Fine Arts - Henry Wise Wood High School

Fine Arts

The fine and performing arts are for everyone, whether you choose to explore and develop a new interest or specialize in a current interest. Participation in the arts enhances your creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Visual Arts

Visual Art

5 Credits Available in 10, 20, 30

Throughout the program, students will extend their knowledge and familiarity with the elements and principles of design through practice in composing two and three-dimensional images. They will develop skills in problem solving, creativity, personal expression and critical thinking. Students will also learn the language of art and how to analyze their own artwork, as well as the works of other artists. As students progress through the levels of the program, drawing skills and styles will be refined as students experiment with exciting non-traditional approaches to create two and three-dimensional artwork.

Students will learn that images are influenced by the choice of medium, the technique and the culture that produces them. There will be some integration of technology and traditional art making techniques, and students will continue to develop their art vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. At the senior level, they will participate actively in decision-making regarding choice of art problems and media solutions. The portfolio of artwork produced during this term will reflect the students’ personal experiences as well as contemporary art culture. The Art 30 program culminates in a graduating art exhibition to celebrate the achievements of our students and their work.

Drama

5 Credits Available in 10, 20, 30

Drama 10 description: In this course, students will explore their skills in Drama through the study of movement, speech, improvisation, technical theatre and design and theatre studies. This year we worked with some silent scenes and mime! We also did a really fun and intense theatre sports tournament which lead us into some work around scenes! For our final project, we are putting on a one act play!

Drama 20 description: In this course, students will continue to develop their skills in Drama through the study of acting, speech, improvisation, playwriting, technical theatre and design and theatre studies. This year we started out with some partner scene work and did some long form improv where we created our own story. We also did some playwriting and each student was given the opportunity to perform the written work.

Drama 30 description: In this course, students will refine their skills in Drama through the study of acting, speech, improvisation, directing, technical theatre and design and theatre studies. This year we started out with some partner scene work and did some long form improv where we created our own story. As the semester progressed, Drama 30 students took on the role of director by holding auditions, casting and directing their own scenes.

Advanced Acting

5 Credits Available in 10, 20, 30

Advanced Acting offers students the opportunity to study theatre as a production based course. It provides a continuum of theatre experiences that move well beyond the introductory and exploratory foundation skills and activities outlined in Drama 10-20-30. The focus of the class is a full scale production of a scripted play. The class is offered one semester after school. All rehearsals and performances are outside of the regular timetable and students need to be able to commit to all workshops, rehearsals and performances for the duration of the production work. Students can sign up for the technical, design and management side of the course, or audition for a part in the play. Please see drama teacher of details.

Music

Henry Wise Wood’s Band Program is comprised of roughly 110 students spanning three grade levels, and is growing. High school band programs offer many unique experiences to students where they have opportunities to create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Details on this year’s program events as well as the current year’s Music Student Handbook can be found on the HWWMPS page: https://henrywisewood.cbe.ab.ca/music-parents

In-school experiences for band students in a typical school year include:

Performances at school events such as Remembrance Day assemblies and pep rallies

Music Program Winter and Spring Concerts

Sessions with guest conductors and instrumental clinicians

Various other team building events

Day Trips within the City of Calgary for band students in a typical school year include:

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Concert attendance

Workshops at Mount Royal University Conservatory

Alberta International Band Festival or Calgary Performing Arts Festival performances

Outreach concerts and workshops at feeder schools and community venues

Year-end program party (Rec Room, Bowling, etc)

Yearly overnight field trip opportunities include:

Band Camp at Camp Caroline
Vic Lewis Band Festival in Canmore, AB
Spring Tour (various destinations such as Anaheim/Disneyland, New York, Edmonton, and Montreal)

In order to support this unique programming, there is a $140 yearly course fee (25-26 school year) for each student enrolled in the program, as well as $100 Music Instrument Rental Fee for students needing to utilize a school instrument for the year. The majority of program funding is provided through our active Henry Wise Wood Music Parents Society who host bingos and other fundraisers. Families also have opportunities through the society to earn individual credits to be applied towards program or optional trip fees. More information about the society and fundraising can be found here https://henrywisewood.cbe.ab.ca/music-parents

Students wishing to participate in the Henry Wise Wood High School Band Program must be enrolled in both the Alberta Program of Studies Instrumental Music 10-20-30 course sequence as well as CBE locally-developed course sequence Band 15-25-35. Students enrolled in both of these courses are also eligible to participate in another optional course sequence, Jazz Band 15-25-35. The primary performing and touring ensembles are the Grade 10 Concert Band (students enrolled in Instrumental Music 10 and Band 15), Grade 11/12 Symphonic Band (students enrolled in Instrumental Music 20-30 and Band 25-35), and multigrade Jazz Band (students enrolled in Jazz Band 15-25-35). Course descriptions are below for all band programming.

Band

5 Credits each Available in 15, 25, 35

Band 15 (5 credit): This CBE locally-developed course runs twice a week for the full year in before school Jblock (Monday and Thursday). All grade 10 band students participating in this course form the Henry Wise Wood Concert Band, rehearsing large ensemble music together for performance. This ensemble performs in several festivals each year, including the Vic Lewis Band Festival in Canmore, AB in November, and Alberta International Band Festival in February or Calgary Performing Arts Festival in May, as well as performs at school events including a Winter and Spring Concert.

Band 25 (5 credit): This next course in the sequence is intended for all grade 11 students in the band program, and runs twice a week for the full year in before school Jblock (Tuesday and Wednesday). All grade 11 and 12 band students participating in this course form the Henry Wise Wood Symphonic Band, rehearsing large ensemble music together for performance. This ensemble also performs at numerous festivals and school events.

Band 35 (5 credit): Students earn credit for this course in their grade 12 year, during their second year in the Symphonic Band.

