Blog Archives

Anti Bullying Club Starting at Ely High!

8/31/2014

"HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE."

Kudos to one of my students at Ely High who is starting an anti-bullying club! I have been teaching for 32 years now and every new year I am amazed by the students who come forward and take a leadership role and make a stand for a noble and righteous cause...and what a great cause, anti-bullying!

Bullies will exist throughout your entire life, not just in school. If you made it through school without being bullied, that is a blessing. However, some day your boss may be a bully or a co-worker. You may enter a personal relationship where your spouse or a significant other bullies you. Learning how to recognize bullying and how to defend yourself against such behavior is crucial. Always remember, "Hurt people, hurt people."

When you have good self-esteem and you are at peace with who you are, you will never intentionally hurt another human being. However, those who hate themselves, who have low self-esteem or who have been abused or hurt by others...end up the bullies! They transpose their hurt onto others. You will never find a happy person with good self-esteem hurting another person physically or emotionally...never.

When most people think of bullying, they imagine boys punching, kicking and hitting one another. But, physical bullying is just one type of bullying. Here is a list of the six most common types of bullying found in schools; Physical bullying, verbal bullying, relational bullying (sometimes referred to as relational aggression or social manipulation where people try to hurt their peers or sabotage their social standing. Relational bullies often ostracize others from a group, spread rumors, manipulate situations and break confidences. The goal behind relationally aggressive bully is to increase their own social standing by controlling or bullying another person), cyber bullying, sexual bullying, and prejudicial bullying. We will discuss each one in depth in class.

In the meantime, please support or consider joining the anti-bully group at Ely High. I will support the group by having my art students participate in the anti-bullying poster contests. The first contest has a $100 prize for the winner! I love you guys and I am so very proud of ALL of you every day! Enjoy your day off tomorrow! Love, Ms. B.

P.S. Let's all begin by being happy and loving yourself...then you will naturally be kind to others.

I Have Only 1 Rule In My Classroom....

8/30/2014

Yes, I have only one rule in my classroom. No, it is not posted on the wall, but placed in our hearts.

On the first day with my students I tell them my 1 rule,"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, or simply; Treat others the way you want to be treated."

If they agree to abide by my 1 rule, they may stay as my student. If they do not agree; they must give up their seat in my room. There is a waiting list to get in my classroom. My students believe that it is a privilege to be in my room. They all stay...they all listen...they all behave.

There is no need for me to have a list of 5 or so rules...my 1 rule covers it all. I tell them that I will not write it on the board or post it on the wall, so they must place that rule in their minds & hearts and display that behavior every moment that they are in my classroom. I promise my students that I will treat them the same. I abide by the golden rule in my classroom and in my life at all times. If we all abide by and follow the golden rule...then we will have unity and peace. My classroom is filled with unity and peace. It is a haven from a hectic day of stress and tension. A place to enter and create...with no worries of failure, intimidation or berating. Just positive affirmations!

When I watch the evening news on CNN, I wish the rest of the world would follow the golden rule...then we would all live next to each other in unity and peace.

Ms. B.

Something Has Been Bothering Me All Weekend...

8/17/2014

This is what my bus would look like, lol

All last week I attended faculty meetings introducing a new program that we will be implementing school-wide this year at Ely. The program is called: PASL, "Personal Academic & Social Learning". In a nutshell, it is all about building relationships with your students... guiding them...not only in their academics but with their social and life issues. I have done this throughout my entire career; as has all dedicated and compassionate teachers. The reason why we are doing this is because research shows that students who have good relationships with their teachers achieve higher academically and are less likely to have discipline problems in school and ultimately graduate from high school.

At the end of our week long in-service, Mr. Johnson, our Principal, hosted a wonderful luncheon for all the staff and teachers at Ely. He invited every staff member to bring, as a guest to the luncheon; someone in their life who was a positive influence...someone who 'because of their presence in your life' you are a better person today (possibly a former teacher or mentor). Hmmm.

I had to think. Who would I bring to the luncheon? Even if everyone that I knew personally in all my life was here in Florida now...I could not think of ONE person, not one that I could bring to the luncheon. It made me sad.

I can, however, fill the room with people that because of their presence in my life I became better but for the opposite reason. Let me explain. In 9th grade, my math teacher told me that I had the brains of a monkey. In 10th grade my science teacher said this to me in front of the entire class, "it's a good thing that you are good looking because there is not much up there...beauty and no brains". I was mortified! I can still see a vision of that room today, all these years later.

