Little Red Riding Hood: 4^th grade

English: A

Science: B+

Geography: C-

Physical Education: A

Listening/Participation: C-

Comments: Little Red Riding Hood is a sweet girl. She has some struggles with paying attention, following directions, and general attentiveness but has a kind heart. She has recently been asked to be referred to as “Little Red Cap”, which will be updated in the system.

We recommend that a watchful eye is kept on her, as we worry she may have an easier time straying down the wrong path than other children. With the right guidance, however, she will be just fine.

The Princess (The Frog King): 8^th grade

English: A

Science: A+

Geography: B

Physical Education: A

Math: B+

Listening/Participation: A

Comments: The Princess is a dedicated student who worked hard this quarter. Despite her distaste for the recent amphibian unit in her science course, she received amazing scores. She also excels in her physical education class, and her favorite sport to play is dodgeball.

We find some concern in her , as in her English course, it is the main source of her creative writing. We recommend enrolling her in further counseling.

Little Mermaid: Sophomore

AP Language: B

Biology: A

Algebra: B+

Danish: A

Geography: B

Music: A

Introduction to Business: D

Comments: The Little Mermaid is a bright student with passionate goals. She excels in many of her classes and approaches them with curiosity and a willingness to learn.

The only class she struggles with, however, is her Intro to Business class. She often takes risky deals and does not follow lesson structure. She struggles somewhat socially, although she has started a friendship with the Sea Witch recently.

Briar Rose: Junior

AP European Studies: A-

Physics: B+

Calculus: B

Art History: B-

French: A

AP Literature: B-

Comments: Briar Rose is a qualified and well-rounded student. She typically is an all-A student and is seemingly “blessed” in every regard. Unfortunately, due to her recent Narcolepsy episodes, some of her grades have slipped.

We advise checking up with a physician, as her issues seem to have worsened.

Faithful Heinrich: Senior

Comments: We are very concerned about Faithful Heinrich and recommend counseling as soon as possible. Please schedule a meeting with school staff to discuss this more in-depth, thank you.

Rather than a specific piece of art itself, I found interest in an artist and their work in general. Kay Nielsen, born in the 1800s in Copenhagen, was an illustrator under Disney who inspired and worked on many well-known Disney pieces today (Fantasia, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, etc.) Known for his intricate, darker art style, Nielsen offered Disney an art style that was not always appreciated or utilized in its time.

His work in The Little Mermaid, for example, was shelved before being picked up for the 1989 version, after Nielsen’s death. Obviously, the artwork pictured is much different than the bright, playful Little Mermaid we know of, even with the elements that parallel. The ethereal, other-worldly feeling of Nielsen’s art has retained its inspiring qualities despite the years that have passed since its conception.

This piece, for example, retains Andersen’s darker Little Mermaid tale. It is interesting to think about what possibly could have been from Nielsen’s work, had he not been let go numerous times throughout his run at Disney. What could we have possibly received if Nielsen’s concepts had been continued from when they were originally published? Would his work on The Little Mermaid have remained a silencing and at times brooding lesson in disguise, truer to Andersen’s vision, or would it have been polished and cleaned through processing at Disney?

These questions may not necessarily have answers, but it is very interesting to think of what Disney’s The Little Mermaid might have been like if it stuck truer to Andersen’s original work through the inspiration of Nielsen.