Arts & Music
Art
All students in PreK through 8th grade have art class once a week. Art students participate in art history, production, and criticism activities.
- Early childhood and primary grades focus on creating art while experimenting with how art materials work together while painting, drawing, and sculpting.
- Elementary students grow as artists and begin to develop a broader understanding of the elements of art and design principles.
- Middle School students focus on observational drawing and developing a more personal artistic voice.
All students also study artists and art movements through analyzing famous artwork, watching videos, and reading about artists. By analyzing the artwork of famous artists, their peers, and themselves, students learn the process of art criticism and evaluation.
Music
The music program at St. Joseph School focuses on developing the proper use of classroom instruments, as well as an introduction to note reading. Dancing and movement activities, as well as creative listening activities, are included in music lessons. Students are encouraged to display their creativity through musical performances, whether singing, dancing, or instrumental. Students in Grades 4-8 can join our Mass Choir, which leads student masses.
Our award-winning band program is an extracurricular activity open to students in fourth through eighth grades. All band students take lessons once a week during the school day. Our beginner band practices as a group during recess, and the Advanced Band practices after school. Parents who want their child to participate in the band program sign a contract directly with the Instrumental Music Program of Columbia, MD, which sets all fees. Our band has received a Superior rating many times over!
Drama/Theater
Our Drama Club fosters a lifelong love of theater and is open to students in grades 2-8. The club meets once a week after school from October through March and culminates in a final performance/show at the end of March. Please note that this is a fee-based activity.