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Visual and Performing Arts

curriculum
melissa c visual arts
Melissa Cuccinello
Supervisor of Visual Art K-12
[email protected]
201-915-6038
 Gina Millevoi
Supervisor of Performing Arts K-12 
[email protected]
201-309-1635
 
Visual Arts Clerk l Jackie Gallagher l [email protected] l 201-413-6960
Performing Arts Clerk l Aja Moore l [email protected] l 201-713-2107
Department Overview
 
Visual and Performing Arts education is an essential part of the academic curriculum as it has, does, and continues to support the achievement of human potential, social skills, and economic growth within society.  The arts enable students to develop personal and intellectual curiosity and creativity.  The Visual and Performing Arts curricula include a vibrant history, the development of a body of work, and compelling cultural traditions, providing students with the tools to interact and communicate successfully.
K-5 Curriculum
 
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Visual Art students in grades K through 2 will formalize their imagination by using the elements of art and principles of design to create a work of art. Students begin by observing, describing, and critically thinking about the visual world around them, aligned with the 2020 NJ Student Learning Standards for Visual Arts. We provide the tools to foster mastery of developmentally needed skills, such as small motor skills, visual recognition, and visual connections. The Grades 3-5 Visual Arts Curriculum addresses the foundational years that are the cornerstone for future development, interest, and confidence. Students can work more independently and enjoy group work to build upon two-dimensional skills such as overlapping, use of color, and size creating the illusion of depth. Students also begin to understand and recognize the association with art history and identification of realism instead of abstraction. The Artistically Talented Curricula (ATC) for Grades K - 5 provides opportunities for students showing an aptitude for painting and drawing to explore new media and participate in additional contests and exhibits. ATC engages students in high levels of observational drawing and art historical studies, as well as the development of their appreciation for how the visual arts impact our world. 
 
Visual Art
Performing Art students in grades K through 5 will be able to identify the basic elements of music and theatre. They will use improvisation and hands-on experience to discover the performing arts, understanding how performing artists and their works are profoundly influenced by the culture surrounding them. This understanding will help students to recognize significant works and their creators, and to differentiate between the basic structures of composition across various genres and forms. 

Performing Arts

6-8 Curriculum
 
Scholars in grades 6-8 visual art classes will develop social skills, cultural awareness, and understanding of environmental issues to reflect and respond to likes or dislikes of these areas and how these can be used to create art.  Art becomes a vehicle of expression for the student as more than just portraying the familiar objects in the world around them. It can also be a vehicle to express their feelings, opinions, and perspective of their world. Individual styles begin to emerge, and the availability of research on the student’s emerging style of art as related to a genre, era of history, and social commentary is critical to their visual growth.

 

Visual Arts

 

Scholars in grades 6-8 performing arts classes will be able to respond to and interpret a variety of works and productions. They will analyze the usage of artistic elements in examples from different periods and cultures. Students can compare and contrast different compositions and performance styles through exposure and discussion. Students at this level will also have the opportunity to experience collaborating in small and large group performances with their peers. Students will be aided in identifying the responsibilities and necessary skills for performing arts auditions and a variety of performing arts careers to prepare them for the decisions that lie ahead. 

 

Performing Arts

 

Scholars seeking admission to the JCArts High School Program in 9th Grade who display exceptional artistic aptitude may apply to one or more of the JCArts Jr. Academies. These academies provide 45 minutes of instruction daily for the full school year. Instructional time is dedicated to the growth and development of skills and knowledge in preparation for the portfolio review or audition component of the JCArts application process.
High School Curriculum
 
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The Visual Art Curricula throughout Grades 9-12 focus on expanding students' recognition of the elements of art and design principles. Compositions are planned, researched, and mindful of depicting a mood and message with the viewer in mind. Self-interest drives students who need guidance from the art teacher to make meaningful connections between the outside world and how they can bring what they are experiencing and observing into the art they produce inside the art room.
 
Visual art is often the primary vehicle for students' self-expression. Art can also be a vehicle to open discussion about how they perceive the world they live in and how artists in the past and present have and do influence how popular culture perceives what they view. Media is explored in depth so that students experience the possibilities of creating art that is not only conceptual but is impacted by the choice of media, such as ceramics, construction of found objects, printmaking, digital software programs, drawing, painting, and mixed media.  Students are encouraged to expand ideas through research, take risks in art-making through media and style, and do more intensive research based on exploring art history.
 
 

Visual Art

 

All course descriptions can be found in the district HS course catalog.

