The Monday and Tuesday after Tie-Dye Day are always two of my favorite days. I love seeing the new batch of tie-dye shirts freshly created the Friday before. This year’s event was especially successful, despite the vigorous wind that came and went throughout the application of dyes to new white shirts. The team of workers who mixed dyes, set up tables, soaked and squeezed soda ash from shirts, then sorted them out by time slots, assisted families in the application of dyes, refilled bottles, and cleaned up afterwards, was exceptionally efficient this year. With the exception of a few spots where dye spilled onto the sidewalk or basketball court, you’d never know we had a big event.
The Monday and Tuesday after are full of surprises, as students and parents show up in their new version of tie-dye apparel. There is often followup discussion of how accurate the shirt outcome is with the intended design idea. Since tie-dye is such an unpredictable medium, there are ample reflections on what went right and what could have been better. Nevertheless, most children and parents seem content with their creations. For those not completely satisfied, the opportunity to try again next year offers hope and optimism.
One of my favorite parts of our annual tie-dye event is that it celebrates uniqueness, which is in line with the school’s core values. Another example of our community’s colorful expression is the art work coming forth from classrooms of all ages. Playful monsters, self-portraits, group projects for class alphabet studies, and paintings featuring student names populate the hallways. We’ve been intentional as a community to practice process art since the beginning of the school year, and it’s beginning to show.
On Wednesday morning I spent time in the Preschool 4s, setting up a collage table and a free exploration experience with dot markers. The collage table was a hit, with several students spending extensive time there. As colorful dots filled up the paper-covered table nearby, four-year-olds used their fine motor skills and creativity to make their cardboard and scrap paper collages. Their focus and pride in the art they made was quite impressive. As the experience came to a close, I mentioned that we’d add paint later, and felt grateful to have been there to see them in action.
The next day, at the conclusion of our monthly fire drill, I entered the building alongside the Preschool 4s. One child, who was especially passionate about her art the day before, saw me and said, “Hi, Mary. Do you remember me from yesterday?” I answered that I did, indeed, remember her. Our brief exchange warmed my heart, as I realized that there’s always more than the activity happening when children are given the materials and trust to follow their own creative instincts. The trust they feel builds their self-esteem as well their relationships with others. Over time, children who have a strong sense of self have more to bring to the group, confidently adding their unique “hue” to our colorful community.