|
The idea blossomed from a conversation between Darcy Schrimpf, who is a Bexley community member and Moler art teacher, and Rachelle Howland, Bexley Middle School art teacher. They discussed the need for middle-school-level skills like sewing at Moler and saw an opportunity for the Bexley students to mentor Moler’s 6th graders.
From Lost and Found to Fashion Design
The project’s goal is to upcycle unclaimed hoodies (over 30 from last year alone) from the lost and found at both schools. The Bexley students traveled to Moler to teach the 6th graders how to embellish the clothing with embroidery and scrap fabric, transforming the garments and giving them a second life for students who need them.
The principals from both districts were enthusiastically on board, noting that while music and sports often collaborate, art collaborations are a rare and welcome occurrence.
The Power of Sewing and Giving
The project is already resonating with students, teaching technical skills while forging new friendships. Moler student Ayla shared her excitement, saying, “I do like making arts and crafts, and this is actually kind of fun because I never thought about my project being a jacket.” Bexley student Julia expressed her passion for teaching: “What I really like about this is using the skills that I learned in fashion design and teaching people how to sew... I think sewing’s a very helpful skill.”
For Moler student Timmy, the project is personal, as he’s making a sweater for his father and gaining a valuable skill: “I like this project because I get to learn how to sew, and so that way when I get home, I can help my grandma with her sewing.” Henry, a Bexley mentor, simply enjoys teaching people “new stuff that they haven’t learned.”
Ms. Schrimpf, Moler’s art teacher, noted the dual impact of providing necessary clothing and creating a unique social connection. “It’s really lovely for [these] two very different communities to get to meet each other in a way that they would never normally overlap,” she said.
Ms. Howland reflected on the deeper cultural meaning, highlighting how the project is helping to rebuild “that passing down of sewing skills” that has been lost over generations. She added, “I also really liked that I could tell that my students definitely learned how to sew because they were able to teach sewing.”
This partnership promises to be a continuous and enriching experience. Next semester, the current Moler sixth-grade students will turn into the teachers, demonstrating the sustainability of the learning model by teaching the second-semester Bexley fashion design students how to do the project. This collaboration transforms a pile of old jackets into an experiential learning opportunity, teaching valuable life skills in design and community building.
|
![Image is of a calendar faded on a dark blue background with the words District Newsletter]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1753992267/bexleyschoolsorg/ri4ozq6u9zax4owbpgv3/districtnewsletterpostimage.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1753992267/bexleyschoolsorg/ri4ozq6u9zax4owbpgv3/districtnewsletterpostimage.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1753992267/bexleyschoolsorg/ri4ozq6u9zax4owbpgv3/districtnewsletterpostimage.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1753992267/bexleyschoolsorg/ri4ozq6u9zax4owbpgv3/districtnewsletterpostimage.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1753992267/bexleyschoolsorg/ri4ozq6u9zax4owbpgv3/districtnewsletterpostimage.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1753992267/bexleyschoolsorg/ri4ozq6u9zax4owbpgv3/districtnewsletterpostimage.jpg","width":1667}])