Confident and Creative
The Visual and Performing arts are a celebration of being alive—and of living fully. At RPCS, our girls embrace the joys of self expression and performance as they refine the instruments that make it possible: their bodies and voices, their senses and perceptions, their emotions and imaginations.
There are many ways in which RPCS celebrates the creative energies of its students and encourages them to pursue their artistic visions with enthusiasm. At the Lower School level, girls spend a significant portion of each day in music, dance, and art education programs. Drama classes are added to the mix at the Middle School level and Lower and Middle School students participate in annual performances and exhibitions that highlight their artistic achievements. By the time girls reach the Upper School, there are highly specialized classes in both visual and performing arts to choose from and numerous opportunities for students to display their creative energy before audiences–by taking part in recitals, performances, dramas, musicals, exhibitions, and more.
Lower School All students in K through Grade 5 participate in two concerts, one in the winter and one in the spring. Evident from these two joyful events are the accomplishments of the girls in singing, instrument training, and dancing, and the pleasure that they get from performing. The girls’ art work is also on display for everyone to see.
Middle School Visual and Performing arts classes meet three days out of ten in grades six and seven. Eighth graders choose two arts electives, which meet five days out of ten for a semester.
Middle School Musical: Each year the Middle School presents a full-scale musical in late February. Auditions for this performance are held in the fall. Casting in the musical requires careful preparation for the audition, which will require skill in singing, acting, and/or dance. Students who are not chosen for the cast are encouraged to join the tech crew.
Chorus: All students who enjoy singing are encouraged to join the Middle School Chorus which meets during the academic day. Ordinarily, Middle School Chorus is a full year commitment. No auditions are required.
Upper School Students are required to take a studio art course in grade 9 or 10. They may take either the semester-length Studio Art Appreciation course or a year of Art I: Foundations in Studio Art. There are a wide range of visual and performing art electives that students may take throughout their time in Upper School. These include but are not limited to: The Advanced Placement Portfolio, Photography, Ceramics, Design, Studio Dance, Dance Appreciation, Music I- V, Music Theory, and Theatre Arts.