Placer Hills Education Foundation

MINI GRANT FUNDING APPLICATION

 

Date: 4/1/09

 

School: Weimar Hills

 

Contact Person: Mary Parker, Head Art Docent

Site Support Contact: Juli Longtin, Teacher 637-4121 longtin@phusd.k12.ca.us

 

Amount requested from Foundation: $1,500 ($1,000 art supplies; $500 PCOE* fee)

 

Other Financial Sources Being Pursued: None

 

How does the project directly relate to the instruction and benefit of students?

 

The Art Docent Program is an extension of the art program at Weimar Hills. It allows the students to interact with works of art from a historical perspective. The program gives students an opportunity to create artwork directly related to the curriculum taught through the Art Docent Program.

 

How will the project continue to increase student performance?

 

The Art Docent curriculum builds upon itself year after year. The children learn about different artists, their styles and techniques, and they learn the elements of art and principles of design. The students then experience these concepts and principles through their own art projects. The program allows students to experiment with different types of media (e.g. paint, watercolors, oil and chalk pastels, and printmaker’s ink) and become more confident in themselves. The art program carries over into other areas of their schooling as well (e.g. Language Arts- 7^th grade we add a writing element into one of the portfolio art projects). It is a program that students and teachers look forward to having in their classroom.

 

Does the project address the required School Curriculum?

 

The Art Docent Program is an extension of the California State Standards for Visual and Performing arts curriculum and enriches school curriculum.

 

How will the project positively affect the school or district?

 

This program enriches and extends the quality of education we have to offer at Weimar Hills. Students increase their knowledge of visual arts by learning about a broad range of artists from historical periods in time. Students are empowered as artists while practicing concepts explored through their art docent led lessons. The Art Docent Program is thorough, enriching and empowering.

 

On a separate piece of paper, please provide a complete description of the project. Include the number of students involved, major goals for the project, the scheduled date and time of events (if applicable). Include a complete budget of the project including Foundation funding (listing matching funds, if any).

 

* Placer County Office of Education
 

 

The Art Docent Program is asking for $1000 to purchase art supplies for one year (2009-2010) and an additional $500 to cover the fee that the Placer County Office of Education (PCOE) charges us to have the Art Docent Program. This will cover all grades 4 through 8. A description of what the Art Docent Program is all about is below.

 

The Art Docent program is a Kindergarten through 8^th grade program. At Weimar Hills it serves 4^th through 8^th grade (all students participate). In grades 4 through 6, art docents go into the classroom once a month and present a portfolio of art prints to the students. There are eight portfolios total for each grade 4^th – 6^th. In 7^th and 8^th grades there are four portfolios for each grade that arrive at four different times throughout the school year. The Art Docent Program is supported strictly by parent volunteers. At Weimar there are currently 27 actively participating volunteers.

 

The art portfolios always consist of artist’s paintings (large 24”x36” prints mounted on heavy board). Some portfolios will also include books and/or videos. The portfolios are either based upon a theme, artist, or a period in time- such as Artist’s paint the Sea, The Renaissance Period, or Vincent Van Gogh.

 

Each art docent receives a manual for their grade and optional training through the Placer County Office of Education that gives them all the information about the portfolios. The program has printed information on the life and history of the artist, and information about each print the docent will talk about. Then there is an art project that corresponds with each portfolio. Each art project is different and follows the theme and/or a technique that was taught during the presentation of the artists’ work.

 

The art docent schedules time to visit the classroom and makes a presentation showing each print. Presentations are made using the prints or PowerPoint slides* for students to learn about and discuss artists and their works. The presentation usually last between 15 to 25 minutes. The art docent then describes and demonstrates (if necessary) an art lesson. The project is related to what the students have learned in the presentation. This can be a technique that was used by the artist(s), and/or the overall theme of the prints shown. Docents have the opportunity to choose from a variety of materials to support the lesson. There are set lesson plans for the docents to follow. They use the lesson plans to teach the students how to complete the projects. After the projects are completed the classroom teacher will display the artwork in their classroom.

 

The Art Docent Program is a program that has been in our district for a very long time. The program is a thread of continuity in our student’s educational experience. They know what to expect because they have had the program each year since kindergarten. The ultimate goal for the Art Docent Program is to continue this continuity and provide an enriching art experience that is an extension of the art program at Weimar Hills.

 

*The projectors funded by PHEF and laptops are available for use in every classroom- Thank You PHEF!

 

 

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