​This week we chatted with Lia Berezka-Zuniga, a third-grade teacher whose first year at Waters found her leading her class pandemic-style—oddly, something she’s done once before! Prior to Waters, she taught 2nd and 3rd grade in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood—and before that, she spent 2 years teaching English to elementary school kiddos in Daegu, South Korea. Remember the MERS outbreak?
 
Waters Today: We can’t believe this is your second time teaching during a pandemic. What are the odds of that?! Can you compare the two experiences?
Mrs. Berezka-Zuniga: The biggest difference is most definitely the mask culture. Many people in South Korea wear masks even when it is not a pandemic. For example, many people prefer to wear masks in the spring while walking outside when there is lots of allergens and pollution in the air. Others wear masks when they have the common cold to prevent them from spreading it. I was living in Korea for at least a year before the MERS outbreak hit. Since I had seen masks being worn all around me for quite some time, I was very comfortable wearing one. It was so important to me to protect others and myself there while I was a guest teacher. 
 
Pandemic aside, what's the biggest difference between teaching here vs. in Asia?
Schools in East Asia are really formal. The students bow to their teachers before class begins and when class ends. That was really new for me! Students must call their teacher by their title, so I wasn’t called Ms. Berezka, I was called 선생님 Lia (Teacher Lia.) Finally—as my class knows— I have to talk about FOOD! School staff, teachers, and students eat the same meal at the same time in the cafeteria. I loved learning about new food and dining traditions along with my coworkers and students. I miss the long table filled with students and the silver trays full of delicious 반찬 (side dishes).
 
It sounds like you've traveled pretty extensively! If you could take your students on a field trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
My class loves adventure and life science so I would take them to one of my favorite islands: Palawan, Philippines. We could explore an underwater cave, find macaques Monkeys hanging from trees, get spooked by a monitor lizard, snorkel to see beautiful coral, and still have time for a freshly grilled fish lunch with mango! 
 
That sounds amazing—we’ll chaperone! Did you grow up somewhere far-flung? 
Although my dad is from Poland and my mom is from the Philippines, I was actually born in Chicago and am a product of Chicago Public Schools! I went to an elementary school that is extremely diverse—lots of my classmates spoke a second language. Maybe that is where my love for international food and language came from! I really have to give my elementary and high school CPS teachers my respect and appreciation. Their practice most definitely inspired me to become a teacher myself. THANK YOU, TEACHERS! 
 
Is it safe to assume you’ve always wanted to be a teacher? 
Yes! And what I love most about teaching at Waters is the connections I’ve built with students, families, and staff. I have never physically met anyone at Waters...yet! However, I feel that we’ve built incredibly strong relationships despite all the challenges. It is clear that Waters is a community with strong collaborative relationships and I am honored to be a part of that! Special shout-out to my students and families for being there every step of the way!
 
Sounds like you have a lot of catching up to do when we’re all back together in person! If you could give your third graders one piece of advice, what would it be?
One of my teaching mentors gave me a poster I love to hang in my classroom every year. It says: “In this class, mistakes are expected, inspected, and respected.”  Mistakes mean you tried, you took a risk, and you learned. That is a beautiful thing. I think we need to appreciate our mistakes, too!

 
We love that so much. What do you like to do when you're not teaching?
You can find me spending time with my daughter and husband, hunting for vintage treasures, cooking up a storm, reading about my next travel adventure, or watering my house plant collection. (It is slowly turning into a jungle in here!) 
 
Anything your students would be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve spent more time behind the wheel of a motorbike than behind the wheel of a car! Also: I may or may not sometimes play “Animal Crossing.” :)
 

Fun! Thank you so much Mrs. Berezka-Zuniga—we can’t wait to meet you in person!

Scouts BSA Troop 894 (boys and girls) is hosting a fundraiser to help both our scouts AND our neighbors through the Friendship Center. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria Pizza coupons may be redeemed at any area Lou Malnati’s location for one 9” FROZEN pizza (sausage, pepperoni, cheese, or spinach). When you buy a coupon below, you can decide who gets a Pizza in their pantry: you or the Friendship Center (a neighborhood food pantry) or both! Get 1 for $13 or 2 for $25.

