Our visual arts curriculum grows with your child.
In kindergarten, students are learning how to trace, carefully color, and cut along a line. By 5th grade, students are learning how to use shading and perspective to create the illusion of three-dimensional space. Throughout the years, students will be exposed to a variety of media, materials and processes. They will study the work and lives of influential artists, discussing how their experiences and challenges impacted the world and contributed to their success.
All student artwork is collected, stored and placed in a portfolio that is sent home at the end of the school year.
The student gallery is located in the hallway of our main office, take a peek! Displays are updated regularly. Every student will have at least one of their completed projects on display for the community to enjoy.
Washington Open offers weekly music classes starting in kindergarten!
Vocal music classes are taught by Maureen to kindergarten to 2nd grade.
Starting in 3rd grade, students begin instrumental music classes with Nick Bianchini, with District support. 3rd graders start with recorders. In 4th and 5th grade, students can choose which instrument (orchestra or band instrument) they would like to learn. There are orchestra and band performances at the end of the year for the whole school to attend.
The after-school chorus program is in the spring, and is directed by our music director, Maureen Driggs. The classes are available for 2nd through 5th grades. There is an evening performance at the conclusion of the program.
“I don’t like to say goodbye
I don’t want today to end
But we will be happy together tomorrow
Together tomorrow again”
“Together Tomorrow”, composed by John Forster and Tom Chapin,
is one of the closing songs sung aloud by Washington Open Elementary School students during the weekly Open Sing. On Wednesdays, students gather at their usual meeting spot in the cafeteria to participate in this school tradition that has lasted for 50 years.
It’s a great way to start the day and it’s just one of those wonderful things we do here to build community.
Joye Wegener, alumni parent and employed as the wellness coordinator at Washington Open, leads Open Sing with her guitar. She chooses songs for Open Sing that teach the children about kindness and compassion, and also to show the students that they’re part of something much bigger than themselves.
Each week, students from a different grade level lead the songs at the front of the cafeteria. Joye chooses songs that are appropriate for the grade level coming up front, and generally the school sings a lot of the same songs every week. The students develop their self-confidence through Open Sing. Kindergarteners who don’t know what Open Sing is when they first join Washington Open may seem shy and reserved, but by the time it’s their class’ turn to come up and sing, their confidence has grown and they’re super excited!
It’s not just the students! Each week, we also have dozens of parents who take time out of their day to be part of this so they can sing along and be part of the Open Sing experience. It’s especially bittersweet for 5th grade parents when they join for the last 5th grade-led Open Sing.
