This Spring, JPHCS welcomed Arts Lab Artist-in-Residence, Jarrod Scott. Mr. Scott worked with our 7th graders on musical theater to further enhance and integrate the performing arts into our curriculum. During the residency, students explored “Hamilton: The Musical.” They learned about the historical context that shaped the play as well as the production’s place in the canon of musical theater. Students then wrote and performed their own original play, integrating select songs from the musical. The interdisciplinary event also featured original poetry inspired by the play’s themes and iconic songs. After the performance, Principal Dr. Heru Keonté shared, “It is safe to say that JPHCS has been bitten by the acting bug.”
As part of the residency, 7th grade teaching staff also explored improvision with Mr. Scott and how the universality of music, plots, and character study can help students understand history. “We are grateful for funding from the NJ State Council on the Arts and Young Audiences Arts for Learning, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania for this residency, “ said Dr. Rebeccah Welch, Director of Advancement, adding. “This partnership has not only expanded and helped institutionalize arts programming at our school, but also unearthed student talent we always knew was there.”