Arts & Athletics
The Arts
Our arts program is an integral part of the Montcrest experience. Through visual, dramatic, and musical forms, as well as dance, students are encouraged to explore, create, perform, and discover what they love. As specialists in their artistic fields, teachers nurture an appreciation for the liberal arts, responding to students’ individual interests and levels of development through programs that foster self-awareness, self-expression, and personal growth.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts curriculum at Montcrest School explores the elements of art and principles of design. Engaging students through a variety of media and forms, exposing them to a diverse range of artists, artworks, and creative ways of thinking, this foundation in technique and theory provides a basis for students to think about creativity, inside and outside of the art room.
Through experience, experimentation, and creation of art, our goal is to inspire students to see art-making in terms of creative problem solving. Moving away from the idea of “good” or “bad” art, students are challenged to shift their thinking about why and how art is made. Encompassing a wide range of capabilities and approaches in the art room, students are encouraged to see practice, focus, attention to detail, and self-expression as the building blocks for their enjoyment of, and proficiency in, the Visual Arts.
Music
From JK through Grade 8, students are involved in various musical opportunities. From JK to Grade 5, vocal music is a focus, along with percussion, the recorder, and the ukulele. From Grades 6 to 8, students learn an instrument through their grade band, with added opportunities to join concert band and the auditioned stage and jazz bands. Montcrest Singers, an auditioned choir, rehearses regularly throughout the year, giving children the chance to challenge themselves with even more complex repertoire. The talents and efforts of these ensembles are showcased in winter and spring concerts. They have opportunities to compete in festivals, as well as at the CISMF, biannually.
Private music lessons are available for students in Grades 1-8 at lunch recess or after school. Lessons are offered through outside professionals in piano, drums, guitar, as well as woodwind and brass instruments.
Drama
From JK through Grade 8 students engage in the fundamental skills of process and performance with a focus on communication and critical thinking. Theatre games, role play, movement exercises, literature, historical events, multimedia, scripts, puppets and curriculum themes are used as tools to explore and respond in a variety of dramatic modes.
The Montcrest Players (Grades 6-8) is our auditioned co-curricular club which provides students with the opportunity to enhance their performance skills while participating in a theatre company experience. Since 1993, the Montcrest Players have developed, rehearsed, and performed high-quality, entertaining productions. Working alongside creative staff and other professionals, students also have production opportunities behind the scenes such as building props and sets, costume design, stage management, lighting, and sound.
Dance
Dance clubs are offered at our school by trained instructors who teach technique, steps and body positions, and the joy of movement to create an effect. Through the various traditional and contemporary styles and forms offered: ballet, jazz, hip hop, and musical theatre, students learn how to convey stories, ideas, and understand how to create an abstract effect the way music does. Students have an opportunity to showcase these efforts in our annual Dance and Music Show, a highlight of the school year.
Athletics
Health & Physical Education
The health and physical education program is focused on active and healthy living. Students work independently and cooperatively to improve their physical literacy and performance skills. Teamwork and team spirit, as well as enjoyment are major focuses. Physical education classes take place in our gym or extensive outdoor environment. Highlights of our program include dance in the fall and rock climbing in the spring. The majority of our students also participate in one or more intramural or inter-school teams. Intramural activities are offered every week for each of the grade divisions.
CISAA Sports Teams
School teams at Montcrest foster a sense of cooperation and team spirit. Our teams compete in a variety of sports against other independent schools within the Conference of Independent Schools’ Athletic Association (CISAA). Our teams enjoy great success as recognized by the number of championship banners on display in our school gymnasium.
Montcrest offers development teams for students in Grades 3 and 4 which focus on skill-building, as well as an intramural program for Grades 1- 8. For more details regarding our current athletic offerings, please visit the Co-Curriculars page.
Cocurriculars
At Montcrest, our co-curricular program is designed to meet students where they are at so that they can discover, develop, and thrive in athletics, the arts, leadership, and special interest areas. We help our students to explore their interests, embrace new challenges and risks, and learn resilience in equal measure.
