All DCSD 5th grade students go on a field trip to the Figge Art Museum and the River Music Experience. 

Figge docents led groups of about 12 students on a tour and highlight works from the Figge's own collection as well as current exhibitions. These docents are volunteers and we are thankful for their time and effort! 

Following our Figge tour, we walked to the River Music Experience and sat down for lunch. Ellis Kell sang the short songs the students had written in music class and provided a musical history of the music of the Mississippi River. Each student receives a kazoo at the end of the presentation. 

The Buffalo School community had the opportunity to watch the 1st and 2nd grade students rehearse for their concert tonight. Here are a few photos and videos from their rehearsal! 

If you missed the STEAM night in March, please check out your child's artwork hanging in the hallway! It will be located on the wall or bulletin board near your child's classroom. 

Congratulations to 4th grader Cameron! His landmark was chosen by his classmates to represent Buffalo Elementary at the Davenport City Hall Reception. The reception took place on Wednesday, March 9. His work will be on display there for one full year. The show is open to the public and is located on the 3rd floor of Davenport City Hall. 

For Buffalo Elementary's STEAM showcase, I chose one successful artwork for each student, matted it (if not previously matted by the student), and labeled it.  Brenda, one of Buffalo's AMAZING paraprofessionals, hung almost every single artwork in our school for this big event. I hope you were able to come to our STEAM night. Here are some images from the fun evening! 

Please visit the Davenport Community School District Art Showcase at the NorthPark Mall during regular Mall hours from February 25 – March 15, 2016! You will find the Davenport Community School District Elementary Art Exhibit inside the mall half-way between JC Penny and Von Maur, between Rue 21 & ExpressMen.  Buffalo Elementary work is showcased on 3 art panels. 

I wrote a Great Minds Grant for a 2nd grade field trip in connection with their STEAM project: animals and their habitats. The Davenport Schools Foundation accepted my grant proposal and funded the Putnam Museum admission cost for 46 students! The Putnam Museum also provided admission subsidies for close to $100! Buffalo Elementary PTA provided funding for the bus transportation. Thank you, Davenport Schools Foundation, The Putnam Museum, and Buffalo PTA for making this fun day possible!

We left Buffalo around 8:30 am and headed to the Quad Cities Expo Center for Bald Eagle Days. 

Before our 9:30 am show, we were able to visit some of the vendors at the expo center.  Big Run Wolf Ranch was there with 2 wolves, a skunk, and a porcupine!

We saw the birds that would be featured in the Bald Eagle Days show. 

We saw a fox snake and kestrel up close. 

And finally the show! First we watched a short movie about Bald Eagles. We learned about their nests, where they live, and how they were endangered but are making a comeback. Did you know that Bald Eagles don't get the white feathers on their head until they are four years old? And they can fly at 10,000 feet in the air? 

The naturalists had falcons and owls fly from their hand to perches located throughout the auditorium. 

We had lunch in the balcony. 

At 12:15 we watched the movie Tiny Giants  in 3D! This movie followed a scorpion mouse in the desert and a chipmunk in the forest as they encountered different dangers and prepared for changes in their habitat. 

The Putnam employee who gave us our 3D glasses said that we were the best-behaved school group he's had! Way to go, Buffalo!

After the movie we viewed the Mammal and Big River, Black Earth Exhibits. 

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students performed in the winter concert on December 10. I displayed seasonal artwork from each class on art panels.

You are invited to come to the steamroller event from 10:30-11:30 am this Saturday, October 24 at the Galvin Fine Arts Center (map below). See the 5th grade students ink their linoleum and watch the big drum roller print it!