Visual Arts

The St. Thomas School art program is designed to develop each student's understanding of and interaction with the world of artistic expression and creation. With the essential elements of art as the foundational framework, the program helps students build connections through their personal artistic expression to curriculum in their classroom and to school-wide transdisciplinary themes.

Students develop a thorough understanding of artistic techniques and media at St. Thomas School, beginning with exploratory investigation in the younger grades and progressing into confident familiarity and strong competency at the higher levels. As students develop their own artistic voice through drawing, collage, painting, and sculpture, they make meaningful connections between their inner world and the world around them.

PrePrimary, Primary and First Grade students participate in Art Appreciation. Art Appreciation students develop visual discrimination skills by observing, comparing and contrasting. In addition to developing an appreciation for art, these skills are important components of early reading and math acquisition. Our young art detectives also learn essential art vocabulary such as line, foreground, and focal point. In Second through Fourth Grades, Art Appreciation is woven into select units of study.

The Middle School program centers on specific courses, allowing students to apply their broad studio and historical knowledge and hone their techniques.