Art education has been shown to help students engage with school and reduce stress, develop social-emotional and interpersonal skills, enrich their experiences, handle constructive criticism, bolster academic achievement, and improve focus. At Elk County Catholic School System, we are fortunate to have a group of talented art instructors to help our students explore their creative interests.
At St. Marys Catholic Elementary, under the direction of Mr. Jesse Gradl, students in grades K-5 meet once weekly for art. Mr. Gradl spreads their focus across various mediums through different subject matters, including abstract, representational, still life, and figurative. These mediums include but are not limited to drawing with graphite, charcoal, and colored materials; painting with both watercolor on paper and acrylic on canvas; sculptural works with air dry clay; and various other exercises. Each lesson is rooted in technique and process, focusing on elements such as composition, color theory, arrangement, and completion of an end goal, all with a touch of art history. Each 5th-grade class can work on a large-scale collaborative painting project with Mr. Gradl and their peers to leave a lasting mark on the school as they transition to St. Marys Catholic Middle School.
At St. Leo School, under the direction of Mrs. Cathy Zore and Nancy Hoffman, students meet once a week for art class. With smaller groups, the teachers can work individually with the students on their art projects. Students learn 2D and 3D design, along with the basic elements of art. The middle school students are introduced to a wide range of art media. The student-led projects allow the students to explore their artistic interests. Mrs. Nancy Hoffman was recently awarded a grant that allowed her to purchase portable art supply storage and additional working space for students, allowing the art supplies to be available at their fingertips.
The art classes at St. Marys Catholic Middle School under the direction of Mrs. Lisa Daghir are held twice throughout every six-day schedule and are offered all year for our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Classes include painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, collage work, printmaking, etc. One-and two-dimensional work is covered, and art history and critiques are also touched upon.
At Elk County Catholic High School, Mrs. Liz Scacchitti offers coursework in painting (watercolors, acrylics, oils, and mixed media), drawing (charcoal, Prismacolor, pen and ink, and graphite), and three-dimensional work (pottery, sculpture, stained glass, and glass sculpture). She also offers instruction in digital art using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and iPads. She makes every effort to provide a wide range of materials to encourage all students to explore their potential as artists. Elk County Catholic High School offers three art courses: Art Pass/Fail, Advanced Art, AP Art and Design. All Students start with Art Pass/Fail. This encourages students to feel free to experiment with art and engage with it outside the high-pressure landscape. If students want to dive deeper into art and do it in the future, Mrs. Scacchitti also offers Advanced Art and AP Art and Design. AP art allows the students to create an online portfolio that they can use beyond high school. Students also have the opportunity to display their artwork in the school during Art Day in May and to participate in the Art Club.
