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At Athenian, the arts provide an opportunity for students to discover and develop their unique voices through creative expression.
Woven seamlessly into our academic program, the arts are an essential part of the Athenian journey through grades 6-12. Our teachers–artists themselves–inspire confidence, nurture exploration, and guide students in applying a critical eye to their work. Together, we embrace artistic risk-taking, celebrating the growth and transformation of both emerging and experienced artists.
Art in the Middle School
Rather than focusing on a specific form of art, our Middle School program focuses on exploring a variety of mediums, often connecting specific projects to the curriculum in social studies, science, and English. In addition to visual arts, our Middle School program includes performing arts, as well as a variety of elective art offerings that vary from year-to-year.
All sixth graders take visual art and a music course, while seventh and eighth graders choose between music, drama and visual arts. Theatrical performances are often integrated into English at each grade level and sometimes take place during Middle School Focus Days.
Art in the Upper School
In the Upper School, students are required to take two years of art, including one year-long UC-approved art course. Whether one chooses to explore the language of sound, movement, or shape and form, Athenian students develop a foundation in creative-thinking, experimentation, and critique—skills that serve them in a variety of disciplines and in life.
Athenian offers an array of visual and performing arts classes. A few highlights include: jazz and chamber music, choir, dance, drama, film, 3D art, painting, and photography. Students will be introduced to all that a medium has to offer in the introductory class before moving on to in-depth personal work in the advanced courses.
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