Simsbury High School and the Simsbury Arts Academy Present Saturday Morning Art Explorations

Submitted release

The Simsbury High School (SHS) Art Department, in partnership with the Simsbury Arts Academy (SAA), is offering an exciting opportunity for students in grades K through 3. Students will learn, explore and create art by drawing, painting, making pottery and exploring computer art. This art enrichment experience will be taught by SHS Senior Art Education Interns with guidance from Mrs. Cindy Rehm, Simsbury’s Art Department Supervisor K-12 and Director of SAA.

What is special about this class is not just the quality of the artistic experience for K-3 students, but that a group of talented SHS students will be enrolled as art education interns. Many of them have aspirations of being a teacher, and this experience will be invaluable for them in preparation for their post high school careers.

Said Rehm, “We have eight talented and interested seniors enrolled in this course who can’t wait to greet their students October 20th!”

Added Rehm, “The idea for this class came to me because of the wonderful experiences I had during the early years of my art education studies at Central Connecticut State University. The college had designed a similar program, which met every Saturday morning for a semester. As an aspiring art educator, I had the privilege of working with inner city youngsters from the New Britain School District and Greater Hartford area. We worked with our teacher, learning basic content and research, and we created fun and engaging lessons. We held our Saturday morning classes and would then receive feedback from each other as well as our instructor. I loved it and wanted to bring this opportunity to SHS and SAA.”

Art education intern Michelle Molnar remarked, “I went to Latimer Lane where Mrs. Olivieri was my art teacher. I am doing this art internship because I have always loved art and I am thinking about becoming a teacher. This internship is ideal, because art is something I love to do and working with children has always been something I'm very good at. This will help me to learn how to become a teacher, by creating lesson plans and learning how to teach and create a classroom environment.

Sarah Tully echoed Molnar’s enthusiasm. Said Tully, “I'm super excited to start teaching art and working with kids. The opportunity is incredible, and I can't wait to pass on my art creativity and experience to the children enrolling in this program.”

Classes will be held in the art studios at Simsbury High School on the following Saturdays: October 20, 27, November 10, 17, December 8, 15, January 5, 12, February 2, 9. Registration forms can be found on the Simsbury Public Schools district website at www.simsbury.k12.ct.us.