Form A Art will focus on how the 7 Elements of Art (Line, Shape, Texture, Space, Form, Color, and Value) and the Principles of Design (Pattern, Emphasis, Variety, Unity, Balance, Rhythm, and Movement and Proportion) are used to make art and build a solid foundation for future art and art history classes. The Elements and Principles will also be discussed in classroom critiques, when students speak about their own work.

Problem solving will come into play as design challenges and “mistakes” force the students to look at their work from a different view to “fix” the problem at hand, rather than always starting over or erasing their work. This will challenge them to create “happy accidents” and finished work. Careful attention to directions will be key to completing projects with success and on time.

Course Length: All Year (Meets twice per week.)
Registration Policy: Required for Form A

Form I students will continue their study of how the 7 Elements of Art (Line, Shape, Texture, Space, Form, Color, and Value) and the Principles of Design (Pattern, Emphasis, Variety, Unity, Balance, Rhythm, and Movement and Proportion) are used to make art. Students will be expected to complete more advanced projects. This year will introduce topics from Art History, using concepts learned in Form A.

Course Length: All Year (Meets twice per week.)
Registration Policy: Required for Form I

The aim of this course is for students to develop the sufficient vocal and musical skills to collectively participate in school Masses, Services, concerts, and outreach projects. This year-long course will cover repertoire from a wide range of styles and culture

Course Length: All Year (Meets twice per week)
Registration Policy: Students in Forms A – II must take either Instrumental Music or Chorus

The aim of this course will be for students to develop the sufficient coordination and musical skills required to become a virtuosic ensemble. Performance opportunities may include collaboration with the Lower-School Chorus during Masses, concerts, and outreach projects. This year-long course will cover repertoire from a wide range of styles and cultures.

Course Length: All Year (Meets twice per week)
Registration Policy: Students in Forms A – II must take either Instrumental Music or Chorus

Students will participate in two concerts, one before Christmas, and one during the Spring.

Course Length: All Year (Meets twice per week)
Registration Policy: Students in Forms A – II must take either Instrumental Music or Chorus

Drama is an art form focused on the human person. It leads to a healthy awareness of the individual and society through different forms of storytelling. Studying drama enhances communication skills vital to developing students. This performance-based introductory course will teach students the disciplines of movement, speech, improvisation, theatre studies, technical theatre, and design. These skills will be integrated and practiced within the context of in-class performances.

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Required for Form I

The goal for the semester is to complete a solid foundation for a greater understanding of art using the 7 Elements of Art (Line, Shape, Texture, Space, Form, Color, and Value), while also solidifying techniques and skills which can be used during Studio Art classes if students elect to continue taking art during Forms V and VI.

Problem solving will challenge some to think outside of the box while giving others the creative license to design at a higher level. Listening to and following directions will be key to completing projects with success and on time. The following concepts will be studied during the semester: perspective, grayscale and watercolor study.

Course Length: One Semester (Meets twice per week)
Registration Policy: Required for Form III

For thousands of years, societies have understood the importance of public speaking and rhetoric. Understanding the craft of public speaking can help make a toast, pass new laws, and even end wars. Through the techniques studied in this course students will learn to craft questions into research, research into opinions, opinions into words, and words into speeches. The knowledge acquired in this class will prove helpful throughout a lifetime.

Students will be required to present a number of speeches in front of their peers, followed by questions and comments. Full cooperative participation in all projects is vital to success in the class. It is understood that certain fears go hand-in-hand with public speaking. Nerves will transform into confidence, but only through getting up and giving speeches.

Course Length: One Semester
Registration Policy: Required for Form III

This course is a historical survey of art, music, and literature. It covers great works in the history of literature, music, and art from the prehistoric to the present. Because the course is intended to complement the AP American History course, also taught in Form IV, it has a geographical focus on western Europe and the United States. Works studied include excerpts of literature (from the Epic of Gilgamesh and onward to Dante, Voltaire, Cervantes, Rousseau, Baudelaire, Calvino, Joyce), art (sculpture, fresco, panel and canvas painting, engraving, drawing), architecture, and music (Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, all periods of classical music, opera, and jazz).

