Break out the paint brushes because art class is being offered again at Newton High School after more than 15 years.
On Wednesday, the past met the present as former art teacher Dottie Armstrong returned to her classroom to welcome Sondra Hamilton, who will be teaching NHS’s art class.
“I’m absolutely thrilled they’re able to bring it back,” she said. “It does so much for the students.”
Hamilton, who taught art for 10 years in Laurel, said students are rushing to enroll in her classes. Already, she said she is teaching three classes, two with 17 students and one with 20 students.
The students are currently learning how to break complicated pictures down into grids, focusing on one area at a time to create detailed works. Over the next nine months, Hamilton said she would be taking the students through the basics of drawing, painting and creating works of art from a variety of different mediums to prepare them for art competitions held throughout the year.
“I already have my eye on a few that I’d like to do,” she said.
In Laurel, Hamilton said, she taught Art 1 and Art 2 classes. Art 1 covered terminology and the basics different mediums. Art 2, she said, was a more advanced class where students produced competition-worthy pieces. In time, she said she would like to do something similar with her Newton students.
Newton Municipal School District Superintendent Glenda Nickson said the district was glad to be able to bring the class back for its students.
“This is the first time art has been offered in over 15 years,” she said. “We’re so excited to be able to offer art again to our students.”
