From Your Allied Arts Team: Art, Music, Physical Education, and Technology & Wellness

Dear Butler Students and Families,

Welcome to a new school year! We hope you had a safe and restful summer. As your Allied Arts teachers, we are so happy to welcome you back to school and to share some exciting things your child will be learning in Art, Music, Physical Education, and Technology & Wellness this year. We understand that every family brings different experiences, languages, and cultures into our school, and we see that as a strength. Our Allied Arts (AA) classes are a place where all students can grow, express themselves, and feel successful.

Students have been assigned a Pod (A through F) with which they travel to Allied Arts. This Pod mixes students from different homerooms together. Students attend Physical Education (PE) every other day throughout the entire school year. Students will then attend one of the other three Allied Arts classes (Art, Music, or Technology & Wellness) on the opposite day for the trimester. Students rotate through those three AA classes one trimester at a time. We know - it's a bit complicated, but your student will catch on quickly. Please help them practice memorizing their Pod and which Allied Arts classes they have on A Days and B Days.

We are excited to invite Mr. Zhang to the Allied Arts team this year as our Technology & Wellness teacher!

Below is an overview of each Allied Arts class.

🏃 Physical Education (PE) with Mr. Gillis and Mr. Pearl 🏃
PE helps students stay active and healthy. Through games and exercise, students learn how to work together, take care of their bodies, and build strength and confidence. Everyone is included, and we make sure all students feel successful, no matter their ability level.

🎨 Art with Ms. Andrews 🎨
In art, students will create drawings, paintings, sculptures, and more. They will learn to express themselves in creative ways, build confidence, and explore the beauty of different cultures and traditions through visual art. Students will maintain sketchbooks and practice the Studio Habits of Mind.

🎵 Music with Mr. Fugarino 🎵
Music brings joy and helps students learn about rhythm, sounds, performers, and instruments from around the world. Writing and playing music together also helps build language, memory, and teamwork skills in a fun and supportive environment.

💻 Technology & Wellness with Mr. Zhang 💻
In this class, students learn how to use computers and other digital tools to support their learning. We also talk about important topics like staying safe online, making healthy choices, handling stress, and finding balance in daily life.

Your involvement as a parent or guardian is very important. We’re here to partner with you—if you ever have questions or want to learn more about what we do, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Check out our pages on the Butler Allied Arts Site to stay up-to-date with all things Allied Arts!

We are excited to learn, move, create, and grow together this year. Thank you for being part of our school community.

With care and appreciation,
Your Allied Arts Team

Mr. Gillis, Mr. Pearl, Ms. Andrews, Mr. Fugarino, and Mr. Zhang