Arts

In Grades 6 through 10, students may enroll in a Theater Arts elective; Grades 11 and 12 students may opt to take Theatre as one of their six IB Diploma courses. Whether or not they are enrolled in classes, all Middle and Upper School students have the opportunity to audition for roles in plays and musicals, or to offer behind-the-scenes support with production, costumes, lighting, etc. WIS stages at least four productions a year.

Students in Grades 6 through 8 must take one semester of music each year. They may choose either vocal or instrumental music and have the opportunity to perform at winter and spring concerts. Depending on student interest, a Middle School Jazz Band Club may be offered after school.

Musically-inclined Upper School students may choose from the following electives: Vocal Music, Symphonic Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble. They have the opportunity to perform at winter and spring concerts.

Visual Art classes are a mandatory part of the curriculum through Grade 8; many Upper School students continue to take art electives.

Each year, several of our Grades 11-12 students choose to enroll in IB Visual Arts. During this demanding two-year course, students learn techniques in the use of a variety of media and relate art to its historical and social context. Students acquire sufficient technical skills to produce works of quality and an ability to present this work appropriately.

During their Grade 12 year, IB Visual Arts students present a portfolio of their work to IB examiners. The artwork is displayed on campus, and community members are invited to a reception/show in the spring. Students who pursue the visual arts at the Diploma Program level have been recruited by some of the top art colleges/universities in the United States.