Wayzata Public Schools
Art Department
Our Mission//Core Purpose: The Wayzata Visual Arts Department prepares culturally responsive, life-long learners through a challenging, comprehensive art curriculum that focuses on the creative process, innovative thinking skills and by creating authentic learning experiences for each and every student.
Our Vision: Students will develop critical thinking skills and gain a personal voice and self-awareness to take on life challenges through the process of creating original artwork, presenting authentic ideas, responding to and interpreting the work of others and connecting to the Global Community.
The elements and principles of art and design are the cornerstone of our visual arts curriculum, anchoring each class with concepts of how to Create, Present, Connect, and Respond to art.
Guiding Principles//Our Beliefs:
It is important that all of our decisions are framed within our guiding principles:
WPS Core Values {these values are “living” within the Art Curriculum}:
Respect (valuing others for their diverse talents, backgrounds, cultures and viewpoints).
Community (Maintaining a sense of belonging to and responsibility for the broader community) .
Equity (Meeting the specific needs of all students “Each and every”).
Collaboration (Working together to maximize opportunities and eliminate barriers to learning for all).
Integrity (Doing the right thing in the right way at the right time even when no one is aware).
Achievement (Challenging oneself and others for excellence in all that we do).
Current//Contemporary:
Up-to-date technology, contemporary practices & influences. Changing with the times.
College and Career Readiness: Our students will learn skills that will prepare them for college, careers, and life, prepared to pursue the future of their choosing (Inquiry and analysis, critical and creative thinking, written and oral communication, quantitative literacy, information literacy, teamwork & problem solving).
Standards-Based Curriculum:
The MN State Visual Arts Standards are the foundation for all curricular decisions.
Students build artistic literacy in an art form by applying foundational knowledge and skills while working in four processes fundamental to the arts: Creating (generating original art, including conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work), Presenting (interpreting and sharing artistic work), Responding (analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating how the arts convey meaning), and Connecting (relating artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context).
Vertically aligned Curriculum: Students gain a gradual, scaffolded understanding of art concepts as they move through the WPS Art department. The approaches and content are designed to provide a consistent vertical alignment across grade levels. Each level increases in complexity, encouraging deeper understanding in all aspects of art education, including observation and perception, visual literacy, creative expression, art history, cultural relevance, and art criticism. The results are clear and consistent expectations for student learning.
Empowering Student Voice+Choice:
The WPS art curriculum offers student choice through Media, Critical thinking, and decision-making.
The Create Process:
--Developed by the Perpich Center for the Arts-- Is the basis of our entire WPS Art Curriculum.
