GRIFFIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

VISUAL ARTS
SYLLABUS
2016-2017
Instructor: Ms. Todd
Email: alison.todd@cobbk12.org
Blog: http://griffinms.weebly.com
I am delighted that you will be joining art this semester as we dive into an exploration of art techniques and
media! Throughout the course, you will be studying a combination of art theories and practices, art history,
criticism (positive), and new techniques. You will begin to explore in-depth concepts in drawing and painting as
well as study new art forms in sculpture, collage, and much more.
ART BEHAVIOR POLICY: The Art Room is a PRIVILEGE not a RIGHT
Citations vs. Referrals: Students will be issued an Art Citation for minor offenses in the Art Classroom.
Citations must be signed by the parent and turned in by the next art class period.
Students will go through a progression of steps before a referral:
1st Offense= Citation 1 (Parent must sign citation)
2nd Offense=Citation 2 (Parent must sign citation)
3rd Offense= Citation 3 (Parent must sign citation)
4th Offense=Silent Lunch 1
5th Offense=Silent Lunch 2
6th Offense=Detention 1
7th Offense=Detention 2
8th Offense=Intervention with teachers, counselor, and parents.
9th Offense=Pod Isolation
10th Offense= Administrative Referral:
*If a student does something outstandingly bad, it will be an automatic referral and will not follow this
structure.
*Once a student has received a referral, if behavior problems continue, referrals will continue being
issued. The system restarts in January.
Below is an OUTLINE of minor vs. major offenses and how they will be handled in the art room:
Citation
-Excessive unexcused tardy
-Dress-code violation
-Off task behavior (minor)
-Out of assigned area
-Yelling
-Playing videogames, texting, etc. (refusing to
put away cellphone)
-Misuse of ANY art materials
-Cursing (inappropriate/foul language)

Automatic Administrative Referral:

-Purposely breaking or throwing objects across
the room or at another student.
-Horse-playing/running during set-up / cleanup
-Damaging art work
-Hitting or inappropriate touching
-Fighting
-Stealing
-Talking back to teacher (cursing, etc.)

GRADING POLICY:
All grades will be numeric. The grading scale is as follows:
A = 90-100
B = 80 89
C = 74 79
D = 70 73
F = 69 and below

GRADING CATEGORIES AND WEIGHT:

Summative (Art Projects, Tests, Assessments, etc.) 70%
Formative (Sketchbook Notes, Participation, HW, Quizzes, etc.)...30%

Grade recovery:
Grade recovery will be permitted on summative assessments only. The
purpose of grade recovery is to give the student an additional opportunity
to show that he/she has mastered the standards of the course. The
following rules will apply for this process.
To be eligible to take the retest, students must complete a process of
remediation, including but not limited to Saturday School, before and/or
after-school tutoring, test analysis, or on-line remediation. The method of
remediation will be determined by your teachers.
Only one retest is permitted per summative assessment.
The retest will not be the same as the original.
Late work policy:
For every day an assignment is late, teachers may deduct a total of 5
points per day, up to 5 days that an assignment is late. If after the fifth
day the assignment still has not been turned in, the student will receive a
zero until they make up the work. Students with zeros may be required to
attend Saturday School for grade recovery, or before and/or after-school
tutoring.
Make up work for absences:
Students who are absent when an assignment is made will be given the
same number of days to complete the make-up work as they were absent,
not counting the day of return. Make-up of graded work will be as
scheduled with the teacher. Students have until five (5) days prior to the
end of the grading period to turn in missing work. Assignments made or
announced prior to a students absence, including tests/quizzes, that are
due on the day of the students return will be due at that time. (Quizzes
and tests will be taken with class.) Homework and any other make up
work will be accepted according to school policy. Students are responsible
for requesting and following through on make- up work, not the teacher!!!

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Students must have a:
EMPTY CEREAL BOX (Students will make a sketchbook for 1st assignment)
PENCILS!! *ALWAYS BRING A PENCIL TO CLASS!
Erasers
Sharpies
Pencil Sharpener
SKETCHBOOKS:
These will be used to take notes, sketch designs, and complete class work. Sketchbooks are part of the Visual
Arts Standards in both the Meaning and Creative Thinking and Production and Response Strands. For a
complete list of all Visual Arts standards, please visit: https://picasso.cobbk12.org/
CLASS WISH LIST:
In my class, we are always looking for ways to get more materials to create art with; the more materials we
have in class, the more cool stuff the students get to create. If you have any extra of the following that you
would like to donate to our class, it would be GREATLY appreciated:
Empty Cereal Boxes*** (Students will be able to make their own sketchbook)
Large Plastic Ziploc Bags
Black Sharpies (any size) ****

 Masking/ Blue Painters tape

Sponges/Hand Sanitizer & liquid soap

2016-17 GRIFFIN VISUAL ARTS

CONTRACT/SYLLABUS
**PLEASE FILL OUT, SIGN, & RETURN THIS PAGE ONLY** (HW GRADE)**
STUDENT INFORMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
I have received and read the 2016-17 visual arts syllabus and agree to its contents.
Student Name (please print): __________________________________
Student Signature: __________________________________________
Homeroom Teacher: _________________________________________
Parent Name (please print): ____________________________________
Parent Signature: ____________________________________________
**PARENT EMAIL: _____________________________________________
*Parent Phone: _____________________________________________
(GRIFFIN MIDDLE SCHOOL VALUES THE HEALTH & SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS)
**PLEASE WRITE ON THIS PAGE IF THIS STUDENT HAS ANY ALLERGIES**
-ESPECIALLY TO CERTAIN TYPES OF PAINTS, GLUES, PLASTERS, CLAYS, GLAZES, ETC.