Half-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

3D Design is a semester long course where students build creative projects from a variety of material. Students will consider both the look (aesthetics) and function of the work they create.  Each material has limitations and each project has requirements, but the student decides what their work will become.  The principles of design and the elements of art are applied along with construction techniques and engineering considerations which promote critical thinking and creativity. This is a STEM or Humanities course. 

Full-year course Honors 1 credit Grades 11, 12

Prerequisite: Digital Design I and II

Advanced Digital Design is a year-long course that challenges students to explore emerging digital technologies in the creation of student centered projects.  Students receive advanced instruction and experience in digital video, sound manipulation, web design, podcasting, and cutting-edge digital media.  Students must be self-directed, motivated, and have foundational skills in a variety of software to realizing their projects based learning.  Students will develop technological skills and dispositions applicable to both art and technological fields, explore, in-depth and in a variety of ways, the influence of art on technology and technology on art as they develop a sense of technological media and its possibilities.  Arts Through Technology is an advanced level course in the New Media sequence that is a good precursor to AP Portfolio. This is a STEM or Humanities course. 

Half-year course Honors ½ credit Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite:  1 credit in Art

Advanced Drawing & Painting is a semester long course intended to follow ART 1.  Students will continue to improve their drawing and painting abilities.  Everyone can improve their existing drawing abilities and in this course a student will see improvement. In addition to learning some more advanced drawing techniques, students will develop their design abilities through different illustration projects. Using water based media, students will learn new methods of manipulating the elements and principles of design to communicate their ideas. In order to improve visual literacy, students will also learn and study different aspects of culture and how artists and designers have and continue to shape our perception. This course is meant to be paired with Advanced Studio for students who want to take a full year of art.  This is a Humanities course. 

Full-year course Advanced Placement 1 credit Grades 11,  12

Prerequisites:  1.5 credits in Art 

Advanced Placement (AP) Portfolio is a College Board assessed class primarily for Juniors and Seniors. AP Portfolio requires students to produce 15 works of art that follow a theme based on the student’s personal inquiry. The College Board requires students to also write about the concepts expressed in their work as well as the process they followed to make the work. This class requires a substantial amount of time outside of class to complete the work. Depending on the student’s choice of media, they may have to provide their own supplies. This class is not a class for students who want to prepare a portfolio for college admission to an arts program; rather it demonstrates rigorous coursework that will improve admission to any field of study. Students should have a foundation of skills with their choice of media, but this class is not exclusively for “talented” artists. Please see the College Board’s website for additional information.  This is a Humanities course.   

Full-year course Honors 1 credit Grades 11, 12

Prerequisite: 1 credits in or teacher recommendation

Advanced Portfolio is for experienced and committed art students who enjoy drawing, painting, printmaking, and individual expression. Art completed in this class fulfills many of the college application requirements for portfolios and should be taken Junior year. All types of college art programs, including digital art and architecture, require examples of observational drawing, original works, and varied media like painting, printmaking, and collage. This is a class with high expectations that build on a student's ability to communicate the elements and principles of design. The assignments are usually two-dimensional with a focus on college level art instruction in a variety of media. Students should expect to spend time outside of class completing projects. At the end of this course, students will have a competitive portfolio for college applications and a head-start on AP Portfolio. 

Students who are enrolled in Adv. Portfolio Honors may elect to concurrently enroll in UCONN’s Early College Experience (ECE) course, ART 1030:Drawing I, for a fee.  Dual enrollment allows FHS students to earn high school and UCONN’s ECE college credit simultaneously.  The UCONN Drawing I course, is a foundational drawing course based on observation. This is a Humanities course. 

Half-year course Honors ½ credit Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: 1 credit in Art

Advanced Studio is a semester long foundation course for students who have taken Art 1 and want to pursue traditional art forms besides drawing and Painting.  Students will work on sculptures, graphic design, digital art and mixed media.  The focus of this course is an exploration of different techniques for students who enjoy the arts or committed artists who want to progress to Advanced Portfolio and then AP Portfolio.  This course is also meant to be paired with Advanced Drawing and Painting for students who want to take a full year of art.  Regardless of a student’s perceived level of artistic ability, they will find success.  This is a Humanities course. 

