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Fifth graders from Briscoe Elementary School interact with their work on the collaborative mural titled Love: A Fifth Graders Perspective

5th graders from Briscoe Elementary interact with their work on the collaborative mural titles LOVE: A Fifth Graders Perspective Credit Scott Ball/ San Antonio Report

 

ARTS & CULTURE

Students traumatized by pandemic find solace in grassroots art program

by Nicholas Frank

When students began returning to schools for the fall 2021 term, educators noticed a distinct change. Enough students showed signs of being disengaged, unable to reconnect after the previous year of pandemic isolation, that school principals and teachers were concerned.

For art educators Andy and Yvette Benavides, the change necessitated a major shift in how they approached their Supporting Multiple Arts Resources Together (SMART) program, which normally teaches contemporary art to Briscoe Elementary School students from pre-K through fifth grade.

An Oct. 2 social media post acknowledges the disruptions caused by the pandemic and describes their shift:

We start classes Monday with our Briscoe students. Just like we do every year (with the exception of last year). Except that this is not like every year. For the past 2 weeks I have been taking the pulse in our school(s), listening to our teachers. For many students reentry into school is difficult at best. Students are returning with trauma and behavioral challenges, some are not speaking. We can not expect students (and teachers) to perform as if things were “the same.” They are not. SMART has scrapped its entire programming this year and has pivoted hard to support and engage students emotionally. First by connecting to themselves and then to one another. I can’t wait to see our kids on Monday. Let it begin.

Honey on Your Brain

To help students reconnect, the couple chose the subject of “Love.” Aside from artist Robert Indiana’s famous “LOVE” word sculpture, the subject is rarely treated in contemporary art. Yvette credits Andy with the theme, who said he chose it “because of he power it has as a word, and how universally understood it is. A one syllable word that resonates like honey on your brain.”

He said he wanted the word to function as a stop sign, to momentarily end the turbulent ride of the pandemic, when many students experienced “energy overload for their little brains.”

The kids had listened to their parents talking about things that were difficult to understand, had obeyed  rules regarding face coverings and social distancing they’d never had to deal with before, and several buried close relatives who died of COVID-19, Benavides said.

“That’s a lot of information for a little brain to process,” he said, and the goal was a complete reset.

They started off the fall term by asking fifth grade students to visualize common objects like a basketball, a goat, and a banana. They were asked to look up at the ceiling while trying to draw the banana, which had the students “laughing like five year olds, just uncontrollable laughter,” Benavides said, which he imagined was the result of having their brains “tickled” with something it could enjoy.

Next, they asked the students to imagine the sensory qualities of love: what does it smell, sound, taste, feel and look like?

Answers ranged from tasting like pizza and feeling like the cool side of a pillow, to smelling like the “Ariana Grande perfume” and “my grandpa before he died,” according to an Oct. 5 social media post.

The four-week program ended with the kids painting a love-themed mural, each class using one color to  create an additive, layered expression of what they’d learned.

 Art vs. Fear

The efficacy of the visualization exercise is backed by neuroscience, Benavides said, which through technology can image a "brain on art," filled with color, versus a "brain on fear," which appears gray.

He then placed their teaching in a larger social context. “We have to be aware just how effective we are as a society to keep everybody scared,” which he said impairs reasoning and stifles expression. To counter that trend, one primary goal of the SMART program is to empower young students to gain confidence in confronting difficult situations, and expressing their feelings freely.

Andy Benavides counts students before gathering for a group photograph with their work at SMART. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report

While the prospect of teaching a gaggle of independently minded fifth graders might appear daunting to some educators, the teachers and principal of Briscoe Elementary attest to the positive effects of the SMART program.

As the final session for her fifth graders convened for a class photograph in the SMART studio across the  street from Briscoe, teacher Monica Dubuque echoed the Benavides’ key word in summing up the experience for herself and her students.

“Oh, I loved it,” Dubuque said. “I love that [the students] were able to express themselves in a time that they haven’t been able to. So it was very freeing to see them kind of just be who they are, and express in a way that they hadn’t in a while.”

Teacher Renee Ortiz also noticed a difference in her students over the 4-week SMART term. “They became a little softer around the edges, a little more caring towards each other, a little more respectful.”

Of the Benavides’ approach to nurturing independence and encouraging individual expression, Ortiz said, “It helps them to think differently. And that’s always been the challenge with kids, elementary kids especially, that it’s always about self, not about others.”

The results prove the ongoing effectiveness of the SMART curriculum, even as it pivoted from its primary focus on contemporary art to hone in on the kids’ emotional needs.

In education, “measurables” are ultimately what counts, and Briscoe Principal Jennifer Emerson said the SMART program produces for her students and her school. When she taught there 13 thirteen years ago as a substitute teacher, she said the whole focus was on academics and arts were not a priority.

Five years ago, Emerson became assistant principal, then took the principal position three years ago. In that time, in part thanks to SMART, Briscoe has gone from receiving a failing grade in state assessment to what she described as on track to become a “solid B school” prior to the arrival of COVID-19.

