Lower School Art

Program Overview

Art class in the Lower School is a time for each student to think independently and creatively. As a school in the Sacred Heart community the Academy is able to emphasize one of the Goals of Sacred Heart Education: Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom.

Each class in the Lower School meets for half an hour twice a week in the art room. An important part of sharing the art room space with the rest of the school is the need to act responsibly in a space that is shared by all of the Academy students while enjoying the work of older and younger students.

Art in the Lower School is targeted to the attention span and interests of young boys. It is a hands-on experience for students, encouraging the development of fine motor skills while providing a comfortable forum for self-expression. The lessons are short with realistic goals that can be accomplished in one or two classes. Frequently the lessons reinforce the curriculum of the classroom studies. To reinforce the student's sense of pride and ownership, artwork is displayed in public spaces throughout the school.

In art class students are able to study cultures through the display of arts and crafts of other ages and nationalities. While students learn certain ethnic crafts, they are taught the heritage and nationality of the skill that they are learning. Their art classes also include examples of the many styles of art produced by artists and illustrators throughout the ages.

Art class is an active combination of talking and showing, where the atmosphere is relaxed and the expectations are for personal expression and experimentation. Individual styles are learned or refined during classroom lessons.

The supplies in our art classes are not overly sophisticated or specialized. The students are able to take responsibility for their personal supplies. The emphasis of each lesson is to improve work habits and increase mastery of skills.

The Lower School boys bring to each art class their energy, enthusiasm and the desire to learn. It is a favorite outlet for students of all ages and abilities, where there is no right or wrong, just the need to express themselves independently and creatively.