RA-FA-ELLLLL

I really don't want to go to school today. Cough-cough. Is it too late to call in? I feel like I could be coming down with something....

Rafael Lopez withdrawal?  Is that listed in the DSM? Could I get a doctor's note?

Seriously, after months of preparing "It's like a wedding," everyone kept saying all week, the day with Rafael came and went in an instant. He is now tucked in his bed in sunny San Diego while we are looking out at Rafael's "favorite" color gray skies in Castleton.*

I can honestly say that his visit changed lives, opened minds, inspired, energized and brought our whole entire Schodack Central School District community and beyond together. His murals come with life changing bonds and we witnessed it on Friday.  Kindergarteners and 12th graders. Teaching assistants and principals.  Secretaries and third graders.  Grandmother volunteers and 7th graders.  Dads and fifth grade poets. First graders and moms.  Flute players and girl percussionists.  A superintendent and art teachers. Future artists and future engineers.  This day was a memory maker.

Can you spy Rafael? Look for his hat!

Major kudos to our community for letting me place a piece of Rafael permanently in the homes of every single student at Castleton Elementary School.

 

Thank you, Rafael for bringing your magic to Castleton.  Your fairy dust will last forever along with your marks on the wall outside our library. Muchos gracias, mon amigo.

*Gray is the color that Rafael highlighted in Eric Carle's collaborative book, What's Your Favorite Color? The truth is that Rafael's favorite colors are purple, orange and black. Gray goes with everything, he says and so does he. 6th grade boys who exclaim they will never wash the hand that Rafael touched again, is just one little proof that his own gray octopus arms impact all.

Want to dive into our visit more? Check out these district tweets:

.@CastletonES welcomed artist and illustrator @RafaelLopezArt today like only our school can. Thank you for inspiring our students! pic.twitter.com/4AaIXfLbNJ

— Schodack CSD (@SchodackCSD) April 5, 2019

Make sure to check out the whole thread on this one:

Celebrated artist and illustrator @RafaelLopezArt visited Schodack CSD today where he inspired students of all grades with his passion for art. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/gWzMKyVNQP

— Schodack CSD (@SchodackCSD) April 5, 2019

And here's the link a story about Rafael's visit from our district webpage:

http://www.schodack.k12.ny.us/2019/04/artist-illustrator-visits-schodack-csd/

A leap at the end of the day with Mrs. Gregoire, our amazing art teacher.

 Bonus: Who would have thought Rafael could leap in the snow on April 5?!

I shed many tears throughout the day, especially when I had to say goodbye. Saludos.

LIZZY MCTIZZY AND THE BUSY DIZZY DAY

Yesterday I wore green pants with white polka dots, a grey and yellow striped shirt, a patterned scarf and orange chucks.  On top of that, my hair was extra wild. Thinking about it while dressed more conservatively, yesterday's mixed patterns would have been more appropriate today when we celebrated the book birthday of wild red haired Lizzy McTizzy who is in search of her lost blue shoe so she can have her pair and be off to a birthday party herself.

Four parties down and one more tomorrow.  Am I a little partied out?  Absolutely not.

I'm glad the first party was with Ms. Malone and her kindergarteners.  After reading Sarah Weeks's fun text, we danced the Hokey Pokey. They class suggested we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" because there is a reference to feet in there as well. So we did. And that song followed me to all the other affairs.

As the hours moved ahead, the treats got sweeter.  Ms. Malone at 8:30 am had pastries.  At 9:40, Mrs. Golden's first graders enjoyed rice Krispy treats. Later on, frosted cookies were a hit with Mrs. Kosinski's and Mrs. Cook's classes.  Needless to say, I did not eat my yogurt until I got home.

I love Lizzy and all she stands for.  Her perseverance in searching for her shoe. She really did look everywhere including someplace by "the underwear"!  Hahahaha. Giggle giggle.  Five and six year olds love that line! Her idea that the party is more important than matching.  I totally get that.

Lee Wildish's illustrations are perfect.  I love Lizzy's big red CURLY hair (I can relate, short the red part).  I love the kid on the playground eating the chocolate bar. And kids love how Lee used his artistic liberty to show that Lizzy's shoe was not by the toilet.

Kids get this story. They enjoy the rhymes.  They love the illustrations and they get the message.  "Be yourself. Be unique. It's ok to be different." If kids like Lizzy McTizzy will be our role models, I know this world will get a lot more kinder, friendlier and colorful!

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

-Oscar Wilde

Have portable giant "photo card" will travel. Some class photos of our day:

Mrs. Kosinski even made her own backdrop for the party!