The Visual Arts Program is going strong and we have a really great group of students this year.  New and returning students are showing their skills and desire to gain new ones.

STEAM Updates...

Great news!!! Our Donor's Choose project, Paper, Press and Go!  has received full funding.  Our new paper press will be in house in a matter of weeks from DickBlick Art Supply.  Thank you so much from myself and on behalf of my students for your support.  We are sure to have a great time learning how to make paper from various materials.

Grades...

Report cards are soon to go out for Track 1.  All assignments for quarter 1 are due this Friday, September 1.  Students have been made aware of how they can check their assignments in Google Classroom to see what grade they received.  Any assignments that are incomplete are graded at a 50%.  Any student wishing to raise this grade can complete the work and resubmit by Friday in order to have the grade raised to a 75%.  All quarter 1 grades are final at the end of the day Friday, September 1.  Any students with questions are concerns must take the time to see me prior to this date.

Visual Arts Community Happenings...

Starting in November, a selection of student artwork from the ECMS Visual Arts Program will be on display in the Cary Public Library.  Stay on the lookout for future reminders to view student work in person.  The artwork could be your child's work, and I wouldn't want you to miss out.  

I am also working to put work up at other locations.  Please stay tuned!

Finished Printmaking Projects...
At this time, new projects are posted on Seesaw for Track 1.  If you are a Track 1 parent, take a moment to check out their prints they posted after completing a unit on the technique of Printmaking.  Track 2 will finish their printmaking projects beginning September 12th.  Tracks 3 & 4 will be posting beginning September 14th.  I am very impressed with the growth and maturity my students are displaying as they have worked their way through this project.

STEaM UPdates...
For the 2017/18 school year at ECMS, the Visual Arts & Family and Consumer Sciences (FACs) programs are teaming up to teach STEM electives together this year.  The VA/FACs STEM will focus on Paper Making and Engineering.  Students will study the process of making paper while considering various materials which could be made into paper.  We are currently in the process of contacting area paper based businesses to invite professionals from these industries to visit our students during their STEM elective.  Our goal is for students to actually make a paper product with the chosen materials they explore and research; such as dryer lint and organic materials like leaves.

At this time we have all the tools that we need, except the program requires a paper press.  We have started a Donor's Choose project called:  Paper Press and Go!  Please help our students today by donating to the project.  We are halfway to our goal and only need about $313 more. 

Student Work UPdates...
Wow, I am seeing a lot of progress and growth among all of my students.  There are individuals working through a variety of challenges, and whole classes coming together to produce work like a bunch of pros.  I am very impressed with them all.

Below is sampling of artworks created by both 7th & 8th grade students on Tracks 1, 2, & 3.  There first project is exploring the Element of Line to create a balanced composition which also incorporates contrast to make the subject stand out.

Current projects are: Track 4 is working at their version of the first project highlight above.  Tracks 1 & 2 are working learning how create an image for woodblock printing.  Check twitter for daily highlights on work in progress: @mrs_arnstein