Arts

Visual Arts Classes

Lower School

In the Lower School visual arts program, a variety of 2-D and 3-D media are presented as students explore the creative process through drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, fiber arts, etc. Primer-4th grade students have one 40 minute class each week. Visiting artists present special programs during the year for each grade, where students create individual projects. Students practice basic art skills and techniques each year while learning to apply the elements and principles of design to express their ideas, experiences, and imagination.

The PYP Units of Inquiry provide a relevant and authentic context in the art curriculum for students to respond creatively through media to classroom topics.  At each grade level, students investigate artists, artworks, and cultures. They learn about the purposes of art in the past and present. They recognize many different kinds of art and participate in making informed judgments about artworks. Fourth graders present a weekly Art Review to the school audience. Art Club, an extracurricular opportunity, is available to 3rd and 4th graders after school on once a week.

Middle School

The Middle School Art curriculum is designed to engage students in art through a concentrated study of  drawing, collage, self-portrait, painting, and clay. In addition to building art-making skills, art projects within these media seek to connect to a middle school student’s natural interests and promote self-understanding by means of self-expression. A supplementary focus is placed on conservation issues through environmental art projects and the use of recycled materials.

The program also seeks to enrich students’ understanding of other subjects. Through interdisciplinary and correlative approaches to the teaching of art, students learn to make important connections between art, creativity and other subject information.

Idea development is encouraged by studying art history, directly observing nature, and exploring one’s own imagination. Aesthetic perception is heightened by lessons and activities that allow students to see and work with the elements of art and principles of design. Finally, an artist-in-residence program allows students to participate in special projects lead by a visiting professional artist each year.

Upper School

A wide variety of Upper School electives are available to students who are interested in refining their abilities and learning more about art, ceramics, photography, graphic design and much more.  Classes range from fundamentals of art, sculpture, and ceramics, to AP and IB art classes, as well as classes in digital media, journalism, photography, and documentary film. Shows are presented year round in the CCES Art Gallery.

Christ Church Episcopal School (“CCES”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CCES. CCES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship or other programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs and activities.