Arts Education

An education in the arts teaches students to perceive and think in new ways. Creativity, reasoning, imagination, dexterity and intuition are developed as students learn to build bridges between verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as logic and emotion.

The Arts programs at The Junior School help our students:
  • Develop a lifelong enjoyment of the arts
  • Become informed, reflective and critical practitioners in the arts
  • Understand the dynamic and changing nature of the arts
  • Explore and value the diversity of arts across time, place and cultures
  • Develop perceptual and analytical skills
Music Program
The goal of the Junior School Music program is to foster a lifelong appreciation of and connection to music in its many forms. From JK to Grade 5, music classes offer a wide-range of material, including singing, recorder and Orff programs, African drumming, music literacy, composition, music history and world music. We have two choirs, as well as a Junior Glee Club and there is the opportunity to take private or semi-private instruction in piano and guitar.

There are frequent opportunities for student performances such as:
  • Music assemblies
  • Music and art afternoons and evenings
  • School musical productions, including our annual "Harmony Concert"
  • Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF), an annual event held at Roy Thomson Hall

Visual Arts Program
The art room is a place where students explore creativity, passion and originality while developing fundamental skills. The Junior school art program guides children to have confidence in their creativity. One of our main goals is to encourage our students to realize that there are no mistakes in art and to embrace their own unique expression. Another core lesson is to respect and appreciate the work of their classmates, artists within their community and those from around the world.
 
Our Visual Arts faculty create a rich, experiential curriculum by exposing Junior School students to a wide range of mediums, art principles and design while connecting lessons to the International Baccalaureate units of inquiry.