Daydreams and Straight Seams
Burke’s sewing elective helps students build a foundation for creative thinking, problem-solving, and resilience.
Ms. Cappuccio says, “an important part of my class is giving up perfection. Especially in sewing, it doesn’t really exist.” This is in line with Burke’s philosophy of creating “ongoing opportunities for girls to embrace challenge, take risks, learn from mistakes, cultivate leadership, advocate for themselves, and achieve their personal best.”
In the eighth-grade sewing class, the year culminates in designing and creating student projects, before they pivot to sewing costumes for the eighth-grade musical. Ms. Cappuccio states “We learn by mistakes because it’s a great way to learn.” Students can take their work home, and be unafraid to try something new because “it’s just fabric and thread, they can take it apart. For instance, a student made a shirt and sewed the sleeve incorrectly, but she trusted herself to try, and now she knows how to set in a sleeve.”
Ms. Cappuccio makes a point of constantly bringing new fabric to the sewing room, to give students a wide range of creative options and choices. In addition to the practical and creative skills, students learn about what goes into making some of their favorite clothes such as sweatshirts and flared leggings. A collection of student projects is put on display at Burke’s Annual Art Festival and it’s always a delight to see the amazing costumes in the eighth-grade play! While the sewing elective is available to Upper School students, Ms. Cappuccio is also working with fourth graders, and just started with the second graders - this year they’ll be working on monster hats!
Burke's mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.
Burke's admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.