In March, Gwinnett County Public Schools recognizes Music in Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month, and the district is committed to supporting our students’ enrichment through fine arts. Our school learning communities provide students with opportunities to explore their fine arts interests and share their gifts both locally and within the state through various activities, events, and competitions. 

This spring, students at the School of The Arts (SOTA) at Central Gwinnett High School (CGHS) put together a “Roadshow” that included live performances. The show made a stop at Simonton Elementary, which was surely a treat for all. More than 100 students enjoyed live vocal and visual performances, heightening their interest in auditioning to participate in SOTA/CGHS. SOTA offers pathways including theatre, music, visual arts, and dance for students interested in the arts. Both schools encourage their students to lead and excel in everything they do and support students through creative outlets and exposure, a common theme throughout the Central Gwinnett Cluster.
A 5th grade student says, “The students were very good at their performances; it was impressive.” 

GCPS students are fortunate to have access to the vibrant art community in the greater metro-Atlanta area. Atlanta is a mecca for creative expression across all art forms, including music, visual arts, theatre, poetry, and art exhibitions. Most recently, Moore Middle’s Art Club took a field trip to the High Museum of Art which features a collection of more than 19,000 works of art. 

Katherine Genser, visual art instructor at Moore Middle, says, “In Art Club, the focus is on providing our students with a dedicated space where they can develop their own artistic voice and collaborate with their art-minded peers.” 

Students were led through a private tour of an exhibit currently housed at the museum, the Sonya Clark Traveling Exhibit: We Are Each Other. “The best part of the trip had to be when we were talking about The Hair Project art with our docent. I got to see art in a different way than I had thought about it before... it wasn’t just about one person’s feelings and experience... it was tied to a bigger part of history,” shared Isaiah, 8th grader and art club member. 

Beyond the walls of the High Museum, Moore Middle offers visual art classes in addition to the Art Club. The art students’ creations have been submitted to contests and put on display at The United Ebony Society’s MLK Day Art Exhibit, the Central Cluster Unified Art Exhibit at the Aurora Theatre, the High Museum of Art Middle School Artist Exhibit, and Tapestry, the school district’s annual celebration of the arts at the Instructional Support Center (ISC).  

Additionally, students around the district visited the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra this spring to celebrate female composers and historical figures who have contributed greatly to music and society. Students at the schools listed below were given a HERStory study guide to view prior to the event which provided them with resources about what they’d be hearing and the figures who would be highlighted, like Margaret Bonds, Stacy Garrop, Rosa Parks, and beyond.  

• Trip ES 

• Pharr ES 

• Moore MS 

• Simonton ES 

• Rockbridge ES 

• Snellville MS 

• Duluth MS 

• Bethesda ES 

• Britt ES 

• Nesbit ES 

• Magill ES 

• Annistown ES 

• Grace Snell MS 

 

To learn more about how your student can participate in fine arts opportunities, please visit your school’s website.