Arts Education
Exposure to the Arts starts in kindergarten at Stargate and continues through 12th grade, giving students a platform for self-expression, encouragement to think imaginatively and meaningful opportunities to develop interests/skills. We recognize that the Arts help students make sense of the world around them while fostering creativity, confidence, critical thinking and collaboration skills - essential for innovation and success in the 21st century.
Art
Visual / Studio Arts
Drawing. Painting. Ceramics. Mixed Media and more. Whether they're learning fundamentals or working toward mastery, Stargate students excel in both 2D and 3D Art and Design classes. They develop technical skills as well as an appreciation for both traditional and contemporary works. As student ideas go from concept to composition to execution, many are showcased in competitions and/or find their way to Stargate's annual art show.
Graphic & Web Design
Students learn the foundations of design - balance, rhythm, unity, contrast and emphasis - as well as the principles of layout, color theory and typography. As they progress from philosophy into practice, students design typographic word art, their own logo, promotional posters, movie posters and culminating client projects. Students are asked to consider their personal brand, to build portfolio websites and to take on projects that help them build "soft skills" like customer service, emailing etiquette, proofing and a variety of conflict resolution techniques required of design professionals.
Check out more student works from past Stargate Art Shows
Music
Instrumental & Chamber Ensembles
Whether they are new to their band and orchestra instruments or advanced musicians, Stargate students perform in at least three concerts each year. In addition to developing musical skills, they learn to audition and to work in a variety of ensemble groups, tackling both traditional and contemporary musical pieces. As their skills and confidence grow, many Stargate musicians have excelled at All State, Westerns, CHSAA solo, CU Honor Band and other competitive festivals / extra curricular ensembles.
Musical Composition & Music Theory
Compose. Perform. Conduct. Students ground themselves in the fundamentals of music, rhythm, melody, harmony, musical analysis and form. And they create their own pieces. Their compositional process includes basic orchestration of instruments; setting poetry/writing to music; studying existing pieces of music; and implementing music theory to add structure to their pieces. Students are expected to perform on their instrument of choice.
Choir & Concert Choir
Students learn vocal techniques, music fundamentals and choral musicianship, performing in at least 2 concerts per semester, including school concerts, festivals and competitions.
Rock Band & The Business of Music
In Rock Band, students work in small groups to develop musicianship and learn to work cooperatively with others. They perform at least once each semester. In Applied Music, students learn the business of music, including how to schedule performances; how to use websites and social media appropriately; how to use basic sound equipment and recording software; and how to be marketable as a musician.
Dramatic Arts
Theatre / Performing Arts
Comedies. Dramas. Musicals. One-Act Plays. Shakespeare. Stargate students take the lead on stage and behind the scenes, working as directors, set designers, lighting and sound techs, make-up artists, costume designers, actors and more. Students learn about character and scene development, interpretation of performances, literal and interpretive readings, writing (both essays and scripts), set/costume design, and critical analysis/evaluation. In developing the skills necessary for theatrical productions, students also learn self-confidence, flexibility and problem solving, creativity and imagination, teamwork, physical/mental preparation and concentration. Check out current and past productions.
Video & Film Production
Students write, produce and edit in Video and Film class. Students are responsible for planning, directing, performing, handling technical equipment, and employing technical knowledge. They analyze film, video and television, studying texts, exploring film history, debating theory and working to develop technical skills in writing, lighting, shooting, editing, scoring, production and finalizing film projects.
Technical Arts
Mobile Apps & Video Games
Creative Arts intersect with science and engineering when Stargate students design mobile apps and video games. In video game design class, students create animated characters and leverage storytelling techniques to develop deep and complex worlds. However, to bring them to life, they also learn basic C# coding in Unity (a professional game engine). For mobile apps, students' rely on creative design skills, as well as computer science concepts and technologies to create scalable, custom and fast mobile applications.
Elementary School Programs
Music
Stargate's K-4 program includes: singing songs with familiar melodies, music appreciation, learning about instruments, becoming familiar with some basic elements of music (rhythm, melody, etc.) and learning songs to perform in live concerts. The 5th Grade program includes a Guitar and Choir elective, as well opportunities to stage a rock concert performing Beatles songs or perform in "Hypatia and the I’mpossible Equation," an original musical with music, lyrics and book by Stargate music teacher, Rod Osburn. Written almost completely in verse, the production tells the story of a girl overcoming math anxiety in geometry and algebra.
Art
Elementary Art classes provide Stargate's K-5 students opportunities to practice visual "Habits of Mind" - observing, reflecting, envisioning, expressing, persisting, exploring, developing craft and understanding the art world. Students learn ways to discern and convey visual meaning while also making connections to other fields of knowledge, including language, history, science and mathematics. The program emphasizes creativity and innovation, communication and expression, problem solving and decision-making, process/effort and responsibility.
Want to Learn More?
Email info@stargateschool.org to learn more about Arts at Stargate or, for Secondary School information, review the Academic Planning Guide for detailed class descriptions.