You're probably thinking, "What about her art teacher?"...nope! My senior year he approached me sexually in a room where I was quietly working on the school yearbook and I was too scared and ashamed to tell anyone; so I kept it a secret. So...no teachers, sadly not my parents, and no friends or men. No one. I have been either told that I would never make it, I was not smart enough, not strong enough or wise enough to amount to anything. By the way, I will mention that I graduated college with a 4.0 in my major and overall GPA was above a B average..3 point something. Not perfect, but not so bad for somebody with the brains of a monkey; and they didn't grade me on my looks!

I can fill the room with people who asked me to 'lose weight', darken my hair, lighten my hair, shorten my hair, grow my hair, wear this...don't wear that. I had one man that I was in love with tell me to "Read the Economist Magazine and lose 15 pounds, so your mind can be bigger and your body smaller". I kid you not! Most people never really knew that I was quite intelligent and talented. The just see my outward appearance and make a poor judgment of me base on appearance.

So, needless to say, I did not bring anyone to the luncheon. Life is interesting though. Some people are influenced to be the best that they can be by people who guided them and encouraged them through life, while others become the best they can be because they did not "own" the negative things that people told them along the way. They wanted to prove everyone wrong! That was me, that is me still today!

I knew in school that I was not stupid, I was just shy and I didn't like to answer out in class; I stayed to myself. Apparently that appeared to my teachers as though there was 'nothing upstairs', as I was told. On the contrary, I was writing poetry, painting, an avid reader and very philosophical in high school. No one knew.

We carry these negative people with us for a lifetime. In my mind I visualize it like this: I imagine me driving a big bus and on the bus are all the people in my life that hurt me, let me down, lied to me, cheated on me, discarded me, manipulated me, abused me physically, and with words...they are all on my bus. Then one day, you get sick of driving all these people around with you, so you pull the bus over and you say, "Get out!" One at a time you watch them walk out of your bus. You let it go...you let them go. Then you get back on the bus, in the driver's seat and continue driving down that road of life, a little lighter, a little more happy...knowing full well that you are a great person and no one...no one, can tell you any different.

So guys, if you have a bus load of people that you are carrying around with you every day, people that don't deserve the honor and pleasure of being in your life, your thoughts and your heart, then you need to do the same thing that I did...pull the bus over and tell them to get out! Lighten up your load and then go on to live an amazing life. Be the best that you can be and if no one else believes in you...then do what I did, believe in yourself. I love you guys. I believe in you! We are going to have a great school year; see you in the morning. Ms. B.

My thoughts for you tonight....Life Is Art

8/16/2014

My Pastel Painting of Purple Lilis

I believe that everything in my life is art. How I dress, how I paint, draw, write...how I love someone; it is all art. Art is how I smile or cry, how I talk, what I believe in, my dreams & passion...it is all art. Art is everything from the way I drink my tea to how I style my hair...it is the colors of clothes that I chose to wear and the beautiful food that I prepare for myself. Art is everything from my personality to how I decorate my home...all of it is my creation, all of it is art. I CREATE. I create thoughts, dreams, words, stories, lessons, emotions, ideas... the sound of my voice is art, so are my movements, and the rhythm of my breathing ...it is all art... My life is art and I am an artist...Ms. B.

arteverywhere.org

8/14/2014

On my way home from school today, I was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Copan's & Dixie. As I was sitting there waiting for the light to turn green, I looked up at the billboard and saw an enlarged section of a famous painting by Winslow Homer: Cotton Pickers, 1876. I was astonished! Who would pay for a masterpiece to be put up on a billboard? Underneath the painting was the words, "arteverywhere.org". This is not the first billboard that I noticed this month that had an American masterpiece on it. I saw one at the Pittsburgh & Charlotte airports and Miami and Washington D.C. has them all over the place. Now we have one right by our school! I could not wait to get home to google, "arteverywhere.org" and find out what this is all about.

After doing a little research, I found out that they are a non-profit organization who decided to take advertising billboards across our country and replace them with images of famous art masterpieces.

From now through August 31, as many as 50,000 digital and static displays in all 50 states—billboards on city streets and rural highways, displays on bus shelters and subway platforms, dioramas in airports, videos in health clubs, trailers in movie theaters and more—will present the largest outdoor art show ever conceived, as a nationwide celebration of America’s artistic heritage.

