Rachel Carson Middle School
13618 Mclearen Rd.
Herndon, VA 20171
703.925.3600
https://carsonms.fcps.edu/
Art Extensions 2024-25 Course Syllabus
Ms. Ciancarelli
703-925-3735
mcciancarell@fcps.edu
Course Objectives:
Explore a variety of art materials, develop art techniques, and use creative thinking skills to express
ideas about personal experiences and the surrounding world. Produce meaningful and unique
drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics and crafts in a studio setting. Study both classic and
contemporary artists and their works to gain an understanding of the artistic process and learn about
art produced at different times and in diverse cultures. Make interdisciplinary connections based on
the Virginia Standards of Learning and Fairfax County Program of Studies. VDOE Standards of
Learning describe the expectations for student learning and achievement. The link below will provide you
access to the current VDOE Standards of Learning.
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/fine-arts/visual-arts
● Further develop artists’ art skills incorporating the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.
● Further develop artists’ Portrait of a Graduate attributes of Creative and Critical Thinking, Collaboration,
Communication, Ethical and Global Citizen, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.
● Successfully plan for complex art projects, including more advanced materials and processes.
● Execute and adjust a self-directed plan to create a complete body of artwork based on artists’ choice.
● Individually create and design a Digital Portfolio to capture the semester’s work.
● Confidently self-reflect on art to identify areas of success and improvement.
● Effective teamwork and communication during art critique and criticism.
Units of Study:
Our topics and units of study for the year are as follows:
● Elements of Art review
● Drawing
● Ceramics
● Painting
● Text
● Colored Pencil
Grading and Reporting:
Performance and mastery-based grading is an effective way to give feedback and evaluate students’
performances using clearly defined criteria for specific learning objectives and standards.
Grading Scale:
Grades will reflect a student’s achievement and will communicate student progress and performances as
outlined in the table below (FCPS Grading Scale)
Achievement Definition/Description 100 Pt. Grade
Level Scale
Mastery Designates the status of a student who consistently 93-100 A
demonstrates accurate and complete knowledge of content
and skills specified in the FCPS Program of Studies (POS)
and applies that knowledge to think and solve problems in 90-92 A-
a variety of settings.
Approaching Designates the status of a student who demonstrates 87-89 B+
Mastery knowledge of content and skills specified in the FCPS POS,
with some improvement needed in accuracy and/or 83-86 B
consistency in performance, applying that knowledge to
think and solve problems in a variety of settings. 80-82 B-
Proficient Designates the status of a student who demonstrates 77-79 C+
knowledge of basic content and skills specified in the FCPS
POS, but requires additional practice and instructional 73-76 C
experiences to acquire the skills necessary to think and
solve problems. 70-72 C-
Approaching Designates the status of a student who needs significant 67-69 D+
Proficiency practice and instructional experiences to acquire the
knowledge of basic content and skills specified in the FCPS
POS necessary to think and solve problems. As a final 63-66 D
mark, it is not necessarily sufficient to meet the prerequisite
requirements. 60-62 D-
Not Proficient Designates the status of a student who has not 50-59 F
demonstrated the basic knowledge of content and/or skills
specified in the FCPS POS and requires additional practice
and instructional experiences in order to succeed.
Grades and assessments are entered into the gradebooks as follows.
Grading & Assessments
Summative Assessments (Tests, Projects, Labs, Essays, Local Alternative Assessments, Authentic Tasks)
● Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning, skill
70% acquisition, and academic achievement at the conclusion of a defined
instructional period.
● Retakes: Students can attempt to retake any summative
assessment/assignment one time for which they score less than 100% of
which the task was assigned. Students will complete an intervention activity,
assignment, or task assigned by the teacher prior to the retake opportunity.
● Late Work: Students can complete a summative assessment/assignment up
to 2 weeks following the due date.
Formative Assessments (Warm-ups, Homework, Exit tickets, Classwork, Quizzes, Journal entries)
● Formative assessments are designed to center on practice
30 % ● Retakes: No retakes will be offered for formative assessments
● Late Work: Students can turn in formative assessments/assignments up to 2
weeks from the due date.
● Homework will be limited to 25 minutes per class block
(Homework is able to count up to 10% of the grade in the formative
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assessment category)
Teachers will make every attempt to enter and update grades in the gradebook a week after the completion of
the assessment .
RCMS comment codes communicate performance and progress on all assignments and tasks in the
gradebook. Missing or not graded assignments will be communicated using the following codes. A minimum
grade of 50% will be given for all reasonable attempts (reasonable attempts are when a student submits an
assignment with some evidence that an attempt was made to demonstrate knowledge or an understanding).
SIS Code Comment Description Calculated Grade
Mi Missing Assignment is missing 0%
NTI Not Turned in Replaces Mi after 2 weeks to indicate no 0%
evidence of work or progress and is no
longer accepted and a grade of a 0 was
awarded.
Exc Excused Student is excused from the assignment No impact on grade.
T Turned in but not graded Assignment turned in but it has not yet been No impact on grade.
graded.
MG Minimum Grade Student has made a reasonable attempt on 50%
an assignment and scored below 50%.
LA Late Student submitted work after the due date No impact on grade
published
Schoology and Technology Use: Carson MS uses Schoology as the student learning platform. Additionally,
many teachers will use a range of web-based resources and applications. Expectations for technology use:
● Chromebooks will be used to support student learning during instruction. Students will not be
permitted to use chromebooks for gaming or unauthorized use.
● Students will need to provide their own wired earbuds as wireless and bluetooth earbuds (airpods,
beats, Bose quiet pods, etc.) are not permitted during the instructional school day.
● As outlined in the FCPS middle school cell phone policy, students may use their cell phones before
school and after school only. Phones will remain in their lockers during the day.
Academic Dishonesty/Cheating/Plagiarism
If a student engages in cheating or plagiarism, students will be allowed to retake the summative assessment
(tests, projects, etc.) with the ability to earn up to 90% (following retake procedures) and the violation of the
honor code and behavior referral will be submitted to the student’s administrator.
Teacher Support
Teacher support will be available during class return periods and for one dedicated day after school each
week. After school and late bus days are Monday through Thursday. For planning, I am available afterschool
on Mondays.
Contact Information:
My email address is mcciancarell@fcps.edu Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I check my
email regularly and will make every attempt to respond within 24 hours.
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I look forward to having you in class this year!
Ms. C
