The South Colonie Art program is
based on the knowledge that art is a significant part of a
student’s life and is an essential part of their education. Art is
fundamental to human growth and provides students with
intellectual, creative, and emotional experiences that connect
them to a common core of knowledge. Art serves as a tool for
building self- confidence through personal expression and
communication. Art provides invaluable opportunities for students
to use their imagination and problem solve using their own
creativity. Art allows a forum for expression of the human spirit
and validation of feelings in studying, creating and responding to
art. Art education will heighten an appreciation for visual
literacy and the challenges of creative self-expression needed in
the 21st century. To view some of the work of our talented student
artists, click on the
South Colonie Art Galleries icon above. The view a feature
video (YouTube format) on our Art Department, click on the
Art Video Feature icon above. For the Art Department Google
web site,
click here.
New York State Educational Learning Standards for Art
The New York State Education Department has established learning standards for Art denoting the skills and abilities each student should attain at various levels of his or her education - elementary, middle and high school levels. For a complete list of the learning standards for Art, click here.
South Colonie Art Department Curriculum
All students in grades K-4 participate in art classes for one 40-minute period each week. The district's goal is to provide the skills needed for each student to create and participate in the arts. Students will acquire the artistic skills needed to visually express and communicate their personal experiences. The display of student artwork is an integral component to the elementary program. Through their participation in the elementary art program, students will:
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personalize their work and recognize the uniqueness of the work of others
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properly use and select the appropriate materials and tools to produce their intended results
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discuss and evaluate their work and the work of other artists based on their knowledge of art and personal opinion
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become motivated to produce independent artwork specifically for the joy of expressing their ideas artistically
Middle School Art Education
The goal of the Middle School Art program is to present students with art experiences based on National, New York State and South Colonie Standards. For more on the middle school Art curriculum, click here.
High school students must complete 1 unit in the Arts - (this includes music, theater, and/or visual arts) to complete the New York State's requirements for earning a Regents or an Advanced Regents diploma. Students who plan to study Architecture or Graphic Design as a career usually need a portfolio for college. Recommended courses that develop that portfolio are Studio and Advanced Studio in Drawing and Painting, and Studio in Drawing I and II. Student who are interested in a career in the Education field should consider taking Art/Special Education Internship, Crafts, Mixed Media and Crafts, Frabric and Fibers. Students who plan to go into the field of Art should take Foundations in Art, Studio and Advanced Studio in Drawing and Painting, HVCC Art History, Directed Studio and a variety of art electives. College bound non-art students should considering taking the HVCC Art History course to fulfill general education requirements that most colleges have. For a complete list of art courses visit the high school Counseling Center or review pages 4-6 of the High School Curriculum/Course Guide (pdf).
South Colonie Continuing Education Program Offers Art Opportunities
The South Colonie Continuing Education program offers a variety of courses that encompass the arts. Courses are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters each school year. These courses include One Stroke, Water Color and Oil Painting; Rubber Stamping, Jewelry Making, Scrapbooking, Ballroom, Jazz and Country Line Dancing; Photography and more. For more information, visit the Continuing Education page.
2011-2012 Student Art Exhibit Schedule
Would you like to see some of the art work of South Colonie's talented artists? Why not stop by and visit an upcoming art show or exhibit? For a look at this year's art show schedule, click here.
