Art Production: Students are introduced to a variety of materials, techniques, and artists while being encouraged to use their imagination to engage in purposeful creation of their own artworks. The art teacher collaborates with grade level and the core subject teachers to integrate their subject matter into meaningful projects the students will enjoy creating. Pre kindergarten students compile books of shapes, colors and their own drawings and stories. Kindergarten art projects feature an alphabet letter. Science and social studies as well as holidays and special events are springboards for lower school art projects. Each fifth grader does a research paper on a contemporary artist for their English class. In art they create a painting in the style of the artist they researched. Sixth graders study world history. In art they create sculpture, jewelry, mosaics, pottery, etc. that reflects the cultures of the ancient world. Seventh graders paint scenery for their Thanksgiving play. Print making methods are explored while learning that artists can be teachers, interpreters, designers, and messengers.

Music Program

Every student at St. Pius X has a weekly music class. In the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes, students learn to feel the beat in music and sing tunefully through singing fun songs, playing rhythm instruments and moving to music. Academic concepts such as letters, numbers and colors are also reinforced. In the intermediate grades, the students begin to learn about how to read, write and sing from standard music notation. Third graders play the recorder, and fourth graders have a special emphasis on proper vocal production and performance. In middle school, the instruments of the orchestra, music history and introductory music theory are explored. An introduction to improvisation, music form and composition is given in a special blues songwriting activity. At all levels, the importance of music in the Catholic liturgy is emphasized through regular practice of songs for the Mass.

Beginning in the fourth grade, students can choose to participate in the St. Pius X Choir, which meets once a week after school. They have already given several performances this year and plan to participate in the district music festival in March. Students in the fourth grade and above may also join the school band, run by the Archdiocesan Band Program, which meets weekly during the school day.