FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS
We are committed to offering a well-rounded education for our students, including ample time in the fine and performing arts. In addition to having their own class times, speech, drama, music, and art are infused throughout the curriculum, often joining with other subject areas for multi-disciplinary learning.
BEHIND THE SCENES IN FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS
Click an image to scroll through current stories around campus and to read their full captions.
One of the 7th grade choice electives right now is "Jam Sesh." Students choose a band name, instruments, a song, and jam together with Ms. Spalletta!
1st and 2nd grades were looking for inspiration in famous artists—painting the world like Clementine Hunter and constructing pieces to decorate like Tyree Guyton and his Heidelberg Project. We all need a little inspiration sometimes!
The ability to confidently present to an audience is a quality we strive to foster in our students. 5th grade speech class is learning about verbal and non-verbal techniques. To enhance their learning, they are evaluating speeches recorded from Mr. Bowley's old speech classes, rating the techniques used, and presenting their findings.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Into the Woods JR. The show was spectacular! We hope everyone had the pleasure of seeing it last Friday evening. A big thank you to Mr. Bowley, Mrs. Spalletta, and Mrs. Bicksel for their hard work in making this production possible!
On Music Share Days in kindergarten, students are invited to share something musical with the class…a song, play an instrument, a dance, written music, and more. We want them to find & share the ways they personally love & connect to the arts!
Ms. Mankar and Ms. Fitzpatrick teamed up to give students an opportunity to combine science research and visual communication. 6th grade students studied climate change in Ms. Mankar’s class, they did research, and then graphed the data. They worked in art class to turn their graphs into artwork that conveys their findings. Finished projects are displayed in the Big School lobby!
8th graders have partnered up in music class to cover a song of their choosing. Everyone must play guitar and at least one person must sing. Students have been reading chord charts and have been encouraged to truly make it their own!
It feels like we highlight music class with our littlest friends a lot, but just look how cute our Busy Bees are playing their drums! They've grown so much in the past 5 months. It's such a pleasure to be a part of their development!
Congratulations for a job well done to our Congressional Chorale! The group preformed the National Anthem this past Saturday at the nationally televised DC United game, and they sounded fantastic!
Thank you to our student council for organizing our annual student talent show! We had a wonderful mixture of musical performances, comedy, acts, magic tricks, and more. We're proud of all the brave students who went on stage and performed for their peers!
Artwork by several Congressional students was published in the Arlington Connection’s Children's & Teen’s issue!
The 8th grade editors are back at work, getting the first half of the book ready to send in to the publishers. We’re so excited to see the yearbook come together!
Preschool took a special trip to the Big School art room this week and learned about the Aurora Borealis with Ms. Philip. They painted their own northern lights in the sky!
Every year, the middle school takes a trip to the Kennedy Center. Cartography was chosen to see this Wednesday based on themes connected to the curriculum. Thank you to Derek Bowley, Speech and Drama Teacher, for organizing this experience.
Should police officers wear cameras? Should schools require standardized testing? 8th grade speech and debate class researched, formed arguments, and brought their cases to the class to be debated in front of peers and judges.
You know that folk dance, "Alabama Gal?" While some 3rd graders play the song on the xylophones, their classmates are creating their own routine using folk dance moves they know!
2nd grade's latest project was inspired by Tyree Guyton and his graffiti art that ended up saving his childhood neighborhood in Detroit. They created their own community elements out of recycled materials and put their own graffiti art spin on them!
We are proud of Mr. Bowley for being asked to co-teach a workshop for middle school teachers in NYC who are putting on their 1st musical—part of a program sponsored by the Department of Education and conducted by iTheatrics. We're privileged to have him on our team!
While often given a specific project, sometimes the freedom to just experiment is needed in art class. 5th graders are practicing with tempera paint using any style they please to prepare for their next project.
For April Fool's Day, 2nd grade had a crazy hat contest and parade in art class. They started by making a list of adjectives, then made hats with paper scraps, staples, and tape. There were "medals" made from recycled materials for different categories (tallest, longest, most circles, etc.) They then had a short parade before the students put them in their lockers!
We very much value providing a variety of learning experiences and appreciate all that this rich area has to offer. This week our 3rd grade went on an art field trip with Ms. Philip, Primary and Lower School Art Teacher, to the Phillips Collection to look at and participate in art inspired by different cultures and storytelling.
In Early Childhood, children learn through movement and play. This week in music class our Dragonflies sang, danced, and clapped. They were also very excited when their music teacher, Mrs. Bicksel, gave them each a drum to play.
5th grade students have been learning guitar this year and are really getting the hang of it. Can't wait to hear them play at Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Tuesday, November 20!
This month's international art focus for Primary and Lower School is Africa! This week's 2nd grade project is simulating mud cloth artwork (traditional in Mali). Students are experimenting with 7 types of clay and creating their own designs similar to African symbols. Can't wait to see the final pieces!
Today in art class, 7th grade was designing puzzle pieces that incorporate the elements and principles of design. When finished, they will connect together as individual pieces to form a beautiful compilation.
Primary and Lower School's November international art focus was Africa, and to wrap up the month, students brought in inspired artwork and family items from the continent to share!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our students and fine and performing arts department. We hope you enjoyed the performances!
Our Middle School Art Teacher, Kate Fitzpatrick’s work is currently on exhibit at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. The show is titled ‘Unmoored’ and will run through January 13, 2019.
MEET OUR ARTS TEAM
LISA BICKSEL
Infants - Grade 3 Music Teacher
DEREK BOWLEY
Middle School Speech and
Drama Teacher
KATE FITZPATRICK
Middle School Art Teacher
SARAH PHILIP
Kindergarten - Grade 4
Art Teacher
ASHLEY SPALLETTA
Grades 4 - 8 Music Teacher