Arts
The Fine Arts Department, consisting of Music, Performing Arts, Digital Art, and Studio Art, educates each student by focusing on the individual discipline and utilizing values established in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education. Students learn how art mirrors a culture and gain appreciation of the artistic contributions of our global community, resulting in a deepened understanding of a variety of cultural perspectives. We teach concepts, skills, and learner traits. Concepts deal with aesthetics, discipline, balance, form, pace, rhythm, perception, and essential ideas. Skills are the mechanics of our disciplines - the manual dexterity of the artist in the studio, the ability to communicate and express ourselves with poise on stage, and the ability to make music with confidence and joy.
The primary goals of the Fine Arts program are to expose the student to a variety of media from each of these disciplines, and to empower the work of creative imagination.
Fine Arts courses place special emphasis on many positive traits; passion and curiosity which drive and motivate us, self-discipline and assurance which allows us to act with courage and resilience in our global community, imagination to see a variety of solutions to a single problem. These concepts, skills, and traits are essential to a well-rounded arts education and a well-rounded life.
Middle School: 5th-8th Grade
Students in fifth and sixth grade take both a Visual and Performance Art course. Students in seventh and eighth grade will have the chance to enroll in a variety of semester-long electives. Below is a list of courses, some offered in rotating years.
Grade Five
The Art of Performance: Introduction to Vocal Techniques & Music Theory
One semester
In this course, fifth-grade students delve into the world of music and discover the fundamentals of vocal techniques. Our comprehensive curriculum includes instruction on proper breathing, enunciation, and singing habits, as well as a basic understanding of music theory and personal presentation strategies. Through practical application, our students hone their skills and create captivating spoken and sung performance art, showcasing their newfound abilities to the world.
Exploring Visual Art: An Introduction to Design Concepts & Art History
One semester
In this course, students will be introduced to a wide variety of art materials and techniques, from drawing and painting to ceramics and more. Along with learning practical skills, students will also study design concepts and global art history. Through experimentation and exploration, students will develop their observation and imagination skills, make creative choices, and learn from their mistakes. Students will also have the opportunity to reflect on their work, with the goal of evolving their artistic abilities throughout the semester.
Grade Six
Performing Arts Ensemble: Foundations of Theatre, Voice, and Movement
One semester
In this immersive performance skills class, students study theatre, spoken word art, and develop effective singing, speaking, and dance techniques. Throughout the semester, students collaborate to design, produce, and perform a holiday concert. Students explore all aspects of performance from the perspectives of performer, director, producer, and costume designer. This course cultivates individual creativity while emphasizing the importance of working as a cohesive ensemble. At the end of the semester, students showcase their skills and artistic talents in a culminating concert.
Exploring Art and Creativity: A Journey Through Design
One semester
In this course, sixth-grade students dive into the world of visual art, where they discover and explore various art materials and techniques. Along with learning about the history and cultural significance of art around the world, students develop an understanding of design concepts such as composition, color theory, and form. Through daily hands-on art-making, students improve their skills of observation and imagination, as well as develop the confidence to make creative choices. Furthermore, students are encouraged to critically reflect upon their work, allowing them to better understand their artistic process and growth.
Grades Seven and Eight
Introduction to Drama: Discovering the Art of Performance
One semester
In Introduction to Drama, students develop an appreciation of theatre and the ability to perform through an introduction to the basic concepts and skills of acting. Through viewing and participating in performance activities, students will enhance imagination, poise, and confidence. Over the course of the semester, students will explore the following topics: actor and theatre vocabulary, pantomime and storytelling, vocal expression, and health, as well as create and cultivate characters through improvised and scripted scenes. Students will develop skills such as: non-verbal communication, vocal flexibility, memorization, script scoring, and collaboration on preparing a polished scene study. Students develop their projects using coaching from their peers and their teacher. At the end of the semester, the class demonstrate their skills by performing a short, memorized scene study with a partner.
Introduction to Ceramics
One semester
In this introductory course, students explore the exciting world of ceramic art. Through a variety of hand-building techniques and experiences on the potter's wheel, students will develop an understanding of the various stages of clay development, planning, construction, glazing, and firing. They will create both functional and decorative clay forms, and learn to analyze their own work as well as the work of others. Through written reflections and art-centered conversations, students will develop an appreciation for the principles of form, function, texture, and balance in ceramic art.
Introduction to Creative Writing
One semester | Please note this course is offered on a rotating basis.
In this semester-long course, students will unleash their creative writing voices. Expanding on the writing skills they’ve developed in their English and writing classes, students will explore the writing process across a variety of creative modes. Students will help construct this workshop-style course through model selection and genre prioritization. While the course will focus on process, feedback, and iteration, it will also include publication and/or performance elements in order to share and celebrate the work of the students. Publication/ performance modes may include blogs, slam style events, or participation in Write the World competitions.
The Art of Public Speaking
One semester | Please note this course is offered on a rotating basis.
In this course, students will learn the art of effective public speaking and develop the confidence and poise necessary to engage and captivate audiences. The curriculum emphasizes practical communication skills that are relevant to real-life scenarios. Through a variety of projects, students will refine their vocal techniques, including proper vocal health and anatomy. The projects for this class involve prepared opportunities for practicing public speaking. Planned projects may include, but are not limited to, formal introductions, reading aloud to a large audience, storytelling, dramatic monologues, debate skills, and poetry recitation.
