Exploring talents, developing self-expression, making connections - that's what the arts program at Presidio Hill School is all about. An invaluable part of each student's experience, the arts are an integral part of school life as witnessed by the many art shows, performances and musical experiences taking place throughout the school year.
Each discipline follows its own curriculum, but is also integrated into the wider curriculum at each grade level. In sixth through eighth grade, students enjoy an arts rotation, allowing time for more in-depth study of each area of the arts: music, art, and performance/drama.
Visual Arts
With the general philosophy that everyone is an artist, the visual arts program challenges each child to grow and explore various media. Curriculum at appropriate development levels includes the process of making art, aestheticism and art history. All students encounter drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, sculpture, collage, assemblage and textile arts.
The visual arts program at all grade levels, complements other academic areas of the Presidio Hill School curriculum; projects may take the form of Roman mosaics, Egyptian statues, Arabic calligraphy or American quilting. Exposure to various art forms and artistic creations allow students to see similarities and differences within our diverse, multicultural world.
Visual Arts Feature:
The Peace Mosaic
Music
In doing song-based musical activities, students learn to appreciate and participate in music. Musical activities, games, discussions, and songs create a space for many forms of expression. As students progress in grade level, musical skills grow to include ear-training, use of dynamics, and performance, while they are also introduced to music terminology. Students explore music history through recordings, which enhance their connection to a large, multicultural world. They also learn the importance of practice and rehearsal in order to prepare for the two major school-wide performances, the winter Follies and spring May Festival.
Performance/Creative Drama
Weekly performance classes are designed to engage children's bodies, minds, and creative spirits. Theatrical games and improvisational exercises help students become comfortable with being seen and heard, trusting their creative impulses, and expressing themselves clearly and dynamically. Grades 3 through 5 focus on ensemble and character work. Students in sixth through eighth grade develop a high level of comfort and confidence on the stage by working with spontaneity, creativity, and expressing authentic emotion through personal stories.