Middle School Arts & Design
The Philosophy
The Arts & Design Department plays a vital role in helping students make sense of the world and their place within it. Through visual art, design, music, and performance, students explore how human beings communicate ideas, emotions, and experiences—often in ways that words alone cannot. Artistic and design practices teach students how ideas are formed, expressed, tested, and revised, building skills that extend far beyond the studio or stage and into every academic discipline and future pathway.
The Goal
Our courses provide structured opportunities for students to create, perform, reflect, and refine. Students learn to work through uncertainty, take creative risks, and develop confidence in their ability to shape meaning—whether through an image, a performance, a composition, or a designed solution. These experiences cultivate empathy, adaptability, and voice, helping students become thoughtful makers, collaborators, and communicators who engage the human experience with intention and care.
The Arts & Design department provides opportunities for students to practice:
- Creative Self-Expression & Exposure to the Arts: Courses that invite students to explore and communicate their ideas through artistic practice, while also engaging with artistic traditions, histories, and cultures. Instruction balances training techniques with experimentation, ensuring students both build discipline and discover their voices.
- Design Thinking: Courses that cultivate problem-solving as a creative habit of mind, emphasizing iteration, research, testing, and collaboration. Instruction balances structured frameworks with emergent learning in a sandbox environment, where experimentation and play allow students to adapt and innovate.
6th Grade Art
Open to: Grade 6
ixth Grade Visual Art invites students into the creative world of art-making through drawing, painting, and sculpture. Students will explore the Elements of Art and Principles of Design while learning how artists across cultures and time have used these concepts to communicate ideas. From the symbolic geometry of mandalas to the playful imagination of Surrealist sculpture, students will discover how art reflects both history and personal expression. They will learn that mistakes are not failures—they are opportunities for discovery. The goal is to inspire confidence, creativity, and curiosity in every young artist.
7th Grade Art
Open to: Grade 7
In this gamified seventh-grade visual art course, students embark on a thrilling journey through an imaginary pirate world, exploring various art-making techniques through independent exploration and collaboration. Building upon the sixth-grade experience, the curriculum promotes self-expression and creative problem-solving as students hunt for Captain McSkalawag and his stolen art treasures. Throughout their adventures, students deepen their understanding of art history and the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. The final third of the course is dedicated to choice-based art explorations, allowing students to integrate their own ideas and interests into their creations.
Introduction to Musical Theatre
Open to: Grade 6
This comprehensive course provides students with an in-depth exploration of the theatrical process, guiding them from audition through rehearsals to a culminating performance of a one-act musical presented to their peers. Emphasizing collaboration and ensemble work, the course fosters essential skills such as teamwork, creative expression, and professional conduct in a theatrical setting. Students will develop foundational skills in singing, choreography, blocking, and stage terminology, alongside projection, diction, and character development. Through this immersive experience, students will build confidence and artistry while gaining a thorough understanding of musical theatre production.
Music and our Daily Lives
Open to: Grade 7
The focus of the seventh grade music class is to explore the ways music presents itself in our daily life. We do this through a series of units, each with its own comprehensive project. Students will work individually and in groups to make original commercial jingles, create podcasts about historical rock & roll and jazz musicians, film and score their own movies, and much more in an effort to discover just how big a role music plays in their everyday lives.
Drama
Open to: Grade 8
Eighth grade Drama introduces students to various theater games and techniques in acting. Students will discover aspects of theater such as concentration and focus, ensemble work, pantomime, playwriting, directing, improvisation, stage movement, emotion, memorization, character and script interpretation.
Middle School Chorus
Open to: Grades 6-8
All middle school students are welcomed and encouraged to join chorus, regardless of how much singing experience they might have. Music specifically composed for middle school voices, interests, and talents will be presented publicly at winter and spring concerts. Our goal is to nurture a lifelong love of music while teaching healthy vocal techniques. Offered as an Exploration option.
Middle School Musical
Open to: Grades 7-8
Seventh and eighth graders may also choose to participate in the middle school musical in the spring. All who are interested in participating will get to join in on the fun! The rehearsals typically take place after school from 3:30 – 5:15 p.m. and during Exploration Block. Students who participate in the musical can also participate in sports. Offered as an Exploration option.
Middle School Instrumental Ensemble
Open to: Grades 6-8
All middle school students with interest and/or experience on wind, brass or percussion instruments are encouraged to join the Middle School Instrumental Ensemble. Our goal is to nurture a love of ensemble playing and musicianship. Offered as an Exploration option.
Middle School Advanced Ensemble
Open to: Grades 6-8
More advanced players (with 2 or more years of experience on their instruments) are encouraged to continue their musical development by playing with their peers. Students will meet to play music. Often this group is split into smaller ensembles based on their musical interests (e.g. jazz vs classical, etc.). Offered as an Exploration option.
