Arts
In our IB Middle Years Programme Arts courses, students learn to think and work creatively while developing the discipline, courage, and skill of young artists. Rooted in Montessori principles and aligned with the IB framework, the arts are both a means of self-expression and a way of understanding culture, identity, and community.
The IB describes the arts as a space for investigating, developing, creating or performing, and evaluating artistic work Arts guide. At our school, students experience all four dimensions as active participants in visual and performing arts.
Arts as Inquiry and Identity
Students explore art as a reflection of identity, culture, and change. They investigate movements, genres, and artists while developing their own artistic intentions. Through sustained practice and reflection, students learn that art is not only about talent but about process, persistence, and growth.
Creativity is treated as a disciplined practice. Students experiment, take risks, revise their work, and document their thinking. They learn to give and receive feedback thoughtfully, understanding that collaboration strengthens artistic vision.
Performance and Production at Scale
Our arts program comes alive in two major school-wide events.
Each spring, students participate in a full-scale Spring Musical, a Broadway-level production involving more than 120 children. Students engage in dance, singing, acting, and backstage roles including audio, video, and production design. This experience develops artistic technique, teamwork, responsibility, and confidence in performance.
At the end of the year, our Culminating Arts Festival celebrates the creative work of all students. The festival includes a piano and ukulele recital, a short stop motion animation film festival, and presentations of culminating projects by sixth graders. This shared event honors both individual artistry and collective accomplishment.
The Great Works
Each unit culminates in a Great Work that integrates investigation, development, creation or performance, and evaluation. These works give students ownership of their artistic voice and responsibility for their craft. Examples include:
The Flow, a choreographed dance piece
The Song, an original or interpreted musical performance
The Piece, a finished visual artwork
Through these Great Works, students move from exploration to intentional creation, learning to articulate their artistic choices and reflect on their development.
Developing Creative Thinkers
By the end of the MYP Arts program, students understand that art is both personal and communal. They see themselves as creators capable of shaping meaning and communicating ideas through movement, sound, image, and performance. Equipped with discipline, imagination, and reflective practice, they are prepared to continue their artistic journey with confidence and purpose.
