The Arts

middle school media arts teacher standing outside with two middle school students looking down at the back of two dslr cameras
upper school production of Raold Dahl's musical Matilda; matilda's mom and dad chastising Matilda in foreground and her brother in background not paying attending looking at smartphone
3 preschoolers facing viewer sitting at wooden table, 2 students wearing eye protection and 1 student wearing noise cancelling headphones using woodworking hand tools on small pieces of wood
2 seated fifth graders in lower school music classroom playing wooden brown xylophones with mallets.
three middle school students in foreground of woodshop; 2 boys in blue t-shirt and hoodie using mallets to hit piece of wood in vice; 1 girl looking to the left with purple beanie hat and hoodie
upper school rock band class two seated students playing guitar and one student in background standing and singing into microphone

The arts play a crucial role in student learning, from preschool through senior year. Students observe and appreciate the world around them, expressing ideas through various artistic mediums.

Beginning & Lower School Arts Program

beginning school art teacher leondra bracket discussing print projects with 8 seated beginning school students around two large rectangualar tables placed together
6 seated and standing lower school students in art class with lower school art teacher teresa perrin holding up ceramic animal scuptures
Six 4th graders performing leap year day musical in cabell theater
lower school woodshop teacher ric fry helping two third graders on their wood boat sketches; all 3 people standing and looking down at desk with papers

In the Beginning School, students explore music and visual arts as a way to express ideas, build community, and engage in creative play. Singing, movement, and art-making foster empathy, collaboration, and confidence, while students learn to share their work and reflect on their creative process.

In the Lower School, students expand their artistic skills through music, visual arts, drama, dance, and creative movement. The program emphasizes experimentation, craftsmanship, and collaboration, with projects often integrated across subjects and inspired by diverse cultures and artistic traditions.

Middle School Arts Program

middle school music teacher standing on left side of classroom facing around 10 seated middle school students playing xylophones
arts studio classroom with large tables; middle school arts teacher seated next to student looking down at iPad on table; 3 other students in background working on projects
middle school production of where the wild things are in black box theater; group of middle school students wearing all black swinging lime green scarves and character max in monster costume
close up of two middle school students looking downward—one holding a woodshop project while the other holding a small hand saw above it.

In Middle School, students deepen their ability to express ideas and perspectives through the arts while building technical skills and confidence. Through courses in music, visual arts, woodshop, theater, and media arts, students explore a range of disciplines and develop their own creative voice.

Students regularly perform, present, and collaborate across mediums, learning to make intentional artistic choices and connect their work to broader cultural and social themes.

Upper School Arts Program

upper school visual arts studio classroom; upper school arts teacher chris mateer working with standing student on a screenprint project.
two upper school students facing each other wearing protective face shields using woodworking lathes on projects
Upper School and Middle School Choirs and Chamber Music performing at The Grotto Festival of Lights with upper school music teacher judy rose in front singing in microphone
3 upper school students; one standing on step stool drilling holes into an interactive art haunted house exhibit; one looking up at drilling student; one in lower right background in profile
upper school ceramics class studio; group of students seated and making clay pots on electric wheels; one student standing working on ceramic project

In the Upper School, students pursue increasingly specialized and interdisciplinary work across visual and performing arts, including areas such as design, video production, theater production, podcasting, and music. They explore connections between art, technology, and social impact while developing advanced technical and creative skills.

Students have opportunities to lead productions, create original work, and build portfolios for college or continued study. Across all disciplines, the arts strengthen communication, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.