Middle School Arts

Our middle school art programs provide an opportunity for students to showcase their creativity while exploring different media. Middle schoolers begin to fine-tune their craft and find new passions in the arts.

Middle school fine arts classes are an invitation for students to explore and take risks as they experiment with diverse mediums. Students rotate through various courses, including art, music, chorus, digital art, yearbook, and drama. They have multiple opportunities throughout the year to showcase their creativity through performances and shows.

Stage craft classes are always a favorite for middle school students. These classes offer hands-on opportunities for students to build stage sets, design and create costumes and props, run sound, and apply makeup, including special effect makeup. “Students learn about the production roles involved in creating live theater and the process that each role follows to create and execute their ideas from page to stage,” said drama teacher Carrie Layer.

In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in multiple productions throughout the year. They are acting on stage, building puppets, making costumes, singing, sword fighting, and dancing. “They get a little taste of everything, they find their niche and love for the stage,” said Layer.

Visual arts classes support student creativity based on their interests. They might make folk dolls, sew, crochet, paint, collage, water color, needle felt, or sketch.

“Art opens their eyes to connections and through research and hands on opportunities, they become empowered as thinkers, decision makers, and creators,” said art teacher Cat Schappach.

Exploratories & Fine Arts

As our middle schoolers fine-tune their creative pursuits, we find ways to engage their curious minds. Every nine weeks, they rotate through various courses, including art, music, chorus, digital art, yearbook, and drama. This is a favorite time of day for students as they explore activities that pique their interests.

Students perform in concerts and plays throughout the year. Seventh graders put on a fabulous show at the spring madrigal – an interactive medieval dinner theater. Students participate in multiple ways: building puppets, making costumes, designing the set, acting, singing, sword fighting, and dancing.

Chorus

In middle school chorus classes, students develop their singing abilities and knowledge of music literacy, music history, performance techniques, audience etiquette, ear training, and more. The choir performs twice yearly: once at Christmas time and once in the spring. There are also extracurricular opportunities for students in the middle school choir, including District 14 Honor Chorus and auditioning for All-State Chorus. Middle school chorus is available to seventh and eighth-grade students.

Digital Art Media

Digital Arts invites students to explore creativity and self-expression through the power of technology. Students gain hands-on experience with image editing, manipulation, and artistic design. Through projects that blend imagination with technical skill, students learn essential tools and techniques—such as layering, color correction, and composition—while creating original works and transforming photographs.

Drama

Seventh and eighth graders put on a fabulous show at the spring madrigal – an interactive medieval dinner theater. Students participate in multiple ways: building puppets, making costumes, designing the set, acting, singing, sword fighting, and dancing. Sixth-grade students rotate through an intro to theater arts. They explore elements of drama and stagecraft, learning basic terminology and practicing improvisation. As they get a little taste of everything, they find their niche and a love for the stage.

Stagecraft

Stagecraft classes design and build sets, design and create costumes and props, run sound, and apply makeup, including special effects makeup. Students learn about the production roles involved in creating live theater and the process each role follows to bring ideas from page to stage, as they progress from basic terms to the performance process. As a technical crew, they work together as a team, growing in responsibility, creativity, and professionalism.