Visual & Performing Arts

Share your experiences and connect with others through the visual arts. Express your ideas through projects that promote problem-solving and creativity. Grow as an artist as you develop your craft and explore different subject matters, artistic styles, and the use of various materials and techniques.

Meet the Common Core Standards and NJ State Standards by investigating the elements and principles of art, discovering art genres/styles, making cultural and historical links, and expanding vocabulary related to art and the art making process. Build your technical and critical thinking skills throughout the three-year middle school experience. As you progress, your teacher will revisit and expand on all concepts, vocabulary, and skills.

Critiques will allow you to give and receive peer feedback, observe and interpret meaning in the works of others, form opinions, and reflect on works of art and processes. Your teacher will use rubrics as a guide to projects and as a basis for grading/assessment.

Awaken your appreciation for the fine arts through the AHA Middle School’s music program. Because each student has different experiences of musical appreciation, you will  have opportunities to build on and enhance existing musical skills, personal knowledge, and natural curiosity.

Build confidence, flexibility, and community through ensemble games, improvisation, and scene work. You will work to create a community of actors that is safe, fun, and fair. Class is highly participatory and grades are based on participation, attitude, and flexibility.

As you progress through the theater program, you will be expected to go deeper into the material based on your age level and maturity. While games and scenes may be similar across the grade levels, your responses and reflections will change with experience, age, and maturity.