Here’s an art project I received from Northeast School in Montclair, NJ. Students created portraits inspired by the “The Granddaughter Necklace.” As you can see, each portrait is wearing its own handmade necklace!
My Visit to the “Electric City”
Did you know that Schenectady, New York was once the home of Thomas Edison’s Edison Machine Works? And later on, the headquarters of General Electric?
These are things I didn’t know myself until I traveled to the city of Schenectady, New York, at the invitation of Mr. Anthony Sementilli, a third grade teacher and model educator. After discovering my book “Something Beautiful,” Mr. Sementilli obtained a grant from The Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation, Inc. to bring me to Woodlawn Elementary School to speak with third graders. Funding for the grant also allowed Mr. Sementilli to provide a copy of “Something Beautiful” to every third grade student.
The train ride along the Hudson River was lovely but even more inspiring was my visit with Mr. Sementilli, students and other third grade teachers. The principal Mr. DiCaprio gave me a tour of the school. In every corner something interesting and unique was happening. I especially loved the huge library! And at Woodlawn every
student gets breakfast each day, which they eat family-style in their classrooms.
What a great way to start the morning! Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing student bulletin boards with writing and art on the theme of beauty. I also felt quite proud when I saw a welcome sign with my name on it outside. When I rode home on the train after my visit, I couldn’t stop smiling. The visit had brightened me up.
And the next day, I couldn’t wait to write. My brain was lit up like a light bulb! No wonder people call Schenectady “the electric city.” After my visit, Mr. Sementilli sent me a letter. Here’s part of what he wrote to me:
Dear Sharon,
Ms. D’Alessandro, Mrs. Miskovsky, and I are very grateful for your visit and the immeasurable impact you made on our students today. We emphasize the importance of reading and writing on a daily basis and you supported that notion with your discussions. The looks on the students’ faces were priceless when they held your book, personalized and signed by you….thanks for a memorable day!
Kindest regards,
Mr. Sementilli
Find Your “Something Beautiful!”
To celebrate Women’s History Month this year, I paid a visit to my local library in Montclair, where I participated in a program honoring the theme of my picture book “Something Beautiful.” Mrs. Sandra McKnight, a veteran educator and literacy expert, conducted the first half of the program, inviting kids, their parents and grandparents to write about the “something beautiful” in their lives. After the writing portion, those in attendance were invited to create “beautiful” constructions using an array of recycled materials. The creative and harmonious atmosphere in the room was inspiring and so was the writing and artwork.
During my part of the program, I read “Something Beautiful” aloud and then asked for questions. One parent asked me about the “message” in the book.
“I think that beauty gives us hope,” I answered. “Beauty is all around us, waiting to be found.”
In the book “Something Beautiful” the main character goes on a search for beauty in her inner city neighborhood. Everyone she meets has something they regard as “beautiful” and on the final page of the book, the child’s mother tells her that she is “something beautiful” too.
Everyday I give myself the task of finding “something beautiful.” Find your “something beautiful” today.