Troop 894 receives a portion of the proceeds, which will go toward upgrading camping equipment and deferring camping expenses for our scouts. Many in our troop attend Waters!

​Go to https://tinyurl.com/pizzas4pantry to place your order! Thank you!

It’s the moment so many of you have been waiting for: Amy Vecchioni’s Teacher Feature! Our much-beloved visual art teacher has been doing her thing for 20 years, all of them at Waters. Super fun fact: She’s never driven a car, but she does have an adult tricycle!
 
Waters Today: Where did you grow up? Has art always been a big part of your life?
Ms. Vecchioni: I grew up on Big Blue Lake in Michigan. My front yard was a lake! It was a wild place. I learned so much from observing plants and animals. I was in and out of the water all day and would only go inside at dark. Most of my early art experience came in the form of making lakeside seaweed and mud pies. If I played in the woods, it would be elaborate fairy houses out of old stumps, flowers and stones. In winter, there was plenty of snow and ice to make stuff with. A life-sized snow unicorn with an icicle horn was a favorite…I was always making things as a child—but  did not have formal exposure to art until high school. That said, art is a huge part of my life and always has been. Most of what I created as a child was ephemeral. I was always remaking it, so I never was too attached to the finished product. That starting over and over again is what I think draws me to art—I have a lot of energy!
 
That’s an understatement! So if for some reason you couldn't teach art, what would you do instead?
I don’t know! I learn so much and have so much fun teaching art!  When I was little, I wanted to be an archeologist at Giza—I was a huge fan of the then-famous King Tut exhibition. I’d like to make a picture book series for children or create art adventure camps, so maybe that? I also think it would be cool to be a folklorist or oral historian too…I love listening to stories. Brené Brown says she’s a researcher storyteller, and that sounds fascinating. 
 
What kinds of things do you create at home?
I work a lot in 3D media and have a good-size copper enameling kiln set-up in our laundry room. I feel like a modern-day Hephaestus sometimes! Teaching is my favorite art form though, always!
 
We suspect you have other hobbies, though we can’t imagine how you find the time…
Yes, I grow orchids and cactuses, I love to garden., I knit and enjoy board games…and I’m thinking our new Milkweed & Monarch Club is becoming a favorite hobby too.
 
You do such a great job showing kids that art is about creativity and self-expression, not perfection or even talent. Why is that so important?
My favorite visual art concept is wabi-sabi. Imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness are what make beauty in art. A crack in pottery is painted gold and celebrated! I share with the children that there isn’t a prescribed perfect, but a perfect for you. Creativity is a life skill we all use every day! I think talent is often mislabeled hard work, study or practice. I avoid praising product and focus on effort and intention. I love listening to students express themselves and explain their choices in a project. As students talk and share, they create a safe space for self-expression together. (I just keep track of the time!) Ultimately, I always go back to nature: there isn’t any perfect existence, there are just unending interpretation. We take risks in the art room and celebrate every iteration. 
 
Love that so much. Lots of people think that fostering a love of art in their kids requires having an entire room filled with art supplies, which is expensive and intimidating! What do you recommend having on hand?
I think it’s best to ask your child what kind of art they like and/or would like to create. Often, we can build an art kit from those questions. A lot of youth are interested in new illustration media and have specific requests. Younger students may need some suggestions and/or options. 
 
Some Quick Tips: 
 
Paper: One thing that I think is always important is a lot of good paper. It needs to be heavy stock (thicker than printer paper) and matte finish. 
 
Wet Media: My favorite watercolor paint set is 24 Washable Colors by Crayola. Great colors!
 
Dry Media: Crayons are really the best media for most of us---such range of color and mixing potential. A black marker or Sharpie is great for any form of definition and a set of markers is a great option. Older students often enjoy illustration markers and watercolor pencils.
 
3D: I like cardboard, scissors and 3D adhesives such as clear tape, glue stick and other tapes. A couple other great supplies for 3D construction are brass fasteners and tempera paint sticks. 
(Our next Cardboard Challenge: 01.29.21!)
 
