STUDENT HANDBOOK

Griffin Middle School

2016-2017
8th Grade AC VA COMP
SYLLABUS
Teacher: Ms. Todd

Content Area: Visual Arts, 8th Grade VA COMP

Instructor: Ms. Todd
Email: alison.todd@cobbk12.org
8th Grade VA COMP Blog: http://www.griffinvacomp.weebly.com
COURSE OVERVIEW:
VA COMP is a year-long course with an emphasis on fundamental art skills. This course is designed to
prepare the student for more advanced studies of art at the high school level. Correct completion of all
required components will result in receipt of high school credit for VA COMP, a prerequisite course for
all advanced visual arts classes. Students receiving high school credit will be able to enroll directly in
studio courses at the start of their freshman year.
REQUIRED COMPONENTS FOR H.S. CREDIT:
In order to receive high school credit for the completion of VA COMP, and Advanced Content class,
students must maintain a B (80%) average.
Students will earn additional county-wide credits through the completion of teacher-guided units which
will result in the creation of the following required elements:
Maintenance of a sketchbook (weekly sketchbook homework assignments)
Student created and maintained DIGITAL PORTFOLIO (Weebly Art Blog) demonstrating
students technical and expressive skills in a variety of media
Participation in 2 Common Core performance tasks. These tasks will be submitted online and be
assessed at the county-level.
*REMEMBER: This is a High School Level Course, so the students will only have 10 days to decide
whether they want to drop.*
ART CLUB:
Art Club will meet EVERY Wednesday unless otherwise noted from 4:30-6:00pm. Art club will not
start until the theme for the school musical has been chosen. Students staying after school for Art Club
will meet in the cafeteria and should be picked up outside of the school by Gym II no later than 6:00pm
on Art Club days.
GRADING POLICY:
All grades will be numeric. The grading scale is as follows:
A = 90 and above
B = 80 89
C = 74 79
D = 70 73
F = 69 and below

GRADING CATEGORIES and WEIGHT:

8th Grade VA Comp will align its categories with the Visual Arts Standards, which are divided into 5
strands:
GRADING SCALE:
Summative: (2 Uploaded Blog Assessments, Art Projects, Portfolio, Tests, etc.)70%
Formative: (Weekly sketchbook Assignments (HW), Participation, Critiques, Quizzes, etc.)
........................30%
LATE WORK

For every day an assignment is late, teachers may deduct a total of 5 points per day,
up to 5 days that an assignment is late. If after the fifth day the assignment still has
not been turned in, the student will receive a zero until they make up the work.
Students with zeros may be required to attend Saturday School for grade recovery, or
before and/or after-school tutoring.
MAKE UP WORK
Students who are absent when an assignment is made will be given the same number
of days to complete the make-up work as they were absent, not counting the day of
return. Make-up of graded work will be as scheduled with the teacher. Students have
until five (5) days prior to the end of the grading period to turn in missing work.
Assignments made or announced prior to a students absence, including
tests/quizzes, that are due on the day of the students return will be due at that time.
(Quizzes and tests will be taken with class.) Homework and any other make up work
will be accepted according to school policy. Students are responsible for requesting
and following through on make- up work, not the teacher!!!

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Each student is required to have the following supplies by the second week of class. They must have
these materials with them every day to receive full points for Classwork and Sketchbook assignments:
Empty Cereal Box for a Sketchbook (Students will make their sketchbook- Weekly HW)
Pencils & erasers
Sharpies (thin & thick)
Portfolio (18x24 in. or larger) (Sold at Michaels for about $6) * Optional
Signed contract/syllabus
Class Wish-List:
If you have any extra of the following that you would like to donate to our class, it would be
GREATLY appreciated:
Empty cereal boxes*
Duct Tape*
Ziploc Plastic Bags
Pencils
Sharpies (any color, any size)****
Fake flowers or other greenery
Masking tape/ Blue Painters tape*
Sponges
Hand Sanitizer
Soap* (hand & dish)
Kleenex

 Paper Towels
(2016-17) 8TH GRADE AC VA COMP
*PLEASE FILL OUT, SIGN, & RETURN THIS PAGE ONLY*
STUDENT INFORMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
I have received and read the 2016-2017 8th Grade AC VA COMP Handbook and agree to its
contents.
Student Name (please print): _________________________________________________________
Student Signature: _________________________________________________________________
Homeroom Teacher: _______________________________________________________________
Parent Name (please print): __________________________________________________________
Parent Signature: __________________________________________________________________
*Parent Email: _____________________________________________________________________
*Parent Phone: ____________________________________________________________________

Please check one:

I have read and understand all contents of the VA Comp Handbook and wish to stay enrolled in
the year-long course for high school credit. I agree to fulfill ALL of the requirements of the
course to the best of my ability, maintain an 80% average.
I have read the contents of the VA Comp Handbook and wish to withdraw from enrollment in
the course.
(GRIFFIN MIDDLE SCHOOL VALUES THE HEALTH & SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS)
**PLEASE CONTACT MS. TODD IF THIS STUDENT HAS ANY ALLERGIES**
-ESPECIALLY TO CERTAIN TYPES OF PAINTS, GLUES, PLASTERS, CLAYS, GLAZES, ETC.