Finland Middle School Visual Arts

It's my privilege and honor to post this yearly. 10 years ago I started this to honor William, known as Boo to his closest ones.

It starts in 7th grade. As my students grow over the 2 years here at Finland Middle, I watch, listen and learn about them. I seek to find students that are the embodiment of William's spirit. This comes in the form of lifting other up, using their art to better someone else, and to stand up for others from bullying.

The numbers started to grow over the years, so I started adding to this by picking a total of 5 students each year. 4 of them get an Art Award. This year, McKenna stood out among the finalist and her name has been added to the plaque.

Congratulations to all!

Every year this has been taken down in the spring and put back up in the fall. I don't need to but I have done so to ensure of the plague's safety.

Today is the first day back for teachers and so, I put up the plague with its new name added for all the new students this year to see.

For all the past Vikings, I hope life has been treating you well. For all my current Vikings, I wish you the best this year and I look forward to the best year yet!

Go Vikings!

Such a fun day at Finland today!

As the new school year is about to start (2nd year at the new building), I wanted to share our newest award winner for the William Scarberry Award. It's amazing how year after year, I can see the spirit of William in other students time and time again. Here is to a great year Vikings!

As the new school is still being worked on, there has been placed a limit to hanging stuff on main walls.

The art room though has its own display wall right at the top of the main stairs for me to show off student class work and work created outside school.

Today, I took the time to hang the William Scarberry Award, with the 2022 winner plate fresh off the presses. There was a sense of completion to know William is part of the new school now too.

The 117 sign is from the old FMS art room and the screen print, created by Max Fout, one of the previous FMS art teachers, is also hung as we held our candlelight vigil for William in that exact spot.

Good to see our old friend is still around for a little bit longer, but now to set up the new classroom!

I stopped by FMS and they are finally tearing down the building.

There are some bricks piled just behind where my car is parked if you want one.

So long FMS! So many memories made there over the years!

When the building is being torn down, you allow the students to paint the walls. This should have been done years ago as it finally feels like an art room! Haha

Have a great summer FMS! See you in the new building for 2022-2023.

This is the last time this will look like this. Decor is coming down. Things are going to be packed up.

To all the students that made memories here, please know that I value the moments made here at this old building.

If you didn't know, a final walk through is open the public.

https://facebook.com/events/s/finlands-final-walkthrough/344597284321890/

For all those that have qalked the halls of FMS, the school is having a final walkthrough open to the public.

https://fb.me/e/1zFShBhVt

That moment when the new art room is reflecting the morning sun into the current art room!