Making of the Mural
John Eaton has a very robust Enrichment Partnership program funded by the school’s Home and School Association (HSA). We have two on-site Enrichment Coordinators that work with teachers at every grade level to identify opportunities and resources to enhance the school curriculum. Examples include field trips, in-school performances, teaching resources, demonstrations, and presentations.
The Enrichment Coordinators choose among the vast array of cultural sites and museums in the Washington DC area to determine whether their children’s programs compliment Eaton’s areas of study and are age appropriate, student centered, and hands-on. If so, they design pre-visit materials to prepare students for the enrichment experience and arrange field experience logistics related to reservations, payments, and transportation and accompany teachers on trips assisting wherever possible. Students have been on numerous excursions exploring the Washington DC area including visits to:
- The National Museum of Natural History
- Lincoln Theater
- National Museum of African Art
- The Kennedy Center
- Imagination Stage
- Textile Museum
- Discovery Theater
- National Building Museum
- National Zoo
- DAR Museum
The Enrichment Program collaborates closely with Eaton’s World Cultures program to ensure student enrichment experiences aptly reflect each grade’s country of study.
Eaton’s second grade has an ongoing partnership with The Washington Ballet. Members from the ballet make weekly visits to the school and teach the students dance and movement. This culminates in a performance and also affords the second graders to see various ballet rehearsals or performances such as The Nutcracker.
Eaton’s third grade has a new partnership with The Washington National Opera (WNO). In the fall of 2010, Eaton third graders went to the Kennedy Center to see the WNO perform scenes from five different operas. In addition, they have visited the WNO studio for a behind-the-scenes tour and have a guest artist working with students each month on poems set to music and movement. These pieces will be performed for family and other schools.
Eaton students regularly visit the Cleveland Park Library. The children’s librarians design special one-hour programs highlighting each grade’s world cultures country of study.
Kindergarteners enjoy several in-school concerts presented by the Washington Symphony Orchestra. These one-hour experiences are lively and fun. They teach students about different instruments, music, and music history.
The Centennial Student History Project is a multi-session program. A group of history-loving fourth graders conduct research on Eaton’s 100 years. They meet with archivists, historians, librarians, and visit museums. This project will culminate in a student exhibition.
For detailed descriptions of how the Enrichment Partnerships are benefiting John Eaton students please see the articles in the Eaton newsletter: