Creativity Thrives Here
The York Region District School Board’s specialized arts program is designed for students passionate about the arts.
The Arts Mackenzie program gives students opportunities to develop strong artistic skills in a safe, inclusive environment. Students who enjoy kinesthetic learning opportunities will benefit from the Arts Mackenzie experience.
While working towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma, students are required to take a minimum of eight arts credits in their chosen discipline.
Grade 8 and grade 9 students may apply to study one of the following Arts Mackenzie disciplines: dance, music (strings, instrumental, vocal), theatre or visual arts.
Each year students accepted into the program will study in their focus area for two of their eight courses. In addition to the year-long enriched arts curriculum, students work with guest artists, attend field trips, engage in cross-curricular activities and participate in practice, rehearsals and studio work outside of class time. Arts Mackenzie has a strong emphasis on transferable skills that encourage students to become independent, successful high achievers in any field.
Arts Mackenzie offers a pre-professional program that builds a foundation of success for all post-secondary pathways.
Benefits of Enhancing Your Secondary School Experience with Arts Mackenzie
- Academic programming enhanced by two arts credits in your discipline per year to achieve OSSD and YRDSB Specialized Arts Certificate
- A kinesthetic instructional approach to acquiring traditional, digital and financial literacy skills
- Develop confidence and perseverance while building transferable skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and higher order thinking
- Extended learning opportunities from professional guest artists, unique field trips, and cross-curricular activities
What Makes Arts Mackenzie Unique?
- Classes - A minimum of 75 minutes of class time spent in specialized studio spaces, customized for the student's art discipline, scheduled everyday from Grade 9 through Grade 12.
- Experiences - Access to some of Canada's top professional artists through in-class guest artist workshops, lessons, field trips, and extended trips.
- Content - Classroom content in the arts program focuses on all aspects of the chosen discipline, including lessons that explore the technical, imaginative, and business side of their discipline.
- Sharing Work - The opportunity to perform and/or exhibit work at diverse spaces in York Region, including the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts and the historical Boynton House.
- Options - Exposure to a variety of leadership training, experiences, and volunteer opportunities The option to take unique electives in the senior grades such as Musical Theatre and Film