DESIGNING THEIR EXPERIENCE: ARTS AT RECTORY

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By Donna Bessette, Director of Related Arts

Visitors to the Rectory campus won’t have to look too hard to find examples of our students’ creativity. The first step into the Admissions entrance leads visitors to a beautiful display of ceramic sculptures and three-dimensional art pieces. The walk down the hallway introduces them to various art pieces hanging on the walls, from drawing and painting to glass mosaics and black and white photography. That same hallway gets one closer to the musical sounds echoing from the P.Y. and Kinmay Tang Performing Arts Center, where any of the ten (plus) musical groups are practicing on the stage and in the rooms. Along the walk, one might bump into a few students filming a scene for their digital arts class in the hallway or taking photos for the yearbook. Oh, and watch your step near the stage of the Tang, as props and set pieces are being designed and created by students for the upcoming production of the school play. On a nice day, one might pass by students practicing guitar or djembe drums outside on the Seaward Family Student Pavillion. And that only begins the campus tour as we approach the Collins Art Barn, where the visual arts really take shape. At Rectory School, there is something for everyone in the visual and performing arts. The program aims to provide students a safe place to try new artistic experiences, develop and hone their craft, and share their creative expressions with others in the Rectory School community and beyond. Our talented group of teachers provides classes, electives, and other programs ranging from the beginner to the more advanced level. There is something for everyone. Because we believe that students don’t know what they will enjoy until they give it a try, we have several built-in required classes

1) Noora M. ’25 working on a painting project in the Global Celebrations elective. 2) Logan H. ’26 practicing with his trombone during band practice. 3) Mrs. Bessette instructs Sophia L. ’29 on the xylophone. 4) Jerry D. ’23 practicing a number for the 2022 spring musical production of Into the Woods, Jr. 5) Grayson B. ’25 experimenting with ceramic building techniques in art class.

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At Rectory School, there is something for everyone in the Visual and Performing Arts. The program aims to provide students a safe place to try new artistic experiences, develop and hone their craft, and share their creative expressions with others in the Rectory School community and beyond. 5

and experiences for students, such as beginning band and one term of 5th-grade chorus. As students progress through the grade levels, we offer a more comprehensive range of visual and performing arts choices, including printmaking, ceramics, wood shop, ukulele, acting, ocarina, world drumming, and digital media. This balance of required courses and courses of choice provides students with a foundation and some ownership of their learning. This program philosophy has led to some wonderful surprises within our community, such as seeing a varsity basketball player take on the lead role in the spring musical or discovering that one of our top academic scholars is also an excellent painter.

While we are always impressed with the students who come to Rectory with little artistic or musical experience and develop a new talent, we are equally excited to support our already accomplished musicians and artists through advanced ensembles and classes in the arts. It gives us great pride to take our student musicians to local and regional music competitions and festivals, such as the Quinebaug Valley Middle School Music Festival and the Eastern Region Festival, and to submit the work of our student artists in the Scholastic Art Competition and the Providence Children’s Film Festival. Students at Rectory are excited about their creative endeavors, and the support and guidance they receive from our talented faculty enable them to take the initiative and help design their journey.

The sky’s the limit in the Arts program at Rectory School, and we certainly see many shining stars in that bright sky!