Our spring teams have become more competitive; the teamwork throughout the school day and during games is beautiful to see, and the leadership from our 8th graders has been phenomenal.
Spring Sports Recap from Jerad
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Opportunities for artistic expression are unusually rich and varied at Burgundy. Children have classes in fine art, drama, and music in which they experiment, learn technical skills and creative problem-solving, and broaden their aesthetic awareness to expand their confidence and comfort zones.
The visual arts program offers an opportunity for students to explore, assimilate, and develop art and experiences in an atmosphere that is supportive and encouraging. Students share, discuss, and describe their process and finished work. Art studies often grow from the history, literature, and cultures that children are exploring in their academic classes.
In Early Childhood and the Lower School, music classes inspire students to build appreciation for and knowledge of music genres, theory, and performance. In Middle School, all students have regular classes in general music, instrumental or vocal, and drama.
Middle School students also take part in Arts Block, in which they rotate through various visual and performing arts experiences. Some examples of Arts Block classes include: ceramics, STEAM, photography, drawing and painting, dance, drumming, sculpture, and guitar.
Drama instruction fosters the creative, critical, and communicative potential of our students and enhances their capacity for creative expression. It builds poise and confidence, versatility in verbal expression, self-discipline, collaborative work, and respect for others. Students become familiar with theater terminology and use structural components of story improvisation. Starting in fourth and fifth grades, students create and perform a dramatic presentation for an audience, usually integrated with one of their social studies units. Each year, each Middle School class puts on a show—6th graders present a themed Broadway review, 7th graders put on a classic play, and 8th graders showcase a musical.
A springtime tradition for nearly 30 years is the Burgundy Arts Festival, where work from every student in every grade is included. Sign-up recitals throughout the year, as well as class music showcases in the spring, allow our musicians to share their talent and skill.
Our Arts and Community Center, The Logan Loft, was opened in March of 2018 and provides beautiful classroom spaces for drama, art, and music in addition to a dedicated “maker-space” for work in STEAM-related activities. The building seamlessly links indoor and outdoor learning for students in their arts classes, just as our academic classrooms do.
