Understanding that children are artistic by nature and interested in creative expression, Charleston Day has created a Fine Arts Program that is rich, engaging, and personally fulfilling for each child. Fine Arts courses are offered to students in grades K-8 and include visual arts, music, and performing arts. Guided and inspired by talented educators, students are immersed in a practical curriculum that promotes collaborative skills, self-expression, perseverance, and confidence.
Beginning in Kindergarten, every Charleston Day School student receives visual art instruction weekly. The lower school grades focus on learning the elements of art and principles of design through drawing, painting, sculpting, collage and printmaking. Inspiration abounds in art history and children’s literature. The middle school art program builds year after year, with each 8th grader graduating with a strong portfolio consisting of still lifes, portraits, landscapes and other various works.
These year-long classes are organized in a natural sequence of art elements, including line, shape, value, color, texture, form and space. Techniques include, but are not limited to, drawing, painting, printmaking, and 3-D construction. Creative risk-taking and time management skills are supported and developed in the middle school years.
At our end of the year all-school Art Show, every student shares pieces. In addition, each CDS graduate leaves a permanent stamp on our school’s campus through the 8th Grade Portrait.
As they advance through the grades, students learn to sing a varied repertoire of music for stylistic accuracy and good breath control. They study periods of music, instruments and their families, composers of different time periods, and the basic components of music.
Seventh and eighth graders combine visual arts and musical theatre and get exposure to all aspects of a theatre production, a Charleston Day School favorite. Longtime professional educator, Mrs. Chrystal Hawkins, provides students the opportunity not only to participate on stage, but to also collaborate with Ms. Weber, our art instructor, to learn the behind the scenes facets of production like set building and stage management. In the seventh and eighth grade, students gain a deeper understanding of acting, writing, designing costumes, choreographing and staging shows, ranging from Sleepy Hollow and The Sound of Music to classics such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and The Little Mermaid.