Why art? What does art mean?

I often speak with my students about art, well of course, I am an art teacher. Being an artist, and an art teacher is the best part about who I am as a person! Trying to be kind and finding the good in everyone, even if it is difficult, is another big part of being me. But, making art and the intent behind it, the message you are sending about yourself and your work is often tough for someone to talk about, teenagers especially.

An artist friend of mine shared with me this video clip, Bill Hurshman, aka.Colonel Substitute for all you Grasso Tech people. Bill is one of those people I enjoy speaking with. Being an artist himself, he "gets" my program philosophy, and also enjoys watching students work through the creative process.

Anyway, enjoy this video clip, and then do yourself a favor. Go make some art!!

Artist Tony O'Brien speaking about his work

Way to go Mr.LaMontagne!!!

Ellis Tech Library Media Specialist, Mr. Todd LaMontagne, awarded $6000 grant

for books purchases from Scholastic Publications and author James Patterson.  Mr. LaMontagne applied for the grant on behalf of Ellis Tech this past spring.  The award is an outstanding honor and a major investment in the Ellis Tech library book collection!! 

Keep on being Awesome...... Mr. LaMontagne!!

Ellis Tech Patterson Scholarship Full Story

Field Day 2015

One of the highlights of Field Day 2015.... was the Tug-o-War between the winning shop team and the Faculty. I am happy to say the Faculty won. Just shows that cooperation and teamwork happens inside and outside the building!

Career Development Mock Job Interview Day May 8, 2015

One of the adventures that I have been on since transferring up to Ellis Tech in Danielson, is to teach Career Development until the end of the year. It has been an interesting transition for sure, going from my old school to a new one, coupled with teaching CDL instead of Art . I can say with absolute confidence, that I am an Art Teacher to the core, but CDL is about life skills and preparing for employment, interviewing and obtaining jobs, and that I have experience in.

One of the best ways to prepare students for job interviewing is to simulate the whole interview process. What better way then to hold a Mock Job Interview Day! Mrs. Moed-Klein, my fellow CDL Teacher, has been the driving force behind this for the last few years. She deserves lots of thanks!
I wanted to share the rubric the HR personnel that the businesses will be using!.

EAMA Video Challenge

All are invited to the Film Festival to view and celebrate 

the ingenuity of the students from all the schools!! 

Ellis Tech Golden Eagles Video Team..

Please take a moment to view Ellis Tech Golden Eagle’s Video Challenge Team’s  entry for EAMA’s “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” video competition.

  http://eamainc.org/2015videocompetition/ 

The voting window runs from April 6th- April 17th 

You may vote once per day. 

Thank you for your support!

CTHSS Art Program of Studies

Greetings All~

I am very excited to be reinvigorating the Art Department at H.H. Ellis Tech!! As with any new programs, all students will begin with Elements of Art class. In subsequent years it is hoped we will expand the program based upon student interests. For a sneak peak of what is to come starting Fall of 2015. Check out the CTHSS Art Program of Studies.

New Chapter brings new adventures...........

Just last week I began a new chapter in my educator adventures, I transferred from Grasso Tech in Groton to Ellis Tech in Danielson! It is a bittersweet change for me. I remember walking into my classroom at Grasso for the first time. It was so horrid!!!  It had an accordion wall dividing my room from the other art teacher, a very tiny bathroom vanity type of sink, no white board, no blackboard, just a hobbled together flip chart pad. And to put the cherry on the top of the cake, the only supplies I had were a pair of scissors, a couple old wooden rulers and some copy paper! I am surprised I didn't run out of the building screaming!

Don't let my opening fool you, I loved my classroom and my students!! My time at Grasso helped shape the type of teacher I am today! I learned the importance of connecting with my students, which enabled me to design lessons around their interests, and offer them a place where they felt comfortable trying new things. To some walking by my room, a place of organized chaos, they might not have understood what was happening in 411. But my students did.

Over my years there, I got a real wall, new to me tables, a Smartboard, additional cabinets and a larger sink! It took me awhile, but finally built up a nice collection of art supplies, on top of the consumables like paper and paint. My students and I repurposed old bulletin boards and created paintings on them which hang all over the school; and lets not forget the murals in the shop wing! We took field trips to The Met in NYC, The Wadsworth in Hartford, Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, and Washington, D.C.!

But there comes a time in every great adventure, when it is time to move on to the next challenge. That time for me is now. I want to thank my students and colleagues at Grasso Tech. You will be missed, but you have left an indelible mark on my heart.

Support the Grasso Tech Rifle Team

Thank you for the support of the Young Artists' Society and the PFO with your purchase of Yankee Candles! This fundraiser enables students who wish to attend the Washington DC field trip the opportunity to earn money to help defray the cost.