Full-year course Honors 1 credit Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite:  One Drawing/Painting Class or Digital Design I

Animation is a yearlong course that challenges students to further explore digital media as a tool for creating original artwork.  This course provides students with instruction and real world experience in various animation techniques, including storyboarding, illustration, model construction, life drawing, digital video and audio editing, and more.  Students will learn to transfer skills and knowledge of traditional animation techniques into digital animation formats.  Animation is a collaborative process; students will demonstrate the ability to fulfill various roles and responsibilities as part of a production team.  This is a STEM or Humanities course.      

Half-year course Honors 1/2 credit Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite:  .5 credit in Art

Architectural Design is a project-based course for students who have an interest in architecture, or who are interested in pursuing a career in Architecture, Urban Planning, Architectural Engineering, or other design field.  This course provides students with the basic principles of architecutral design.  Projects will focus on the key principles of architectural design:  geometry, structure, and function.  The course will cover the history and development of architecture, an introduction to the design process, the basic techniques and procedures used in preparing artchitectural drawings, and an overview of architecture as a career.  This course introduces fundamental print reading, sketching, digital drafting techniques, and architectural design theory. This is a STEM or Humanities course.      

Full-year course College Prep 1 credit Grades 9, 10, 11

Art I is a year-long foundation course for students who are interested in improving their ability to draw from observation more accurately. ANYONE can learn how to draw and in this course a student will see their ability improve. In addition to learning drawing techniques, students will develop their design abilities through different painting projects. Using water based paints, students will learn how to manipulate color and symbols to communicate their ideas. In order to improve visual literacy, students will also learn and study different aspects of culture and how artists and designers have, and continue, to shape our perception. This is a Humanities course. 

Half-year course ½ credit Grades 11, 12

Do you see art in everyday objects?  Do ecology and conservation matter to you?  If so, enroll in the Installation Art ASPIRE! In this half-year course, students will collaboratively build a large temporary sculpture for display in a public space.  Working together, students in this course will collect and re-purpose materials, such as paper, cardboard, egg cartons, etc. to create an Installation sculpture. Installation art is a type of art where three-dimensional art is created and utilized to transform a space.  Students in the Installation Art ASPIRE will engage in an interdisciplinary study of art and science to investigate, design, and create an eco-friendly installation with the purpose of educating the community on the awareness of waste. The class’s installation will be installed in a public venue to share with the community.  The course will culminate with each student engaging in a VOG Exhibition of Learning. No artistic ability is required and anyone can participate.

Half-year course ½ credit 1 semester Grade 11, 12

Prerequisite: Fashion Design 1 (sewing machine and basic design skills)

In this interdisciplinary ASPIRE course, students will engage in inquiry that takes a fashion idea from illustration to creation.  Students will explore about the history of fashion, different fabrics, and dying methodologies, along with mastering technology tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator to support the design process.  Students will learn sewing and fabrication manipulation techniques in order to create an original finished garment, which will be shown at the Art Department's Annual Fashion Show.  Additionally, the product of this course will be showcased as part of each student’s VOGC Exhibition of Learning.

Half-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Ceramics is a semester long introductory course to working with clay using basic hand building and decorative techniques. Students are challenged to develop their own ideas through the mastery of different ceramic skills. All students are capable of making projects that they will be proud of as they develop their divergent thinking skills and understanding of craftsmanship. This is a Humanities course. 

Half-year course Honors ½ credit Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Ceramics I

Advanced Ceramics is a semester long course that builds on the skills developed in ceramics with an emphasis on wheel throwing and advanced sculptural techniques. Students will develop both functional and decorative clay projects in addition to new firing and decorative techniques not offered in the foundation course. This is a Humanities course. 

