The Arts

Embracing Talent, Enhancing Academic Success 

Memorizing a celebrated soliloquy. Acting out historical events and time periods. Making topographical maps out of clay or musical instruments from string and a shoebox. Sharing a unique perspective through a camera lens or expressing one’s feelings at the piano.

The arts are an important part of a well-rounded educational experience – and they are critical for students at the Stephen Gaynor School. Our students have difficulty learning through traditional methods, and giving them the chance to sing, act, draw, play music, and take pictures helps reinforce the lessons they encounter in their academic subjects. Whether performing a self-written play, practicing scales on the clarinet, or photographing scenes in Central Park, students are doing much more than having fun and exploring their creativity – they are improving their reading fluency, refining their motor skills, and enhancing their comprehension in subjects from history to math.

Many students with learning differences are gifted artistically, and we are committed to providing them with facilities, programs, supplies, and instruction of the highest quality, allowing them to explore their talents to the fullest.

Integrated and Inspired

The arts at Stephen Gaynor include fine arts, drama, music, and photography, all of which are highly integrated with the topics students study in class. Lower School students participate in art class two times per week and engage in developmentally appropriate projects, adding photography to their repertoire at around age 9. Middle School students spend a semester on each of the four areas, further honing their talents by delving deeply into the areas they are passionate about.