Arts Education

Performing music enhances self-esteem, builds self-discipline, and reinforces societal values such as cooperation, commitment, and working towards a common goal. These are all fundamental qualities that serve as the basis of our education system.

Students learning instruments have the opportunity to participate in several different groups and ensembles:

• Band (grades 4-12)
• Orchestra (grades 4-12)
• Jr Honors (grades 4-6) & Honors Band or Orchestra (grades 6-8)

Students studying vocal music have the opportunity to participate in several different groups and ensembles:

• General Music (grades PreK-5)
• Chorus (grades 4-12)
• Honors Chorus (by audition) – Elementary (Grade 5) or Middle School (6-8)

The Theatre Arts incorporate multiple disciplines, including acting, visual arts, music, movement, and literature. In Theatre Arts classes, students explore and study human experiences through an artistic process.

Theatre Arts are taught in Arlington Public Schools because they help students develop effective oral and physical communication skills, enable students to communicate ideas effectively, and help them develop greater appreciation and tolerance for the experiences and perspectives of others. The personal discipline required in Theatre Arts increases students’ creativity and problem solving abilities. Students learn how to work cooperatively with others toward an aesthetic goal, and while doing so, develop their own creative and aesthetic natures.

Art is an essential part of human history; it is a means of communicating ideas in a multicultural society. Art education fosters perceptual awareness, cognitive processes, aesthetic literacy, and life coping skills. Interdisciplinary art experiences promote a visually literate society and a stronger understanding of oneself. Visual arts education is an integral part of the curriculum of Arlington Public Schools

• High School art (overview)
  • Art I
  • Art II
  • Art III
  • Ceramics I

The Fine Arts Apprentice Program provides specialized experiences beyond the regular art, music and drama curriculum for selected high school students (rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders). Opportunities for students may include ensemble works, master classes, attendance at professional rehearsals and performances, museum courses, small group instruction, seminars, exhibit and performance opportunities.

Fine Arts Apprentice; Full year, one-half credit: Fine Arts I (29290), Grades 10-11; Fine Arts II (29291), Grades 10-11; Fine Arts III (29292), Grade 12 (Prerequisite Fine Arts II or permission from the Instructor).

Students are encouraged to email or call the Apprentice Coordinator with any specific questions – Kelly.Breedlove@apsva.us or 703-228-6171.

Applications

Applications for the 2024-25 school year are due on Wednesday, April 17, 2024

• Step-by-Step Instructions on Application Process
• Apprentice Application Information & Work Sample Guidelines
• Online applications (work sample & recommendations sent separately):
  • Fine Arts Apprentice Application 2024-25 
• Online recommendation form:  Apprentice Program Recommendation Form
• Sample e-Portfolio

Students selected for the Apprentice Program receive a pass/fail grade and a 1/2 credit for a minimum of 75 hours of arts experience outside the school course requirements. These opportunities take place out of the school day and are often offered in the evenings and on weekends. Students are able to select opportunities of interest that work with their school commitments and extra-curricular activities.

Resources

• Click here to watch a video behind the scenes of the Fine Arts Apprentice Program

The Humanities Project is Arlington Public Schools’ (APS) artist-in-the-schools program. The Humanities Project places artists for assemblies, workshops and residencies throughout the year in each school. Programs include the Performing Arts, Heritage Arts, Visual Arts, and Literary Arts.

Artists

If you have a program, workshop and/or performance that you feel would benefit the students and/or teachers in Arlington, the Humanities Project encourages you to apply. Only online applications will be accepted.

• Performing Arts – Programs make excellent assemblies and are often extended into workshops and sometimes residencies.
• Heritage Arts – Programs that celebrate the rich heritage of folk and traditional arts.
• Visual Arts – Artists usually work with smaller groups of students in workshop or residency settings.
• Literary Arts – The Humanities Project works with several poets who provide residencies to Arlington Schools. We also partner with The Cultural Affairs Division in Arlington to provide a program called Pick-a-Poet bringing local published poets into the classroom for writing exercises.

SUBMIT ONLINE ARTIST APPLICATION

Applications can be submitted at any time. Applications will be reviewed in the spring of each year. Applications received after May 1st will be considered for the following school year.

Partnerships

Arlington Public Schools has several partnerships with area arts and cultural organizations – The Kennedy Center, Arlington Cultural Affairs, Signature Theatre, Arlington Independent Media, Arlington Artist Alliance.

For more information please contact the Humanities Coordinator at christopher.monroy@apsva.us

The Pick-a-Poet Program invites local published poets into Arlington Public Schools. Teachers contact the Humanities Project Coordinator to make arrangements for the poets and for funding. Visiting poets help students explore their own creativity, insight, and intellectual curiosity through the creative writing process, and provide students an opportunity to meet and talk with professional writers.  The students are then encouraged to submit their work to the Moving Words Poetry Competition, which puts poetry on Arlington Transit (ART) buses.

Request and schedule a Poet

Preparation For Poet Visit

Through the Pick a Poet Program, students will have opportunities to: 

• Listen to and read a variety of poetry
• Meet and explore poetry with a professional poet
• Write (either as a group or individually) at least one poem
• Recite poetry (original and/or published works)

Ideas for preparing your students for your Poet Visit: 

• Begin each class by reading a poem.
• Have students recite poetry.
• Have poetry anthologies available for students to read.
• Read bio of visiting poet. Read samples of their work.
• Introduce different poetry techniques to students.
• Discuss with your visiting poet what they would like you to introduce prior to their visit.

The following suggestions will help ensure your Poet Visit is successful for you and your students. Please:

• Follow up/communicate with your visiting poet (e-mail and phone messages) in a timely manner
• Work with the Poet to schedule a time that is mutually beneficial
• Provide guidance to the Poet on working with your class (prior and during the workshop); i.e. students prior knowledge of poetry, classroom rules, school culture – anything that would be helpful for prepping a guest in your classroom
• Do not tolerate disruptive behavior. We ask that teachers be responsible for their students’ behavior during the workshop.
• Participate! Teachers are asked to actively participate in the workshop. Poets should not be left alone with the class at any point during their visit.
• Complete and return Poet evaluation to Humanities ProjectCoordinator within two weeks of your poet visit. Copies of poems created

After Your Poet Visit

After Workshop

• Have students continue to edit poems written during poet visit.
• Encourage students to submit their poetry to MovingWords poetry contest.

Extensions

• Design a creative writing exercise based on your poet visit.
• Have students memorize a poem (original or published)to recite in class.
• Host a poetry reading and have students read their poems to each other (in pairs or to the class). Make it big! Invite other classes, parents, administrators.
• Create and publish a Poetry Anthology with original poems by your students/school.
• Have students illustrate their poems and display.
• Have students write poems based on a specific topic/curriculum link, work of art, current news, holiday, emotion, object – almost anything can be a poetry idea generator!
• Create classroom “Magnetic Refrigerator” poetry: Decide on a topic and have students brainstorm nouns, verbs, and adjectives relating to the topic. Cut out each word individually and mix up on a bulletin board/butcher paper. Have students take turns creating original poems using the words.

For more information on Pick-a-Poet/Moving Words or the Humanities Project, please contact: christopher.monroy@aspva.us

• Elementary Resources
• Secondary Resources