Won't you consider supporting the Grasso Tech Rifle Team in their Citrus Fundraiser! This fundraiser helps the Rifle Team has to purchase needed supplies and equipment.

Why I love working at a Technical High School...... The Trades!

Young Artists Society and PFO Fundraiser....

Last chance to support the Grasso Parent Faculty Organization’s Yankee Candle fundraiser.   

Please consider taking a few minutes to look on-line at www.yandleecandlefundraising.com and enter group number 990026545 in the ‘Start Shopping’ box.    –

Yankee Candles make great holiday gifts while supporting Grasso students and programs where needed.  It’s a win-win.

Elements of Art class............

I employ many different avenues to relay information about content specific vocabulary, concepts, and ideas. Along with studying various artists and art movements. One of these ways in by using
the textbook, Art Talk. There is only one classroom set of two for use by both Art teachers.

To facilitate the ease of use, and availability, there is a access code for the online edition...

http://www.glencoe.com/ose/

use this code:  A62025EE04

New Art Contests ....

Everyone!
I am not promoting any one contest over the other...just putting information out there in hopes it will pique someone's interest.

Parent's Night!!

Thursday from 5-7

Skills USA Celebrates 50 years!!

Skills USA- Champions at Work......

One of the benefits for me in teaching Art at a Technical High School is the interaction I have with the students and our Trade Instructors! 

In fact it is due to our diverse trade offerings that our Art Department here at Grasso Tech
has added new and varied art classes to our course menu. It was a couple of Plumbing students that really excelled at visualizing and creating 3-Dimensional art projects in my Elements of Art class, that prompted me to approach our Administrative Team at the time to pitch a 3-D Design class.
 It was a Culinary Arts student with a keen interest in video production and a plug and play video camera that set the wheels in motion for me to once again ask to add a class, this time Digital Photography, which has become one of the most popular courses that we now offer.

While our students primary goal for attending our school is to become qualified in one of our trade offerings. They have the opportunity to showcase their skills via the Skills USA program.

What is Skills USA? 

According to their website: 

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel.We provide educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms.

If you ever watched  Mike Rowe's " Dirty Jobs Show", 

Please click on the link below to watch a video of him discussing Skills USA. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yihG89SB00g

If you have any questions or want to know more about Skills USA at Grasso Tech,
please contact the Skills USA Advisor:
 Mrs. Jameson at 

sandi.jameson@ct.gov 

The Art of Conservation Art Contest!

Entry forms are available outside my room on my bulletin board. 

Would love to see some our student work represented in this show/contest!! 

Two Art Contests available to students! What a great way to start the new school year!!

Connecticut Young Worker 

Health & Safety Team 

Contest

Entry forms are available outside my classroom on my bulletin board, 

or see me directly!

It would be great to have some student entries!! 

Back to school!!!

Wow!! Where did the summer go??

I sure enjoyed most of mine and hope you did too! While you are out doing your back to school shopping, if you have an art class this year you are going to need a few supplies.

A sketchbook~ take advantage of back to school sales and coupons in the Sunday paper and go out and buy your sketchbook now! I recommend 9 x 12 or 8x10 sized. Spiral bound. Hard cover is great but not necessary. Job Lot has them for under $10 dollars. Michael's and AC Moore have them also but the cost does go up quite a bit.

Pencils~ you are going to need pencils, lots of pencils. You don't have to buy the fancy drawing pencils. Plain No 2 will work. The best drawing pencils that I can recommend you get are Dixon Ticonderoga, yellow No 2 pencils.

Black Markers/Gel Pens~ They don't have to be Sharpies. I personally like Pentel EnerGel black pens. The gel ink dries quickly, you can buy refills. I just picked up some Black Liquid Gel Pens at Dollar General and they seem to be ok. Gel ink is the way to go over Sharpie.


You will not need a binder, as your sketchbook is where you will take notes, etc. You will need a gmail and/or email account as I will be using Google Drive and Google + for sharing class assignments and project information.


Enjoy your last few days off!!  See you soon!!!

Last Book Discussion of the year!

How can it possibly be so late in the school year already! Summer vacation will be upon us before we know it.

I wanted to let everyone know that the book chosen for the last discussion group of the year is, " The Fault In Our Stars", by John Green.

Like most of you now carrying it around school or home, I learned about it via a movie clip on YouTube and from other students. It will be out in the theaters as a movie probably before we meet. Don't let that deter you, keep reading! I am on page 91 now, and stay tuned for the announcements and fliers for the book club date. Snacks provided!!

Seen you soon!!


PS....I couldn't put it down! Just finished it...only 313 pages!  If you want to borrow my copy..stop in my room and ask. I'd be happy to lend it to you.

Grasso Tech 21st Century Techno Camp Now taking applications!!!