teacher statement: Art develops the potential of the whole child by encouraging intellectual, social and creative growth without the fear of failure; there are no right and wrong answers in art. Lessons that include students dialoguing both with teachers and with each other nurture students' self-expression, self-worth and independent thinking. Supportive trusting environments with focused and open-ended discussion, reflection and learning opportunities create enriching experiences for both students and their teachers.

Imagination is creative problem solving, self-expression, collaborative thinking and the ability to apply what you learn across different disciplines and cultures. The Arts teach these skills, which are also the skills that people need to find work and find their places in today's complex society. If we want our students to succeed, we need to give them the Arts at every age to challenge and develop them in these special ways.