Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'

Language

Learning goal: Students will learn about dropping the final e (Spelling lesson 14).

Students read the story and TIP for the spelling lesson and we looked at examples from the story. Students wrote their spelling words in their agendas and started to worked on lesson activities.

Homework: Complete lesson 14 activities.

Math

Students wrote their unit 5 pre-assessment test.

UOI

Learning goal: Students will complete Van Gogh's "A Starry Night" art piece.

Students worked on re-creating Van Gogh's "A Starry Night" art piece that relates to Christianity. While we waited for the glue to dry, students were split into 2 groups to research 2 symbols and 2 festivals related to Judaism. Students shared with the class afterwards.

Here is some background information that was shared to the students regarding this art piece:

Religious Interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

But there is more to the meaning of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night than just insanity and isolation. Perhaps the real reason why the Van Gogh painting is so famous and appreciated today is not due to the negative emotions that may have initially inspired the artwork, but the strong feelings of hope Van Gogh conveys through the bright lights of the stars shining down over the dark landscape at night. In 1888, Van Gogh wrote a personal letter in which he described "a great starlit vault of heaven...one can only call God." With a theologian for an uncle, Van Gogh himself was also religious, even serving as a missionary in his younger days. Many art scholars believe there is a hidden religious meaning to Starry Night. In the painting, the moon and stars in the night sky are surrounded by large halos of light while a church steeple stands out above the smaller, less detailed buildings in the town below. In fact, some art critics find a biblical meaning in the number of stars painted in Starry Night that alludes to specific Bible verse in Genesis.

Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, saying, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” 

GENESIS 37:9

Biblical Meaning of Vincent Van Gogh's Most Famous Art: A Genesis Quote?

Why did Van Gogh paint exactly 11 stars? By painting exactly eleven stars in the Starry Night painting, Vincent Van Gogh might have been directly referencing Genesis 37:9, a key verse in the biblical account of Joseph, a "dreamer" and an outcast in the company of his eleven older brothers. It isn't hard to see why Van Gogh might have identified with Joseph in the Bible. In the Bible, Joseph was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and underwent years of imprisonment, much like Van Gogh did the last years of his life in the Arles asylum. No matter what Joseph did he could not receive the acceptance or respect of his 11 older brothers. Likewise, despite his best efforts, as an artist Van Gogh failed to receive the recognition of art critics of his day."


Reminders and Announcemnts

- Check Out The Library Blog at https://libraryatsja.blogspot.ca/ to keep up to date with Library news and check out pictures by our Book Fair Student Crew Photojournalists of all the great work they've been doing to make our first Book Fair an exciting event.  Thanks for your support.

The St. Jude's community places a lot of emphasis on giving and conducting acts of charity. In light of the Christmas season which is fast approaching, we are happy to announce that we collaborating with Peel Regional Police for their 'Toys for Tots' charity. We will be conducting a toy drive from December 7th to December 21st. Members of the St. Jude's community may donate new, unwrapped toys, cash or Canadian Tire money to make an underprivileged child's Christmas one to remember. All proceeds will be handed over directly to Peel Regional Police on December 21st. We are also pleased to announce the Toys for Tots charity is the first major project our Student Council will be conducting this academic year. 

Toys can be donated at the front desk by placing them under the Christmas tree. There will be a tracking sheet provided to record the student who donated. Upon collecting the toys, a police officer will allow one lucky student to pie him/her in the face. As such, it is important to record the names of each student to give everyone a chance. Alternatively, toys may be handed to class teachers. To educate our PYP students about the importance of giving, house points will be awarded for each toy donated.

We look forward to your donations, all of which will be greatly appreciated. 
Tis the season for joy, happiness, love, and sharing. Have a Merry Christmas!

Thank you.

Student Council