BBES & Sights and Sounds Fine Arts Academy

Recently Baker-Butler hosted the ACPS Sights and Sound Fine Arts Academy, and it was a smashing success. BBES teachers Donna Rehorn and Karen Purdon did an amazing job leading these students on a African Safari, with both artwork and music tied to this engaging theme. 

The culmination of the week was a music performance and art gallery walk displaying the pieces of art that the students created. Both the music and art that the students created were exceptional, and they were all the more impressive considering they were made in just one week. 

Enjoy these pictures and videos of the students' work from the camp. We are already looking forward to holding this program again next summer!

Baker-Butler in the national news

Recently several national magazines have featured Baker-Butler and our innovative work with students.

Check out this article from THE Journal that describes our work with students and Minecraft EDU in our 3rd and 4th grade classes.


And check out this article from Education Week around the concept of "maker education" and what "making" as a concept looks like both here and at Monticello HS.

There have been exciting things happening at our school, and we're looking forward to continuing this work next year!

Our sculpture is finished!

UnEarthEd, our sculpture collaboration with UVA, is finished and we had our official unveiling this week.

For the unveiling we had the entire school as well as invited guests from UVA, our central office, and the community, gather together for the dedication.

The Daily Progress has a nice article discussing this sculpture and its purpose, and you can read the article here.

Check out some pictures from the final work to complete the sculpture as well as the unveiling and ceremony below.

Final Preparation before the mound is created

Earthen mound and sculpture are installed

The sculpture before the adobe bricks

Metal ballards(handrails) were installed

Creating the earthen mound with adobe bricks

The unveiling ceremony

All 600 students and 100+ adults attended the ceremony

There was a poem written and read in honor of the sculpture

The sculpture and mound visible in the background

As a part of the dedication students unearthed some artifacts during an archeological dig

Field Day Fun!

Yesterday over 600 of our students had an amazing time at our annual Field Day. Thanks to the many parent volunteers who helped and our amazing PE department for organizing the activities.

Kindergarten alphabets

This is a Creation Station project completed by Ms. Hunter’s Kindergarten class, with the help of one of our instructional coaches, Mrs. Underwood, and several parent volunteers.  We call it our Stick Alphabet.  The challenge was not only to create each letter without tape or glue, but also to make each letter self-standing. Awesome job, Kindergarten kiddos!