Hello! My name is Wendy Anello. I teach K-5 visual arts at the Helen H. Hansen Elementary School and the South School. I frequently tell my students that I have the best job on the face of the Earth… and I mean it.
When I am not in school creating with my artists, I am creating art in my home studio. I paint, make jewelry, and experiment with various printmaking mediums, and anything else that I find interesting.
My favorite thing is to spend time with my family. My husband and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary over the summer. Our oldest is a junior at UVM - (Go Cats!), and our youngest is now a high school senior. We love to spend summers together at the beach with our 6 -year-old Boglen rescue dog - Ali.
I grew up in the hills of Berkshire County and studied Fine Arts at Westfield State University. I recently completed my Master’s Degree in Art Education. The students love when I tell them I'm STILL in school. They think it's hysterical that I have homework. I like to remind them that learning never stops. I feel that is important for children to know.
At the beginning of the school year, we read the book BEAUTIFUL Oops! by Barney Saltzberg to all grades. It serves as a nice reminder that it's OK to make mistakes when trying something new. We the book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. This book is a wonderful example of encouragement and the power of one. These books are the inspiration for our school-wide collaborative art projects. These installments represent the power of one as part of a larger school community.
My goal for the art room, is to create a safe space where all children feel comfortable trying new mediums, taking artistic risks, and learning through exploration and perseverance. And of course, being OK with making some mistakes along the way.