Strong Arts, Strong Schools

Because of reductions in school budgets and the state mandated increased course requirements in the traditional core subject areas, the teaching of music, painting, dancing, creative writing and performing is being a perceived as a luxury and an unnecessary drain on time and money. Art, instrumental band, choir and drama classes are often the first to be reduced due to budget cutbacks. Unfortunately, we often don’t fully value and understand the important connection between the arts and general education. The arts provide multiple ways to experience, understand and express the world and our relationship to it. They are one of the fundamental repositories of human wisdom and they educate the imagination and develop originality. A student who is actively participating in the arts will have greater attention, creativity and will achieve high scores in their math, science, English or social studies classes.

In recent years, while many districts are reducing art programs, HSPS has been investing in the fine arts. This investment includes:

• New choir classes at the middle school level
• New ORFF instruments in the elementary music classes
• Newly renovated art labs
• A new Drama/Forensics course at the high school
• Purchase of new instruments to accommodate the continually growing Instrumental Bands program
• A growing partnership with the Crooked Tree Strings Program
• An active Hip Hop and Jazz after-school dance program in our new dance room
• A premier 500-seat Performing Arts Center

The arts are alive and well in HSPS. We have an excellent cadre of music, art and drama instructors and we are fortunate to have active support from key community organizations such as Association of Harbor Arts, Crooked Tree and Blissfest. We invite the community to our new Performance Arts Center to enjoy our student performers in the following performances:

December 7 - 7:30 p.m. High School, Middle School and Jazz Band Concert

December 12 - 6:30 p.m. Grades 1-2 Holiday Concert

December 19 - 6:30 p.m. Grades 3-4 Holiday Concert

December 19 - 7:30 p.m. Grades 5, Multiage & Middle School Holiday Concert