Full-year course College Prep 1 credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

In this introductory course, students will explore the four major areas of technology:  construction, communications, transportation and manufacturing, through a series of projects and activities.  Some of these activities include:  orthographic (multi-view) drawings, building vehicles, use of energy, catapults, aerodynamics, hot air balloons, CADD (Computer Assisted Drafting and Design), fabrication using brazing, welding, cutting, small gas engines, bridge building, residential construction, solid fuel rockets and more.  These activities will explore important concepts and techniques, and prepare students for future vocational and recreational pursuits. This is a STEM course.

Full-year course Honors 1 credit Grades 10, 11, 12

This course is designed to familiarize students with current construction designs and advanced technological materials used in the world of construction in both residential and commercial buildings.  Practical application of these principles will be done with construction of various storage sheds and garages as well as the set for the FHS plays and musicals.  Skills and concepts taught include:  safe and proper use of construction equipment, blueprint reading and construction layout from the architects’ communication network known as CADD (Computer Assisted Drafting and Design), cabinetmaking, and interior trim fundamentals. This is a STEM course. 

Full-year course College Prep ½ credit Grades 11, 12

Prerequisite:  Construction I or teacher recommendation

This course is designed as the second course in the woodworking series of course offerings.    Cabinet construction, millwork, material and machining practices will be covered during the year.  Students will design and construct furniture during the course.  Students are expected to gain mastery over contemporary techniques and practices in cabinet and furniture making. This is a STEM course. 

Half-year course College Prep ½ credit Grades 9, 10 11, 12

Crafts is a semester-long course that explores a variety of craft materials (glass, metal, wood, fiber and clay), design considerations and reflective processes. Emphasis is on developing artistic thinking skills and techniques, as well as appreciation and understanding of contemporary, historic, and cultural influences. This is a Humanities course.  

Half-year course College Prep .5 credit                       Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Culinary One is a half-year introductory course designed for students with an interest in food service. Culinary and management skills will be taught through the lens of the Vision of the Global Citizen. Emphasis is placed on recipe conversion, measurement, terminology, knife skills, and safe food/equipment handling. Students can achieve a ServSafe Certification through this course. This is a STEM and Humanities course.

Half-year course College Prep .5 credit                       Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Culinary Arts One

Students will engage with more complex culinary skills, including how to create recipes, plan menus, and serve a wide variety of foods. Students will learn about how ingredients are produced, food costs, ordering ingredients, customer service, and kitchen management. Participation in various school events will provide work experience in the kitchen and dining area. This is a STEM and Humanities course.

Half-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Digital Design is a semester-long course that introduces students to the skills and tools necessary to create digital artwork. Images are an increasingly important means of communication in our society. In Digital Design, students learn the art and design skills necessary to communicate their ideas visually. Students learn image-editing techniques, presentation design, and web design using professional software programs. Students will apply these skills and techniques to create original artwork, design effective presentations, and produce creative content for the web.  Digital Design is an introductory course in the Art Department’s Digital Art sequence. This is a STEM or Humanities course. 

Half-year course Honors ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Digital Design I

Digital Design II H is a semester long course that challenges students to further explore emerging digital technologies in the creation of original and innovative designs for the Web.  This course provides students with advanced instruction and real world experience in generating and formatting digital content, including HTML and CSS, graphic design, and writing for the Web.  Emphasis will be placed on students being self-reliant, motivated learners in pursuit of planning and realizing complex projects.  Digital Design II H is an intermediate level course in the New Media sequence. This is a STEM or Humanities course.

Half-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Digital Photo I is a semester-long course that introduces students to the fundamentals of digitally produced and edited photography. Students learn the technical and aesthetic skills necessary to create successful photos, such as composition, exposure, and lighting. Students also learn to use their camera as a creative tool, and to understand why “Auto” mode isn’t always the best option for creative photography. After taking their photos, students learn to edit and manipulate their work using Adobe Photoshop, a software program used by many professionals in creative fields such as advertising, design, and, photography.  Digital Photo 1 is an intermediate level course in the Art Department’s Digital Art sequence. This is a STEM or Humanities course. 

