Far and Away

Yes, looking after yourself is definitely the most important thing at the moment @Zoe7 ...... and getting everything else out of the way will give you a much freer fun with the art when you do get to focus on it. There is a lot of paper-based and recycling artwork that can be done. You will be wonderful with it ..... duck to water.

@Appleblossom The school does work well with the arts - we already have music, choir, band and performing arts but the visual arts is new. We are in an area rich with artists of all varieties so that is something I am hoping I can tap into - more in later next term and term 4 when I find my feet a bit. Teaching the basics and exposing the kids to a variety of artists, cultures and mediums will be my primary focus to begin with ...helping them build up a repertoire of experiences and styles and finding where their interests lie can follow from there. I am both excited and scared about it - building up a new curriculum area from the ground up is overrwhelming but I have no doubt the results will be worth it. I see the eyes of my kids in my current class light up whenever I mention art in any context and if I let them they would draw all day. It has been especially pleasing to see students that would not usually work with each other come together to produce combined work over the last few weeks - and none of it came from me - so if that is an indication of what is to come them it is going to be exceptionally rewarding - now just need to get through these next 2 weeks and work in the holidays in setting everything up

@Faith-and-Hope Yes paper and I are like a duck to water ...want to make a massive dragon with the kids - one they can papier mache then plaster and then each student can decorate a section in their own way. We can then waterproof it so it can be outside. It would be a massive undertaking - but if we do it with just the 1/2s then it can be done in a central place to all classes (if we could find the room).

@outlander @Shaz51 @Snowie @Bunniekins Hugs and love to you all

@Zoe7 @Faith-and-Hope @Appleblossom @Shaz51 @Snowie @Sans911 @Bunniekins 💚💜💛

Oh that is so wonderful @Zoe7 ..... as @Appleblossom @said, and you would be aware, art is often left to the back end of funding and priority, but it is one of the most amazing "mediums" for all other aspects of the curriculum .... maths, science, language, even phys. ed. when you take it into expanded field ...... I am really rapt today hear that your school is so supportive of the development of the program.

We had a great art teacher at our high school, but I wish art had been taken "seriously" and broadened across the curriculum back in my day.

We had a good art teacher at my high school too @Faith-and-Hope I think I have told you this before but I was encouraged not to take art and woodwork and instead advanced maths and science ...hated them both I actually really loved maths before that but taking it any further was never in my mind. It is funny now that the things I love the most are still art and woodwork 👍😁

I need to have a further conversation with the Principal as to a budget to get set up. I know the school itself (like all schools) does not have an excess of funds but we have a great school association that has A LOT of money that we may be able to tap into. No surprise I have been looking online tonight for a suitable trolley in between work (still up way later than I wanted to be as a result lol). Going to head to bed soon though so I can be at work early again tomorrow.

How is your 'holiday' going so far? Have you started any of your personal projects or catching up on rest/sleep?

@Faith-and-Hope

@Zoe7There are many ways you can be a conduit and hoping your passion will ignite many an artful flame.

Yes @Faith-and-Hope and many people I know working in the arts (across the board) who are also on fb are really worried with the loss of a govt dept for the arts and general uni and abc funding.

@outlander

Yes even here on the forum the many arts have helped ...

Don't know if there was supposed to be in image in your post above @Zoe7 ?

"Hair-dresser" trolleys or haberdashery-type trolleys might work for you @Zoe7, maybe finding a corner in each classroom for one ? Advertising material could be collected for collage projects maybe ? The dragon idea sounds wonderful, and scales could be round discs, individually prepared.

Yes, have started some of my holiday projects @Zoe7, and I am studying more about the condition I believe I am up against too. It's important to understand.