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Middle School Unified Arts

FLMS Unified Arts Program

At the middle school, Unified Arts is required of all grade 6, 7 and 8 students. Unified Arts is a team-taught, interdisciplinary approach to art, home and careers, and technology. The curriculum is organized around three major theme units: 6th grade Drawing for Communication, 7th grade Design, and 8th grade Problem Solving. Sixth graders are immersed in one quarter of drawing,including freehand, perspective, figure, mechanical, and computer-aided drawing. Seventh graders learn the elements and principles of design and their application. Eighth graders use the problem solving process and higher-level creative thinking skills to tackle complex art and design problems.

The theme units are taught the first quarter of the year, and technique units related to the theme are taught in subsequent quarters. After-school enrichment activities include: Art Club, Clay Club, 8th grade Honors Art, and theatrical set construction/painting for the Spring Musical.

Welcome Ms. Schwartz! ¡Bienvenidos Señora Schwartz!

Michelle Schwartz

Michelle Schwartz

UA-3 Visual Arts

Hi Fox Lane Middle School! I am Michelle Schwartz, the new 2D- 7th Grade art teacher for FLMS! It is so exciting for me to join the FLMS community. This year is my seventh wonderful year of teaching art. Coming from a family of teachers, I have always had a passion for teaching and educating children. In 2015, I graduated from the University of Maryland with my Bachelor's in Art Education and continued on to get my Masters Degree in Art Education from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Although I enjoy all types of art, my favorite types of art to create are watercolor and acrylic paintings! I absolutely love teaching art and can't wait to share my passion with my art students! I strive to create an environment where the art students can thrive, be creative and flourish into the best artists they can be while fostering a joy and love for the arts!

Yvonne Pekorne

Yvonne Pokorne

UA-2 Applied Design, Fiber Arts Club and Entrepreneur Club

Overarching concepts: Form and Function and Visual Communication

Clothing and Furniture Design, Logo design and branding, Graphic Design

Brainstorming, Problem solving, Collaboration and Presentation

My love for design is parallel to my love for teaching. Having been raised by an architect and landscape designer I learned about design. My mother used the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a playground for us and cultural stimulation for herself. We saw that art goes beyond paintings. It encompasses sculpture, kinetic arts, ceramics, fibers and my favorite subject--functional design. 

As a young aspiring artist, I experienced first hand what the power of what a good teacher can do for a shy, introverted student. My 8th grade teacher in particular supported my creative development by providing me with choice-based projects and like her a love for photography. Little did I know I would return to that artform years later when applying for a MFA. 

Yet, my journey to becoming a teacher was not a straight path.I worked for years for a graphic design firm on projects ranging from magazine and book design to logos and environmental signage. Years later I decided I wanted more, to give back and help others like my 8th grade teacher had done for me. I found my calling. I absolutely love teaching, particularly in middle school. The classroom is active to say the least. Students learn about form and function and apply the concept to their own creations. I love that I can do what my 8th grade teacher did for me: create a space for students to grow and develop in ways they never imagined possible.

 

Gina Keidong, Visual Art

David Llanos, Visual Art

Heather Kranz, K-12 Coordinator for Visual Arts

Carl Kohler, Coordinator, Unified Arts, Technology & Engineering

Tim Pribanich, Technology & Engineering