ART, MUSIC AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Art
The Art Program at Mount Alvernia Academy is designed to encourage children to look at their world in new ways and to find joy, self-confidence, humor, and spirituality in the process of art making.
Recognizing that all children are intrinsically creative, the aim is to not interfere with natural abilities and styles, but to expand awareness and opportunities for creativity as well as to nurture imagination. By using a variety of techniques and media, we view both peer work and the art of current and past artists from various cultures, and the children learn to communicate visual and sensory experiences more expressively.
Each class is held in our art loft once a week for an hour. Additionally, an art club for interested fifth and sixth grade students is held weekly in twelve week sessions for children wishing to work on advanced projects.
In May, a school-wide Art Fair is presented in Hayes Memorial Auditorium where all the children's art work is displayed for parents, children and relatives to admire. Numerous works of art are selected from this show to be matted, framed and displayed in the Academy.
Music
The outcomes that we hope to achieve by the time the students graduate include a love and appreciation for the various types of music, knowledge of basic Music components, an increased awareness of the talent in oneself and in others, greater self confidence and a lively interest and a desire to continue the study of music. Music is an integral component to the Fine Arts curriculum at Mount Alvernia Acadmey. All students in kindergarten through grade six are encouraged to develop a love and appreciation of music. The choral participation in liturgies and prayer services is a priority, and together with other academic disciplines, this reinforces a greater understanding of music and a deepening of our spirituality based on the Catholic tradition.
Physical Education
The Mount Alvernia Physical Education Program is designed for students in Nursery, Kindergarten, and Grades One through Six. Nursery students are taught one 30 minute class per week; kindergarten, two 45 minute classes; and Grades 1-6, one 60 minute class. We provide children of all abilities and interest with a foundation of movement experiences that encourage challenging activities that improve the skill and health related components of physical education including agility, reaction time, speed, cardio-respiratory fitenss, balance, coordination, and power. The program is also aimed at teaching cooperation, teamwork, leadership, and respect for others through team based activities in addition to creativity, self expression and confidence through individual based activities in a fun and supportive environment. Yoga is integrated into the physical education classes for children in Grades 1-6. In addition, Mount Alvernia Academy participates annually in the President's Fitness Challenge. 
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