Browse Exhibits (8 total)
The Arts at Metz
The arts were a part of every aspect of Metz, from artwork celebrating Metz's centennial, to poems thanking teachers, to hand-painted ceiling tiles, to student-written operas, to essays on Cesar Chavez, and so much more. Countless pieces of student art were carefully preserved over the years. The following exhibit aims to feature diverse student works and celebrate arts education at Metz.
A Period of Transition: The Construction of the New School Building
The construction of a new school building for Metz Elementary in the early 1990s was a major milestone in the school's history. This exhibit uses primary materials and oral histories to document the the build-up and decision to build a new school, the period of construction, and the opening of the new building.
Metz in a Greater Context
An understanding of the formation and evolution of Metz Elementary is incomplete without situating the school in its broader historical context. Public policy, the Austin Independent School District, and neighborhood dynamics all shaped Metz's history.
The following sections explore different elements of this history, and how they shaped Metz in unique ways. The sections include commentary from interviews with community members about their experiences.
Future Best Sellers
In mapping the history and development of literacy and bilingual programming at Metz Elementary, 'Future Best Sellers' delves into the ways in which the Metz community fosters confidence in early readers and writers while centering the experiences of bilingual and bicultural students. Our exhibit features a wide collection of student-authored works, along with a variety of readings, videos, books, and essays showcasing the importance of bilingualism at Metz.
Metz Side Story
This exhibit seeks to provide a discussion of four major events of engagement between the Metz community and the surrounding Austin area through artifacts of student and community experiences. The items will present the political importance of the school in the community, as well as the relationship between the school and the surrounding area.
Para Nuestros Padres: Honoring the Legacy of Metz Parents
This exhibit aims to emphasize the vital role that parents, specifically the PTA and Grandma Camacho, played in shaping the Metz community. An archive of Metz Elementary would not be complete without an exhibit showcasing the role of parents in fostering the culture of Metz. Among countless other activities, parents supported students, teachers, and school activities by sewing ballet folklorico costumes, donating to the school library, transporting mulch for the construction of the garden, working on the school playground, and taking political action keep Metz safe and active. This exhibit highlights key areas of parental involvement at Metz as well as several prominent familial figures who served the Metz community.
Metz Through the Decades
This exhibit provides an overview of Metz Elementary School and its community, outlining its rich history through the decades. It is structured around the decades posters from Metz's 90th anniversary, which include various photos, articles, and other artifacts. The exhibit showcases major events, accomplishments, key community figures, and other developments that have occured over the years at Metz.
Timeline of Metz Elementary School
Throughout its 106 years of service to the community, Metz has played a key role in the legacy of its surrounding community; the following is a brief, incomplete examination of the school's influence both on a large and small scale.