Welcome back students!

 

 

 Art Class, St Peter Catholic School  

Ms. Kelsey Thurman, Art Educator 

“Inspiring students to love God, their Catholic faith, and learning”

Contact information: 

Phone: Calls will not be taken during instructional time (M-F 7:25-3:30 pm). Messages will be answered after 3:30 pm; please allow two business days for a response. Please contact the school office during instructional hours for emergent concerns. 

Email: kthurman@stpeterjc.org

Email is the preferred method of communication. Emails are checked throughout the day; please expect responses after 3:30 pm (please allow two business days for a response).  

Blog: https://stpeterartroom.blogspot.com/ 

The classroom blog will be updated consistently throughout the school year. Stay up to date with student projects, guest speakers, contests, and general art room news via the blog. 

Digital Communication: Students in middle-school grades are welcome to contact Ms. Thurman via GC “comments” on projects to ask questions, etc. Projects, assignments, materials, curriculum standards, and presentation slides are posted per Quarter on GC. FACTS gradebook hosts students' grades in real time, with teacher comments as needed. 

Course Description: 

An Art education that prioritizes studio work with adherence to the historical discipline of Fine Arts through foundational knowledge of Art History and knowledge of Art Literacy in line with standards set by the Diocese of Jefferson City.  

Course Materials (what students need for each class period): 

• K-4: Sketchbook, Markers, Supply Pouch (kept in art room). 

• 5-8: Sketchbook, Markers, Supply Pouch (kept in art room). Students will need to bring their school planner to each class; 6-8 students will need to bring White Binder. 

Course Texts: 

• Introducing Art, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

• Understanding Art, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

• Exploring Art, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 

• Supplemental curriculum provided by the Institute for Art Education 

Academic Expectations: 

By end of year, students will have met the Fine Art Standards set forth by the Diocese of Jefferson City Curriculum Guide as pertaining to their grade level. Please see student rubrics for standard guidelines and evaluations, or assessments. 

Assignments: 

Student Expectations: Middle-level students are responsible for checking Google Classroom for assignments and projects. All work is due on the indicated date. Students needing an extension are welcome to contact Ms. Thurman. Students are to bring their school planner to each class to manage their project completion and stay on top of due dates. 

Absent Work: Assignments and projects are designed to be completed at school. Elementary absent students are allowed a makeup day during class to finish their project. Middle-level absent students are responsible for getting their artwork from the Art room and turning it in, per the Absent Policy in the Student Handbook. Middle-level students may use the Art room during their Study Hall Period for extra time/absent work, with Art teacher approval. 

Academic Rigor: Work that is copied, traced, and/or plagiarized will not be accepted, and the student will be referred to administration, per the Student Handbook. This includes work that is copied directly from a digital device. To set students up for success, artwork will only be allowed to travel home with teacher’s approval. Students interested in exploring topics with political or social themes must submit a project proposal for approval, to ensure it aligns with classroom goals and diocesan values. Students are responsible for adhering to copyright laws. Student accommodations will be met according to Student Academic and Behavioral plans communicated by Administration. 

Grading: Project and assignment rubrics with teacher feedback will be provided to the student upon completion of work. Students are to review teacher feedback and notate the appropriate next steps. If the student must redo an assignment, the student is responsible for turning it in by the due date. Grades are aligned with Diocesan Curriculum Standards. The teacher may revise rubrics as needed. 

Missing Work policy: 

In the event that work is missing, without documented communication from student or student’s legal guardian, a zero will be issued for the work. All work is due on the indicated date via google classroom, unless directed by Ms. Thurman.* It is the student’s responsibility to turn in work on time and communicate with Ms. Thurman if there is a need. Hardcopy work must be turned in with Name, Art Class name, and date, or a zero will be issued. 

*I will accept late work throughout the quarter without penalty, at my discretion. 

ARTSONIA: From the platform: “Artsonia is the world's largest collection of student art, published by teachers and students from around the world. Parents and family can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork.” Students in primary, lower and upper Elementary, and Middle level will utilize Artsonia portal to digitally turn in artwork (with the help of Ms. Thurman as needed), or with the help of their grown up. A student's parent or guardian email is to be linked to student account. Artwork is posted with standards, learning objectives, and information regarding the project. 

Google Classroom: Middle-level students will receive feedback, grades, etc. through GC. Students are responsible for utilizing GC to turn in assignments and receive feedback. Legal guardians are encouraged to partner with students in investigating GC per student need(s). Assignment due dates, project slides, standards, and other class information is communicated through GC. 

Behavioral Expectations: 

The Art room is an advanced learning environment with many tools and resources. Therefore, students are expected to strictly adhere to classroom policies for the safety of ourselves, our tools and equipment, and our artwork. Our Art room services the whole of St. Peter Catholic School Campus, and encourages community involvement. Per the Student and Parent Handbook, student conduct is expected to adhere to Catholic faith and morals with the help of legal guardian(s). Any conduct at odds with the Behavioral Code will receive supportive action according to the BIST system, as outlined in the Student and Parent Handbook.

For the 2025-2026 School Year, from the Jefferson City Diocesan School Office in regards to new Art Curriculum: 

The overall mission of the Diocese of Jefferson City Art Standards of Learning is to develop artistic literacy: the knowledge and understanding required to participate authentically in the arts. Instruction in art encourages students to deepen their appreciation of God’s gifts to the world and to develop the technical and artistic skills to express their own gifts and talents. 

The anchor standard is the overarching goal students would meet as they progress through grade levels and benchmark standards are the indicators which build upon one another across grading bands. The grade level objectives have specific learning goals in mind to be mastered in order to meet benchmarks. It is an expectation that each student who successfully completes the curriculum will demonstrate each of these standards to become artistically literate. 

During the PreKindergarten to 2nd Grade years, students are becoming more aware of imagery of art in daily surroundings and how artists use visual art to communicate ideas throughout history. Along with observation and discussion of visual works of art, students will explore various media to create meaning in their own artwork. 

The 3-5 Grade standards build on the foundational skills. Students, having developed a level of competency in each of the fundamental artistic skills, will begin to build a varied repertoire of developmentally appropriate art techniques and apply these skills in artistic pieces which communicate meaning. The standards will also continue to extend a student’s knowledge base to interpret how communities address relevant issues through works of art. 

The 6-8 Grade standards then focus on the application of the language of visual art and design in the planning and revising of an artistic idea utilizing a variety of media. Students will also evaluate works of art and analyze them using specific art vocabulary to compare art from contemporary and cultural sources demonstrating a deepened understanding of the language of visual arts. 

The DJC Art Standards of Learning are written in such a way that student knowledge of vocabulary, artistic techniques, and ability to represent meaning through elements of art can be experienced through a variety of media which is available to the individual school. Specific projects, media used, and study of artists is to be determined by the teacher using the resources and time available to address the grade level objectives.

Student grades in Art will be a direct result of the achievement of learning outcomes. Final grades in Art should reflect the achievement of each of the standards and benchmarks. Grades given within a grading period should reflect a student’s progress towards the standards. Information and Standards may be found on the Diocesan School Office website.