart this week.
K-1- Tulip Watercolors
2-3- Spring Pastels
4-6- Top secret art show projects

Middle School - Independent project presentation and critique. 

Michael Chabot
FCMA Art Teacher

Let Them Help

"If you want to have strong, confident, and independent children, let them help! Recently we've heard from a variety of sources about the importance of teaching children to be responsible and independent. Books include one by a senator who laments our society's disappearing adult, and another by an admiral who urges college graduates to just make their beds.."