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Required for Form IV

This course provides the opportunity to develop the skills of acting through the study of acting theories and their practical applications. The students will begin with basic character development and move from classical to modern plays to apply these skills. Evaluation will be based on the in-class performances and the completion of the assignments. There is memorization involved with both monologues and dialogues. Because of the interdependence and collaborative aspects of the course, it is imperative that the students take the assignments seriously and apply their best efforts.

Course Length: One Semester
Registration Policy: Elective for Forms V and VI

This course is an independent study that will center around one of the two yearly Upper School productions. The grade will appear in either the first or second semester depending on the production that is selected. Prior to the beginning of the chosen production, the student will meet with the instructor. Together they establish the duties and the dates for completion. The evaluation of the student’s work will be based on the meeting of deadlines as well as the performance of the duties.

Course Length: One Semester (Students may enroll for multiple semesters)
Registration Policy: Prerequisite: Instructor Approval; Elective for Forms V and VI

Offered both semesters. The aim of this course will be for students to develop sufficient vocal and musical skills required for outstanding choral singing. This course will cover repertoire from a wide range of styles and cultures, while building upon skills already obtained in prior Chorus, Bell-Choir, Gregorian Chant, and AP Music Theory courses. This course is also highly recommended for those planning to participate in the annual Musical Theater production. This course provides the opportunity to develop vocal and musical skills through the applied study of choral music. Through rigorous rehearsal students shall achieve - with proper tools - the ability of meaningful expression through music regardless of initial perceived ability. The Men’s Chorus also joins sings in a coed environment with the Madrigal Singers from the Academy of the Holy Cross for an annual choral festival and spring concerts. NO CLASS SIZE LIMIT

Course Length: Offered both semesters
Registration Policy: Elective for Forms V and VI

This course covers the equivalent of two first-year courses traditionally taught in conservatories and university music schools: Music Theory I and Sight Singing/Ear Training I. Students will learn the basics of tonal music (note reading, key signatures, scales and chords, rhythm and meters) and then advance to more sophisticated concepts (composing a bass line for a given melody, realizing figured bass, writing harmonic progressions in four parts, modulation to closely related keys). The aural component includes identifying intervals, scales, and chords by ear; dictation of rhythmic patterns, basic melodies, and two- and four-part progressions; sight-singing of melodies in major and minor

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Prerequisites: Instructor Approval; Elective for Forms V and VI

Offered both semesters. This course is an opportunity for students to expand their individual creativity through projects in drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and painting. Throughout the semester each student will create assigned and choice-based projects to heighten their knowledge of different mediums. Students will keep a visual journal for in-class and homework assignments in addition to a completion of an out-of-class cultural project related to art. LIMITED TO 12 STUDENTS.

Course Length: One Semester or All Year
Registration Policy: Elective for Forms V and VI

Registration must be approved by instructor for a full year. This class includes lab time. Students in this course will continue to expand their knowledge of different areas of art by creating an extensive series of individual projects, with the goal of compiling a personal portfolio of finished artwork for submission under the AP guidelines. Students must have completed one year of Studio Art as juniors and be approved for the course by the instructor. Summer projects will be required to help complete the 25 pieces of art (for Breadth, Concentration, and Quality sections) that are needed for the AP portfolio. Specializations for this course include two-dimensional and drawing.

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Elective for Forms V and VI

Fall semester only, registration limited to 15 students. This course covers the history and development of film from the silent movies to the “high tech” films of today. Students will watch and discuss several genres of film, learning to analyze the different techniques and shots filmmakers use to create effects on film. Various approaches to film study will be covered to provide a basis for students to learn how to critique filmmaking through the decades.

Course Length: Fall Semester Only
Registration Policy: Elective for Forms V and VI

This course is the equivalent of the undergraduate art history survey course offered in universities. It covers painting, sculpture, and architecture as well as ceramics and decorative arts, from the Prehistoric era through the 21st century. Slightly over 20% of class time will be devoted to the study of art beyond the European tradition. Basic objectives are to learn the chronology of the civilizations of the past and their principal sub-periods; to learn the style of the art of these civilizations and periods and what is known of their artists and architects; to study the history of these major civilizations how their various cultural beliefs are reflected in their works of art; and to develop critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills when dealing with all periods of art.

Course Length: All Year
Registration Policy: Elective for Forms V and VI