Fine Arts
John Paul II High School is committed to including fine arts in the academic curriculum. The school offers many fine arts courses, from visual arts and music to dance and theater. These courses complement the academic curriculum and provide students with a well-rounded education. The fine arts department works with other academic departments to ensure students get a balanced education.
At John Paul II High School, the Fine Arts Department offers many ways for students to explore their artistic talents. Fine arts are very important for brain development. Doing artistic activities helps students think better, solve problems, and make decisions. Art is a great way to express emotions. It allows students to explore their feelings and communicate them without words.
The future of fine arts education is bright. As creativity and critical thinking become more important, fine arts programs will play a bigger role in education. At John Paul II High School, the fine arts department is committed to staying at the forefront of fine arts education, providing students with the skills and experiences they need to succeed.
| Band |
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The JPII Cardinal Band is a fun, vibrant organization that performs throughout the year with a goal of producing well-rounded students who are excellent musicians, students, and leaders. Since its inception in 2005, the Cardinal Band has received consistent Division I “Sweepstakes” ratings in TPSMEA State Marching and Concert competition. The band performs two concerts each year in addition to a marching contest in the fall and a concert contest in the spring. The band program features a marching band, symphonic wind ensemble, jazz band, drumline, and pep band. The marching band performs at all of the home football games in the fall and the pep band performs at basketball games in the winter. Cardinal Band students are members of the Football, Baseball, Basketball, Track, Swimming, Tennis, Softball, and Soccer teams. They are also involved in most of the clubs on campus such as Academic Decathlon, Robotics, NHS, and Speech & Debate.
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| Choir & Pop Choir |
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The Cardinal Choir focuses on providing students with a well-rounded education through collaborative performance in a choral setting. As a member of the Cardinal Choir, students gain experience through performing alongside classmates for All-School Masses and various concert performances over the school year. The Cardinal Choir also competes together onstage for the annual TPSMEA Concert and Sightreading Competition each spring. In addition to group performances, students have the opportunity to participate in various events as soloists throughout the school year. One such opportunity is to serve as a JPII Cantor, leading the school in worship during All-School Masses. Additionally, students are encouraged to participate in the TPSMEA All-State Choir audition process and TPSMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest. Do you sing along to every word of Pitch Perfect? Pop Choir is for you! Harmonize with your classmates, fundraise with sing-a-grams, and bring your creativity to our troupe. Auditions are held in the Spring. |
| Dance |
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The Dance Department offers students an interactive learning experience in various dance genres including ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, cultural and ethnic dance, and choreography. Our goal is to promote each student’s physical dance ability, and appreciation for the art form. Dance classes are a great way to stay active and invest in the arts. We offer four different levels of dance classes. Dance 1 focuses on the basic fundamentals and terminology of various dance genres. From there, students have the opportunity to take Dance 2, 3, and 4 where they will build on their base knowledge and physical dance ability in each dance style. All dance classes can be taken for either a Fine Art or Physical Education credit.
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| Orchestra |
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As the only Catholic High School Orchestra, we are proud to support our students as they continue their passion for music into their high school career. The orchestra has received consistent Division I “Sweepstakes” ratings in TPSMEA Concert and Sight-reading competitions. In the Springs of 2016, 2017 and 2018, the JPII Orchestra not only received superior ratings at the Peak Music Festival, but they were also selected for the “Outstanding Orchestra Award”. The orchestra performs three concerts each year, a fall concert, a Christmas concert and a spring concert. In the past, they have also performed at local contests in the spring. During the year, the orchestra also performs regularly with the choir at All School masses. The orchestra is involved with Community Service, as we “Seek to Serve” by performing for a retirement community in Plano. Orchestra students are members of the Football, Baseball, Basketball, Track, Swimming, Tennis, Softball, and Soccer teams. They are also involved in most of the clubs on campus such as Academic Decathlon, Student Council, Robotics, NHS, and many more. |
| Theatre & Musical Theatre |
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Theatre students at JPII can compete in the TAPPS One-Act-Play contest, travel with a one-act musical, be the masters of the magic in Tech Theatre, and sing and dance in a major Spring musical. JPII Theatre is a member of the Theatre Honor Society & The International Thespian Wherever your Theatre interest lies, JPII Theatre will nurture your talent and encourage your creativity. COME JOIN OUR THEATRE TRIBE! |
| Visual Arts |
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The Visual Art Department provides our students with the opportunity to perceive, create and investigate the visual arts utilizing both the cognitive and affective domains of thinking. Our students are encouraged to develop problem-solving skills and to cultivate critical thinking skills in both the production and evaluation of their own work, the work of fellow students, and historical works of art. Our students are encouraged to participate in art competitions and have represented JPII well in regional and state competitions, such as The Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE), sponsored by the Texas Art Education Association, and the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Art Competition. |
| Studying Arts in College |
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Many of our students have gone on to study Art on the undergraduate and graduate levels in universities, colleges, and Art schools all across the country. Those institutions of higher learning include:
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