Our Mission

Rochelle School of the Arts is committed to doing “Whatever It Takes” to provide “Learning for All” through the arts and academics in a challenging environment that promotes and develops Responsible, Successful Achievers”. 

Curriculum

Academic/Arts – Our exceptional staff is committed to providing students with a firm academic foundation which complements our vibrant arts program. The curriculum follows the Sunshine State Standards for language arts, math, science, and social studies.  Teacher teams enhance the educational experiences of all students while involving parents in the learning process. Rochelle’s unique scheduling program allows students to spend 4.5 hours per day in academic classes. In middle school, advanced classes are offered in language arts, math, and science. Students in eighth grade have the opportunity to take Spanish and/or Algebra I honors for high school credit. Students spend approximately 1.5 hours per day participating in art classes:   dance, drama, music, and visual arts.  Students participate in local, state, and national performance and exhibition opportunities which allow them to showcase their talents.

Dance - The dance department at Rochelle offers professional training in ballet, modern, jazz, character, and Pointe techniques.  Classes are organized by grade for elementary majors; classes are divided into two proficiency levels for middle school majors.  Our faculty is committed to providing a professional level of training for all of our students whether they intend to pursue dance as a career or not.  This includes technical training, viewing, critique, and exploration of related elements such as vocabulary, nutrition, and anatomy. Dance majors are provided with an opportunity to perform at least twice a year and are often asked to participate in community events.

Drama - Drama is a “process” based study of the art of theatre.  It is a branch of the performing arts concerned with acting out stories in front of an audience using the combinations of speech, gesture, music, dance, sound, and spectacle.  During drama classes, students learn about emotions, problem solving, character development, script analysis, movement, voice, speech, and more.  Our drama students regularly perform for the community. Drama students consistently earn superior and excellent ratings at yearly competitions. 

Music - Students’ lives can be enriched by the enjoyment and meaning that the unique qualities of music can present to them.  Critical thinking skills and problem solving techniques developed from learning music can transfer to a variety of life experiences.  Self discipline, creativity, and inventiveness fostered through music benefits not only students, but society.  At Rochelle, music students participate in organized musical activities; they learn cooperation and awareness of their role in their community and their society.  This awareness leads students to appreciate not only their culture, but also the culture of others in their world.  The music department offers classes in chorus, strings, recorder, keyboard, band, orchestra, and hand bells. Students perform in a variety of school presentations during the school year. Show Choir, Swinging Strings, and Jazz Band, our art ambassadors, represent our school in the community at many different performances. All of our musical groups consistently earn superior ratings in competitions at district and state competitions.

Visual Arts - The visual arts program creates a learning environment in which all students can give full rein to their artistic abilities.  Our studio-based curriculum offers each student the time and personalized attention needed to gain essential skills in two dimensional media:  drawing, painting, print making, ceramics, photography, film making, and computer graphics.  In addition, the visual arts program participates in the College Board’s vertical teaming efforts in order to prepare students for studio art advanced placement course in high school. 

Parental Communication and Involvement

Meaningful parental involvement is important to the success of children. Throughout the school year, parents are informed concerning the academic progress of their children. Parents receive interim reports concerning grades during the middle of each 9-week grading period. Report cards are also sent home in the Wednesday envelope at the end of each 9-week grading period. The Wednesday envelope is also used as a weekly communication tool between the school and the home.

Daily parent teacher communication is completed through the use of the agenda. Parents and teachers can use the agenda to write messages back and forth to one another. Parents can also look in the agenda on a daily basis to check on homework assignments, as well as their child’s behavior.  The Pupil Academic Card (PAC) and Minor Infraction Card (MIC) can be viewed to track not only academic progress, but also behavioral progress. If the student has not completed an assignment, or if the student has misbehaved, it will be indicated on the PAC or MIC.

Parents can check student grades and can also view the school’s website to check for homework assignments, messages, and Internet links to important educational sites.  The school’s Phone-Tree and newsletter are two more communication tools that are used to share information with parents.

Other forms of communication include: Kindergarten Round-up, orientation meetings, open house, portfolio review nights, FCAT Family Fun Night for third, fourth, and fifth grade parents, conferences,  PTO meetings, SAC meetings, Arts Open House, concerts, plays, book fairs, awards night, National Junior Honor Society Induction Breakfast, and Fifth and Eighth Grade Graduations.

Dedicated parents are actively involved in our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Parents volunteer thousands of hours during the school year. Through the creation and implementation of activities such as the “Boo-Hoo Breakfast” which is held for parents of Kindergarten students at the beginning of the school year, Grandparent’s Breakfast which is held for grandparents on Valentine’s Day, Dad’s Day which is held to encourage Dads to participate in our school, and Mom’s Tea which is held to celebrate Mother’s Day- students, parents, and teachers create a caring school community. All of these activities help create a wonderful sense of fun and family for our students, parents, and staff at Rochelle School of the Arts.

Special Performances and Contests

·        Walt Disney World “Magic Music Days”

·        25th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center

·        Florida Elementary Music Educator Conference

·        Polk County Days at the Capital  

·        Detroit Tiger’s Fan Fest

·        Superintendent Jazz Festival

·        Just Read Florida Middle School Book Cover Illustration Content-1st Place

·        Make Room for Me Artwork-1st Place

Honors and Recognitions

·        A+ School

·        Five Star School Award

·        Golden School Award

·        Silver School Award

·        Music Demonstration School

·        School for the Stars:  FCAT Reading Challenge Award