Program
The Claude Watson program consists of academic and artistic study. In academics, the standard curriculum for each grade level is covered, but in half the time it takes at a normal school. This is because only half of each school day is devoted to academics; the other half is for arts subjects. In spite of this, Claude Watson students consistently score far above the national and school board averages on standardized tests like the EQAO for reading, writing, and math.
The arts program includes various forms of dance, drama, music, and visual arts. All students are required to take multiple full-year courses in each of the following areas: national dance, jazz dance (also incorporating tap, ballet, and hip-hop), modern dance, musical theatre, drama, mime, choral music, instrumental music, Orff, and visual arts (sketching, painting, print making, weaving, sculpture, etc.). In grades 5 through 8, students select an arts area in which to major. The major involves increased class time in the given area, and a major independent project. However, this does not excuse any student from participation in all the other subjects; they are all obligatory for all students. The school has a number of extracurricular groups including Jazz stage band, Jazz Combo, Concert Band, String Orchestras, ensembles, solo groups, drama groups, marching band, chamber orchestras, and choirs. However, due to new faculty, the student's academic excellence also becomes a determining factor on admission apart from the his/her artistic skills. This change of approach, have caused the school receiving extremely high academic achievements in recent years. The school was also rated as one of the top 30 schools within Canada by To-day's Parent magazine.
In 2006, the Claude Watson building was torn down and a new school was built on the same campus .
Upon graduation from the school at the end of grade 8, the Claude Watson program is continued at Earl Haig Secondary School for grades 9 through 12.
Read more about this topic: Claude Watson School For The Arts
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