Art Club Reflection/Observation:
For one of my observations I was able to attend a meeting of the Art Club. The Fossil Ridge Art Club meets every Tuesday from 3-4 pm in Room 245. I was able to observe the progress of the Homecoming cut outs when observing my classes as the sheets were being painted as they were leaning against the wall in the classroom. The art club was commissioned to paint larger than life size Tim Burton style characters from Alice in Wonderland. The students were able to collaborate to paint these characters. These paintings were incredible; they looked professionally done! There are definitely some very talented students in this art department.
This program just reminds me how many opportunities these students have access too. The Art Club is well supported from the school. It is easy to see why they are greatly supported when they are able to produce such amazing work as as their homecoming character decorations. I wish my school had more opportunities like this when I was in high school. When I first got there I stood around awkwardly for a few minutes, but after a bit I was able to help paint. It was amazing to see not only students but also the teacher working together in collaboration. Honestly, I wish I was able to attend and interact with the art club more, but sadly we are in class during that time.
For one of my observations I was able to attend a meeting of the Art Club. The Fossil Ridge Art Club meets every Tuesday from 3-4 pm in Room 245. I was able to observe the progress of the Homecoming cut outs when observing my classes as the sheets were being painted as they were leaning against the wall in the classroom. The art club was commissioned to paint larger than life size Tim Burton style characters from Alice in Wonderland. The students were able to collaborate to paint these characters. These paintings were incredible; they looked professionally done! There are definitely some very talented students in this art department.
This program just reminds me how many opportunities these students have access too. The Art Club is well supported from the school. It is easy to see why they are greatly supported when they are able to produce such amazing work as as their homecoming character decorations. I wish my school had more opportunities like this when I was in high school. When I first got there I stood around awkwardly for a few minutes, but after a bit I was able to help paint. It was amazing to see not only students but also the teacher working together in collaboration. Honestly, I wish I was able to attend and interact with the art club more, but sadly we are in class during that time.
Volleyball Match Reflection/Observation:
On October 7, 2014, I attended thee volleyball game Fossil Ridge vs. Loveland volleyball game. Upon entry, you can tell the athletic department is very well funded by the school and sponsors banners, but not necessarily by the student body. For such a big gym it was very empty with the exception of the volleyball teams and the sparse parents that attended. The gym wall above the entry doors is completely covered with sponsors from all over Fort Collins. Community support is wonderful, but I wonder if any of those sponsors/business, sponsor more than one high school athletic department. As far as observing Fossil Ridges JV and Varsity teams, I was only able to watch the last few minutes of JV, but was able to watch the first full game of varsity. Some of these girls have wicked serves and hits. I could definitely see some students going to college to play volleyball.
Watching these girls be part of a team competing reminded made me how I miss playing volleyball. I miss the connection of being part of a team, more specifically a team that is fully supported by the community. I know that these girls will cherish this time for years to come. As strong of a community that Fossil Ridge seems to be, it does not feel as strong as the community my High School had. I think part of this is due to the fact that we lived in a small mountain community that didn’t have a ton of opportunities for youths to enjoy activities. It is because of this that our school community bonded strongly over our sports teams, specifically volleyball, football, cross-country, and track. This seems to be lacking some at Fossil Ridge. Fossil Ridge athletics seem to be well supported financially but lacking the student body support that was present in my High School. Maybe this is just due to times changing, but I still find it interesting to contemplate.
On October 7, 2014, I attended thee volleyball game Fossil Ridge vs. Loveland volleyball game. Upon entry, you can tell the athletic department is very well funded by the school and sponsors banners, but not necessarily by the student body. For such a big gym it was very empty with the exception of the volleyball teams and the sparse parents that attended. The gym wall above the entry doors is completely covered with sponsors from all over Fort Collins. Community support is wonderful, but I wonder if any of those sponsors/business, sponsor more than one high school athletic department. As far as observing Fossil Ridges JV and Varsity teams, I was only able to watch the last few minutes of JV, but was able to watch the first full game of varsity. Some of these girls have wicked serves and hits. I could definitely see some students going to college to play volleyball.
Watching these girls be part of a team competing reminded made me how I miss playing volleyball. I miss the connection of being part of a team, more specifically a team that is fully supported by the community. I know that these girls will cherish this time for years to come. As strong of a community that Fossil Ridge seems to be, it does not feel as strong as the community my High School had. I think part of this is due to the fact that we lived in a small mountain community that didn’t have a ton of opportunities for youths to enjoy activities. It is because of this that our school community bonded strongly over our sports teams, specifically volleyball, football, cross-country, and track. This seems to be lacking some at Fossil Ridge. Fossil Ridge athletics seem to be well supported financially but lacking the student body support that was present in my High School. Maybe this is just due to times changing, but I still find it interesting to contemplate.
