Over the last five years Peoria Notre Dame has had a concerted effort to expand our curricular offerings in the area of the fine arts. Our offerings have more than doubled from five years ago with courses being added in art, music, and graphic design. Our goal in adding these additional courses has been to more fully live our mission statement of educating the entire person.
While budget cuts around the state and nation have forced many schools to cut back on their expenditures in these areas we believe their expansion is crucial to developing the whole person.
This morning I had the opportunity to visit these classrooms and see the powerful learning taking place. In music appreciation our students engaged in a conversation with Ryan Thomas (older brother of freshmen Sam Thomas) and a professional musician who has been actively touring with several bands for the last seven years. Ryan shared the ups and down of the music industry while sharing the rewards he receives from pursuing his passion of music. The session was full of information and a joy to participate in. From learning how booking agents, promoters, and labels all take their cut to the joys of spending twenty four hours a day with other band members. Next year our music curriculum will be expanding yet again to offer a course on music business.
After a stop in music it was on to the art room where Mrs. Maggie Off's students were working on their ceramics projects in Art IIID. A number of students were busy working the pottery wheels and preparing their projects for final firing in the kiln. I had a chance to visit with a number of our students about their art courses and how they fit into the overall mission of Catholic education. The art curriculum has grown to include Art1, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Ceramics I and CeramicsII, Advanced Studio I and II, Senior Portfolio, Digital Photography, and Digital Design Basics.
The staff and students within our fine arts program continue to win multiple awards. This year alone we've just received word that a number of our students listed below have qualified or received honors related to their art work in the Regional Scholastic Art Competition. Having this many students place and win gold key, silver key, and honorable mentions is impressive. Those students who placed at the Gold Key level will advance on in the competition.
Elizabeth Horning Art Drawing Looking Gold Key
Jana Kotysan Art Drawing Timeworn Gold Key
Noah Otten Art Printmaking Owl Be Pink'd Gold Key
Bekah Pollard Art Drawing Benjamin Gold Key
Katie VerKuilen Art Painting Passing By Gold Key
Mairead Bertram Art Drawing Melody Honorable Mention
Amanda Dahlquist Art Drawing My Big Brother Honorable Mention
Daniel Everts Art Drawing yummy Honorable Mention
Kelsi Finan Art Drawing Jason Reeves Honorable Mention
Meg Fortner Art Drawing Dutches, Ruby, and Rane Honorable Mention
Hannah Gutzwiller Art Drawing Luke, A Thinker Honorable Mention
Hannah Gutzwiller Art Drawing Danny Boy Honorable Mention
Cassie Harper Art Digital Art Water Lily Honorable Mention
Megan OBrien Art Drawing My First Best Friend Honorable Mention
Kayla Nicole Tyler Art Printmaking Mathew Joseph Honorable Mention
Meg Fortner Art Drawing Jeffery the Giraffe Silver Key
Sawyer Krause Art Design The Birds Silver Key
In a number of other areas our students passion and creativity in the world of art has impacted our school community. A popular event every year is our spring fine arts fair and annual film festival. Additionally the annual Christmas movies have become something our entire community looks forward to.
Below is a short film speaking with an instructor and students regarding our fine arts program. Next week we'll bring you more information regarding our fine arts program.
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