The
Fine Arts Department at the Huasteca Campus offers various ways
for students to explore different components of art by selecting
different art courses, participating in the annual Art Show,
and displaying their projects from art and art-related classes
around the school.
High school
art students created large-scale sculptures and
presented to the entire school by placing the sculptures in strategic
places in the downstairs and upstairs hallways. Due to the size
of the projects people had to stop and take notice or they would
walk into the sculptures.
The Fine Arts
Department has undergone many changes these past few years.
The most important change is the shift from Theatrical Drama
to Exploratory
Drama. ASFM is eager to create a program that relates to the
students' growth in many dimensions, not just academic. Thus,
the Fine Arts Department is aimed to work on aiding each student's
development as a well-rounded human being. Drama not only encourages
students to take risks, but it helps students develop their
confidence in many different areas. The safe inclusive atmosphere
of the
Black box Theater is also designed to create a sense of comfort
for students to explore their inner selves.
For the
year of September 2002, a positive change was be implemented.
Both teachers and students are excited that Drama and Art would
be offered to every single student in middle school. Every
middle school student will be able to experience nine weeks of
Art and
nine weeks of Drama. This was specifically designed so students
could have a chance to explore all areas of the arts to enhance
their own spiritual growth.
The Drama
Festival made it's debut in 2001 and has been held every
year since. Go to the archives section of the site to check
them out. For three nights, our ASFM community was able to
see eight unique
plays
ranging
from
experimental drama to classical theater. Nine teachers directed
the plays and worked diligently to produce a successful evening
in the black box theater. We are hoping that this event is
the first among many. By having this memorable festival every
year (whether it be two or more plays) we will be exposing
our students to learn more of this beautiful art form. |
Music in MS/HS,
while still in its formative years, is growing by leaps and bounds!
The number of students who register in the music program expands
each and every year. Take, for example, our band program. In
the upcoming school year, 2002 - 2003, approximately 170 students,
in Grades 6 through 8, will be learning how to play either a
woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. When one remembers
that in 1999, a band program did not yet exist here, the conclusion
can be made that the magic of music is alive and well at the
MS/HS.Students at our school can make a musical choice. If they
do not wish to learn how to play an instrument, we also have
a healthy choral music program, which involves both male and
female vocalists at all levels, Grades Six right through to Grade
Twelve.
While performance
is the ultimate goal for all musicians and singers in our program,
becoming musically literate is the top priority of the music
department. Students are constantly involved in a wide range
of learning experiences in each of their classes. Learning correct
instrumental and vocal production techniques, along with music
appreciation, theory and history, enables our students to become
well-versed musicians and singers.
Composition
and choreography are also additional components of the music
program at La Huasteca. Each year, the Music Department, produces
both a Christmas and Spring Concert, which leave standing room
only in our beautiful Guillermo Zambrano Auditorium.
Last year's
Christmas Concert became a Celebration of the Fine Arts, as student
work from each of the drama, art and photography departments
was integrated with band and choral performances. However, the
talent did not stop there, as many of our academic teachers also
displayed their musical abilities before the concert, and during
intermission, when they sang carols and played their instruments
in small group ensembles to entertain audience members.
Each year,
teachers and students from the music department have worked in
cooperation with the drama department, to produce musicals such
as Grease, Annie, and Anything Goes. This year
is no exception, as rehearsals are once again underway for April's
scheduled production of Godspell. The teachers and students
in this extracurricular group expect, once again, to play to
several nights of sold out performances.
The Fine Arts
Department undertook a new, and exciting Advancednture in the 2001
- 2002 school year. A group of 15 to 20 high school singers are
now rehearsing and making preparations for their participation
in a Choral Festival to be held in Sao
Paulo, Brazil in the early part of May. We are proud of what
the music department has been able to accomplish in the past
few years, and eagerly await the opportunities and new experiences
that are just around the corner for us in upcoming years! |
