Arts that Transform
Through the visual and performing arts at RPCS, students deepen their connection to their own imaginations and the world around them. By strengthening their ability to articulate ideas and demonstrating vulnerability and honesty in sharing them, our visual and performing artists come to profoundly understand who they are and what they are capable of creating. They also learn lifelong skills to become engaged citizens, such as understanding the value of sustained effort over time and the ability to approach a problem from a variety of angles. Best of all, by sharing their talents and passions, our artists discover the joy in bringing our community together.
Visual Arts
Our visual arts program fosters creative thinking across all grade levels through a comprehensive curriculum that includes studio art, ceramics, photography, fashion design, and more. Students engage with a wide range of media in well-equipped facilities and are encouraged to develop their personal artistic voice while exploring cultural and interdisciplinary connections. Their work is regularly showcased in school-wide exhibitions and has earned recognition at regional and national levels.
Studio Art
Our studio art classes are spacious and light-filled with views of the school grounds. RPCS Studio Art rooms house the materials and equipment required to produce a wide range of works, from Commedia dell’Arte inspired masks and hand-made artist’s books, to life-sized oil paintings.
Ceramics
Ceramics is introduced in Lower School and builds upon different degrees of structure, guidance, and skill throughout the students progression through Middle School. In the Upper School ceramics program, students create clay objects by hand or at one of 6 potter’s wheels.
Photography
In photography, a student can work traditionally at one of 10 enlargers in the darkroom or with the latest Adobe Creative Suite software on her personal laptop or one of the many Macs in the digital media lab.
Performing Arts
Our performing arts program seeks to empower each student with confidence and grace. We treasure, protect and nurture the innate artist in all of our students, while encouraging them to challenge themselves through individual and ensemble explorations in dance, music, and theater.
Dance
The RPCS dance program cultivates confidence and grace in all of our students by promoting movement, collaboration, technique and performance.
Music
The music program at RPCS fosters a love of music for all. We instill in our students the idea that music builds connection and creates joyfulness, which is epitomized in our shared community songs. Our K-12 music curriculum includes instruction with instruments and in vocals.
Theater
Opportunities to engage in theater at RPCS, whether as a performer, producer, set builder or stage manager, inspire taking creative risks, sharing ideas with others and discovery through experimentation.