Arts-Centred Learning at Sir John Franklin

The Arts-Centred Learning program focuses on learning in and through the arts. 

Students take courses in art, drama, dance, music and media arts to learn the foundation of these disciplines. Our distinguishing feature is the focus in core curriculum on learning and teaching using the arts as a means of understanding the world. Students are given opportunities to learn and present information and experiences in multiple ways. There is a greater emphasis on process than product. In addition to more traditional methods, students share what they have learned through the disciplines of the fine and performing arts. They are encouraged to find ways of learning that help them understand concepts, analyze experiences and develop attitudes that demonstrate the rigour that the arts require. Staff and students have opportunities to work extensively with professional artists. ‘Talent’ is not the issue in arts -centred learning; the emphasis is on the learning processes that encourage inquiry, exploration, guided experimentation and reflection. The prescribed Alberta Curriculum serves as our starting point for our work and we believe students have opportunities to achieve and extend beyond the basic curricular expectations. 

Student Suitability

Students who wish to attend Sir John Franklin School Arts-Centred Learning must possess a genuine interest in the arts including: dance, drama, art, music, literacy and/or media arts. This should be the primary reason for choosing this program as students will be given opportunities for co-constructing knowledge and understanding through the arts. The program is unique in comparison to a regular program because exploring concepts through the arts adds another layer of complexity to the core subjects.

Successful students at Sir John Franklin demonstrate:

• an interest and passion for the arts
• initiative, imagination and ingenuity when engaging in a variety of creative processes to develop and explore ideas
• a willingness to take advantage of multiple learning opportunities offered through the arts
• motivation and  increased independence
• the ability to work well in a variety of situations; collaboratively and independently

It is important to understand that the two major goals of the Arts-Centred Learning program are: to give students an opportunity to enhance their learning in all areas and to develop skills in all of the arts by incorporating them into their learning.

Arts-Centred Learning Program Continuity

Students who complete Grade 9 at Sir John Franklin School in the Arts-Centred Learning program can continue Arts-Centred Learning at James Fowler High School for Grades 10 to 12.

For further information visit the James Fowler website or contact:
Principal, Keith Johnson
403-230-4743 
(4004 - 4 Street NW Calgary, Alberta T2K 1A1)