Arts and Movement

Visual Arts

List of 2 items.

Lower School Visual Arts

The ultimate goal of the Open Window School Visual Art Program is to provide a supportive and non-competitive environment where students build confidence in their ability to create. Students explore classical art techniques, learn art history, as well as discover and follow their own unique creative interests. By studying the works of modern designers and makers, students gain insight into the design thinking that inspires innovative art and design.

In our new Art Studio setting, students are artists with access to an array of tools and medium, with everything from paints to clay to laser printers. This STEAM space is conducive to inspiration, collaboration and creativity. As K-4 students build confidence and skills in the studio, they also expand their capacity for self-expression in the arts.
Middle School Visual Arts

In order to ensure that our students have a well-rounded experience, our Arts classes are divided into three divisions: Music, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts and Movement. Our fifth and sixth grade students are required to take two music arts, two visual arts, and two performing arts/movement selections during these two years. Our seventh and eighth grade students are required to take one of each class type over their last two years, which allows them take more courses within their passions.

Over the summer, our visual arts teachers create a menu of classes for students to rank at the start of the school year. Offerings include drawing, photography, painting, ceramics, conductive sewing, and more.

In all middle school visual arts classes, students explore new tools and techniques that will further their exposure and understanding of the fine arts. Students study key figures and art movements to gain a better understanding of the progression of world art history. In our new Art Studio setting, students can make their own paint and learn to use a laser cutter. From hand molding clay to 3-D printing, from pencil sketching to digital editing of photographs in Photoshop, students have an almost unlimited ways of self-expression.

Performing Arts

List of 2 items.

Lower School Performing Arts

Drama is an essential part of a well-rounded education. There are three main goals of the drama program at Open Window School: Creativity, Collaboration, and Confidence Building. Additionally, in drama classes, students further develop their critical thinking skills. Students make connections between theatrical knowledge and prior knowledge, building on their innate curiosity and purposefulness. Cooperative learning and problem solving are central elements of the drama curriculum. Mastering these skills help students in all other academic and social areas. The study of drama also provides a structure for the development of creative thinking and a place to showcase the creative ideas of the students. Each grade level does a yearly performance, which is integrated with the curriculum.
Middle School Performing Arts

In order to ensure that our students have a well-rounded experience, our Arts classes are divided into three divisions: Music Arts, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts and Movement. Our fifth and sixth grade students are required to take two music arts, two visual arts, and two performing arts/movement selections during these two years. Our seventh and eighth grade students are required to take one of each class type over their last two years, which allows them take more courses within their passions.

Over the summer, our Performing Arts and Movement teachers create a menu of classes for students to rank at the start of the school year. Offerings include Acting and Improv, Fighting with Shakespeare, Painless Playwriting, Musical Theatre, Directing, Musical Production, Filmmaking, Technical Theatre and more. Performance options are available to all students.

In all of our MS Performing Arts classes, students further develop their critical thinking skills. Students make connections between theatrical knowledge and prior knowledge, building on their innate curiosity and purposefulness. Cooperative learning and problem solving are central elements of the drama curriculum. Mastering these skills help students in all other academic and social areas. The study of drama also provides a structure for the development of creative thinking and a place to showcase the creative ideas of the students.

Music

List of 2 items.

Lower School Music

Lower school students have weekly music classes. The music program at Open Window is implemented using the Orff approach (from composer Carl Orff), which incorporates language and movement and features wood and metal mallet instruments. The most basic and important of our activities are moving to the beat and singing. Besides singing, moving, playing instruments and listening, we also create (composing and improvising). Soprano recorder is optional for third graders, and alto recorder for fourth. Choir is a popular option among our after-school offerings. Our repertoire is based in American folk and some patriotic songs, with time also devoted to Western art/classical music and to music of diverse cultures.
Middle School Music

In order to ensure that our students have a well-rounded experience, our Arts classes are divided into three divisions: Music, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts and Movement. Our fifth and sixth grade students are required to take two music arts, two visual arts, and two performing arts/movement selections during these two years. Our seventh and eighth grade students are required to take one of each class type over their last two years, which allows them take more courses within their passions.

