I am amazed and thrilled, after nine years away, to find myself back at St. Mary School, teaching the very program I developed and taught here for 15 years!

I will be teaching the Art Appreciation/Art History program. This means that each grade, from JK through 8th, will not only learn about the elements of art and the principles of design, but will also study famous artists and art movements throughout history. Together, we will explore why artists created their work, what influenced them, and what was happening both in the world and in their personal lives. We will examine how all of these contexts informed the artist's creations.

Of course, the students will also create their own artworks reflecting the subject matter we study in class. They will be challenged by many varied tools and media to create their own masterpieces!

I believe that when we appreciate why an artist created what they did—whether we like the artwork or not—we can truly understand that artist. If we can understand them, we can develop compassion and empathy. By fostering these social and emotional skills, we learn to be kind, and I think we all could use a bit more kindness in the world.

I invite you to meander through the tabs in the side bar. I will update them with new art as it becomes available, but the existing pages are a wonderful reflection of what our program is all about.

I will also offer classroom volunteering opportunities in the future, so please keep an eye out for upcoming information here and in the school newsletter. Finally, if you would like to support the St. Mary Art Appreciation Program, please take a look at my Amazon Wishlist below.

Thank you for the blessing of teaching your children.

Warmly,

Mrs. Kim Bonney