Fine Arts

Art
​All K - 8 students
Mrs. Katy Sartoris

All St. Mary's students will engage in activities throughout the year that include:

• Learning - about different artists, styles, and periods in Art history.
• Looking - at Art works and evaluating them in regard to design elements and principles, style, technique, etc.
• Understanding and Questioning - the nature, the role, the benefit, the need for Art, as well as the qualities art embodies like beauty, creativity, etc.
• Using - various materials and techniques to create works of art.

Students in Grades K - 5 meet once weekly and students in Grades 6 - 8 meet twice a week.

Band
​Offered to students in Grades 4 - 8
Mrs. Sandy Erickson

The band program is a great opportunity for young students to become music makers, as they learn to play an instrument, read music, and play in an ensemble. Lessons are taught individually or in small groups. Some instruments are available through the school, but most are rented or bought by the parents. The band performs at the Christmas program, Fine Arts Night in the spring, and occasionally other times throughout the year.
Beginning Band: Offered to students in 4th grade. Emphasis is placed on note reading and proper fundamentals of the student’s chosen instrument. No prior musical experience is necessary.
Concert Band: Offered to students in Grades 5 - 8. Continued work on fundamentals as well as an increased emphasis on group playing. 

Choir
All students in Grades 6 - 8
​Mrs. Ellen Yedinak

All students in Grades 6 through 8 participate in choir. The choir sings every Thursday morning at the school Mass. Students have the opportunity to attend the Illinois Music Educators Association All-District Festival in November. Additionally, they perform at the Christmas program, Fine Arts Night held in the spring, and other times throughout the year. ​

General Music
​All PK - 5 students
Mrs. Ellen Yedinak

All students in Grades PK - 5 participate in General Music class. Students in Grade K - 5 meet twice weekly and preschoolers meet once a week. My practice of teaching is largely based on the philosophies of Carl Orff and Zoltan Kodaly. In class, students participate in a variety of learning styles: listening to music from around the world, playing instruments, dancing, singing, and creating. I also use children's literature, chant, and poetry as a foundation for helping students learn to create their own music. We use Common Core music standards as well as National Standards for music to set benchmarks for assessment at each grade level. These assessments include pitch matching, steady beat, understanding of notation, listening skills, and many more.

Required Concert Dates for Band, Choir, and General Music students:
Christmas Concert - Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Fine Arts Night - Thursday, May 1, 2025