As students begin selecting their classes for the upcoming school year, it is important that they complete the required graduation credits. Every student is required to have at least one art credit to graduate. Since the art class options are so extensive, students may not know where to begin when deciding which class they will take. 

Over 15 different art classes are offered to students. Within every type of art there are different levels of classes, giving students an opportunity to master their chosen art form throughout their four years of high school. The art classes offered for the current school year cover a wide variety of art forms including fashion design, ceramics, drawing, photography, art history, theatre and music. 

AP Art History is the best class for students who are not interested in creating art, but would rather study different pieces and styles. For aspiring fashion designers, Fashion Design is the perfect class. Students learn how to crochet, embroider, sew by hand and with a machine and design their own pieces. Fashion Design covers “a wide variety of things,” art teacher Malinda Pierce said. 

Photography classes are another option. Once students have completed Photography 1A and B they can choose to continue and take either AP 2D Photography or AP 2D Art and Design with a photography focus. “A typical photography class is very interactive and students are up and moving,” photography teacher Stephanie Labbe said. 

Ceramics is an option for people who would enjoy an active class because students are up and moving throughout the entirety of the class. A majority of the work is done in clay and  students learn different techniques to use and fire clay. There are multiple levels of classes in ceramics. “As students advance they focus on creating self expression with strong concepts and ideas behind their artwork,” Pierce said. 

People who want to complete their art credit through a form of music can choose between orchestra, band, guitar and chorus. There are three concert bands for three different levels of players. Patriot Winds is the lowest band and anyone can join. However, for the other two higher level bands, auditions are required. “It’s a super fun class because it’s a lot of work but it pays off. The teachers aren’t just people you see once a day, it’s a community,” sophomore trumpet player Waverly Nakashima said. 

Students with passions in acting have the option of taking theater. The class is made up of two parts: Advanced Acting and Tech Theatre. Students research acting techniques and learn to improve their acting skills. “Theatre class is amazing because it’s full of people who share the same love of the arts as I do,” sophomore Nadia Arnold said. 

Art has been proven to be a crucial part of expanding students’ education. Art education is associated with gains in reading, math, critical thinking and verbal skills. “The arts allow students to communicate with more than just words and they provide an outlet and voice to many who feel they don’t have one,” Labbe said.