Because we have the Winslow Homer billboard in our neighborhood, I have decided to start the school year with a unit on the life and art of Homer. He is a fascinating prolific American painter. I can't wait to teach you all about him. I envision all of us posting under the billboard holding our works inspired by Homer and sending the photo to 'arteverywhere.org'. Maybe we will make the news, who knows??!!

Check out the billboard and snap a selfie for me! I will put it on our site! I love you guys and I can't wait to see you. Ms. B.

Thought for today...

8/10/2014

If Africa was filled with yellow labs, poodles and little kittens, the medical crisis happening there now would not exist...humanitarian efforts would be sent by people all over the world! Shame on us! Read my March blog on compassion. Ms. B.

http://www.msbonavia.com/-blog/category/bonavia-donna-bonavia-donna-bonavia-ely-high

The Best of Mankind...The Worse of Mankind...

8/10/2014

2 days ago

When I view the horrors of what is happening in the world in the last month...people killing with no regard for life; women and children being beheaded for no other reason but that they live in the wrong place or have the wrong nationality or faith, I am dispirited and disheartened. It is the worse of humanity when I see these acts of hatred and violence.

But then, I listen to one of my favorite pianist, a symphony or view a beautiful painting...and then I see the best of humanity. How can humans have the ability to create such beauty and such ugliness?

And yet despite it all, I hold fast to a famous quote by Anne Frank: "Despite everything, I believe people are good at heart".

I'm Proud To Be A Teacher!

8/9/2014

I'm not as wealthy as my brother who is a doctor, or my oldest brother who is in law...not even as wealthy as my little sister who is an awarding winning film editor. But what I am is...happy to wake up everyday and teach...happy to share my passion and watch how sharing my passion changes lives. I'm happy to know that my existence on this planet might have made a difference in the lives of others.
No, I'm not wealthy...far from it.

There is no "MD" after my name, nor is there a PhD, CEO or CFA...just simply: Ms. Bonavia: Room 2720. If someone ever marries me they will not become financially rich out of the deal, far from it.

But l will let you in on a little secret; I am rich. I am rich, rich beyond measure. Rich in love, character and passion; and I am proud...proud to make a difference; proud to be a teacher. See you in a week! Ms. B.

Why Do We Do What We Do?

8/8/2014

My Painting of a little Haitian Girl, Mixed Media

Pencil Study of Feet

Yesterday a friend asked me a question. He asked me, "Why do you do what you do?" I was puzzled by his question, so I asked him, "What do you mean?" He went on to ask me why do I write and paint so much...why? Hmm, my first thought was, 'idiot' but then after I pulled myself together I simply answered, "Because I have to". He looked at me puzzled, he didn't get it and he never will. A lot of people out there don't get creative people.

It takes a special person to live with a person in the arts, trust me on this. Even some who have lived with me and loved me for years never got me. Sometimes it is because they never stopped to look and discover what I was all about, other times I think only artistic people get artistic people.

This is why so many high school kids who are artistic are so misunderstood amongst their peers. These kids appear, eccentric and different. For an artist, being misunderstood  can go on all through life. We do what we do because we have to, it is an artistic compulsion. Let me explain.

When you have an artistic mind you are compelled to be who you were born to be. Artists create in order to express their deepest levels of thought and emotions. EVERYONE has their own method of expression. People express themselves with clothing, hairstyles, tattoos, comedy and language. These are just a few of the many ways that we express what is within us. With writers, it's words on a page. For painters, it is the compulsion to express what they have inside their soul visually with images. Dancer's who are truly born to dance simply must dance, song writer's must sing, musician must play music, actors must perform..they are all compelled to create and do not find peace in their soul unless they are living the life that they were created to live.

So, be who you were born to be. Allow your passion guide you to your purpose in life. We may all hear a different beat to the drum that we call life, but at least we are alive and hearing music.  We have been given one life...one chance for happiness, so embrace this opportunity and do what makes you happy and do your best!

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however, measured or far away".

                                                               Henry David Thoreau

Love, Ms. B.

Donna Bonavia

I am an art educator and a professional artist. I write this blog to guide my students in (SEL) social, emotional, and academic development. S.E.L. is the District of Columbia Public School's priority because we believe that we must educate the whole child.