2008-2009 Docent Meeting

Monday, November 17 at 9:30, I’ll be holding a brief orientation for Blakely Art Docents at the Blakely Library.

This meeting will be about 1/2 hour long, and will cover the following (which looks pretty similar to last year's agenda, which you can see below):

Introductions
Know your material resources: Sakai Art Docent Resource Room, Media at Blakely, OpenOffice slideshows, art supplies
Know your human resources: Your Teachers, Me, Robin Hruska, Kathleen Pool
Other/Questions

I’d like to encourage all docents to come, even if you’ve been there before, as it is a good time to have new docents place a face with a name. No need to RSVP.

I’ll start posting this year’s news and information on the blog again, right here.

Digital Slide Show Tutorial

On Wednesday, 6 February, I will conduct a tutorial on using Powerpoint/Open Office for making a slide show using images from the internet. With this information, you should be able to burn images to a cd and use it on the boxlight projectors in the classrooms or the library at Blakely. As it is early dismissal that day, I'll keep the meeting to under an hour; we will meet in the Blakely Library.

On a related note, I am compiling a collection of cds that people have already assembled of digital slide shows. Please let me know if you have one you'd like to contribute. I can copy it and return your original; we can keep a collection on file at Blakely (I'll work on a location for those).

notes from last meeting

Thanks to all who were able to attend yesterday's meeting -- hopefully we can all be running with a first classroom visit prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday!

Quick notes:

GETTING STARTED
I've attached a list of all the docents signed up to date. First, please connect with each other if there is more than one of you signed up for the same room, and Second, please connect with your classroom teacher to coordinate dates, content (many have good ideas for tying in with curriculum), and duration of visits. Connect with me if you have trouble along the way.

BLOG
Please remember to check the blog at www.artdocent.blogspot.com. I hope it will be a current place to get information about the program, so please let me know if you'd like to see additional or other information included there.

SUPPLIES
We have some supplies for the program in the Electrical closet near the bathroom in the breezeway between the front hall and Ms. Hruska's room. There are a few sets of Prismacolor pencils, brushes (watercolor and general purpose), watercolors (not yet ready for use, but next week for certain), and watercolor paper. I will entertain some other general purpose supplies, but would like to encourage you to be creative. If you see a need for something specific, please talk to me in advance, as I'll be managing this budget. Robin Hruska has offered to let people use pump tempera paints if you like; she's at rhruska@bainbridge.wednet.edu and would be happy to be contacted in advance of your need.

ELECTRONIC SLIDE SHOWS - NEW Updated information!
Ms. Jowise tells me nearly all the classrooms will have boxlight projectors by the end of THIS WEEKEND. I will figure out how to run a slide show with this format post it on the blog. (NOTE: I checked, and although many of them have projectors, many are also not set up for electronic slides yet. If you are interested in showing slides, let me know and we'll figure out a way to do it!)

RESOURCE ROOM TOUR
Some of you have asked for a tour of the Resource Room at Sakai. I can meet interested docents there on Friday, November 2, at 9:45 for a half hour overview. No need to RSVP -- it is just off the main library, right in the front doors of Sakai.

Stay in touch with each other, and let me know of any issues or successes!

October 25 meeting agenda

At tomorrow's 9:30 meeting at the Blakely Library, we'll be touching on the following:

Making Connections: Who Does What and How to Reach Them

• Coordinator
• Teachers
• Other Docents
• Blakely Staff

Resources for Docents

• Supplies: What and Where
• Information: Online, Resource Room at Sakai, etc.
• Additional Training: Some options, if you are interested

Auction Project

• Why I keep mentioning it
• What to do if you would like to participate

Q + A

I'll republish this list with more information about each topic after the meeting. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Welcome!

In an effort to streamline communication and create a place to gather and post information, I'm initiating this blog for the Blakely Art Docents.

As an Art Docent, you've signed up to visit the classroom and share your love of art with real, live students! Here you will find resources, links, and answers to FAQ, as well as any other information that seems relevant.

We'll be having a brief meeting at the Blakely Library on October 25 at 9:30am, so please come and bring anyone else who is interested in the program.

Best wishes for a great year!