WEEKLY NEWSLETTER (SEPT 26-30)

Dear Families,

Your child has expressed an interest in making an application to one of the specialized art high schools in New York City. In order to help your child, I am creating an afterschool portfolio club that your child can join. The afterschool program will begin this week, and will take place on two days of the week, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The time for the club is from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, in room 503.

 Your child can choose to attend one or both days. The club will continue until the final auditions are given (sometime in early December). There is no charge to families for attending the club. You simply need to complete the consent form and return it to me before you child can attend.

In addition to the assignments and classwork given during the regular class time, the club will focus on additional drawing skills, such as the proportion of the human face and body, and work in done in color. We will be assessing your child’s work to select strong pieces for a portfolio. We will be running some practice tests so your child will feel prepared for what he/she might encounter during one of the high school’s drawing auditions.  

What you can do right now to support your child: understand that to make a successful portfolio will require a big push by your child, from now until the audition date. You can help your child get organized for this important event.

·       Make sure that your child has read up on the schools he/she might be interested in; learning its location, subway bus access, afterschool programs, academic standing. Does this school feel like a good match for your child’s needs? Talk it over with your child.

·       Get an admission ticket for the audition(s) from Michelle Augumedo, our school guidance counselor, in room 404.

·       Visit the high schools’ website; many schools offer virtual tours or galleries of photos so you can get a sense of what it looks like and feels like, often there is a FAQ page.

·       If the specialized high school offers a tour or open school night, take advantage of it. There will be students attending that high school present who can tell you what it’s really like to go to that school.

·       Read up on the portfolio requirements for the school you are applying for. Most schools want a varied portfolio of work, two dimensional and three dimensional (you can photograph and include it in a portfolio) – but the school your are applying for may ask for specific examples of work -  such as costume or stage design.

·       Buy a portfolio. You can buy one at Michael’s that will meet your child’s needs. A good portfolio will measure about 14” x 17” , have a stiff cover, and clear plastic sleeves so art work can be inserted and removed – between 12 and 20 pages.  

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to contact me at: BWinter@schools.nyc.gov              

Sincerely, Bernard Winter, Studio Arts Teacher at MSC

 

CLICK HERE FOR PORTFOLIO CLUB CONSENT FORM