Student Experience

Fine and Performing Arts

Arts Education at Cascia Hall

In keeping with the Augustinian philosophy of educating the whole person, Cascia Hall provides a diverse offering of  classes in the fine and performing arts. Our academic advisement staff helps each student choose and develop the arts path that is most compatible with his or her aptitudes and inclinations and that is most likely to provide a lifetime of enjoyment and enrichment.

Middle School Art, Grades 6 - 8

  • Allows students to explore their unique artistic and creative skills
  • Encourages experimentation with various media and forms: painting, collage, ceramics, sculpture, drawing, oil pastels
  • Involves students in project research, integration of other subjects, partnered work, critical thinking, clean-up, use of technology

Upper School Art

List of 4 items.

  • Art I

    provides a foundation in elements and principles of art through projects, study of art history, aesthetics and art criticism

  • Art II: Color and Design

    deepens understanding of mediums and history; promotes expression of ideas through 2-D and 3-D works

  • Art III: Pre-AP/Studio Art

    in-depth study in drawing or painting with individual course study planned by student and instructor

  • Art IV: AP Art

    requires students to complete a 30-piece portfolio of original works, including an intensive concentrated area of art expression

Middle School Music

List of 2 items.

  • 6th Grade Music

    teaches basic guitar skills, basic vocal technique and the use of Orff-Schulwerk (xylophone-type) instruments

  • 8th Grade Music

    continues guitar instruction, vocal technique, and introduces handbell playing. Students continue to learn how to sing in harmony (part singing)

Upper School Music

List of 5 items.

  • Beginning Guitar

    introduces students to basic chord, notes, rhythms, and tablature.

  • General Chorus

    emphasizes vocal technique and part-singing; introduces a variety of musical styles from jazz to sacred music

  • Intermediate Guitar

    further develops note-reading, pentatonic scales, modes, improvisation; introduces chord theory, jazz chords

  • Performance Ensemble

    audition-only 16-member ensemble focuses on public performance and vocal training

  • Theory I

    grounds students in music reading, rhythms, intervals, chords, music writing; ideal college music prep class

Acting and Theatre, Grades 9-12

List of 3 items.

  • Competitive Acting

    prepares students for participation in interscholastic acting competitions

  • Introduction to Theatre (fall semester)

    provides an overview of the basic aspects of theatre and production, including script and production analysis, acting, lighting, sound, sets, costumes, theatre personnel, and theatre history.

  • Musical Theatre I

    introduces the acting, technical, and production aspects of staging a musical

Photography, Grades 9-12

List of 2 items.

  • Advanced Photography

    expands on black and white technique with exploration of alternative processes, the Zone System, archival printing techniques, large format photography, light painting, digital photography, image manipulation, night photography, documentary projects and portfolio development

  • Beginning Photography

    teaches students fundamentals of 35mm camera operation with emphasis on focus, lighting and speed settings for proper exposure; students learn techniques in  developing and printing black and white film

Speech and Debate

List of 4 items.

  • 7th Grade Speech

    introduces the basics of public communication skills and public speaking

  • Debate

    prepares students for interscholastic competition in various forms of debate and speech

  • Speech I

    focuses on the principles of communication through various speeches, including the performance of literature as well as original speeches

  • Speech II

    concentrates on speeches written by students with a focus on current events and argumentation

Extracurricular Arts

Middle and Upper School students may audition for school plays and musicals or work backstage on props, costumes, lights, and sound. See "PAC Events" at left for lineup.

In addition to the arts curriculum and stage productions, there are many Fine and Performing Arts Activities for students both during the school day and after school.

Middle School Activities

List of 3 items.

  • Art Club

  • Bell Choir

  • Debate

Upper School Activities

List of 6 items.

  • Art Club

  • Debate

  • Handbells

  • Music Ministry

  • Musical Instruments Club

  • Pep Band