THE ARtS AT HOLY CHILD
At School of the Holy Child, we strive to instill in each student a life-long love of the arts. We maintain a long history of excellence in the fine and performing arts, and we know that a strong Arts program is an essential component of any well-rounded education. For this reason, we are consistently expanding our curricular and co-curricular offerings to ensure that our student-artists are both challenged and inspired. Students can choose from a wide range of arts offerings in drama, dance, instrumental and choral music, studio arts, photography and film.
Course Offerings in the Arts
Visual Arts
Studio Art
Digital Design and Film
Digital Media I: This introductory one-year course considers what components make for a strong photograph and strong film. The course starts in studies of composition and camera settings, then into digital photo editing software, and ends with a trimester dedicated to transitioning into the moving picture. Students are expected to find creative and original solutions to projects, showing voice and unveiling style. Major trends in digital art and art history are integrated into lessons, as well as a consideration of how photo and film are used in the business world. Finally, students will be expected to maintain an organized digital portfolio using current online technology and participate in local and community art exhibitions.
Digital Media II: Students will expand their breadth of skills and digital art pursuits through a variety of forms. Students enrolled in the year course will build upon the foundations they learned in Digital Media I. Students may opt for a single trimester of study in the following disciplines:
Digital Media II: Digital Photography (one trimester) Prerequisite: Digital Media I
The Digital Photography course focuses on teaching students the basic operations and functions of a digital single lens reflex camera and how to achieve meaningful results by manipulating its settings. Students will gain an understanding of the elements of art as they apply to photography including lighting, composition, and design. Students will develop the ability to speak and write about their own and others photographs through critical analysis of aesthetic, expressive and technical components of the work. Students will learn to use software for image editing and manipulation as well as how to archive, organize and optimize photographs for output to print or the web. Students are encouraged to pursue their interests and develop their unique point of view. This course is offered during trimester 1.
Digital Media II: Digital Video (one trimester) Prerequisite: Digital Media I
This course builds upon the skills learned in the Digital Media I course. Students will learn storytelling, project management, capturing and editing video and audio to produce a completed, concept driven digital video. Students gain experience through real-world projects that help them understand the various roles and processes involved in digital video production. Experience will be gained by working both independently and in group collaboration. Students will engage in peer-to-peer evaluation through periodic class critiques and learn to communicate their concepts and principles to an audience. Completed work will be presented at a group exhibition at the end of the course. No prior knowledge of digital video design software or hardware is required. This course is offered during trimester 2.
Digital Media II: Digital Design (one trimester) Prerequisite: Digital Media I
In this course, students explore the world of designing and creating graphic and animated digital media content. Students will create original content using different technologies as expressive tools, including but not limited to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. The media content created in the course may be used in various campus publications, posters, and events. The course also examines graphical design in print, advertising, app design, and online media while focusing on color, composition, and style. Students will work to develop an artistic vision and learn how to use digital design to bring their ideas to life. This course is offered during trimester 3.
Other Visual Art Offerings
Art History and Appreciation (one semester) This course will introduce students to the various forms of the visual arts, such as painting, sculpture, film, and more. Students will learn how to look at a work of art, identify and compare key characteristics in artworks, and understand the role art has played throughout history. Through hands-on activities, museum visits, discussion, and research, learners will develop an overall appreciation for the art they encounter in their daily lives. Focus will be on Renaissance to Modern art historical periods.
Music
This class uses an engaging, practical approach to cover the basics of music theory. Topics such as scales, chords, key signatures, and musical form are explored by both analyzing musical examples and composing original pieces. Students explore the ways in which various musical artists have used the same basic musical materials, and learn the interconnectedness of various musical genres, from traditional classical to modern pop.