Every Columbia Falls Junior High art student anticipates completing an extended learning project during eighth grade.

Art teacher Dave Ritter calls it a “rite of passage” for the students. A different group of students complete the project over six to seven weeks each quarter. The projects are put on display in the upper hallway of the school. Ritter said he was impressed by the high-level of skill shown recently in the projects by his third quarter classes.

Some of the recent projects were a driftwood horse, carved wood chains, life-size gum container, and a few paintings.

The students create a suspended, free-standing or hanging project using any medium or material they choose, but it has to be a large scale project. It’s a long homework project.

The projects are completed entirely outside of class, although some documentation is done in class. The students write blog posts about the process throughout the month and a half. Some of the students get to work on the project with their parents by collecting materials or finding solutions when a part of the project doesn’t turn out, but for the most part they’re on their own.

Ritter said that one of the stipulations of being hired at the school four years ago was that he continue the “large projects.” He didn’t realize what he was becoming a part of until he started working with the students. Diane Marsh, Cami Bowler and Jennifer Stone started the project at the junior high several years ago.

The past few years of projects and blogs are online.