Caddo Mills students Morgan Backus, Alex Brown, Victoria Arevalo and
                                                  Tyler Brown work on art projects during class Thursday. Many of the students
                                                  were finishing up their initial project — a collage — which teaches several values of art.
                                                 Janelle Stecklein / Herald-Banner Staff
 

News article from the Greenville Herald Banner, September 7, 2007

Art makes a comeback in Caddo Mills

Caddo Mills students Morgan Backus, Alex Brown, Victoria Arevalo and Tyler Brown work on art projects during class Thursday. Many of the students were finishing up their initial project — a collage — which teaches several values of art.

Art makes a comeback in Caddo Mills

By JANELLE STECKLEIN
Herald-Banner Staff
 

CADDO MILLS — The room is abuzz with chatter and students hard at work on their first project.

It had been at least four years since students in Caddo Mills Independent School District have been able to take art classes during school hours, but district officials have decided to change that.

“It’s our hope we will have a well-rounded program for kids, and art is one of the fine art areas we felt we were really missing,” said CMISD Curriculum Director Knel Gandy of the decision to add an art program back into the curriculum.

“I really think the school board and the community wanted art to be a part of our program,” she said.

And if the student’s reactions and enrollment numbers are any indication, it’s been a popular decision.

“I appreciate art,” said senior Tyler Brown, saying when he started his freshman year of high school, he was disappointed when the art program got cut from the curriculum.

When he heard the program was being reinstated, he said he was happy and prioritized as the No. 1 class he wanted to take.

Senior Keli Sanders said she decided to enroll because she needed a class to take before she graduated, but has enjoyed it so far.

“This was cool,” she said pointing to the classes’ first project — a collage composed of strips similarly colored magazine pages that highlight several elements of art — lines, value, color, shape and space.

Junior Morgan Backus said her love of drawing drew her to the class.

“It’s pretty interesting,” she said.

The three are among about 120 high school and middle school students taking art the district’s art classes.

Jeff Jaco, who teaches the classes, says he is thankful for the opportunity to teach art in the district.

“In today’s society, you have a lot of your smaller schools getting away from (art programs),” he said, saying more stress is being put on standardized test scores.

But, Jaco said art programs are “very beneficial” because they add a new dimension to learning beyond just simple reading.

The class motto? “Our society teaches us how to read, but our society doesn’t teach us how to see.”

“Basically, I’m trying to get these kids to figure out who they are inside,” he said. “I’m here for the kids. This is their education not mine.”

He said his goal is to start with the basics and work from there. By the end of the course, he said, students will have done everything from painting and shading to sculpting.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” he said. “I’m excited about being here.”

Getting Involved

A Gift of Love

Fox Football Players Greet their Youngest Fans!

Peer Mediation is now available on campus!

Congratulations ! !

To the UIL Regional Qualifiers

The following students will represent Caddo Mills at the Region 2 UIL Academic Competition on April 11 & 12 at
Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX.

Top L to R:
Kory Rutherford, Jeremy Smith, Zach Frazier, Tyler Brown, Lance James, Chris Mercer, Will White, Mark Al-Shebli
Taylor Westmoreland, Samantha Moran, Ryan Turney, Trey Craig, Austin Davidson
Shelby Plasek, Charles Ratcliff, Mary Garza, Stephanie Garza, LaPrecisha Rector, Cayley White
Victoria Summers, Ashley Davidson, Alicia Morales, Jacob Taylor, Kallie Bost, Kayla Carson
*not pictured Israel Chavarri and Mariah Lang

To the Accounting Team

Caddo Mills Accounting Team placed 1^st Team in the

 District 15AA UIL Meet at

Texas A & M Commerce on March 27, 2008. 

The team will now compete at Tarleton State University

 in Stephenville on April 12, 2008.

 L to R:  Taylor Westmoreland 4^th place, Jeremy Smith 1^st place, Chris Mercer 3^rd place, and Trey Craig 2^nd place.

To the TMSCA Team

On March 15th the Caddo Mills TMSCA Team competed in the State Meet and won the First Place Trophy!!

For complete results for the state meet and other TMSCA meets see the TMSCA webpage

To the CMHS Color Guard