Mrs. Woodlief Has a New parking Spot!

I am very excited and proud to be elected by my peers as Chaffee Trail Elementary School's "Teacher of the Year 2009-10." It is such an honor to represent our amazing school especially when I am among some of the most outstanding professionals I have ever worked with in my 33 years of teaching. It is particularly an honor to be selected since I teach an elective subject, so often overlooked for this honor. I will proudly serve as ambassador of our school and continue to advocate for the arts. Thanks to all who have the confidence in me to represent you.

Quilt Team Hard at Work

The Chaffee Trial Quilt team has been busy creating this year's entry into the Superintendent's Book of the Month Quilt Contest. The quilt is based on the story "the Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins."

Please go to the fair from November 4th - November 15th. Here is an essay written by one of our students:

The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins

By Bailey, Fifth Grade

Chaffee Trail Elementary School

Our quilt is based on the book, “The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins”. The story was about an old woman who is in a nursing home. One day her daughter and her great grandson come to visit her. She is sitting in front of the window watching the sunset. Troy, her grandson, hands her a bouquet of lilacs from her garden at home. Miss Olivia doesn’t move, or blink, or speak, but she does start to think. In her mind she remembers many things from her life. Even though it is hard for Troy to understand why Miss Olivia doesn’t talk or even seem to know who he is, he loves to visit her. Being with her during visits is comforting to them both.

The quilt shows Miss Olivia sitting and looking out the window watching the sunset. As she looks out the window she remembers things from the past. While she is remembering she is feeling love, even though she can’t speak.

Did you know that we sewed everything on all by ourselves? We used a running stitch by hand. We painted scenes from the book on the fabric. Also, we used a technique called “trapunto” to make the quilt look 3-D.

We hope that our quilt will do well. We worked hard on it and made it with love and care.

Blazing a Trail: School Mural- Finale!!

Blazing a Trail: School Mural

While many students and teachers were relaxing, enjoying their summer there were a few Chaffee Trail teachers and students who were busy up at school working on a painted mural entitled,"Blazing a Trail Into the Future." The mural depicts a western landscape complete with a mountain range, buttes and dessert plants. Scattered among the cacti are pictures of Chaffee Trail students doing what they love - learning and playing, sometime doing both at the same time! The mural runs along two 60 feet long walls totaling over 600 square feet. Thanks to all the Chaffee Trail artists who helped this dream come to life!

Mural In Progress

Here is a "sneak preview" of our mural we are creating at Chaffee Trail. We had a painting day today and had visitors from Channel 4, The Florida Times Union, and the Communications office from Duval County public Schools. We hope to finish by the end of next week. Thanks to all the teachers and students who came out to paint today and a very special thanks to Miss Westphall, our Art intern from last year. Stay tuned for updates to our mural!

Theme Paintings

Be sure watch the growing collection of "theme paintings" hanging at the north end of the "big hall" which reflect the themes for each school year. Our first year's theme painting was "Blazing a Trail Into the Future" and our second year's was "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work". Be watching the wall as the new painting appears with our newest and most current theme for 2009 - 2010, "Surf to Success".

Class of 2009 - 5th Graders' Tile Self Portraits

For the 2nd year, 5th graders have created self portraits glazed on ceramic tiles permanently installed as an annual alumni project. For years to come,  each alumnus can return to view their personal signature on the walls of Chaffee Trail. Parents and friends, please look for this collection of portraits when you visit us.

Art Students Do their Part

For the second year, art students at Chaffee Trail have collected pop tops - the little rings on top of soda cans. We donate them at the end of each year to the Ronald McDonald House where they recycle them to raise money to cover their expenses. this year Chaffee art students collected 7 boxes (copy paper cases) filled with the little aluminum rings.  Thanks to Chaffee Trail art students for doing their part to help others.

Art Exhibit Slideshow

Cummer Museum Field Trips

This year we were very fortunate to book field trips to the Cummer Museum Art and Gardens for every class at Chaffee Trail! With costs of about everything going up, the Cummer field trips continue to be an extraordinary value. We take time during art class prior to the trip to review vocabulary and critique reproductions giving our students important background information which enhances their experience. Take a minute or two to "sneak a peak" of what the museum must look like from the eyes of a kindergarten student.

New "Official" Art Assistants

Welcome Mrs. Woodlief's new Art Assistants, Chiamaka, Matthew, and Raymone.  These three dependable 5th students report each morning to the Art Room to assist Mrs. Woodlief with preparing materials for classes, unloading the drying rack and delivering artwork to the classroom teachers.  They wear a hall pass made just for them around their necks to show teachers and hall monitors that they are on "official art business" when running errands. 

Welcome Art Intern

Welcome our new art intern from University of North Florida, Miss Ashley Westphal.  She is from Jacksonville and is practice teaching to become an art teacher.  In this video, Miss Westphal demonstrates pottery techniques on a potters wheel.  

Art Is Finger Lickin' Good!

Third graders learned about color theory by mixing colored icing on graham crackers.  Using one side of the cracker as a palette, the students began by mixing the three primary colors of icing to make secondary colors.  They then added more of the primary colors to make intermediate colors. They continued exploring a variety of color combinations then painted an impressionistic painting on the other side of their graham cracker. After admiring and sharing their "masterpieces"  they ate them. Art is not only fun - it tastes good!

School Board Recognizes Chaffee Trail

Chaffee Trail was recognized by the school board at the January 2009 meeting for winning first place (community vote) in the annual Superintendent's Book of the Month Quilt contest.  Pictured are School Board member Stan Jordan, Chaffee Trail principal, Beverly Walker, and Art teacher Terry Woodlief along with officials from the Greater Jacksonville Fair, sponsor of the annual competition.