The Arts

While the Success Academies emphasize rigorous academics, we also believe in supporting our scholars’ artistic and creative growth! Scholars engage in visual arts, dance and music throughout the week to allow their creativity to flourish. We believe that the arts are an integral part of educating the whole child and we ensure that all scholars are able to participate in this kind of exploration.

Visual Arts give all scholars the opportunity to express themselves creatively through a variety of media. Each year, Success Academy scholars explore drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media—enabling them to connect with their unique personalities, imaginations, communities and the world around them. Scholars are also introduced to both Contemporary and Traditional Art History concepts to provide a baseline for understanding and points of connection. They participate in both independent and collaborative projects that support social growth.

Through Dance and Music, scholars are provided with the pleasure of self-expression through movement, play, sound and rhythm, while also developing fundamental movement techniques, motor skills and focus. In music class scholars explore beat, rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre and genre through singing, dancing and instrumental performance. We believe that music is a vital part of the Success Academy curriculum because the making of music requires cooperation, creative expression, poise and the evaluation of the aesthetic skills that will serve our scholars throughout life. In addition to the study of vocal music, Kindergarten through 2^nd grade scholars study a variety of percussion instruments including drums, maracas and xylophones. Third grade scholars begin to explore the melodies produced by the recorder. Fourth grade scholars are introduced to the ukulele. Middle school scholars have the opportunity to play a school band instrument. Scholars will use the skills developed in the music classroom to prepare a variety of musical performances to share with families and others in the school community.