Perry’s fine arts department offers a variety of options for talented students to expand their horizons and sharpen their abilities. From beginning to AP classes, all students of all skills have the opportunity to pursue their passion. Unfortunately for aspiring photographers, the highest class currently available they can take is ‘advanced’ or ‘commercial.’ Luckily, the 2017-2018 school year is bringing in a new elective AP photo class, titled “AP Studio Art: 2-D Design Portfolio”

However, the name of the course is misleading. The CUSD course catalog defines its goal to “allow students to demonstrate their ability to deal with the fundamental concerns of the visual arts.” Assistant principal Joe Greene explains “it’s a 2-D art, which encompasses a lot of mediums, so it can be drawing, or it can be photography.”

Photography teacher Elizabeth Tompkins says that her and drawing and painting teacher Lorena DeCristofaro will “peel the class apart into photo and art.” Tompkins will take a photography approach, and DeCristofaro will take a drawing approach.

The photo version of the class will give the students the opportunity to advance their skills and submit their best photos to the AP Collegeboard. Greene says this is huge for some students, in that it gives them the chance to take a weighted class they are actually passionate about.

According to DeCristofaro, her art approach will include the digital manipulation of photos, and the incorporation of drawing or painting onto student photography.

When the student portfolios are sent to College Board for AP grading, Tompkins explains how each piece will be graded: “They have people who are experts in drawing and in photo, and the students that are sending their portfolios out for AP credit will get evaluated by somebody who specializes in that area.”

Greene believes this new option will benefit students wishing to “pursue another avenue” and “enhances our offerings here and makes us a more versatile school.”