The minimum age for participation in these classes is the student MUST be in 1st grade at the beginning of the school year. For instance, a child having completed kindergarten can sign up for summer class and then participate in the regular classes for the school year starting that September.
Class size is 6 to 8 children. They range in age from 1st grade through highschool. The classes function like the old 'one room school house' of yore. It may seem strange, but the first graders can generally keep up with the older kids on these classes. Because the classes are so small, there isn't a chance of doing a 'little kids' and 'big kids' class. High school students are generally positive about the little kids in the class. The ones that seem to have the most issues with it are Junior High kids, but these quickly realize they need to concentrate on their own drawings as often the grade school kids can outperform them, if they are not careful. The small size of classes fosters a kind of family feeling among the kids.
Classes meet once a week for an hour and 15 minutes. All art material is supplied. Six weekly classes comprise one complete Session. Each session deals with a new topic in the series. Fees for each session are due in the 4th week of the ongoing session. Reminders are sent out about this. There is no 'skipping of sessions'. Many children have taken art lessons other places. But they have not learned the system used here. This system combines geometry and art, exactly as is required in commercial art.
These classes are NOT 'glorified babysitting'. Parents shouldn't treat them as such. Children need to be on time. Tardiness is viewed dimly here. Also, there is a lot of material taught in each class. Children who miss more than 2 classes, will have to repeat that session. There are no partial refunds for incomplete session attendance. If you know you are going to miss more than two weeks....don't sign up for that class!
There is a nice parent's waiting area from where parents can monitor the lessons their children are taking. There is a library of children's books there for siblings 'in tow' to read while they wait.
To sign up for a class, go to the sign up sheet and fill out the information there. You can print it off, fill it in and send it in the mail (or drop it off) along with a check for the appropriate amount. A child is not considered signed up until BOTH the sign up sheet and the check are received. Cost of each session is found on the sign up sheet. If you have any questions or problems, feel free to send us an email or call James Watt at (630) 470-9136.
