Palo Alto High School’s glassblowing program is adding an eighth-period class and will now be open to all students, including eighth graders, starting this semester.
According to glassblowing teacher Michael Da Ponte, the new period will be a good way to reach more students and help them prepare for their Career and Technical Education credits beyond junior year.
“We’re going to do more CTE-focused stuff, so a little bit more technical glassblowing skills, color applications, like mold blowing,” Da Ponte said. “I also wanted to reach out to the eighth graders and the younger kids to get them to come in and just hang out and get to know the studio as a way to hopefully pull them into our classes when they’re freshmen.”
The class as of now will be Wednesdays after school and will focus on glassblowing fundamentals. According to Da Ponte, while many view glassblowing as a hobby, it’s also a potential career path.
“It’s a really cool way for kids to have a more professional approach to what this is,” Da Ponte said. “Teaching them artmaking is fun, but this is something that you could actually do. These skills are something you could use to get a job as a production glass maker or whatever.”
According to sophomore Dalia Saal, she is looking forward to the after-school opportunity to try glassblowing.
“I’m really excited to be able to learn how to consistently make cool glass sculptures and be able to take it after school too with kids who are also interested in class.”
Senior and current glassblowing student Oliver Rasmussen said he is looking forward to being able to get more time perfecting the art with the additional after-school session.
“I’m most excited for an opportunity to grow as an artist and work with my peers because I think it’s a really fun place to be and it’s a real honor to have the opportunity to spend more time there,” Rasmussen said.
