WELCOME! Below are some resources that tend to be helpful to parents & students. Please share suggestions if you have any to add:)
...click links to see more where underlined!
TEACHER: Mr. Jason Slowik. SlowikJ@JTownDrakes.org ... Mr. Slowik is in year 20 (Two DECADES in!) here at JMSHS, and previously worked with the Phila. Mural Arts Program as a Muralist, and also coordinating/building their Restorative Justice Program in its beginning years. Mr. Slowik has 3 kids Jude(16), Dylan(14), and Rosie(11), a lovely Behavior Analyst(BCBA) wife Michele, a dog and two cats. When not focused on Jenkintown SD efforts, he enjoys FAMILY TIME, Painting & Drawing in his home studio, playing guitar and singing with his band ANvB!$(you can find anywhere you stream or at www.Anubis.band :), taking nature hikes & visiting National Parks, distance running, meditating, and cheering on ALL Philly Sports teams:)
GOOGLE CLASSROOM is used as the MAIN place for course content.
-You are recommended to accept the "Parent" invitation (let Mr. Slowik know if you did not receive one/are not connected. Once you are "IN" for ONE class on Google Classroom, CONGRATS! You are all set for ALL classes moving forward.
-You can set it to give you weekly updates. These are not ideal, but they can help. The MOST helpful approach is to get your student's login so you can follow along that way, or simply sit next to your student and scroll through the feed and assignment list. It is STRONGLY recommended to follow grades with students by reviewing Power School with them once a week too.
The COURSE SYLLABUS can be found through these links, and will provide detailed info regarding grading policy, behavior expectations, etc:
MS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1exUwNETmTKIbbRBAWOoNCBTDF3dunxp9dEyew7SOc9o/edit
HS: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X5druNnpilUGBafHyLD0BxCRMMCuOWhbu8LfUAX04fQ/edit
OTHER QUICK CLASS NOTES:
-GRADING is done on a points system, about 5 points per day's effort. ASSESSMENT is objective, things like "fill the page with bold color using a specific color scheme"... so as long as students can follow directions and take guidance with a good attitude, they WILL do great!
-BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS essentially boil down to: "Is what you are doing helping you learn, and allowing others to learn?" Students may have dialogue after school(detention), and/or with Mr. Roller or Guidance Staff, and/or calls or emails home may happen to help figure out how to best support a student through challenges, IF behavior issues arise.
-COURSE CONTENT is rooted in the Elements and Principles of Art for all levels (since that empowers creation in ANY medium) - and is structured to provide a wide range of experiences, information, techniques, etc. We are a small school, so Mr. Slowik TRIES INCREDIBLY HARD to be everything to everyone... but he is human and can't reasonably do that of course... so he just tries his hardest each day to make for the best experience for students possible. The ultimate goal is to have graduates who are GOOD PEOPLE, and who feel confident in their ability to CREATE in the world while appreciating the creations of others:)
ART CLUB meets on regular schedule TUESDAYS, in the MSHS Art Room, from 2:45-3:30pm.
-This has an "open door" policy, meaning ALL students are welcome to attend ANY week they are able, and it's OK to miss when not able too! Students who attend regularly simply get preference when opportunities like murals or design contests present themselves.
-We will often have an optional group or service opportunity shared... but students are always able to work on personal projects if that is desired. We simply ask that students are actually engaged in creating art while here, and not simply distracting peers.
-This is a GREAT way for students who cannot fit Art into their schedule to still have a fun and enriching creative experience each week.
SATURDAY and EVENING CLASSES are offered at a variety of local venues. We live in one of the best places in the WORLD for these resources actually!
***Be sure to ask Mr. Slowik if any scholarships are available if you have interest. It could save you many $$$ :)
-ABINGTON ART CENTER is local, and has a wonderful reputation. Other art centers like Cheltenham and Woodmere have great offerings too, and are nearby.
-LOCAL COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES also offer great opportunities. MOORE and TYLER are most frequently attended by JTown students, but Arcadia and Penn State Abington may also have options that work for your family situation.
MR. SLOWIK'S ART, if you are curious to see a varied selection of what HE has created through the years, can be seen here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1U04oHuBPMko6xrpYUWUi0KnviNgzmUURTFL9wDqrF4I/edit?usp=sharing
DID I MISS SOMETHING??
-Email Mr. Slowik at SlowikJ@JTownDrakes.org