Over the summer, our music teachers create a menu of classes for students to rank at the start of the school year. Offerings have included "Listen to This!," in which they choose, analyze, and present a piece to their classmates; Band, in which experienced and novice vocalists and instrumentalists learn to perform rock or blues songs; "Composing using Garage Band on iPads," in which they learn to use chord progressions and unity/variety to create their own songs; and Pops Choir, in which they learn to read octavos and sing popular songs in two parts.

Physical Education

List of 2 items.

Lower School Physical Education

Physical education at Open Window School is a body-centered rather than activity-centered approach. We use activities, games, sports, tumbling, yoga, martial arts and dance to learn about the human body, human health and human movement potential. The activities are mere lenses we use to focus on ourselves to better understand the functions of the human form. In kindergarten through fourth grade, physical education emphasizes fitness, coordination, agility, communication, cooperation, creativity and fun.
Middle School Physical Education
Students in fifth to eighth grade PE focus on establishing and maintaining healthy lifestyle choices. Students better understand human bodies and human movement potential by reviewing skeletal anatomy, learning muscular anatomy and undertaking various diverse activities, sports and challenges. Emphasis is placed on maintaining cooperative, supportive attitudes and habits, even in competition, and developing autonomy in training and playing.

Activities include:
- Concussion Training and Basic First Aid
- Cooperation in Competition
- Dance and Movement
- Equipment Manipulation as Extension of Self
- Fitness, Coordination, and Agility
- Leadership and Advocacy in Athletics
- Muscular Anatomy (and Skeletal Review)
- Obstacle Courses and Parkour Training
- Teamwork, Trust, and Communication
- West African Dance
- Yoga and Martial Arts
In addition to their grade level physical education courses, middle school students have the opportunity to take additional movement courses as part of the arts elective program. In order to ensure that our students have a well-rounded experience, middle school arts classes are divided into three divisions: Music, Visual Arts, and Movement & Dramatic Arts. Fifth and sixth grade students are required to take two music, two visual, and two movement/drama selections during these two years. Seventh and eighth grade students are required to take one of each class type over their last two years, which allows them take more courses within their passions. Each class is eleven weeks long, which provides time to go into depth for each subject, especially for those classes that meet for double periods.

Meet the Arts & Movement Team

List of 4 members.

Kathleen Arends

Music Teacher, K-6
Ian McCullough

PE Teacher, K-8
Katya Palladina

Visual Arts Teacher, K-8
Zoe Wilson

Drama Teacher, K-8 & Movement Teacher, K-1

Middle School Arts & Movement Electives

In middle school, the Open Window arts and movement offerings shift from “grade-level specific” classes to “content offerings” where students gain broad experience in arts and movement while having some choice of their classes. In addition to these content offerings, students have grade-level physical education classes.

In order to ensure that our students have a well-rounded experience, middle school arts classes are divided into three divisions: Music, Visual Arts, and Movement & Dramatic Arts. Fifth and sixth grade students are required to take two music, two visual, and two movement/drama selections during these two years. Seventh and eighth grade students are required to take one of each class type over their last two years, which allows them take more courses within their passions. Each class is eleven weeks long, which provides time to go into depth for each subject, especially for those classes that meet for double periods.

Classes vary by year, but examples include:

Music (Acoustic Band, Garage Band, Music Theory, Pops Choir)

Visual Arts (Conductive Creations, Pencil Drawing, Photography, Sculpting, Soft Circuit Sewing, Watercolor)

Movement and Dramatic Arts (Acting & Improv, Fighting with Shakespeare, Fitness for Life, Musical Theater & Dance, Playwriting & Directing, West African Dance Influences)

Visual Arts