Visual Arts

Dear parents/guardians of an art student,

I am so excited to have your child in my class this year and can tell you with confidence that they are in the right place. I can’t wait to get to know you and your child and would love to share some information about myself with you. I am an artist that graduated from Western New Mexico University before living in Mexico for several years learning the Spanish language. Alongside ceramics, historical costuming, and other art forms, I’m passionate about yoga and acro-yoga which I also am certified to teach.

Throughout the school year I will guide your child in a practice of self expression that explores a wide range of art media. I’m sure you will be proud to see how they grow in their artistic abilities while building a supportive community of artists with their classmates. In a couple of weeks, your child will create a social contract with these classmates regarding the way we act and treat each other in class. After the contract is approved and agreed upon by everyone in the class, you will receive a copy of the document. You will find additional class rules and consequences that can be expected on page 2 of this letter.

In my class your child will expand their talents through lecture, demonstration, art history study, practice (assignments), and projects (assessments). Any assignment or assessment can be re-submitted for full credit, though unless otherwise agreed upon additional class time shall not be provided to complete missed, late, or unsatisfactory/incomplete work (class materials may not be provided for re-submissions and they will need to be completed outside of class time). I advise students against waiting too long to re-submit any work in order to avoid student overwhelm.

This curriculum will encompass our state’s standards as reflected in the TEKS that can be found at tea.texas.gov. My students are empowered to chose from a selection of assignments and projects that I offer during each unit to earn credit for the lesson I am teaching. However, all class time must be utilized productively, and if a student arrives unprepared or finishes early, they will be expected to chose another assignment to work on during class time.

Thank you to HISD for funding our classroom art supplies! You and your child will also have opportunities to participate in optional fundraising activities throughout the year to further equip our department with art media for your child and their classmates. If you so chose, you may also provide your child with supplies that may be brought to class for their personal use. They will need to bring a folder dedicated to their art class in which they will keep their organized assignments.

If you have any questions, concerns, or information you’d like to share with me, please contact me at Sophia.Stone@huttoisd.net. I look forward to connecting with you!

Ms. Stone

Art Teacher

Farley Middle School

Along with the social contract created by students, the non-negotiable rules in the art room are as follows:

1. The safety of each member of our community is our priority.

2. Disrespect towards any member in the room to these levels will not be tolerated: -inappropriate language (name calling, cursing, etc.)
   -assault (hitting, pushing, or otherwise attempting/threatening to harm) -breaking/stealing/compromising another’s possessions including classroom supplies

3. We comply with any and all school rules as stated in the handbook.

4. As art media can pose health hazards, we refrain from eating during normal class time.

5. In order to maintain a clean studio, we refrain from any personal grooming in the classroom.

6. For safety, shoes are worn in the classroom at all times.
    

Consequences for breaking these rules or the class social contract are as follows:

(Consequences are given in consecutive order for any offense each class period OR at my discretion will reflect the level of disrespect displayed.)

1. Redirection

2. Student teacher conference

3. Phone call to parent/guardian

4. Lunch detention

5. Behave Out (student chooses to go to the office rather than meet class expectations)