Events

Tilden students enjoy several special events during the school year, ranging from annual all-school events to one-time opportunities for a single class to meet with a special visitor. This page presents a sampling of recent special events.

Tilden Students Respond to Calder and Michelangelo at SAM

The focus is on sculpture as Tilden 2nd and 3rd graders prepare for their first field trip of the year to Seattle Art Museum’s special exhibits Alexander Calder: A Balancing Act and Michelangelo, Public and Private: Treasures from the Casa Buonorroti.
	Seattle artist, David Poleski, treated us to a classroom visit, bringing along some of his work, as well as a wealth of creative wisdom and inspiration. In his engaging way, David encouraged students to try the art out and to ask all sorts of questions.
Next in a collaboration between art history and science class, students made mobiles, to better appreciate the feat of balance and delicacy that Calder achieved. Each child brought objects from home, chose a theme, and worked on the mobiles in class. Concepts of asymmetry, weight, balance, fulcrum adjustment, and techniques for attaching objects were learned hands-on.
	Our students continue to explore what they learned at the SAM Calder and Michelangelo exhibits in studio art as they build wire and wood stabiles, using geometric shapes and primary colors. Carving figures from blocks, they are experiencing the thrill of Michelangelo sculpting out the figure within the stone.

Reading at the Park

Tilden fourth graders enjoyed reading their library books while basking in the sunshine at Dakota Place Park.

SNOW!

	On snowy days Tilden is open to students who can safely come to school.
There’s time for play,
	there’s time for work,
and there’s time for contemplating the wintery weather.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The first graders put their math and measuring skills to use mixing and baking.
	Portraying Pilgrims and the Native Americans who helped them, they feasted together and treated the entire school to tasty and aromatic pumpkin bread.

Have you eaten a good book lately?

Recently, fourth graders whipped up an appetizing array of sandwich book projects.
	Each "sandwich" included truly luscious ingredients, such as character and setting descriptions, story summaries, and reader recommendations.

Special Visitors

Once a year, Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales visits Tilden to share his stories of these amazing creatures.
	Students learn to identify individuals, understand group behavior, and appreciate their dependency on a healthy environment.

A Visit from a Loyalist

Paul, portraying a member of Butler's Rangers, treated the students to a colonial loyalist's perspective on the events surrounding the American Revolution. His enthusiastic audience learned there was more than one viewpoint about the cause of independence!

The Boston Tea Party

The fourth-grade play, always based on some aspect of the events leading to the American Revolution, was a wonderful success. The Boston Tea Party captured the attention and imagination of the audience while providing the actors another opportunity to bring history to life.

Camp Long

The fourth and fifth graders spent a magical and educational day at Camp Long. Following a presentation by the Camp Long naturalists, the students explored the meadow, in search of the insect life which flourishes there.
	While investigating the flora and fauna of the pond, the young naturalists identified aquatic life in various stages of metamorphosis.
The day offered opportunities for play as well as study.
	Students enjoyed the time spent learning, exploring, and wondering about our natural environment.

Become a Book!

Looking for a great read? Ask the Tilden third-graders, who became books, and shared what made them great in a parade throughout the school.

Tilden Sings!

On February 13th, Tilden School presented a joint concert with Opus 7 at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Tilden students sang rounds and songs from musicals, Opus 7 sang several contemporary and traditional pieces, and they all joined together for ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, and The Blue Bird by C.V. Stanford. Here are some excerpts from students’ writing after the concert:
“I like Opus 7 because they have a strong voice. My favorite song is ‘O Fortuna’. It is written in Latin. I like listening to songs that are in different languages.”—First-grade student	“I thought that Loren [Ponten] was dancing when he was conducting last night at the concert. Opus 7 was louder than a ship. … If Opus 7 wanted to, they could break a window. The man who can sing really low was singing loudly at the end of a couple of songs. … Opus 7 is one voice, more voices together, singing.”—Second-grade student
“… Yesterday, Tilden School had a concert with Opus 7, where we sang like a chorus of angels.”—Second-grade student	“… Normally, standing up in front of an audience would make me as red as a fresh-plucked cherry. But this time, with all those adults with straight backs and tall necks, smiling at the audience, I felt like an adult as well. I straightened up my back, and stretched my neck with a flicked-up chin and a smile stretching all around my head…”—Fourth-grade student
“…When Opus 7 started to sing, I felt enchanted, like someone cast a spell on me. My favorite songs that Opus 7 sang were ‘She Is Like the Swallow’, and ‘La Pitaya’. Those two songs took me into another world. …”—Fourth-grade student

5 Score Day!

On February 12th, the second- and third-grade classes celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and the 100th day of school during Tuesday Math.
	The children solved the mathematical equation with which Lincoln began his Gettysburg Address, “Four score and seven years ago…”; learning that “score” means 20, we proclaimed the 100th day of school, "5 Score Day"!
Students brought in 100 objects each for the celebration!

Islandwood

Tilden's fifth-grade class attended Islandwood's science program on Bainbridge Island for four exciting, learning-filled days, and three fun-filled, cozy nights. The goal of this outdoor learning experience is to inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship.

Halloween Carnival

The amazing Tilden parents put on a wonderful Halloween carnival. They transform several classrooms, the hallway, and the big room downstairs into a themed adventure, with activities for all ages and temperaments (even a quiet room with stories and puzzles).
	The day begins with an all-school parade so that everyone may admire the creative costumes. The students eagerly anticipate this special morning!