Great tips, and the challenge is on our calendar! What advice would you give to your 10 year old self?
Be YOU. 100%.
 
And now for the Art Teacher Quickfire Round! What's your favorite...
 
Museum: NEUE Galerie: Museum of German and Austrian Art, NYC, Gli Uffizi, Florence, Italy, Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice, Italy. 
 
Artist: Oh My! I have so many…Three artists that are always inspiring to me: Yayoi Kusama, Frida Kahlo and Wassily Kandinsky. 
 
Work of art: 3AGAIN…Lady with Ermine, Leonardo da Vinci and Tree of Life, Stoclet Frieze Gustav Klimt, and all of the many biomorphic installations of Ruth Asawa!
 
Color: GREEN!
 
Place to travel: Santa Fe, Italy & the Yucatán! 

Band or musician: Jorja Smith (current), Johnny Cash (classic) and Billie Holiday (all-time favorite)

​Movie: Bladerunner (Ridley Scott)
 
Book: I love Russian literature--The Idiot, Fyodor Dostoevsky. And I still love my first favorite book too--Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell… Right now, I’m reading We Make the Road by Walking by Miles Horton and Paulo Freire—Excellent!
 
PHEW! Thanks so much Ms. Vecchioni! We’ll take some of that boundless energy to go, please! 

​This week we caught up with Jessica Collins-Gonzalez, a 6th grade teacher who’s currently on maternity leave with her baby girl, Helena. She’s been teaching for 14 years, 4 of them at Waters—and she’ll be back next fall! 
 
Waters Today: Maternity leave in the middle of a pandemic! What’s that been like?
Ms. Collins-Gonzalez:  It’s been wonderful so far. We are blessed to have a happy, healthy baby girl. The good thing about having a baby during the pandemic is that everyone is staying home these days, so you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything staying home with your little one. 
 
What’s the biggest thing that’s changed now that you’re a mom? 
The super mom senses!  Moms can hear and see everything. I never believed it before, but it’s true. 
 
As fellow moms, we totally agree! When Covid is over, what's the first thing you'll do that you can't do now? Take my baby girl to meet all of our friends and family.  There are so many aunts, uncles and cousins that she hasn’t been able to meet yet.  
 
Aww. Where did you grow up and go to elementary school?
In Waukesha, Wisconsin—I loved my elementary school!  Some of the things that stick out as highlights of my grade school years were my awesome teachers, playing the flute in our school band, and going camping with my 5th grade class. 
 
What's the best thing about teaching middle school?
The thing that I like about teaching the intermediate grades is that you really get to know your students’ personalities and sense of humor. It’s kind of a pivotal point where students are discovering who they are and who they want to be. 
 
If you couldn't be a teacher, what would you be? 
I think that I would like to be a travel journalist. It would be so fun to see the world and write about my adventures. 
 
What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been?
The Amazon Rainforest!  I lived in Ecuador for a year and taught English with a volunteer organization called World Teach. When my parents came to visit me we went on a week long vacation to the Amazon. It was a dream come true. We stayed in a little hut and spent our days exploring the jungle, with a guide of course. Our incredible guide lead us to 8 different types of monkeys, pink river dolphins, sloths, poison dart frogs and so much more. 
 
That’s awesome—speaking of animals, what’s your spirit animal?
Probably an elephant. A few years ago I visited and elephant sanctuary in Thailand and fell in love with these gentle giants. 
 
You’ve traveled a ton! What else would your students be surprised to learn about you?  That my first job was working as a farm hand. I would ride my bike to the farm early in the morning to pick melons and vegetables from the fields. It was super hard work! The  corn fields were wet and muddy in the morning and the stalks cut you up as you walked through. Plus for all my mud stains, cuts and sore muscles I only made $4.24 per hour. It was a tough job, but it really made me appreciate all the work that goes into the delicious food we eat. 
 
Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?
I would have to say, “Be a leader not a follower.” My dad always told me this growing up and as an adult I still believe it’s true. 
 
Great advice! Thank you so much Ms. Collins—see you in the fall!