Arts Education is a critical component in the development of the whole child. Creating art engages the students’ minds and helps to develop all aspects of thinking. Our children will need the skills afforded through the arts to be leaders in the fast paced 21st century. The arts provide skills that enable students to be creative and fully participate in a global society. Acceptance of all races, ethnic groups and cultures is the foundation for living and working in the 21st century. Through the study of the Arts, children are exposed to a variety of cultures which fosters an understanding and appreciation for those cultures.

We seek to encourage children’s natural enthusiasm for the arts, promote literacy across content areas, address the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and aesthetic development of children, provide an experiential approach to the learning process, and include processes of creating, performing, responding and connecting.

Technological changes in the past 20 years require a solid understanding of the impact these changes have on the environment and how we learn. Creation in the Arts has also transformed dramatically in the past generation and the use of technology has given greater access to more children to explore and create art.

The program at Mount Vernon recognizes all students and celebrates their culture. In all forms, dance is intrinsically multicultural. The study of its disciplines, art forms and genres therefore must be multicultural and gender inclusive.

For more information, please visit Teaching and Learning