Fine Arts Department
Department Mission Statement & Core Values
The mission of the Westborough Public Schools’ Fine Arts Department is to provide an integrated arts education through a dynamic K-12 curriculum and engaging aesthetic experiences. We encourage exploration, critical and reflective thinking, as well as hands-on learning, fostering a lifelong relationship with the arts.
The core values of the K-12 Fine Arts Department include:
The core values of the K-12 Fine Arts Department include:
- Collaboration: Working with students, families, and colleagues to provide unique opportunities and experiences.
- Community: Cultivating a feeling of fellowship with others through shared attitudes, feelings, and goals.
- Creativity: Promoting the use of imagination and original ideas in the production of artistic work.
- Excellence: Setting a high standard of quality for both students and staff.
Academic Expectations
VISUAL ARTS
Students are expected to:
- Apply the elements and principles of art in their work
- Apply a broad range of two and three dimensional media, techniques, and processes
- Apply creative thinking by observing, analyzing, inventing, and expressing ideas
- Apply critical thinking by observing, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating their artwork and the artwork of others
- Make connections between the visual arts and other disciplines
- Describe the purpose and meaning of art as it relates to cultures and historical periods
THEATRE ARTS
Students are expected to:
- Apply the dramatic elements portray characters in scripted and improvised scenes
- Apply creative thinking by reading, analyzing, and writing dramatic works
- Rehearse and stage dramatic works
- Demonstrate skills in the basic tools, media, and techniques of theatrical production
- Describe and analyze their own theatrical work and the work of others using appropriate theatre vocabulary
- Describe the purpose and meaning of theatre as it relates to other disciplines.
MUSIC
Students are expected to:
- Apply the elements of music in performance and/or composition
- Sing and play alone and with others a varied repertoire of music
- Read and notate music
- Listen to, analyze, describe, and evaluate music and musical performances
- Apply creative thinking by analyzing, expressing, inventing, and interpreting ideas.
- Describe the purpose and meaning of music as it relates to cultures and historical periods
PLEASE NOTE:
- After successful completion of 2D Art Foundations, students may progress on to Multi Media Painting or Drawing 1 and Studio Art (Drawing) 2D AP.
- After successful completion of 3D Art Foundations, students may progress to a pottery sequence and 3D Design Portfolio AP.
- Students who elect music courses will have opportunities to develop their abilities in either choral or instrumental music, or both. Students who wish to pursue music at an advanced level can audition for the select ensembles such as Wind Ensemble, Concert Choir, or Women’s Chorale.
- Students who wish to participate in after school musical ensembles, Districts, or All-States must be registered as a member of one of the major in-school performing ensembles.
- Graphic Design, Digital Photography, American Music History, Film & Society, Modernism, Music Theory, 2D Art Foundations, 3D Art Foundations, Theatre Arts 1, and Theatre Foundations are excellent courses for students who wish to include fine arts classes in their schedules. They are open to all students regardless of their backgrounds in the arts. These courses are strongly recommended for students who are contemplating or preparing for arts related careers.