WELCOME STUDIO ARTISTS
Ms. Schmit’s Wonderful World �of Art & Design
Northwest School of the Arts • Room G224 & G228� A space to imagine, practice, critique, and create.
Contact:
Website:
mail_outline Contacting Ms. Schmit
Email is the best way to reach me since I frequently attend meetings during my planning periods
✦ Contact: Email and ParentSquare.com
elizabetha.schmit@cms.k12.nc.us
Expect replies within 24 hours (or next school day)
✦ CreativeSchmit.com
Where ALL classwork is posted. Routinely updated weekly (if not more often)
✦ Canvas.com
Where classwork is submitted, feedback given in comments and rubrics. (Scores most accurate here; Grades more accurately calculated in Infinite Campus )
calendar_today Class Schedule Pathways
A-DAYS
A1 — Sculpture IPA
A2 — Sculpture IPA
A3 — Planning
A4 — Ceramics IPA
B-DAYS
B1 — AP Art History
B2 — Sculpture IPA
B3 — Ceramics IPA
B4 — Planning
Studio Hub & Schedule 02 / Syllabus
SCULPTURE & CERAMICS STUDIO
Sharp Tool Safety Protocols
Media & Tools
Hands-on Media: Units include paper, cardboard, sheet metal, and clay construction.
Precision Tools: Intricate cuts require X-Acto blades and box cutters.
Non-Sharp Option: Scissors are always permitted for all projects upon request or privilege loss.
Studio Rules
Inventory Control: All sharp tools are counted before and collected after every class.
Hand Placement: Hands must remain behind the blade direction at all times. Never place hands in front of the cutting edge.
Supervision: Tools are used strictly under direct teacher oversight; never leave exposed blades unattended.
Policy & Permission
Enforcement: Rule violations result in immediate loss of sharp tool privileges & assignment of alternative tasks.
Syllabus Form: Parents/guardians must acknowledge rules and authorize tool use on the digital/print form.
Opting Out: If you prefer your student not to use sharps, indicate on the form AND email the teacher directly.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your daily studio actions will reflect your final artistic outcomes
1. Mutual Respect
Focuses on caring for peers, studio tools, and raw materials.
✓ Clean up your tools and area before the bell rings AND help till everything is ready for the next class!
✓ Lift up classmate ideas during peer critiques, be ready to help and support each other.
✓ Be Mindful of everyone's work, space and items - including studio’s
✗ Don't waste - use what you need but ask for help when things go unexpectedly.
2. Show Up (Presence)
Being physically present and mentally focused goes a long way, and key to positive outcomes.
✓ Be Proactive and get started on the daily warm up on your own
✓ Log progress photos every day (reminders given the last 10 min).
✗ Don't use tech for evil - no personal electronics for any reason
✗ Don't wander, creatively avoid work or distract others. Taking short breaks is fine in moderation.
3. Personal Best
Your level of growth is what’s evaluated. Doing YOUR best is key to success in this class.
✓ Be willing to experiment messing up is part of learning!
✓ Focus on your progress instead of comparing to others..
✗ Don't copy this can be a good way to practice but not for main projects
✗ Don't slack off - everyone is graded on how they use time given
Studio Work Expectations 03 / Syllabus
I believe in empowering student artists to be collaborative and self-reliant, especially in a collaborative community studio space. Positive follow-through builds independence, whereas ignoring guidelines restricts workspace privileges.
Following Rules
Positive Outcomes
When students follow studio guidelines, they earn greater freedom and responsibilities within our creative space:
Breaking Rules
Progressive Intervention
Ignoring expectations leads to a step-by-step resolution process designed to restore focus:
✦ 1st Warning: Verbal & Written
Logged in Daily/Weekly Studio Work Assignments (usually results in a loss of daily points).
✦ 2nd Warning: Family Notification
Parents and guardians are notified directly to build a collaborative support system.
✦ 3rd Warning: Escalation to Administrators
Office referral, admin-guided student resolution, or a direct team meeting.
Expectations & Pathways 04 / Syllabus
$50 Material Cost per Vis. Art Course
These critical funds, managed directly by our Visual Arts Boosters (VAB), source unique supplies and learning experiences throughout the year without the need for fundraisers
Your Daily Studio Kit
Please make sure you have these with you every single day to stay organized and ready:
State Law Reminder: Personal Electronic Devices (including Phones) are violation of state law, not just a school/district rule. Use your Chromebook!
School Chromebook & Charger (Required daily!)
Pencil & Pen
Notebook Paper (Sketchbook good but not required)
Class Folder or Binder (To protect hand-outs)
✦
✦
✦
✦
Studio Support & Supplies 05 / Syllabus
Art &
Design
Overall Grade Composition
Grades are updated weekly in Canvas and should synced the following day to Infinite Campus- if you don’t see them update after a week email Ms. Schmit. Assignments fall into the following categories and are weighted accordingly:
50% — PERFORM (Projects & Exams)
Demonstration of mastery, complete works, and portfolios.
30% — REHEARSE (Planning & Critiques)
Demonstration of mastery of planning skills including brainstorming, research, maquettes, sketches, etc.
20% — PREPARE (Daily Studio Work Progress)
Completion and level of engagement in daily task including:, daily photos, and routine studio habits (warm-ups, setup and cleaning, etc).
How Grades Work 06 / Grading
PREPARE
20% of Grade
Progress (Daily & Weekly)
Are You Doing the Work? How effectively are you utilizing the time to complete daily tasks?
What’s evaluated: Completion of tasks listed on Daily Announcements and CreativeSchmit.com, and active engagement.
