The NJSLS-VPA reflect the National Core Arts Standards and emphasize the process-oriented nature of the arts and arts learning by:
Defining artistic literacy through a set of overarching philosophical foundations and lifelong goals that clarify long-term expectations for arts learning;
Placing artistic processes and anchor standards at the forefront of the work
Identifying creative artistic practices as the bridge for the application of the artistic processes and anchor standards across all learning; and
Specifying enduring understandings and essential questions that provide conceptual through lines and articulate value and meaning within and across the arts discipline.
The development of artistic literacy is dependent on creating an environment in which students are encouraged to independently and collaboratively imagine, investigate, construct, and reflect.
To empower students to develop creative and critical thinking, social-emotional competencies, and intellectual and expressive abilities that will allow them to become active, contributing members of a global society.
All students will have equitable access to a quality, arts education that leads to artistic literacy and fluency in the artistic practices of the five art disciplines (dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and media arts) as a mechanism for:
Performing, presenting or producing, as artistically literate individuals, by expressing and realizing creative ideas and implementing essential technical skills and cognitive abilities significant to many aspects of life and work in the 21st century;
Responding to artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and cognizance of the ability of the arts to address universal themes, including climate change;
Creating new artistic work reflective of a variety of ethnic, racial, and cultural perspectives; and
Connecting and evaluating how the arts convey meaning through all arts and non-arts disciplines and contexts of our global society.
The vision of all students having equitable access to a quality arts education is only achieved when the five arts disciplines are offered continuously throughout the K–12 spectrum.
Music Education
5th Grade to 8th Grade
In addition to the required music curriculum, Ridgway students may opt into joining Band or Chorus. Click here to learn how.
Parent Resources
Interested in joining the school band? Click here to learn more about each instrument and explore your options.
Click here to learn how to play various songs taught by a band director on YouTube.
Art Education
Preschool to 4th Grade
Families are encouraged to check out the Perkins Center for the Arts for any additional art education opportunities including exhibits and classes.
5th Grade to 8th Grade
In addition to programming embedded in the school day, middle school students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as Art Club and the Burlington County Teen Arts Festival.
Select students can be nominated for scholarship awards to participate in the Moore College of Art and Design's "Young Artist Workshop" opportunity to expand their art education beyond EPTSD standards.