“With the confidence that the kids get, and the sense of ownership and empowerment, that does equate to better test scores,” Emerson said. “Briscoe has shown that, and I know that we’re going to continue.”

She said the change is evident in the culture of the school, which is louder than it used to be — in a good way, she insisted — and laughter can be heard pealing through the halls, in part because students are to roam outside of classrooms to find their own workspaces.

“They do not have to be micromanaged, they know how to behave, they know how to collaborate,” Emerson said.

A Community Vision

As a 25-year resident of Southtown, Andy said that the the decade-old SMART program is part of his long term, intergenerational vision for community-building. "It's a big idea," he said of unleashing the creative potential of neighborhood children SMART session after SMART session, year after year. "I think we're demonstrating its potential... in a three square mile area of this school.

Students are escorted  back to class at Briscoe Elementary which is directly adjacent to the South Flores Art Complex.

Teacher Monica Dubuque escorts her students back to class at Briscoe Elementary, which is directly adjacent to The 1906 studios, where  they participate in the SMART program. Credit: Scott Ball / San Antonio Report

The successes of the SMART program are becoming evident, with other schools asking for the program to expand. But with sessions for each of the six grade levels once per week for four weeks each semester, plus side projects including a workspace design collaboration with Alamo Architects, and a  garden on the grounds of nearby St. Henry’s Catholic Church in the works, the Benavides’ have much on  their plate.

However, Yvette said their work can provide an example for other schools.

“If we can be a role model for other community partners to step up in their local schools, really dig in and assist in effective, supportive ways … that’s going to help free teachers to do what they love to do, which is teach. It’s going to take the community.”

Briscoe Elementary students working with architects to create workspace around their school

Students use their skills to help while also improving in math, reading, writing and art

A group of local elementary school students are part of a unique program where they are learning from local architects to create workspaces throughout their school.

SAN ANTONIO – A group of local elementary school students are part of a unique program where they are learning from local architects to create workspaces throughout their school.

For months, Briscoe Elementary School students have been meeting with architects to make their visions come to life.

The school partnered with Alamo Architects and the nonprofit Supporting Multiple Arts Resources Together also known as SMART, to transform these unutilized spaces in the school.

“Five architects have worked with a group of five students apiece to create these pods, and they went through the whole design process,” said Jennifer Emerson, head of school at Briscoe Elementary School.

Students are improving on math, reading, writing and art skills through the project.

“My design here was to make kids feel excited to come to school and be creative and share their ideas,” said Marcus Carrillo, a fifth grade student.

The spaces will be designed for students to learn and hangout outside of the classroom.

The project has also opened up students eyes to different career opportunities.

Briscoe Elementary students shop for family members at school

Link to video
Hundreds of students at Briscoe Elementary are getting a chance to shop for their families this Christmas, thanks to a fifth-grade teacher.

SAN ANTONIO – Hundreds of students at Briscoe Elementary are getting a chance to shop for their families this Christmas, thanks to a fifth-grade teacher and her holiday store.

The store, made possible by generous donations, has been serving students for 10 years.

Fifth grade teacher Renaii Ortiz said she initially started the shop 10 years ago as a way for students to pick out a little something for themselves, but she said it quickly became a way the students could shop for their families.

“Parents last year and the year before have told me that they really appreciate this project,” said Ortiz. “Because in some cases, it’s the only gifts they have under the tree.”

Ortiz has also taken her shop a step further. Her students not only earn “Bear Bucks” throughout the year for good behavior, attendance and jobs around the classroom, but they also have their own checking accounts, where they deposit the money they have earned, earn interest and pay bills, like rent.

“They also pay rent in the classroom, which is a mere five dollars a week, but they learn the responsibilities of saving up their money,” said Ortiz. “Because they have opportunities to buy other privileged things like a no-homework pass.”

Fifth grade student Illeana Jimenez said one of her classroom “jobs” is working as a bank teller for her classmates. Jimenez said she knows her job is important.

“If we do something wrong, we can mess up a whole person’s bank account and the amount of money they have,” said Jimenez.

Ortiz said after reaching out to her neighbors at the River Crossing out in Spring Branch, the donations for gifts have more than doubled over the years and they have been able to open up the shop to more students. This year, they are expecting to serve more than 300 students.

A San Antonio area school, business collecting plush toys for students at Robb Elementary School

Briscoe Elementary has partnered with Gold Coffee Shop

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio elementary school and business are coming together to support the students in Uvalde in a unique way.

Briscoe Elementary School is collecting plush toys for students at Robb Elementary School.

10-year-old Michael Garcia was touched by the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School and put his feelings on paper.

“Due to the tragedy that occurred in Uvalde, Briscoe has partnered with Gold to donate stuffed animals to give to every child that was affected this week. We hope this small action will find comfort and safety to these students. I know Briscoe Bears can’t reverse time, but Briscoe will help in a different way. We will send those stuffed animals to the students in Uvalde, not just for safety and comfort, but for love,” Garcia said.

Michael’s school, Briscoe Elementary, has partnered with Gold Coffee Shop to collect Plush toys to the students in Uvalde.

“I feel very excited and happy that my school is doing this because we can help so many children that were affected by this tragedy,” Garcia said.

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