Francis W Parker School - Record Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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The Kindergarten's Instant Art Day is a much loved Parker tradition. Since its founding some ten years ago by teacher Yvonne Carrera, both its structure and its purpose have remained unchanged. This year's experience took place on October 17. Arriving at the Little School at nine a.m., Kindergarteners led their parents through their territory, from activ- ity to activity and from room to room. Teachers served as creation facillitatorsg all instruction was meant to be an interac- tion and expression between parent and child. A major emphasis this year, ac- Instant Art Day cording to Senior Kindergarten teacher Beverly Greenberg, was a variety. The veritable smorgasbord of project stations included tie dying, woodworking and painting areas. We don't want to score off imagination. Generally, participation is limited to Kindergarteners and their parents-even siblings are discouraged from attending. Organizers of the event feel it is necessary to stress the importance of enhancing new experiences over providing a social atmosphere. f l . 5 2 1 i l l E l 2 s 3 i Ag A i f . ' 'fl' s - . ' 1. at I Q ' 4 Q ,H g . .T 5 f . YL is Maud Left: Right through the board son, right through the board. Above: Haskins and his daughter at work at Instant Art Day. Below Left: The future Picasso, Below: Mr. Leary regresses. -O g-,,,f 1 XT:-f Events - 27

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'vi rf . s , rf, K sqft., I I W s ' -Q1 . riff , f , . , 0 5 'ri if ' . 3. , K f- A - . . 'wg-Q. lgji' Q . to . , sp., g ' N . Lff lfi 5 ' -X ',-'. .5 ' ', i g I . A.,A Q at 0 5 , I F ' 'Q 1 ? ji Sw 'A 'F ' Fl ' 'F rv 3 All ' K ' A '- sf-s ' '-1-: 4 f 3511. 1 Q K x Balloon Day Parkerites sent their inflated liter- ary egos soaring skyward on Ocotber 6 and received a bumpercrop of re- sponses from rural America. Eastern winds dispersed a combustible touch of Parker to distant places and distant lives when, participating in a relatively new tradition, the Parker community launched 750 balloons with attached favorite book titles from Ray Field. Wolcottville, Indiana-the balloon, appearing during harvest season on October 8, was sent by Lower Schooler Mike Welsh with a recom- mendation of his favored book Cos- mic Trigger. The card, requesting the finder's preferred titles, was noticed by Amish housewife Mrs. Sam Bontrager in a small field near a barn housing colts and calves. We go to the Amish Church. Ever heard of the Amish before? We do not drive a car but still use a horse and buggy and live in plain houses and dress in plain, simple clothes. I do not have a 26 - Events favorite book. I read any kind . , Todd Within a short distance Stringfellow interrupted his routine with Parkers' form of friendly skies communication. We are dairy farm- ers. My son and his girlfriend found the balloons while looking for a place to go deer hunting. We would have responded earlier but we have been real busy making hay, farming and milking Guernsey dairy cows. P.S. The only books we have read this summer are hunting magazines and cookbooks. From findings while coonhunting in Sandusky, Ohio, spreading fertilizer in Lindsey, Ohio, and scavengering soybeans in Millersburg, Indiana to mid-day strolls in as far destinations as Jamestown, Pennsylvania, Parker balloons threaded the rural east with literary encouragement. And, this reading incitement was reciprocated. A businessman, among others, from Basho Rogoshen, Indiana, whose re- cent captivation was The Reader's Digest for Variety, affirmed to all students, Continue to read books- they are mind builders! Balloon Day, initially organize promote reading for pleasur ea d to has e in succeeded in a remote sens uniting the urban and fast-paced Parker community with the farm ilies, with the Amish, with the town executives, with American of differing background and c It is the comparison between Fireman Book, Space Travel Catcher in the Rye on cards to The Bible, because only book we really read, in Balloon Day tradition has bec educational opportunity by e Parker's complete communi learn from other peoples and lifestyles. Traditions help knit the fa fam- small areas ulture. The and Parker it's the a large percentage of the responses. Ha a community together, clai Head of Upper School, Mr. Brainard. It was an exilerat perience to be a part of this event, one that brought tears to my eyes. The OIT18 El bling ty to other bric o' me' Fran ing e 9 o ea? fi

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Big Brothers and Sisters l As the Morning Exercise grew near, Seniors began to talk with ex- citement about the assembly they had awaited for years. Some even can- celled their college trips to work around this one day. It was finally time for the seniors of 1987 to receive their little brothers and sisters for every class, j.k. through eighth grade. The program acts to bring the Parker community closer together by promoting interaction between all age groups of the school. However, the big gym, where the Morning Exercise is traditionally held, was still under construction on the scheduled date for the assembly. The next week the gym again was not available to the disappointed seniors. So instead, they agreed to hold the assembly in the auditorium. The next break from tradition came with the alteration of the meth- od of presenting senior quips, which are comments on the seniors made by classmates. In the past, these were copious and each one riddled with private jokes. Last year, acting princi- pal Fred Dust removed quips altogether from the assembly, insist- ing that they are incongruous with the purpose of the Morning Ex. Instead, different teachers gave short summar- ies about each senior. However, this 28 - Events Top left: Wait-shouldn't the seniors be in the big gym? Top right: Liz teaches her little brother to sew leven though she can't!l Above: Mr. McCutcheon smiles over. his crippled athletes.