Instrumental Music

5 Credits each Available in 10, 20, 30

Instrumental Music Level 10 (5 credit): This Alberta Education course is required for any students desiring to be in the Henry Wise Wood High School Band Program. This course focuses on developing technical skills and musicianship on each student’s chosen band instrument (Woodwind, Brass, String Bass, or Percussion), as well as on expanding theoretical and historical knowledge. There are two options for completing this course at the grade 10 level. It can be taken during the regular timetable in first semester, or taken in after school Jblock year-round one day per week until 6pm. The Jblock option is often a good fit for IB students or other academic students with full regular timetable schedules who have availability after the regular school day.

Recommended prerequisite: junior high band experience

Required co-requisite: Band 15 (5 credit)

Instrumental Music Level 20 (5 credit): This next course in the sequence is intended for all grade 11 students in the Band Program, with the same two options for completion as the 10 level. The year-round after school Jblock version of this course is a combined level course with Instrumental Music 30 students.

Required prerequisite: Instrumental Music 10

Required co-requisite: Band 25

Instrumental Music Level 30 (5 credit): This next course in the sequence is intended for all grade 12 students in the Band Program, with the same two options for completion as the 10 and 20 levels. The year-round after school Jblock version of this course is a combined level course with Instrumental Music 20 students.

Required prerequisite: Instrumental Music 20

Required co-requisite: Band 35

Jazz Band 15-25-35 (3 credit):

This multi-level ensemble is an additional course sequence that band students may participate in if desired, on Wednesdays in PM Jblock. This is a high-level performing ensemble. Students are polled for interest in the ensemble each September, and if necessary, auditions take place to form the group. Students are then enrolled in the class by the teacher.

Required co-requisites: enrolment in Instrumental 10-20-30 and Band 15-25-35 course series

Musical Theatre Program

Henry Wise Wood High School will be running their second year of production-based in-timetable Musical Theatre Performance class in the 25-26 school year, led by teachers Samantha Ykema and Kristin Newman.

Musical Theatre Performance 15-25-35 (5 credit): Students in this multi-level locally-developed course will participate in the production of the full-length Broadway Musical Mamma Mia! complete with singing, dancing and acting in the spring of 2026. The course is planned to run in period 2 of the semester 2 regular timetable.

Co-requisite (at least one of): Drama 10-20-30 or Dance 15-25-35

Required prerequisite: each level of the course serves as the prerequisite to the next

Dance 15-25-35

Required prerequisite: each level of the course serves as the prerequisite to the next

Film Animation

5 Credits Available in 10, 20, 30

Film and Media art is the exploration of film and media art as an artistic form of expression. Students create short films, media arts experiences, and animations, while also exploring and discussing a wide range of films and media arts, and collaborating with creative teams to learn the roles, language, techniques and culture of the film industry.

Film and Media Art 15: Film and Media art students learn the foundations of filmmaking and animation, including how and when to use specific camera angles and movements, and effective use of film and audio equipment. The workflow of pre-production (planning), production (active filming), and post-production (editing) are explored. Students work independently and collaboratively to produce a number of short films and animations. The course explores various software and technologies, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Blender, and Adobe Animate. Students learn how to critically evaluate film, animations, and media content, and they study films from various time periods, genres, and countries.

Film and Media Art 25: Film and Media art students expand on their ability as filmmakers, often working in distinctive roles, such as: director, cinematographer, editor, writer, and sound designer. Students explore specific film roles of interest to them and refine their abilities in lighting, genre conventions, and sound mixing. Students work to produce a variety of film projects, including music videos, commercials, trailers, and short films, and learn how to develop effective scripts and storyboards. Students analyze and discuss films from multiple perspectives and contexts.

Film and Media Art 35: Students expand on their abilities and apply technical methods to making films based on creative intent. Students are encouraged to take risks in their work, and develop their technical skills further to produce polished film content. Students at this level often take on leadership roles within their groups, and work to mentor other students. 35 level students further explore mise en scene, cinematography, sound and editing to create projects that they connect to.

Film IB: This course aims to develop students as proficient interpreters and makers of film texts. Through the study and analysis of film texts, and through practical exercises in film production, the film course develops students’ critical abilities and their appreciation of artistic, cultural, historical and global perspectives in film. Students examine film concepts, theories and ideas, and challenge their own viewpoints. Students work collaboratively in distinct film roles to learn the craft of filmmaking. Students are assessed in their grade 12 year, where they create a film reel and portfolio, comparative study, and textual analysis of a chosen film. The Film IB course runs for both grade 11 and 12, and students will receive 8-10 credits in their grade 12 year in this course.

Animation 25: Students build on their knowledge of animation principles. Students explore the 12 principles of animation and develop further skills to complete technical assignments and produce short animations that are fuelled by their interest and inspiration. Students learn the fundamentals of sound design and mixing, as well as story writing and character design. Students study and discuss animated content to further inform their own creative process, and to learn from the stories and abilities of other gifted animators. Possible projects include: Lip-syncing, character animation, small-scale 2-d, 3-d, and stop motion animations.

Animation 35: Students will effectively utilize the 12 principles of animation and develop further skills to complete technical assignments and produce short animations that are fuelled by their interest and inspiration. Students expand on their knowledge of sound design and mixing, and create their own sound effects and foley for their work. Story writing and character design are explored in greater detail, and students work to produce a longer animated project than previously attempted. Possible projects include: Practice animations for skill building, longer format animations, effects design (fire, smoke, etc.), rigging (3d animation), animatics, and projects utilizing advanced features of the software of choice. Students study and discuss animated content to further inform their own creative process, and to learn from the stories and abilities of other gifted animators.

Last Modified: 2025-08-28 17:08:10.96791 +0000 UTC