Half-year course Honors ½ credit           Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Digital Photo 1 

Digital Photo II is a semester-long course that builds on skills developed in Digital Photo 1. Students learn advanced digital editing techniques, as well as advanced photo skills such as studio lighting, techniques for low lighting situations, flash photography, and more. Students identify and research an area of personal interest to explore over the course of the semester. Students plan and develop a photography portfolio as a result of this on-going, self-directed inquiry. Students are encouraged to take creative risks and push themselves to go beyond conventional photographic expression in order to develop their own personal style.  Digital Photo 2 is an advanced level course in the Digital Art sequence and a great precursor to AP Portfolio. This is a STEM or Humanities course. 

Half-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Fashion Design I is a one-semester studio course. Students will explore the history of fashion, elements and principles of design, fashion illustration and various steps involved in the production of a garment. Assignments will introduce the students to design processes of inspiration board compiling, color theory, design innovation and the 2D to 3D development of creative ideas. This is a Humanities course. 

Half-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Fashion Design II is a studio course for students who are interested in further developing skills learned in Fashion Design I class. Students will use Photoshop and Illustrator to enhance their fashion illustration skills and students will engage more complex sewing and fabric manipulation techniques.  This course affords students the opportunity to learn more about fashion history, fabrics and different fabric dyeing methods. This is a Humanities course. 

Full-year course Honors 1 credit Grades 10, 11, 12

In this full-year course, students will explore the main areas of transportation through a series of projects and activities. These activities include safety and tools, propulsion and mouse-trap cars, hydraulics and pneumatics through robotic arms, automotive repair and diagnosis, including lubrication, engine performance, brakes, steering and suspension, ignition and electrical, tire repair and maintenance, mechanical systems, using energy in transportation, welding and fabrication, small gas engine diagnosis  and repair. In the lab, students will work online with CDX software. This is a STEM course. 

Full-year course Honors 1 credit Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Digital Design I & II, Animation or a computer science class

Game Design is a full-year course. Students will capitalize on their design sensibilities and creativity to formulate backend structure and present it to an audience or user.  Students will learn user interface and user display properties as well as how image and design decisions can carry engineered mechanics and code design.  Students will address human connection, as well as ways to organize their thoughts and design process. This is a STEM or Humanities course. 

Half-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Crafts

Jewelry Design is a one semester Fine Arts course in the design and construction of personal adornment. This course introduces students to the foundations of metal smithing, including piercing, sawing, forming, soldering, filing, and finishing jewelry. Students will learn and practice the studio skills necessary to create their jewelry designs using a variety of materials. Emphasis will be placed on developing craftsmanship and creativity, as well as on the safe handling of tools and materials. There is a $25 lab fee to offset the cost of materials used in this class. This is a Humanities course.

Full-year course College Prep 1 credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Stagecraft is a class for students who enjoy the design, construction, and painting of sets. Students will have the opportunity to work on the Fall and Spring FHS Drama productions during the school day. In addition to foundational construction and painting skills, students will design and manufacture props for the plays and learn about lighting and sound design. There are no prerequisites, but experience in construction and art are a plus. This is a STEM or Humanities course. 

Full-year course College Prep ½ credit               Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Unified Art is a full-year course.  Students will be given the opportunity to develop artistically; collaborate with friends on a variety of art projects; and showcase their work in community settings.  The Unified Art Program provides a forum for positive social interaction between students with intellectual disabilities and those without disabilities.  The artist partnership cultivates a greater understanding of oneself, and of others, while developing new friendships.  Students will work on drawing, painting, collage, ceramics, and collaborative projects. This is a Humanities course. 

Full-year course 1 credit Grades 11, 12

Prerequisite: Construction I or teacher recommendation

Are you interested in cultivating your woodworking or construction skills to create an original design?  This course is designed as an extension of the Construction I course. Students will engage in an inquiry-based, maker- experience. In this course, students will master contemporary techniques and machining and use various materials to create a functional item to fulfill a need in the community. Prior examples include a park bench and a sculptural bike rack.  This product will be showcased as part of each student’s VOGC Exhibition of Learning.