This is a kind of Sakralbau, but one so specific to its location that no existing doctrine can decrypt it. The side chapels and format of the reliefs could not be more Catholic, yet there is no clearly identifiable iconography. For the aesthetic is so pared back as to be Calvinist, but the type is almost Byzantine. In fact, the entire interior fiercely recalls a church, but a church from an alternate history of Europe. These smaller rooms could be described almost as side-chapels. There appear to be figures embracing each other, or fighting each other: Cain and Abel, or Jacob and Esau, the murderers and liars from whom the world descends. None of the reliefs show clearly identifiable figures, but the scenes recall the Book of Genesis. To the side are entrances to smaller rooms with smaller reliefs. 1 The third hall contains more reliefs as well as free-standing busts, each one as large as a standing adult. A perforation leads to another hall with high reliefs from the 1970s, where unidentifiable figures struggle like caryatids, as Irina Davidovici put it, under the weight of the sky. In the antechamber, Josephsohn’s earliest reliefs are mounted on blank walls. The thirty-five artworks inside are arranged in chronological groups. The entrance to La Congiunta is an unmarked steel door with a single concrete step projecting from the building. At the same time, there is a disconcerting harmony to the proportions of the structure, one that can be sensed more than it can be seen. The building is asymmetrical, like a barn that has been added to over generations. From the osteria, visitors walk upstream, and then cross the river via a bridge, continuing until they come to a windowless concrete structure that appears, at first sight, somewhat like an agricultural building, or one of the many light industrial buildings that dot the landscape. The key is lent out at the local osteria, in exchange for a signature in a guestbook. There is no reception, no wall labels, not even electric lights. It does not have changing exhibitions, nor is there a budget for advertising. It is critical that we partner as parents and educators to push each student to high school graduation and beyond.Peter Märkli, La Congiunta, Giornico, 1992. This is also a time when our students begin making decisions about high school, college, and careers. Junior high school can be a tough time in adolescence - while teenagers need support and guidance, peer influence is very strong. The staff at Dirksen strive to serve as positive role models and will consistently lead by example. When students experience a safe and nurturing environment they are more likely to focus on learning. I believe all children can and will learn at Dirksen. Students will participate in weekly lessons on character development and will be rewarded for demonstrating positive character traits at school. In the spring, students will take the state of Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) to assess achievement. Staff will use the local STAR 360 assessment (given in reading and math and taken by all students in fall, winter, and spring), to determine focus standards and skills to improve. Academically, our goal is to exceed last year's growth in reading and math. Our focus is academic and social and emotional growth. We have many accomplishments to celebrate and it is with great anticipation that we plan to build upon our successes and continue to provide excellence to our children and community. Through dedication and hard work of staff, students, and community, our students demonstrated significant growth in reading and math on our local STAR assessments. I can't say that we will return to normal, but what we will do is learn and grow from our experience over the last two years. I am extremely proud of the resiliency our students and staff have demonstrated during these unprecedented times. Welcome to Dirksen Junior High School! COVID-19 and the pandemic have created some challenging times in education across the world.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |