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William Shemin

MIDTOWN COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Be Your Best You! 

 

 

An elementary school that treats the arts as a province of a few gifted children, or views them as recreation and entertainment, is a school that needs an infusion of soul. The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic."                                                       - William J. Bennett, U.S. Secretary of Education 1988

 

 

 

 

Dear Parents,

 

Art gives each student the means to explore who they are, express their emotions, and better understand the world around them. It cultivates perceptual awareness, cognitive and life skills, and can enhance learning in all other subject areas: language, social studies, mathematics and the sciences.

 

Students in my class will be encouraged to think critically and creatively. This will help strengthen their thinking skills and their ability to  express themselves and their own experiences.  Students will begin to formulate opinions about artwork verbally and in writing:  what shapes and colors they see, why they think the artist used those shapes and colors in that particular way, how it makes them feel, why it makes them feel that way and can they relate it to their life in any way, etc. They will be encouraged to investigate and appreciate the art of the masters and their contemporaries, gaining insight and understanding into divergent opinions. 

 

Students will be expected to work to the best of their ability, to respect others and their artwork, and to act responsibly with art supplies. 

 

 

HOMEWORK:  All students in Grades 3-8 are usually required to complete 1-2 homework assignments each marking period. 

Students are NOT required to purchase sketchpads... 

 

(but sketchpads are great and I highly encourage you to provide your child with one, if possible, to give them the opportunity to

 think and express their ideas visually, build their artistic and finemotor skills, relax and spend their downtime positively.)  

 

Click on the Homework and Events link on the right to see the assignments.

Homework counts for 20% of your art grade. Since we have such little time together in the artroom, I am hoping you see the assignments as a challenging and fun way to improve your skills, and a relaxing and positive way to spend your leisure time.  

 

 GRADING  -  What students are graded on:  GeneralGradingRubric.jpg  

 

 

Fire Prevention Posters are due in the Artroom by October 20.  If you lost your form, you can print one another form from here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 You can see some of their work on our WSMCS.ART Instagram page by searching wsmcs.art on Instagram.   

 

 

                     

                                                           

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one." - Stella Adler