Paul Abrahamsen; Art - Blenheim Elementary Middle School

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Paul Abrahamsen and I am the art teacher at Blenheim Elementary Middle School. I received my BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. I have worked professionally in graphic art related fields for over 30 years before returning to school for a MAT (Master in the Art of Teaching) from Lander university in Greenwood, South Carolina.

I am excited to be not only pursuing my passion for the arts but also passing on that passion or at least a deeper appreciation for the arts, to your students. The art room is the incubator for exploring, developing and fine tuning the creative and problem solving skills your students will need as they move into the twenty first century.

I look forward to getting to know your students and passing on a passion and also learning valuable life lessons from them. The classroom is a two way street and I think I learn as much from my students as they learn from me.

Thank you for the tremendous opportunity to be an instrumental part of your students lives. It is a privilege and responsibility that I take very seriously.

Class schedule

Monday through Friday - 8:00 - 9:10 7th grade art
Monday through Friday - 9:12 - 10:22 8th grade art
Monday - 11:30 - 12:30 2nd grade art 2-1 Ms. McRae
Monday - 12:30 - 1:30 3rd grade art Ms. Chmeiloski

Tuesday - 8:00 - 9:10 7th grade art
Tuesday - 9:12 - 10:22 8th grade art
Tuesday - 11:30 - 12:30 PreK art - Ms. Hepburn
Tuesday - 12:30 - 1:30 5th grade art - Ms. Rogers

Wednesday - 8:00 - 9:10 7th grade art
Wednesday - 9:12 - 10:22 8th grade art
Wednesday - 8:00 - 9:10 1st grade art - Ms. Phillips
Wednesday - 9:12 - 10:22 4th grade art - Ms. Dines

Thursday - 8:00 - 9:10 7th grade art
Thursday - 9:12 - 10:22 8th grade art
Thursday - 11:30 - 12:30 2nd grade art - 2-2 Ms. McRae
Thursday - 12:30 - 1:30 3rd grade art - Ms. K. Covington

Friday - 8:00 - 9:10 7th grade art
Friday - 9:12 - 10:22 8th grade art
Friday - 11:30 - 12:30 Kindergarten - Ms. Roberts
Friday - 12:30 - 1:30 EC - Ms. Hall & Ms. Johnson

Early Release Schedule

8:00 - 8:45 - 7th Grade
8:47 - 9:32 - 8th Grade
9:35 - 10:15 - Primary (grades preK - 2nd)
10:15 - 10:55 - Elementary (grades 3 - 5)

(The classes that come to me during primary and elementary times depends on the day we implement the early release schedule; Tuesday, the classes scheduled to come to me on Tuesday would come to me.)

Purpose and Mission

My purpose in teaching art is farther reaching than just presenting a content area. I have grown to truly care about these students and desire to see them build strong life skills. What we do at school is about building successful adults, those who are positive and productive citizens within their communities. I desire to be an example of consistency and build a safe learning environment for them.

I have a deep passion for visual arts and the arts in general. I believe art is where the student develops critical thinking and problem solving skills. I believe art is where we can start connecting the seemingly random dots of this world we live in. Not only is art intimately connected with all the other content areas that the students have to study, art affects virtually every decision they make as they go through their day from the decisions they make in what they put on & wear each morning to what they eat and how they decorate their personal spaces.

If the studennts can be successful in the art studio it will positively effect their success in all their other content areas.