Foundations of Studio Art
One semester
This course immerses students in the process of creating art and provides them with the opportunity to explore and experiment with different media. Students develop foundational skills in drawing and painting by examining the Elements and Principles of Art and Design. Alongside hands-on artmaking, students contextualize their work within the broader framework of art history, current cultural trends, and global concerns. Through the study of diverse sources of artistic inspiration, students gain confidence in their creative abilities, and incorporate feedback to refine and enhance their work.
Upper School: 9th-12th Grade
Music
Glee
Offered Wednesday mornings. Year-long
Glee is a year-long non-auditioned choir. Over the course of the year students will learn the basics of good singing, presentation skills and different genres of choral music from traditional to pop. The course is focused on building community through singing and developing good basic singing and presentation skills. One highlight of every year is the Composer Workshop where we prepare music of a composer we enjoy and then spend a weekend with that composer exploring their music and creative process.
Chamber Choir
Beginning Handbells
Advanced Handbells
Students in this selective group increase their music reading and performance skills while expanding into areas such as conducting, arranging, and concert planning. In addition to two on-campus evening concerts each year, this class includes several off-campus performances as well as participation in liturgies and school assemblies.
Topics in Music History
Prerequisite: None
Performing Arts
Theater Arts Production
"Here's to the ladies who lunch!" Iconic Women in Musical Theater
Dance
Dance: Technique
This course is offered every other school year. It will be offered again in the 2024-2025 school year.
Students in this course will experience multiple forms of dance through their history, movement vocabulary, and works of choreography. Forms may include Modern/Contemporary, Ballet, Hip Hop, West African, and others. While exploring these forms, students will develop confidence, body awareness, and performance skills, and will have opportunities to choreograph their own works. The material in Dance: Technique is suitable for students with any level of previous dance experience or none, from first-time beginners to advanced dancers! This course satisfies the prior dance experience prerequisite to choreograph for DanceFest.
Dance: The Creative Process
This class is offered in alternate years. It will be offered next in the 2025-26 school year.
Students in this course will experience multiple forms of dance through an exploration of the creative process. During the course, students will build foundational skills in choreography using movement vocabulary from Modern/Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and other forms of dance. Students will develop confidence in movement improvisation and create short solo works, big group dances, and everything in between! No prior dance experience necessary; the material can be tailored to any level of dance background. This course satisfies the prior dance experience prerequisite to choreograph for DanceFest.
Studio Art
Inspired by Nature
Offered during X bin
Explore your creativity by making art inspired by natural forms. We will look at both 2-D and 3-D contemporary artists’ work and create our own ceramics and mixed media art based on characteristics of nature.
Fun with Forms
Artists play with forms to both imitate nature and bring their own ideas to life. In this class we will build both 2-D and 3-D forms in the mediums of ceramics, paint, printmaking, and mixed media.
Tantalizing Textures
Artists use texture to enhance our experience of surfaces creating added movement and excitement. Join this fun collaborative arts class and explore both 2-D and 3-D surface design concepts in clay and mixed media.
The Magic of Color
Color is like music to the soul. In this fun class we will explore the dynamics of color and color combinations to create expressive and vibrant artworks. Students will work in the mediums of ceramics, painting, and printmaking.
Playing with Patterns
2D/3D Art Foundations
2D/3D Intermediate Art is the second level of the ceramics/drawing and painting collaborative course. Students will continue to build on their understanding of the elements and principles of art and design through studying contemporary and historical art traditions. We will work in the mediums of clay, pencil, pen, charcoal, pastels, watercolor, paper-cutting, collage and printmaking. Both observational and inventive approaches will be used so that students can deepen their skills as they create individual, expressive and powerful work.
2D/3D Intermediate Art
2D/3D Intermediate Art is the second level of the ceramics/drawing and painting collaborative course. Students will continue to build on their understanding of the elements and principles of art and design through studying contemporary and historical art traditions. We will work in the mediums of clay, pencil, pen, charcoal, pastels, watercolor, paper-cutting, collage and printmaking. Both observational and inventive approaches will be used so that students can deepen their skills as they create individual, expressive and powerful work.
Advanced Studio Art
Advanced Ceramics
This course provides the opportunity for students to move beyond the foundational skills of throwing and hand-building, allowing them to design and create assignments focused on originality and personal style. Students will work independently in the Ceramics studio as they experience the “life” of a Ceramic artist. Students will design and create both functional and non-functional ware while taking their skills to the next level.
Sacred Art
Many of the greatest masterpieces known to humankind were created out of a desire to understand, celebrate, and share an understanding or connection to the divine. Students will both study the various eras of Christian art (Early Christian, Celtic, Baroque, etc.), and produce their own piece of art for each unit, focusing on themes such as art as sacramentals, sacred space and architecture, as well as sacred symbolism seen throughout history. Students may earn credit for either a Fine Arts or Religion class.
Collaborations in Art and History
Join this fun class where we will study the history of creative collaboration and team up with classmates to build group produced works of art. In this Art/Social Studies joint class we will practice partnership building skills, while working in the mediums of drawing, painting, papercutting, and sculpture.
*Course offerings are based on student interest and minimum enrollment requirements; therefore, some classes listed may not be offered every school year.