The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The importance of arts is a crucial part of a high school student's development. Engagement in fine arts is a big part of any high school experience. People take what they learn from art classes and use them in their everyday lives. Participating in an art class helps a student's ability to express themselves, learning time management, and becoming involved in a part of our beautiful American culture.

Miss Jaramillo is the wonderful art teacher for the Big Sandy high school and elementary school. She teaches four classes for 7-12th grades. She has plenty of different projects for each class. The classes have a mix of older and younger students so she picks projects that best mix with the ages. For her third period class they are working on a mixed media watercolor/paper. Her fourth period class they are working on a project involving charcoal eyes. Her sixth period class is doing a project with watercolor mixed media on doors. Her last class is the seventh period class where they are using clay for an abstract project. Each class is involved with different projects and students seem to really enjoy and participate in these projects. Miss Jaramillo has plenty of students who benefit from her classes and she feels really strongly about the importance of arts.

I have interviewed Kassidy Pursley for the input of an art student. Kassidy believes that the arts benefit plenty of parts of a high school student's experience. Students learn how to take responsibility of their actions and messes when they have to clean after class. Learning responsibility is such an important skill. Kassidy stated that art class is beneficial because it allows her to relax and take time out of her stressful hours during school. In her class she is working on model cramatice silhouette on doors with waterproof paper. Kassidy loves the colors and creativity involved in this piece. She says that while working on an art project she learns time management and the importance of a deadline. Kassidy feels that participating in art is a fun and great learning experience.

The art program has improved a lot over the last few years. Students have become more involved in the art program. Miss Jaramillo has taken in plenty of new projects and ideas and put them forward in the art program. Students are benefiting from the series of art projects and seem to be enjoying the creativity and lessons from their art classes. Some students are becoming a lot better everyday and finding more passion about art. Students such as Adrianne Gibson, are finding out how much they really enjoy art and expressing themselves becomes easier with her experience in art.

All art programs are important and almost essential for high schools across America. So many people are lucky to get to go to schools that offer these kinds of classes. Students are learning to express themselves through art and it is helping them calm down during the stress of school and other aspects of their life. The school funds projects for art classes and provides supplies which is helpful for Miss Jaramillo. So I personally encourage students to participate in an art class due to the plenty of benefits and the overall experience!