Africa

Linden Middle School Integrated theme for 2009-2010

I. General curriculum for sixth to eighth grade

All students of the rotation class will review and apply the elements of art introduced at the elementary level. All students will focus on the importance of art in their world, the need for effective use of elements of design, and the creation of personal art. The middle school program integrates art with social studies, history, computers, and writing. Both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional projects will be assigned using a variety of supplies.

II. Elements of art and possible projects

Sixth grade students study the elements of line and texture and spend the majority of the time studying a basic drawing program to build confidence and to have a basis for which to plan projects. Their projects may include still life drawings, string art, wire art, metal repousee', and texture rubbings. Seventh grade study value and color and will mix paints for a color wheel, make a value scale, and may construct weavings, rug hooks, collages, or burlap pulls. Eighth graders study repetition, shape, and form. The main projects will be a 3-D sculpture with materials such as plaster, plaster tape, clay, wax, macramé, or carved linoleum for prints.

III. Integrated Social Studies Themes

This year’s Social Studies theme will integrate African culture, music, history, writing, and computer to art.

IV. Appropriate themes

The teacher will facilitate and promote the individual's creative expression but will not allow satanic symbols, inappropriate rock music culture, or illegal substances to be glorified. Themes including blood, knives, or weapons will be ruled inappropriate, and the student will be expected to change the project's theme.

V. Rules all students must follow

No horseplay Conservatively use materials without waste

No shouting Leave all books and supplies in the art room

Never touch another student's artwork

Follow general school rules that are based on respect and order for everyone's safety and sanity!

VI. School wide behavior program - IR

A student who does not follow the class rules and becomes a disruption will be asked questions that relate to their behavior and rules. Once the student understands that they have the choice to work with the teacher or not, they are making a choice to remain in the classroom or go to the IR room. In the IR room, or the Interim Classroom, the art student will write a plan in order to return to the classroom for an arranged meeting between the teacher and the student. Mrs. Smeckert will be available to discuss the student's plan to return to class in advisory. The art teacher will also use consequences like phone calls home, moving the assigned seat, and teacher- student conferences.

ONLY SUPPLIES NEEDED FROM HOME: 2 sharp pencils, an eraser, and a permanent black fine Sharpie marker or a similar tip of another permanent marker brand. Please have supplies by Monday of this following week.

If you have questions regarding your child, please call the Middle School at my planning period from 10:06-11:03 am, or reach me immediately before or after school. The number is 1-810-591-0719. If unavailable, your message will be returned promptly. Please return the signed sheet immediately to increase communication

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Parent Signature Phone

Student signature Grade Hour

We have read and understand the art information.

Please HELP! Check any areas you may be able to offer assistance.

o Any donated materials are welcome. There is always a need for embroidery floss, lace, ribbon, yarn, paper bags, calendars, yogurt containers, and etc.

o Let me know if you would like to occasionally help with materials preparation, display, and/or helping students with large projects.

o Please check if you would like a call before the spring art exhibit to help with showcases, set up of 3-D projects, and display boards.

All about Art at LMS: Integration and the Teacher

Dear Parents:

Hello, I’m Mrs. Cynthia Smeckert, and I will be having your child as my student for the 13 week trimester. Because I am spending almost an hour a day this marking period with your young person, I’d like to introduce myself.

This is my 12^th year as the LMS art teacher. Before I began working at Linden Middle School, I enjoyed teaching fifth grade for eight years in Linden. Prior to that, I was an art therapist at a maximum-security jail for teenagers, an art teacher for first through twelfth graders at a large private school in Detroit, and spent two years as a full –time substitute for Southwestern Academy in Flint. Before that I earned my BS degree in art education and English from a private school in South Carolina, my MA degree in Language Arts from Eastern University, and have completed over forty hours of postgraduate work.

Because I was a student teacher two different times, I earned certification to teach many subjects to all age levels. I have also had the privilege to extensively travel a number of European countries in order to integrate culture and history into our art program. A few years ago, the government of Japan paid for a 3-week study of art and culture through the Fulbright Teachers Scholarship. In the summer of 2006, I spent 3 weeks traveling throughout China. Last summer, I visited Egypt, the Holy Lands, Greece, Greek Islands, and Turkey. I will focus on Egyptian art for this year’s Social Studies integration. Each traveling experience has enriched my teaching skills and helped me to strive to be a sensitive teacher.

Having your child in my class this semester is not a responsibility that I take lightly. I will endeavor to interact fairly and to consider his or her feelings in level with individual academic and artistic maturity. My goal is to have each student grow in self-esteem by identifying the creative aspects of their person, increase their knowledge and skill in art, and realize that their choices can control the direction of their lives. I will endeavor to give my full respect, compassion, and understanding to each student and will expect cooperation and respect in return.

In order to reach these goals, a strict pursuit of quality, a list of classroom rules, and our school-wide IR, or Interim Classroom program are set up in our classroom. I do keep parental opinion and preference in consideration, so please keep me in touch in my attempts to best meet your child’s individual needs. I never want procedures to interfere with a child’s learning, so I’ll be flexible where possible. I’m looking forward to a fun marking period with your child!

Sincerely, Mrs. Smeckert

Introduction: The children attending El Shaddai School are orphaned and vulnerable children that live at El Shaddai Children’s Home or are the poorest children from the surrounding community. El Shaddai School is located in a very rural area and many of the families make less than one dollar a day. In Swaziland, families are required to pay school fees and buy uniforms in order for their children to receive an education.

El Shaddai Primary School is one of the very few free primary schools (K-7) in Swaziland. Over 240 children receive a free education. For most, this is the only way they will receive an education, for many, the meals they get at school are the only meals they get each day.

100% of the donations go directly to El Shaddai School. The children who attend El Shaddai School are the most under-privileged children in the local village of Ekufikeni. Compassionate Life and El Shaddai have formed a partnership so these children can receive a free education.

Individuals or organizations are being invited to join ‘Compassionate Life Foundation’ as we partner with ‘El Shaddai School’. El Shaddai School and Children’s Home is run and operated as a registered Swazi Non-Profit organization in partnership with ‘Compassionate Life Foundation’ a registered US 501 (C)(3) Non-Profit organization based in Swartz Creek, Michigan.

What can Linden do to help?

1. Students will be having a silent auction of select, framed student work at two art exhibits this year. The exhibits will be the same days as the parent teacher conferences – Thursday, October 22^nd, 2009 and Thursday, January 28^th, 2010.

2. Go to the web page for more information. Pass the news on to encourage individual, family, or corporate donations with checks written to Linden Middle School with the memo Africa.

9061 Miller Rd, Suite #9, Swartz Creek, Michigan 48473 (810) 496-1813 lmulanix@james127.org

‘El Shaddai School Partnership’ Swaziland Africa