Profiles

Erika Beard-Irvine

Ascension Class of 1983

Pediatrician, US Navy

 

"My time at Ascension gave me a strong start for my future education. The small class sizes allowed me to have a challenging educational experience in a warm, nurturing atmosphere. In a time of cuts in public school programs, I had art, music, PE, and religion classes while still getting a good foundation in the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. I recommend Ascension to any parents who want their children to have a strong foundation on which to build their futures."

Arts & Humanities Overview

Every student in Kindergarten through Grade 8 receives weekly general music instruction. Elementary students receive instruction a minimum of once a week for the entire year. Middle School students receive instruction twice a week for the first half of the school year.

Fundamental music skills and a general appreciation of a wide variety of secular and sacred music is taught to each student so that the student can utilize her/his musical abilities to their fullest potential.

The music curriculum enables every student to develop a thorough appreciation of music so that her/his contacts and involvement with music throughout her/his life will be nurturing, satisfying, uplifting and meaningful.

As part of the general music program each class in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade is required to sing with their class in the annual School Christmas Services in December.

In addition to the work and studies in the classroom, each grade participates in at least one performing arts related field trip during the year to Washington, D.C. or Baltimore. Trips include outings to the symphony, the opera, the ballet, plays, musicals, chamber, jazz and dance recitals and concerts, etc.