Camden County Schools has a strong history of support for the arts. The loss of our elementary music programs in 2010 was the result of a difficult economic situation being faced by schools across the state and across the nation, but since that time we have worked to find creative solutions to ensure the children of Camden County will have opportunities for arts instruction and activities. To that end, each of our elementary schools offers an after-school enrichment program that includes arts-based activities. The programs may look different from school-to-school, but they were the first step in the ongoing development of long-term strategies to enrich the lives and educational programs of our students through the arts regardless of the economic environment.
In addition to school-based arts initiatives, the Camden County High School Theatre offers an annual children’s theatre tour that visits each of the nine elementary schools in our system. The program helps to prepare high school performers for college admission and scholarship opportunities while offering elementary students the opportunity to see a live performance.
Other system-wide opportunities include the spring musical at Camden County High. Since 2005’s production of THE KING AND I, the high school theatre has invited students of every grade level to participate in the production in alternate (odd-numbered) years.
Elementary and middle school students interested in the arts may also participate in our annual summer camp. This tuition-based program meets on weekday mornings for two or four weeks depending on grade level. Students participate in music, theatre, dance and visual arts activities that culminate in a theatre performance. The session is usually scheduled to begin in late May or early June. Future camps may include expanded course offerings such as visual art classes or dance.
Children and adults of every age are invited to take the stage in our annual community musical each summer. Founded in 2001 with a production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the goal of this program has been to provide opportunities for families to have fun working together on a production.
Economic challenges notwithstanding, the Camden County School system is committed to keeping the arts in our schools and in the lives of our students. For more information about the arts in Camden County Schools, please contact Fine Arts Director Dean Slusser at [email protected]
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