Homecoming Chaperone Reflection:
Being in the art department allowed me to observe several art and shop students create the large cutouts of characters from Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland. The talent displayed by these students is absolutely incredible. After watching these cutouts being made, I volunteered as a Homecoming chaperone, to see how Fossil Ridge High School does Homecoming. Before arriving I was informed that this school typically spends $10,000 on Homecoming. I understand some schools take homecoming very seriously, but this seems excessive. Once I was at the Homecoming dance, I was able to observe not only the decorations but the students as well. I was only there from 7:45-9:50; the students were pretty well-behaved and seemed to be mostly lower classmen. I was posted by the bathrooms to make sure the students went into the appropriate bathrooms. I found it interesting that the giant gym they used for the dance was cut in half, which resulted in massive amount of students in the small hallway outside the gym. There were also no tables or chairs out where students could sit down.
With any function there is always drama. It was a reminder of what high school was like and what these students go through even at a very privileged high school. I was a little discouraged with this school in their excessive spending on Homecoming. I just wonder whether these students are aware of how privileged they are. Maybe taking some of that spending money to donate to some organization in need, rather than make such lavish events would serve a better purpose. Or maybe making a community service project as part of the homecoming events would achieve this. I wonder if the parents would be the ones to object to this. I feel as though a school that wants to claim that they are the best in the state needs to try to connect with the community more or at least try to eliminate the rich white kid school stereotype. With that stereotype, they may always have the higher rank, but how much of that rank is earned versus manipulated.
Being in the art department allowed me to observe several art and shop students create the large cutouts of characters from Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland. The talent displayed by these students is absolutely incredible. After watching these cutouts being made, I volunteered as a Homecoming chaperone, to see how Fossil Ridge High School does Homecoming. Before arriving I was informed that this school typically spends $10,000 on Homecoming. I understand some schools take homecoming very seriously, but this seems excessive. Once I was at the Homecoming dance, I was able to observe not only the decorations but the students as well. I was only there from 7:45-9:50; the students were pretty well-behaved and seemed to be mostly lower classmen. I was posted by the bathrooms to make sure the students went into the appropriate bathrooms. I found it interesting that the giant gym they used for the dance was cut in half, which resulted in massive amount of students in the small hallway outside the gym. There were also no tables or chairs out where students could sit down.
With any function there is always drama. It was a reminder of what high school was like and what these students go through even at a very privileged high school. I was a little discouraged with this school in their excessive spending on Homecoming. I just wonder whether these students are aware of how privileged they are. Maybe taking some of that spending money to donate to some organization in need, rather than make such lavish events would serve a better purpose. Or maybe making a community service project as part of the homecoming events would achieve this. I wonder if the parents would be the ones to object to this. I feel as though a school that wants to claim that they are the best in the state needs to try to connect with the community more or at least try to eliminate the rich white kid school stereotype. With that stereotype, they may always have the higher rank, but how much of that rank is earned versus manipulated.
Jewelry Class Guest Reflection/Observation:
As one of my extra curricular actives I was able to take the time to visit on of Fossil Ridges Jewelry class. I was overall impressed with the student work that was being produce, but slightly disappointed in the assignments as they seem to limit student creativity. As a guest I was able to show some of my work and discuss some different techniques with the students. This again just reiterated the fact that these students are extremely privileged in the opportunities that they are offered.
The facility alone was impressive. It seemed like a smaller set up from what I had access to at CSU while attending the art department for my undergraduate degree. I am however, very thankful that Fossil Ridge sees enough importance in the arts to support the department very well and provide with the most opportunities possible, from drawing, to digital design, to painting, to sculpture, to ceramics and even jewelry and AP art courses. After this observation I am given new hope that there may be other schools out there that also see the importance of art in our students lives.
As one of my extra curricular actives I was able to take the time to visit on of Fossil Ridges Jewelry class. I was overall impressed with the student work that was being produce, but slightly disappointed in the assignments as they seem to limit student creativity. As a guest I was able to show some of my work and discuss some different techniques with the students. This again just reiterated the fact that these students are extremely privileged in the opportunities that they are offered.
The facility alone was impressive. It seemed like a smaller set up from what I had access to at CSU while attending the art department for my undergraduate degree. I am however, very thankful that Fossil Ridge sees enough importance in the arts to support the department very well and provide with the most opportunities possible, from drawing, to digital design, to painting, to sculpture, to ceramics and even jewelry and AP art courses. After this observation I am given new hope that there may be other schools out there that also see the importance of art in our students lives.