The 2nd grade students made their own Compass Rose pictures. The artwork was spread out on the floor and some of the designs were incorporated into the large one painted in the garden. Photograph by Renée Ruggles
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School celebrated the Spring Equinox on March 20 with the school’s compass rose dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, unveiling the new addition of a painted compass rose in the school's Learning Garden.
The project was produced by the combined ideas and efforts from students, teachers, staff and Parent Teacher Association.
The school’s Environmental Club, under the direction of Angie Moran, ACPS special education para professional, went into the school garden to track the sun and discuss compass directions with respect to the sunset and sunrise. The second grade teacher team worked with MacArthur's art teacher, Kate Lindquist, to include a project where each student designed their own compass rose in art class after learning its history and uses. The Learning Garden coordinators used the students' designs to come up with a composite art piece to install in the school's Learning Garden.
Principal Deborah Thompson cut the ribbon at the ceremony. He is in her last year at the school after more than two decades of service.