What is the CAPA Program?

Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) at West is an audition-only program for artistically gifted and talented students.

For the past 40 years, CAPA has encouraged passionate students to grow and pursue a lifelong love of the arts.

The CAPA program provides an in-depth fine arts experience in choir, band, orchestra, piano, dance, visual arts, media arts, theatre and technical theatre.

Students who would benefit from the CAPA program

Passionate and artistically talented in one or more of the arts: choir, band, orchestra, piano, dance, visual arts, media arts, theatre and technical theatre.

What makes the program unique?

Provides intensive and professional experiences in the arts.
Arts integrated curriculum through all subject areas.
The only program in the district that offers dance.
The only middle school program that allows students to take two year-round arts classes.
Highly qualified fine art staff who are active in the local community.
Produces highly skilled artists and technicians who are committed to the arts and are ready to enter the workforce.

How to audition

Yearly auditions are held for current students grades 5-7 who live within RPS 205 boundaries. Audition information. Students must re-audition at grade 8 to qualify for CAPA at Auburn High School.

History

The CAPA Program was established as part of the gifted program in the Rockford Public Schools in 1978. CAPA is a comprehensive 6th-12th grade program, which inspires creativity and offers each student a unique, real-life experience in one or more arts discipline. CAPA produces highly skilled artists and technicians who are committed to the arts in the Rockford community and beyond.

Acceptance into the program is by audition. Students audition for the West program and must audition again for the Auburn program.

Mission & Vision

Values

Goals & Objectives

To create an educational environment rich in the arts.
To integrate the arts into all content to address each child and their individual learning style.
To develop a progression of skills and talents in the arts.
To demonstrate proficiency in at least one art area by the end of our programs.
To recognize and explore cultural diversity in the arts.
To foster a wide-range of opportunities for students to create and perform.
To create an awareness and understanding of aesthetics in the arts.

Student Expectations

The CAPA program expects a certain level of professionalism in behavior and academic responsibilities. It is the belief that the following expectations are important to the success of all students.

CAPA students are expected to:
1. Be an active participant in every academic and arts area.
2. Be engaged in arts integration with the alignment of arts and other academic areas.
3. Demonstrate effective use of time and talent.
4. Utilize equipment for arts and other academic areas.
5. Participate in arts integration presentations, arts performances, and auditioned productions.
6. Actively participate in oral and written critiques of peers’ work.

CAPA Fine Arts Disciplines

Band

The CAPA band program is progressive and aligned with state standards. Students have an opportunity to learn to play one or more instruments. Students are also engaged in activities such as maintaining individual portfolios and recording assessments through the use of technology. Students in the in program will participate in classroom and public/community performances as an assessment component.

COURSES: CAPA Beginning Band, CAPA Intermediate Band, CAPA Advanced Band

TEACHER: S usan Funk

Choir

The CAPA choir curriculum is progressive and aligned with state standards. Students focus on healthy singing techniques based on proper breathing, vocal production, and musicality. Sight-reading and music theory, as well as composition and the elements of music (melody, rhythm, texture, harmony, and form) are all integral parts of the choral curriculum. CAPA choir students will participate in classroom and public/community performances as an assessment component.

COURSES: CAPA Beginning Choir, CAPA Intermediate Choir, CAPA Advanced Choir

TEACHER: Marti Bein

Dance

The CAPA dance curriculum is progressive and aligned with state standards. Students study a variety of dance techniques including ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical and ethnic dance. Dance history and dance composition are also an integral part of the dance curriculum. Students in the dance program will participate in classroom and public/community performances as an assessment component.

COURSES: CAPA Beginning Dance, CAPA Intermediate Dance, CAPA Advanced Dance

TEACHER: Kim McLaughlin

Orchestra

The CAPA orchestra program is progressive and aligned with state standards. Students have an opportunity to learn to play one or more instruments. Students are also engaged in activities such as maintaining individual portfolios and recording assessments through the use of technology. Students in the in program will participate in classroom and public/community performances as an assessment component.

COURSES: CAPA Beginning Orchestra, CAPA Intermediate Orchestra, CAPA Advanced Orchestra

TEACHER: Jonathan Harrity

Piano

The CAPA piano program is progressive and aligned with state standards. Students have an opportunity to learn to play piano. Students are also engaged in activities such as maintaining individual portfolios and recording assessments through the use of technology. Students in the in program will participate in classroom and public/community performances as an assessment component.

COURSES: CAPA Beginning Piano

TEACHER: Jonathan Harrity

Theatre

The CAPA theatre curriculum is progressive and aligned with state standards. The theatre curriculum includes the areas of theatre history, performance, improvisation, creative dramatics, technical theatre, directing and script writing. CAPA theatre students will participate in classroom and public/community performances as an assessment component.

COURSES: CAPA Beginning Theatre, CAPA Intermediate Theatre, CAPA Advanced Theatre

TEACHER: Michael Apperson

Technical Theatre

COURSES: CAPA Tech Theatre

The CAPA tech theatre curriculum is progressive and aligned with state standards. The curriculum includes the areas of set building, scenic painting, prop making, costuming, lighting, sound, and rigging. Additionally, students will learn how to use different tools safely and effectively. CAPA tech theatre students will participate in classroom projects and support public/community performances as an assessment component.

TEACHER: Michael Apperson; Iga Puchalska

Visual Art

The CAPA visual arts curriculum is progressive and aligned with state standards. Areas of study include drawing, painting, clay, fiber, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media and computer animation. Students in the CAPA visual art program will participate in classroom and public/community presentations as an assessment component. In CAPA visual art, we set the foundations for our students' artistic practice. We develop student interest in the Visual Arts from a project-based approach, presenting them with real life situations to use their art.

COURSES: CAPA Beginning Art, CAPA Intermediate Art, CAPA Advanced Art

TEACHER: Iga Puchalska

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Have Questions?

Julie Hindenburg

CAPA Coordinator at West
julie.hindenburg@rps205.com

Sherry King
Special Programs Coordinator
sherry.king@rps205.com