(Editor’s note: News releases are published as submitted unless there are errors of fact.)
February 28, 2019
PCDS Community,
This week, we have experienced a flurry of news activity surrounding the important efforts of our Middle School students and teachers. We would like to share that news with all community members, as this experience underscores tenets that are core to the entire PCDS experience. First, a little background:
Earlier this spring, Ms. Bloomston and her fifth grade art classes were working on clay sculptures and varying colors of glaze. During their work, the students discovered that one of the glaze colors, named “Birthday Suit” by the production company, was essentially a light shade of tan. The students had recently learned about a different art project by a prominent artist who discovered that there are nearly 4,000 shades of human skin color, ranging from light tan to dark brown. The students voiced their concern over a single, light tan color being described as “Birthday Suit,” as it was not fully representative of the array of human skin tones, so they asked if they could write a letter to the production company of the glaze color. Here is a copy of the student letter. And, here is a copy of the company’s response. The company renamed the glaze, and the President and CEO of the company added, “Your voice matters. You, as individuals, and collectively as a class, can make a difference. And can initiate change. Congratulations.”
As outlined in the PCDS Portrait of a Graduate, we expect our students to recognize their individuality, while also understanding that they are a part of a whole— the PCDS community and, even more, a diverse human race. These students exemplified the statements, “I know how to think,” and “I am inclined to action,” when they recognized the lack of inclusivity of the glaze title and initiated positive change for future artists. In short, this small but powerful experience underscores what we hope for from our students and faculty, across all age levels and divisions. And, for that, we are proud of this recognition of our Middle School students’ efforts.
Here is the array of stories and video that highlight our students’ impact:
ABC 15 Video Feature
Many thanks to all who make PCDS a wonderful place.
Sincerely,
Phoenix Country Day School