VIEW ALL SOUTH COLONIE NEWS STORY ARCHIVES
CCHS Pop Art Now On Display at Starbucks
Posted on January 24, 2012
Now on display at the Starbucks on Wolf Road (across from Colonie Center) is art work from Mr. Defazzio's Digital Imagery classes at Colonie Central High School. full story
CCHS Students Have Work Selected For Saint Rose Regional Art Show
Posted on January 20, 2012
Three Colonie Central High School students have had their work selected for the High School Regional Art Show from February 15 to March 15 at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. full story
STEAM: Experts Make Case for Adding Arts to STEM
Posted on December 6, 2011
According to Education Week, the acronym STEM—shorthand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—has quickly taken hold in education policy circles, but some experts in the arts community and beyond suggest it may be missing another initial to make the combination more powerful. The idea? Move from STEM to STEAM, with an A for the arts. full story
Student Art Work on Display at Starbucks/Town Library
Posted on December 5, 2011
On display at the Starbucks on Wolf Road (across from Colonie Center) and the William K. Sanford Colonie Town Library in December is art work created in the Digital Photography and the Digital Imagery classes at Colonie Central High School. full story
CCHS Students Attend Upstate Juried Art Show To See Their Work on Display
Posted november 7, 2011
Students in Thomasa Nielsen's Directed Studios in Art class at Colonie Central High School attended the November Upstate Artists Guild's Juried Student Work show after having their work selected for display there. view a photo gallery
CCHS
Student Art Work Selected For Upstate Juried Art Show
Posted october 31, 2011
Students in Thomasa Nielsen's Directed Studios in Art class at Colonie Central High School had their work selected this fall for the Upstate Artists Guild's Juried Student Work show for the month of November. The art opening will be Friday, November 4, from 5-9 p.m., at the Uag gallery on Lark street in Albany. view a photo art gallery
CCHS Graduate, Torin, Art Show Opening November 4th
Posted october 31, 2011
Colonie Central High School graduate Torin Nielsen, Class of 2006, has his first solo art show opening this Friday, November 4, at the Romaine Gallery in downtown Albany on Hamilton Street. It is entitled, "Fortune Fotos." full story
CCHS Graduate Curates Art Show at Hartwick College
Posted February 9, 2011
Colonie Central High School graduate Carmen Lockshire, Class of 2008, recently curated an art show on artist Carl Plansky at the Yager Museum at Hartwick College. Carmen is an Art History major and a Museum Studies minor at Hartwick. This is her first museum curation. While at Colonie ,Carmen was active in the school plays and art. full story
CCHS Student Photography Work on Display at Starbucks
Posted october 31, 2011
On display at the Starbucks on Wolf Road (across from Colonie Center) is artwork created in the Digital Photography and the Digital Imagery classes at Colonie Central High School. full story
Colonie
High School Art Teacher Authors Children's Book On Understanding
Children With Disabilities
Posted on october 19, 2011
When a child has a disability it can be tough on a family, especially for the young brothers and sisters who often struggle to understand the situation at home. That was the personal dilemma facing Colonie Central High School art teacher Lisa Benanto until she took matters into her own hands. full story
South Colonie Art Teachers Learn New Teaching Techniques During Fall Superintendent's Conference Day
Posted on october 18, 2011
Members of the South Colonie Art Department attended a mixed media/collage/printmaking staff development workshop during October Superintendent's Conference Day. The workshop was offered by Art Department Coordinator Thomasa Nielsen. Nielsen shared with the art teachers some of the new techniques she learned during an AP Summer Institute she attended in New Mexico this year. Featured in this photo gallery are the teachers learning these new techniques such as carving gum erasers for printing. Staff worked with a range of mediums, including three types of printmaking: oil pastels, colored pencil and cut paper. view a photo gallery
Summer Doggie Time Teaches Special Needs Art Students About Animals
Posted on july 21, 2011
“Doggie Time” has become a popular part of the South Colonie summertime special needs program at both the elementary and high school levels. At the end of each day’s art classes, the children have a chance to learn about how to behave and interact with animals. view a photo gallery
Summer in Germany For
South Colonie High School
Special Needs Students
Posted on july 19, 2011
South Colonie high school students in the district’s summertime special needs program are learning about Germany this year and the German immigrant community of Pennsylvania. They are studying the immigrant population that eventually became known as Pennsylvania Dutch, which also includes the Amish. Art class this summer has focused on creating traditional folk motifs and crafts of both communities. Featured in this art gallery are images of the children’s folk designs based on German folk art. They also painted glass wine bottles (to be used as vases) that also included these folk motifs. view a photo gallery
Special Needs Students Experience Summertime Art
Posted on july 19, 2011
South Colonie elementary and middle school students in the district's summertime special needs program experience art classes once a week just like during the regular school year. In the first lesson, elementary students are challenged to recognize common shapes and find them mixed among other objects. In another summer art lesson, special needs student draw self portraits, using a combination of pencil and crayon. view a photo gallery
