Dear Families of Green Meadow,

          Welcome back to the 2008-2009 school year.  We are already having a great start to the year.  The East Greenbush Central School District provides all elementary students with one 40-minute art class per week.  Your child’s art program follows the NY State Standards for the Arts and the East Greenbush Central School District Art Curriculum.  Often the units incorporate curriculum from your child’s language arts, science, math and history courses.  The art program is also designed to build on skills and curriculum taught the previous years.

Children in third, fourth and fifth grades receive an effort and conduct grade.  Children in fifth grade also receive a letter grade that is averaged with their other core courses.  A critique sheet or rubric is used as a guideline for grading.  If a fifth grader misses an art class due to illness, music lessons or other commitment, they are responsible to make arrangements with me to make up the work.  If your child needs additional time to complete their work, they can come after eating their lunch or sometimes at the end of the day during recess time. 

I encourage every child to wear a smock to Art. The room gets a great deal of use throughout the day and no matter how well the students clean up between classes, there is always some hidden slime.  I am asking those families who can, to please send in one box of unscented baby wipes at some point during the school year to help with clean-ups or a box tissues.

They work very hard for me and create incredible pieces of art. Ask your child what they are working on in art class, there is always a theme or goal for the day.  Don’t forget to browse the art web page on the school’s website.  If you would like to contact me, the best way is by e-mail.

   oconnell-lyonska@egcsd.org

Sincerely,

Kathleen O’C. -Lyons