Central Christian School, St. Louis, Missouri

This fall our JK-6th grade students worked on a collaborative art project that’s now finished and on display! Read below as Central Art Teacher, Sunny DeLay (@artcentral2021 ) shares more about this very special project. The idea for this collaborative project is inspired by the work of textile artist, Libs Elliot. She uses a computer program to generate designs that are one of a kind and then creates them with traditional methods. Every student from JK through Sixth gra...de, including Learn at Home students, was responsible for creating one square design with basic limitations set in place. They could only use one big square as the base background, one large triangle, and two small squares. The decisions and choices of what to do with those pieces within the square was up to each student. Each grade was also working in only one color scheme of the rainbow. The fundamental principle of the patchwork quilt is that by bringing together the various pieces, a whole new design can be created. This not only highlights each piece as essential, but shows how differences brought together create a beautiful tapestry bigger than the sum of its parts. When the project was introduced, we spent time discussing God’s creativity in making each of us, how we are fearfully and wonderfully made. No two snowflakes are alike, every zebra’s stripes are patterned differently and yet, we all have a shared experience of life on Earth. God is the ultimate Creator Artist who delights in particularities, but is also revealed and expressed through communion and relationship. The Rainbow Quilt is an example of this truth. The project is not very complicated, but the ideas behind it are thought provoking and my hope is that what we discussed during the introduction of the project would be visibly and physically experienced upon viewing. Every student can look for their piece and contribution, but also see what can be possible when brought together! Our Central community is a beautiful picture of God’s family made up of so many remarkable faces, personalities, and gifts. Our Rainbow Quilt is a reflection and reminder of that. -Mrs. DeLay

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. This year at Central, adopted children make up 8% of our student body. As we strive to be a community that embraces the stories God is writing in the lives of all our students, we invite you to listen to a podcast about adoption featuring two families within the Central community. This month Empowered to Connect (ETC), a national organization that provides resources and training for caregivers, is sharing the stories of adoptees... who are part of transracial families. Central alumna, Ramya Gruneisen ('06), and current Central parents, Chris and Leslie Hamm (3K, SK, 2nd), were asked to contribute to a podcast series that is airing during National Adoption Awareness Month. In the podcast, Ramya shares about her experience as an adoptee, while Chris and Leslie, who are certified ETC Parent Trainers, share their experiences as adoptive parents. Thank you to these two families for sharing a piece of your stories. To listen to the podcast, visit https://empoweredtoconnect.org/podcast. To learn more about Empowered To Connect, visit https://empoweredtoconnect.org/.

Central parents, a friendly reminder that today is an early dismissal day to allow time for Parent/Teacher Conferences. See you at 11:30!

Don’t forget that tomorrow is our November Spirit Day and the theme is Pajama Day! We invite all our students to come dressed in their favorite pajamas. Tomorrow is also the day we will be taking donations to support One Heart Family Ministries (directed by Central alumna, Emily Nienhuis, '89). Students are invited to bring in a few dollars (cash/check) or a new pair of jammies (size 5T through Adult L) to give to One Heart Family Ministries.

Yesterday was voting day in our 3K classes, but in this case voting on which snack to eat and which instruments to play!