please download our most recent annual report. - Alphonsus ...

ARTS INTEGRATION
At AACA, our curriculum is carefully designed to integrate a variety of art mediums
into our core content areas. The arts act as both a gateway to learning and a tool for
deep engagement in the curriculum as a whole. As with all pillars, our arts integration
facet is constantly developing with an eye toward providing students opportunities for
intellectual nourishment as well as for independent exploration.
INTRODUCTION OF THE ARTS COUNCIL
This year, AACA is launching the Arts Council, a
branch of the School Advisory Board charged with the
tasks of inventorying the current programs and making
systemic recommendations for the future state of the
arts program. This group is comprised of both parents
and administration. As the Arts Council evolves, it
will seek to elevate the conversation about how to
bring arts-integration to new levels, placing this as a
permanent priority in our strategic initiatives.
EXPANDED MEDIUMS AND UNITS
AACA continues to grow our arts program. In the past
year, we added band for the first time as an art class
option. We also expanded extracurricular options by
offering Digital Music Composing and Bridge Building
workshops. The Bridge Building workshop integrated
math, science, and sculpture. In addition, we added
a Math, Science, and Art after-school course that
integrates sketching, photography, and sculpture.
Kindergarten
Investigating Shapes and Patterns:
Exploring geometric shapes with body
shapes through movement
Fifth Grade
Technology and Dance: Using technology
to investigate ritual dance and integrate
these findings to create your own historically
themed dance piece with cultural facts to
reinforce your concept
Eighth Grade
Current Events and the Arts: Investigating
how current events can influence the arts
by choosing an area of interest, recording
personal ideas about this issue, and
creating a dance concept around it.
Within our core subject areas, we have grown our
bank of arts integrated units. When we first began
documenting our units four years ago, they numbered
ten. Over the years we have developed many more
units and currently possess over sixty for teachers
to utilize in the classroom. Within these units, the
development of roots and wings is evident, as in the
following examples.
CARING CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
As AACA grows as a community, so too does the number of students who are prepared
to receive sacraments. The deep commitment to our Catholic formation is evidenced
during this process as students delve into aspects of their faith that allow them to
explore and understand more about what it means to live the life of an active Catholic
in today’s world. The spiritual roots that children grow while at AACA will serve them
for their entire lifetime. As they progress through each grade, we intentionally design
learning experiences, both through religion instruction as well as other content areas,
that provide students with opportunities to use their wings and apply different aspects
of our Catholic faith in real life scenarios. This includes engaging in service projects,
giving to and volunteering on behalf of those less fortunate, and developing leadership
and service skills as students live out their faith in their daily lives.
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