 
In grades 9 - 12, students in the Performing Arts course will be able to explain the use of different artistic structures, forms, narratives, and mediums. They will gain the ability to analyze examples of history’s influence on the performing arts and the performing arts’ influence on history through in-depth exploration. Students will be expected to examine the effects of artistic elements on the composition, the performer(s), and the audience. Students will also analyze and explore societal issues (i.e. ethnicity, gender, politics, etc.) evident in performance examples. Students will have the opportunity to further participate in the application of the elements of music, theatre, and dance through personal experience in performing ensembles. 
 
Jersey City Arts High School Program
 
The Jersey City Arts High School Program is designed to meet the needs of students who desire participation in an accelerated and enriched arts program. Once accepted, these students enroll in a four-year high school program majoring in one of four artistic disciplines. Students may select to concentrate on Theatre, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music or Visual Art. Prospective students are selected through an application process which includes a portfolio review or audition. 
 
JCArts High School Program students attend a satellite for their daily arts courses. 
 

Component

Grade 9

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

ATC

Artistically Talented Curriculum

Artistically Talented Curriculum Honors I

Artistically Talented Curriculum II Honors 

Artistically Talented Curriculum III /

Advanced Placement 

2-D Design

Artistically Talented Curriculum IV /

Advanced Placement

Drawing

DTC

Dramatically Talented Curriculum

JCArts Dramatically Talented Curriculum I (DTC I)

JCArts Dramatically Talented Curriculum II (DTC II)

JCArts Dramatically Talented Curriculum III (DTC III)

JCArts Dramatically Talented Curriculum IV (DTC IV)

ITC

Instrumentally Talented Curriculum

Instrumentally Talented Curriculum Honors I

Instrumentally Talented Curriculum Honors II

Instrumentally Talented Curriculum Honors III

Instrumentally Talented Curriculum Honors IV

VTC

Vocally Talented Curriculum

JCArts Vocally Talented Curriculum I (VTC I)

JCArts Vocally Talented Curriculum II (VTC II)

JCArts Vocally Talented Curriculum III (VTC III)

JCArts Vocally Talented Curriculum IV (VTC IV)
Student Opportunities
 
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ArtSmart (9-12)
Board of Education Meeting Performances (K-12)
Central Office Annual Exhibit (K-12)
Congressional Art Contest (9-12)
District-Wide Marching Band (6-12)
District-Wide Showcase (K-12)
Dramatically Talented Showcase (JCArts 9-12)
Frogs are Green Annual International Children’s Art Contest (K-12)
Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists Expo (9-12)
Hudson County Arts in Education Grants (K-12)
Hudson County Fire Prevention Poster Contest (K-12)
JCArts End of the Year Expo (JCArts 9-12)
JCArts Senior Thesis Shows (JCArts 12)
Kiwanis High School Art Expo (9-12)
Montclair Art Museum Visit (5th Grade)
New Jersey City University Coursework (9-12)
PATH Holiday Poster Competition (K-8)
Permanent Student Art Collection (K-12)
Save the Music Grants (9-12)
School of Visual Arts Pre-College Program (9-12)
Vocal Music Winter Concerts
Instrumental Music Concerts
District Approved Curriculum Resources
 

Website

Description

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Grades K-8:

The Art of Education University Curriculum Suite provides visual art  teachers access to a comprehensive on-demand digital library of standards-aligned instructional materials. Art teachers utilize scope and sequences in FLEX, curate custom classes or units or incorporate individual resources to supplement lessons. 


Access to in-depth, short-form video tutorials and premium classroom resources, art teachers can apply what they learn directly into classroom instruction. PRO allows teachers to access professional development and art instructional support on-demand.
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Grades PreK - 8: 

QuaverMusic provides teachers access to lesson plans for grades PreK-8. The curriculum supports a variety of pedagogies, including M.L.T., Orff, and Kodaly. Each lesson is aligned to the National Core Arts Standards and offers a seriously fun learning experience for every student.
 

Initiative

Description

Arts Week

This K-12 Visual and Performing Arts exhibition is held during the month of March, aligning to Music in Our Schools and Youth Art Month. Every school is encouraged to participate in one or more of the exhibits or presentations. Schools are invited to visit through a field trip initiative during the month-long celebration.

Montclair Art Museum

All 5th grade students participate in visits to the Montclair Art Museum to engage in gallery tours and hands-on studio workshops. Visits are planned yearly to align with NJ State Curriculum Mandates.