Visual & Performing Arts

Recent Student Projects

Upper School Fall Play: Twelfth Night	Noon Hour Concert Performances	Visual and Performing Arts Winter Assembly
Arts with a Heart	Core Arts Field Trip to Thiebaud Exhibit	Core Arts Visits Cantor Museum
	Choir performs in San Francisco

Graduation Requirements and Suggested Courses for College Matriculation

Course of Study

Middle School

Our Middle School visual arts program is  about experiment and exploration; using an array of different media and the building of foundation skills. The Middle School Visual Art program inspires students to experiment and explore different media and methods of visual communication. Emphasis is placed on self-expression and on the development of foundational skills.

6th Grade: 
In the sixth grade, we emphasize exploration and collaborative work with a particular focus on problem solving. We teach students to research, design and present their work: whether it be a large-scale 3D papier-maché Chinese inspired sculpture, an expressive collage, or a  graphic design with emphasis on color. Highlights of the year include a winter arts event that showcases collaborative work with creations  from both the visual and the performing arts. The interdisciplinary project, "Festival of Antiquity,” a one day celebration of the ancient world, takes place in the spring and also highlights art work created by the students. 
 
The sixth grade year culminates in a day-long celebration called "Festival of Antiquity" during which students showcase several major interdisciplinary projects in exhibition, parade, performance and other celebratory activities involving the community. 
 
7th Grade: 
The seventh grade visual arts continue with projects focusing on exploration of materials, yet greater emphasis is placed on refining the foundational skills acquired during the sixth grade year.  Along with drawing and painting exercises, projects include digital portrait collage (for which students work with Photoshop in the new Digital Arts Studio), recycled art sculpture and the design and construction of sculptural hat designs. All projects build foundations in global art history. 
 
8th Grade:  
The 8th grade arts curriculum offers an array of one semester electives, giving students the opportunity to concentrate on one or two types of art throughout the year. These visual arts electives aim to promote the development of personal skills in either Ceramics, Art, Fashion & Print, or film production.  Examples of visual arts projects include: a sculptural teapot inspired by the style and work of a contemporary artist, a block-print based on aboriginal art and a movie project centered around environmental issues.

Upper School

The Upper School program in the visual arts at Castilleja provides students with a strong foundation for advanced understanding and practice in the field of their choice.

9th Grade: 
All ninth graders take a year-long course called Core Arts in which they study dance, drama, music, arts, photography, film and design. Under the instruction of teachers in all of the arts disciplines, students engage in a coordinated combination of academic and studio projects that expand their understanding about the role of the arts in diverse cultures, while simultaneously paralleling and building connections to the students' work/curriculum in other disciplines (including Math and English, and history). The art and design sections of this year-long course endow students with the knowledge and tools to analyze and interpret historical and contemporary visual images; the students thus learn to use images as a means of understanding the  societies and communities from which the art emerged. A field trip in each discipline is given throughout the year. 
 
Arts Electives 
After ninth grade, students are required to choose a one-year arts elective from a large selection of visual and performing arts. While only one year of art is required beyond the ninth grade Core Arts curriculum, many students choose to take several year-long art courses throughout their high school career. 
 
High school visual arts classes are project based and provide students with the opportunity to create original works of art. Courses offered include: Drawing & Painting, Design & Sculpture, Film, Photography, Advanced Drawing, Painting, Design, AP Drawing & Painting, and AP Design. All courses develop technical skills while simultaneously emphasizing research, collaboration and thoughtful risk-taking. 
 
The Advanced and AP classes provide depth, breadth and concentration in the study of art or design thus giving students the opportunity to further strengthen and fine-tune their skills in and understanding of the visual arts.  
 
More: Anita Seipp Gallery

Electives, Advanced and AP Courses

Faculty

Helen Shanks  profile  (Dept. Head)
Deborah Trilling, Visual Art profile
Georgianna Shea, Dance profile
Kristin Walter, Drama profile
Mary Hurlbut, Visual Art profile
Shenelle Williams, Accompanist profile

Helpful links

Course Catalog
Overview of Curricular Requirements
Four-Year Course Planner (pdf)