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Terence C. Reilly No.7 - Excellence News Page 1 of 19 Terence C. Reilly No.7 - Excellence News Excellence News 2012-2013 “Together We Can” Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 Community Collaborates with Artist DeBorah Goletz to Create a Mosaic Mural The motto that represents the Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 school community is “Together We Can” and it is the perfect metaphor to explain a mosaic mural. Small pieces of tile and other objects are placed together to create a picture that tells a story. During this school year, artist DeBorah Goletz has been working with the Terence C. Reilly school community, conducting classes on the art of tile making to help create the mosaic mural that now adorns the ground floor hallway leading to the International Café and the pre-kindergarten classrooms. The school was awarded a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Arts Horizons to work with a professional artist in residence. Ms. Goletz is a tile maker, muralist and potter who enjoys working with clay and sharing her love of this medium with her students. Shortly after she graduated from Northwestern University and Parsons School of Design, she took a pottery class in New York City where she was living at that time. Instantly, she became hooked and a few years later she wished to expand on different mediums and took a tile making class. She became so interested in creating mosaic murals, http://elizabeth.nj.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?prin... 8/18/2014 Terence C. Reilly No.7 - Excellence News Page 2 of 19 she has designed them for public spaces like the New York City subway system, public libraries and two New Jersey train stations. Though she doesn’t focus on just one medium, she sometimes prefers to make pottery over tile, or just simply the other way around. And if she doesn’t feel like working on an art piece, she visits art galleries and museums or travels to other countries to view new art for inspiration. Sometimes, when she creates a new piece, she hides a tiny clay mouse under her creation for you to find only if you turn it upside down or she likes to include an image of herself that only she could probably recognize. Reilly students were essential in creating the mosaic mural. Some students created designs on clay and then glazed them using a thin layer of milky illuminated glaze and then applied colored glaze over those tiles using one primary color and two secondary hues. Others helped to make the mosaic blocks using broken tiles and glass. Small pieces of tile and glass were placed on a thin board and the cracks were later filled with grout, a wet sandy substance. The grout gave the blocks a calming image, but it wasn’t the cleanest thing to do. The grout was put on the mosaics and was squeezed around with a rubber float and then later cleaned up with a sponge. The finished dried products came out very well. Another step in creating the art pieces was glazing slabs of clay with pink, orange, green, or red glaze. This process was done with a paintbrush and small strokes starting from the center of the slab and progressing outwards. Glaze had to be removed from the back of the slab with a sponge in order for an easy kiln experience and a clean look. “Having Ms. Goletz teach us about mosaics was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Learning every single step on how to make this art piece will always stay in my heart as a special memory. A mosaic not only expresses one word, it also expresses a million other things. Fine art, drawing and painting are just the basics but making a mosaic mural takes you to the next level. It doesn't just show beautiful meanings, it also has a touch of history,” expressed seventh grade student Tania Garcia. Leidy Manco shared her reflections, “Building the mosaic mural was a wonderful experience. I learned many things I never knew before, like how to make a tile. It takes a lot of steps to build a simple tile. This was an amazing time that definitely changed my life. I feel so honored to have been a part of this. The mosaic mural is always going to be in my school, the school that has given me so many opportunities and has made me become a better student academically. There was a time when my partner, Tania Garcia, and I were so tired that we just wanted to http://elizabeth.nj.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?prin... 8/18/2014 Terence C. Reilly No.7 - Excellence News Page 3 of 19 give up, but who would have thought this mosaic mural would be such a big thing? It has showed me that hard work pays off and to never give up. This would not have been possible without the help of Ms. Goletz, Mr. Dos Santos, Ms. Green, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Kolodny and all the other Terence C. Reilly students who helped.” The mosaic mural was officially unveiled to the school community at the June 6 meeting of the Elizabeth Board of Education. Contributing writer, eighth grade student Sophia Orama Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 Eighth Grade Students Celebrate Spanish Literacy with Writer Arturo Ruiz Sanchez On June 7, 2013, eighth grade students in Mrs. Pereira’s World Language class welcomed freelance writer Arturo Ruiz Sanchez for a Spanish literacy celebration. He specifically came to meet and honor the students’ dedicated contributions to a class book based on Hispanic icons and landscapes, which was a culminating project-based learning experience. Mrs. Pereira submitted her students’ literary work to Mr. Ruiz Sanchez and he chose four of the best stories, which ultimately will be published. First place winner Amanda Diaz will have her story published in the prestigious online literary magazines, “Westchester Hispano” and “Perú Hoy New York.” Second place winners Beatriz Malaspina and Kyairaa LeRose- Almeida, along with third place winners Brian Mendoza, Kathleen Barahona and Stephanie Vargas will have their work published in the local newspaper “El Vistazo Hispano” and in “Westchester Hispano.” Additionally, all other stories submitted will be published throughout the year in “El Vistazo Hispano.” This was an exciting event acknowledging the accomplishments of the World Language students. Terence C. Reilly Celebrates American Education Week With 2012 – 2013 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Pedrayes! http://elizabeth.nj.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?prin... 8/18/2014 Terence C. Reilly No.7 - Excellence News Page 4 of 19 To culminate American Education Week, all Reilly scholars filled the auditorium to applaud the work of the educators and staff who fill their days with the excitement of learning and the feeling of wanting to know more. To thunderous cheers, sixth grade social studies teacher Michele Pedrayes was announced as Teacher of the Year. Principal Mrs. Cedeño commented on this important accolade, “Mrs. Pedrayes inspires our students and staff to think, learn, achieve and care daily. Her dedication to the profession is remarkable. Her leadership ability, collaboration and professional attitude are unmatched. It is evident that she takes her responsibilities seriously, performs her duties with great initiative and is determined to be a catalyst for positive change in the school community and beyond.” Mrs. Pedrayes’ sixth grade students also voiced their approval, “Amazing, thoughtful and kind. These are just a few words that come to mind. Her style of teaching is like her personality and motto, ‘fabulous!’” exclaimed Tyrell Michuki. “Not only is she a great history teacher, but she is also a beautiful dancer. I, being in her ballet class, know how passionate she is toward dance. Having her as a teacher is simply and honestly an honor,” shared Elizabeth Palacios. Photo by eighth grade student Vanessa Appolon Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society Inducts New Members The Terence C. Reilly Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society inducted fifty-one new members in a meaningful and reflective ceremony recognizing their selection. Family members, friends and NJHS alumni sat proudly and listened as students recited the induction pledge promising to “be loyal to my school and maintain and encourage high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, citizenship and character.” They watched with great respect as each member received a NJHS pin and certificate signifying his or her achievement. Assistant Superintendent Jerome Dunn spoke to the audience complimenting the Terence C. Reilly scholars on reaching their goals, one by one. Setting goals is exactly what students celebrating had in mind when they first learned about the National Junior Honor Society from advisors seventh grade language arts teacher Mrs. Rubin and eighth grade social studies teacher Ms. Bodek. The lengthy application process culminated on Thursday, April 25 with a reception after the http://elizabeth.nj.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?prin... 8/18/2014 Terence C. Reilly No.7 - Excellence News Page 5 of 19 ceremony where NJHS officers, advisors, students, staff, and guests enjoyed refreshments and the time to appreciate this wonderful event. Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 Presents FAME Jr. The Terence C. Reilly performing arts department’s 2013 production of the musical FAME Jr. was celebrated by enthusiastic audiences. The compelling story focuses on a group of students attending New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts who learn about the hard work and dedication necessary for pursuing a career in the arts while dealing with the challenges of school and relationships.

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