Arts

Our Passion for the Arts

Suffolk Christian Academy offers a wide variety of arts programs for our students. We believe that art is a gift from God and that each student should develop an appreciation for art while honing their unique talents. Whether painting, drawing, speaking, playing, or writing, our students excel in the arts.

View Our Art Programs | View Our Online Art Gallery

A Fine Arts Educator Perspective

What Daniel Smith’s quote expresses is our heart’s desire and goal for students at Suffolk Christian Academy. God is the author of the Arts, as depicted in the Creation story in Genesis. For too long, the Arts have been dominated by worldly thought and influence. It is important to cultivate students towards a love of God in the Arts, and of their God-given talents. Students are encouraged to worship God through the Arts utilizing their individual giftedness. As image-bearers we reflect a Holy God when we take part in the Arts.
Often, students do not believe that God has given them any abilities in the Arts, however, because we are bearers of God’s image. Throughout the year, it is important to discover each student’s ability and encourage them to explore how the Lord would have them grow as a fine art student. Our hope is that through their fine arts experiences, that students learn to bring God glory as fine arts students at SCA.

“I believe that an artist working for and representing the Kingdom of God should do the best of their ability to show and prove the depth, life, newness, creativity, truth and excitement of their Heavenly Father through the work that is set before them.”
- Author: Daniel Smith

Our Art Programs

9

Elementary

Kindergarten through 5th Grade begin with drawing since this is the basis for a large part of the Arts, and a skill that can be taught and practiced. We use our drawing practice in many different ways: creative drawings, collage, scratch-art, pop art, and carving their own rubber stamps to print. We will use design to make reliefs and tessellations. We will venture into abstract work. We work on self-portraits, mosaics, and low relief sculptures. We will integrate historical and modern artists and their work as well as Biblical thought and imagery.
9

Middle School

Middle School Students will work on many of the same techniques and mediums but on a more disciplined and detailed level. We will add more difficult projects like grid self-portraits and Tangle drawings. More is expected from middle school students.
9

High School

High School Students may elect to participate in Art I-Drawing. This is a class designed to enrich and guide creative students in the techniques, theories, and terminologies of drawing with the desire to enhance and inspire their own artistic ability. Students will learn to identify and utilize five perceptual components: edges, spaces, relationships, lights and shadows, and the perception of the whole.

Our Drama Programs

9

Preschool and Elementary School

Elementary and Pre-school Students attend drama class once a week where they have fun and learn basic drama and music fundamentals. Students as young as 4 years old learn to act out simple character parts and rhythms that get more difficult with each grade level. Younger students participate in music and movement activities, learning musical parts and character parts musicals. Older students learn about composers, theater basics, and different styles of musical drama. Students participate in an annual Christmas musical production.
9

Middle School

Middle School Drama is a semester-long, foundational class, designed for students with little or no theatre experience in which promotes enjoyment and appreciation for all aspects of theatre. Classwork focuses on the exploration of theatre literature, performance, historical and cultural connections, and technical requirements. Improvisation, creative dramatics, and beginning scene work are used to introduce students to acting and character development. Middle School Drama provides opportunities for students to develop skills in critical listening and thinking, as well as stage presence, ensemble work, and aesthetic awareness culminating in periodic classroom and/or public performances.
9

High School

High School Drama is a year-long, entry-level high school class in Theatre Arts which is designed to stimulate the student’s creative abilities. It is a performance-oriented class which focuses on the development of communication skills specifically as they relate to theatre. Emphasis is placed on the development of concentration, observation, monologues, improvisation, and character-development skills. Other areas included are character analysis, theater history, and some script writing and reading. Class activities include monologues, duet acting, improvisation, costuming, make-up, and an introduction to technical aspects to play production.

Our Other Programs

9

Public Speaking

Public Speaking is high school level semester course. This course will provide the students with the skills and capabilities for speaking in public, whether before a small or large audience. Students will choose topics to prepare through research, organization, and effective communication techniques and present the speech to the class. Students will gain experience in presenting an introduction, interview, demonstration, and informative, devotional and persuasive speeches. Critical analysis skills will be practiced.
9

Yearbook and Journalism

Yearbook & Journalism is a year-long elective available to 8th – 12th grade students. The yearbook portion of this course is designed to prepare the publication of the school yearbook. Students will work as a team to decide all matters relating to publishing the yearbook, from the layout to the choice of articles and pictures. Students will photograph important school events and sell ads for the yearbook. The journalism portion of the course is designed to teach students how to write newspaper articles and basic understanding of newspaper publishing. Students will have hands-on experience writing, editing, and publishing articles. A student-produced newspaper is published periodically during the year.