Why: To address feedback in real time, avoid surprises, and track your progress and grade sooner.
*Requires daily photographic progress documentation of class activities.
REHEARSE
30% of Grade
Planning, Drafts & Critiques
What’s the Quality of Planning? The development research, brainstorming, maquettes, and worksheets for a unit.
What’s evaluated: The level of mastery of content demonstrated during planning and progress stages.
Why: This highlights your understanding of skills, concepts, and key artistic knowledge to prepare for an art project.
*Builds high-level critical thinking essential for great art.
PERFORM
50% of Grade
Projects & Exams
What’s the Quality of Artwork? Overall composition, execution, craftsmanship, creative integration, and project criteria.
What’s evaluated: Mastery of the "Keys to Success": skills, craftsmanship, creativity, and the effort in final works.
Why: Formal evaluation of art-making abilities that helps artists analyze their skills and improve.
*Your creative masterworks.
Assignments: 3 Ps & Grading Explained 09 / Grading
On-Time "Improvement" Window
Submitting on time preserves your chance to incorporate feedback and level up your grade!
PREPARE Assignments (Daily Progress):
Must be turned in by the Friday following the due date (no late penalties) but will still lock permanently.
The Rule: You have 1 week from the date graded work is returned to apply teacher feedback, polish, and resubmit.
Max Resubmission Grade: Up to 80%.
Late Work Penalties
Applies to Rehearse & Perform assignments, calculated on calendar school days (not class days):
Days Late | Grade Impact | Max Score |
0–5 Days | -5 points per day | ex: 95% down to 70% |
6+ Days | Flat cap on grade | Capped at 50% |
*School days are consecutive days school is in session.
CMS Late Work Policy
✦
✦
Visual Arts Department Late Work Policy
This policy has been developed and will be implemented by all NWSA Visual Arts Teachers
Grade Calculation Examples 07 / Habit Comparison
Student Example | PREPARE Metrics (20%) 9 Studio Work Logs | REHEARSE Metrics (30%) 2 Planning+ 2 Critiques | PERFORM Metrics (50%) 2 Main Projects | Final Grade |
R2-D2: Consistent Creator Steady habits, reliable skills, and always delivers on time | 100% (9/9 logs complete) | 85% (Good mostly complete planning) | 82% (Good complete final project) | 86.5% (B) |
Han Solo: Studio Work Slacker High natural talent but skips daily work; last-second rush shows, growth is lacking. | 0% (no submissions) | 88% (Excellent work but submitted 2 days late) | 85% (Excellent, mostly complete final project) | 68.9% (D) |
C-3PO : Panicked Perfectionist Highly capable but gets paralyzed by stress and over thinks every detail | 100% (Works during class) | 65% (Exceptional work but Turned in 6+ days late) | 70% (Excellent work but turned in 5 days late) | 74.5% (C) |
Ahsoka Tano: The Dedicated Learner Consistent growth, high skill, and delivers complete work on time | 100% (Works during class) | 90% (Excellent, a little incomplete but could pass as finished, turned in ontime) | 95% (Exceptional growth, despite being a little incomplete - turned in ontime) | 94.5% (A) |
Mastery Grading Rubric 11 / Grading
Criteria Key | Excellent (A) | Proficient (B) | Progressing (C) | Needs Improvement (D) |
Skill | Deep mastery; flawless conceptual control. | Clear command; minor execution limits. | Approaching mastery; needs more refinement. | Missing core elements; needs targeted work. |
Craftsmanship | Exceptional quality; beautifully finished & kept clean. | Great quality; minor blemishes or draft problems. | Somewhat messy; needs slower pacing and patience. | Untidy or incomplete; requires rework and care. |
Creativity | Distinctly unique; highly individualized concept. | Blended inspiration; personalized features. | Similar to standard classroom examples. | Derivative/copied; little personal initiative. |
Effort | Exceeds overall expectations in focus & work habits. | Meets targets; needs tiny tweaks to maximize time. | Below expected studio habits; speed/stamina issues. | Very little evidence of focus or care in studio. |
The Key’s to
Success
These give the general idea of what’s being looked for when work is being evaluated. 100’s are only given for going beyond expectations. These are used as a framework for all grading including daily work habits, studio maintenance, planning assignments, artwork, and critiques.
Growth Mindset
The Studio Art Rework Policy
Mistakes are essential to artistic mastery. It is better to submit incomplete work on time than to miss a deadline.
Extensions: If life happens, communicate with the teacher before the deadline. No extensions are granted if class time is not consistently utilized from the beginning of the unit.
Revisions:
01 Read Feedback: Review teacher and peer comments in Canvas.
02 One-Week Window: You have one week from the date graded work is returned to refine your project.
03 Resubmit: Submit revisions before the assignment locks to earn up to an 80% maximum grade.
Academic Probation: Students with a 65% or lower at progress reports/quarter-end will be placed on academic probation and Parents notified by Parent Square. Two consecutive quarters on probation will likely result in transfer to the originally assigned school.
to complete the digital parent/guardian signing form for Ms. Schmit’s Classes
CONNECTING ART TO THE UNIVERSE
Art that stands the test of time speaks beyond the sculpture,
and Artists don’t just make art
Traditional school divisions vanish in the professional art world. Ceramics integrates complex chemistry and materials science, cutting mat boards requires geometry, and professional artist in all media types spend significant time writing grants and artist statements.
Be ready to develop all of those skills together.
Ms. Elizabeth Schmit
�NWSA Visual Arts Teacher
Room G124 and G128�
elizabetha.schmit@cms.k12.nc.us
Class Website�
CreativeSchmit.com