FAC Weekly Update
August 11, 2023
Good Afternoon, FAC Family
What an amazing week! It has been such a thrill to have our students in the building, and we can already tell that this is going to be a phenomenal school year. After a week of reviewing syllabi, going over procedures, and meeting as a group to discuss our goals, we are ready to dig into learning and growing together.
Here’s the latest from the halls of the FAC…
This Week's Student Leadership Lesson
3-2-1: Starting vs. finishing, and the value of trying differently
James Clear is the author of Atomic Habits - a New York Times bestseller that has sold over 15 million copies. He puts out a fantastic newsletter each Thursday called, "3-2-1 Thursday." Here is an excerpt from this week's release:
"I recently found a box filled with notes I wrote to myself years ago. I like this one:
1. Know what you want.
2. Go after it relentlessly."
"You're more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder. You might be able to work 10% harder, but a different approach might work 10x better. Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don't merely try harder, try differently."
"First or last?
Sometimes the first move is the most important. The first set in the gym. Now you're working out. The first sentence. Now you're writing. The first call. Now you're in the game.
Other times, the last move is the most important. The last brick. Now the building is built. The last line of code. Now the app works. The last round of revisions. Now you can ship it.
What do you need to focus on right now? First or last? Do you need to start or finish?"
Student Meetings with FAC Administration
To ensure that we are all on the same page with our FAC Core Values, expectations, and areas of focus, FAC Administration meets with all students in the 8:00, 9:15, and 1:25 class sessions. Our focus for the school year is building resilience in our students and school community. Please click on the following link to view the slide presentation - https://drive.google.com/file/d/18AstaR5d0iM85u_mUsIgWwlnct99lu0K/view?usp=sharing.
After School Studio Time
After school studio time will begin on Monday, August 14. Not all FAC studios offer studio time, and students and parents/guardians need to return the signed and completed studio time forms to instructors before students can begin studio time. Please refer to page 29 of our Student/Parent Handbook for full information on Studio Time. After school studio time is available until 5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. As a courtesy to our staff, parents must be on time to pick up their child.
Tardy Procedures
At the Fine Arts Center, we want to develop good work habits in our students. Being on time for work is critical to success. Chronic tardiness has a damaging effect on the growth of a student. For example, a student who is 10 minutes late each day of the school year will miss a total of 1.5 weeks of instruction that year. All students who arrive late to the their class session must check in at the Security Desk to obtain a pass.
There are only two (2) reasons for an excused tardy:
Late bus - students are expected to report to the Security Desk to obtain a pass. Students must tell the personnel on staff either their bus or their route number.
Note from Administrator/Attendance Clerk
Other reasons such as oversleeping, car trouble, and delays in traffic are not excused tardies.
3 tardies per school year - notification sent home to parent
6 tardies per school year - referral; suspension of parking pass for 1 month (if applicable);
8 tardies per school year - final warning; student placed on Probationary Status and is in risk of losing privilege to attend the FAC
9 tardies per school year - student loses the privilege to attend the FAC, removed from the program at the end of the semester
FAC Green Artists
Are you interested in helping to make Greenville a better, cleaner, more beautiful place? Would you like to spend some quality time outdoors, earning volunteer credit hours, and making new friends? Fine Arts Center’s Green Artists Club is an extracurricular environmental awareness/conservation group, dedicated to improving and beautifying our surroundings.
Current projects include our Adopt-A-Highway program, as well as afternoon trips to Conestee Nature Preserve, where the Green Artists eradicate invasive plants such as kudzu, that choke out our native plant species. The group would also like to seek partnerships with local environmental groups, such as Friends of the Reedy River.
The group is currently collecting names and email addresses of all who are interested, and would like to set up a meeting soon after school. If you are interested in learning more or joining the group, please contact Music Theory instructor Richard Young at rwyoung@greenvilleschools.us.
FAC Parent Guild
FAC Parents,
With school underway, it’s time for our annual FAC Parent Guild Membership drive. Whether you’ve been a member in the past or your family is brand new to the school, we hope you’ll join the Guild this year! The Parent Guild is a group of parents, just like you, who help support and show appreciation for the faculty, staff, and students in all programs at the FAC. We coordinate volunteers for student performances, collect funds to host events like staff appreciation week, and assist Mr. Popat in programs such as student appreciation days.
Our membership drive is in full force, and we need you! Please fill out the membership form at: Join the FAC Partners Parent Guild (google.com). The suggested membership fee is $25 – you can send a check to the front office or pay via Venmo to @FACParentGuild in the Business Section. We’re having a drawing for a fantastic merchandise gift basket on September 1st. Every dollar spent on your membership is one entry into our drawing! Winner to be announced in the September 2nd newsletter.
If you don’t have time to help us right now, that’s OK. Just like your previous schools’ Parent-Teacher groups, we’ll send out notices of what we need and when, and you can donate time, talent or funds when it works for you.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We’re looking forward to a great school year!
- Niki Peters (FACPG Membership and Volunteers) nikidpeters3@gmail.com
- Kathy Hennessy (FACPG Treasurer) kathy.hennessy@att.net
FAC Students Performing in the Community
High School Musical - Greer Children's Theater
Come on out and support the following FAC students as they perform in the Green Children's Theater production of High School Musical.
- Alexis Belknap (FAC Theatre)
- Elizabeth Clegg (FAC Voice)
- Jonathan Coffee (FAC Voice)
- Keegan Davis (FAC Theatre and Percussion)
- Ellie Hambrook (FAC Theatre Design and Production)
- Reese Humphries (FAC Voice)
- Alejandra Murillo-Rios (FAC Voice)
- Benjamin Turner (FAC Theatre)
- Mallory Webb (FAC Voice)
Show dates are August 11-13 and 18-20. For more information, please go to https://www.greerculturalarts.com/greer-childrens-theatre.html#/.
Is your child performing in the Greenville community?
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
Visual Arts Artist-in-Residence: William Downs
The Fine Arts Center is proud to host William Downs for a Visual Arts Residency during the week of August 21. William is an award-winning contemporary American artist who resides in Atlanta, GA. A graduate of the Fine Arts Center, he received his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He is represented by Sandler Hudson Gallery in Atlanta and was chosen by Artadia as their 2018 Atlanta awardee and by MOCA GA WAP (Working Artist Project) for 2020. William has had his work exhibited across the country, and will wrap up his FAC residency with an artist talk on Thursday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sutherlin Recital Hall.
- Thursday, August 10 - Sunday, August 13 - South Carolina New Play Festival
- Monday, August 21-Friday, August 25 - Visual Arts Artist-in-Residence: William Downs
- Thursday, August 24 - William Downs Artist Talk; 6:00 p.m., Sutherlin Recital Hall
- Monday, August 28 - Friday, September 1 - Dance Artist-in-Residence: Miguel Perez
- Monday, September 4 - No School; Labor Day
Helpful Links
Fine Arts Center - Greenville County Schools
Preparing dedicated students for 21st-century careers through rigorous, pre-professional arts training in a dynamic, inclusive, collaborative learning community.
Core Values
Creativity
Respect
Grit
Identity
Connection
Email: vpopat@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: https://www.fineartscenter.net
Location: 102 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC, USA
Phone: (864) 355-2550
Twitter: @FACGreenville