Academics
Curriculum
STEAM
Arts
Art as Inquiry
Every project begins with a question:
What story do I want to tell? How can colour shape emotion? What does it mean to see the world through someone else’s eyes?
What story do I want to tell? How can colour shape emotion? What does it mean to see the world through someone else’s eyes?
Inquiry-based learning is at the heart of our arts programs. Students reflect, investigate, and take creative risks, learning that art is not about perfection—it’s about process, experimentation, and personal growth.
Dramatic Arts
Students develop confidence, collaboration, and expressive skills through improvisation, movement, voice, scene work, and character development. Co-curricular productions—the Junior Play (Sec I & II) and Senior Play (Sec III–V)—allow students to experience acting, directing, and backstage production.
Visual Arts
Students explore a range of media, from painting and drawing to sculpture, printmaking, digital design, and mixed-media projects. Coursework emphasizes technique, planning, and reflection, helping students develop their own style and creative voice. Co-curricular opportunities include student exhibitions and contributions to productions like the Senior Play.
Musical Arts
Students learn instrumental or vocal performance through coursework in ensemble, theory, and music history. Junior and Senior Concert Bands provide ensemble experience, while the Traf Choir offers a co-curricular opportunity to develop vocal technique and perform diverse repertoire.
Process Over Product
At Trafalgar, the focus is on growth. Students learn to give and receive feedback, revise their work, and build resilience. They discover how to express complex ideas, trust their instincts, and develop confidence both on stage and in the studio.
Real-World Connections
Arts learning extends beyond the classroom. Students collaborate with local artists, perform in school and community events, curate exhibitions, and explore how the arts intersect with identity, activism, and other disciplines.
At Trafalgar, the arts are more than creative outlets—they are pathways to empathy, confidence, and the courage to imagine something new.
Dramatic Arts
Dramatic Arts
Cycle Two (Secondary III, IV & V)
Through improvisation, movement, voice work, and scene study, students build confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills while exploring the art of performance. Early in the program, the focus is on physical expression and trust-building, encouraging students to take risks, communicate, and support one another on stage. As they progress, students dive into character development, script analysis, directing, and monologue or scene creation, learning to bring three-dimensional characters to life.
Through improvisation, movement, voice work, and scene study, students build confidence, creativity, and collaboration skills while exploring the art of performance. Early in the program, the focus is on physical expression and trust-building, encouraging students to take risks, communicate, and support one another on stage. As they progress, students dive into character development, script analysis, directing, and monologue or scene creation, learning to bring three-dimensional characters to life.
Hands-on experiences are central to the program. Students rehearse, stage, and perform scenes and original works, gaining insight into the technical side of theatre through lighting, sound, and set design. Co-curricular productions—the Junior Play for Secondary I & II students and the Senior Play for Secondary III–V students—allow students to further develop their skills as performers, designers, and backstage crew. Over the year, students also attend professional theatre performances in Montreal, broadening their understanding and appreciation of the dramatic arts.
By the end of Secondary V, students have grown not only as performers but also as confident communicators, collaborators, and creative thinkers.
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Movement and Body Language
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Vocal Variations
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Soundscapes & Foley Art
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Character Development
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Monologues & Scene Study
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Co-Curricular Theatre
Junior Play
Junior Play
Open to Secondary I & II students, the Junior Play lets students experience performance, collaboration, and stagecraft in a fun, supportive setting. Students can act, help backstage, or assist with set and props—learning the ins and outs of putting on a production.
Open to Secondary I & II students, the Junior Play lets students experience performance, collaboration, and stagecraft in a fun, supportive setting. Students can act, help backstage, or assist with set and props—learning the ins and outs of putting on a production.
Senior Play
Senior Play
For Secondary III–V students, the Senior Play offers a full production experience, from acting to technical design. Students take on roles in lighting, sound, hair, make-up, and set design, gaining hands-on skills while contributing to a polished performance for the school community.
For Secondary III–V students, the Senior Play offers a full production experience, from acting to technical design. Students take on roles in lighting, sound, hair, make-up, and set design, gaining hands-on skills while contributing to a polished performance for the school community.
Musical Arts
Cycle One (Secondary I & II)
All students begin their musical journey in instrumental music. In Secondary I, students explore wind instruments through an instrument trial process before selecting the one they will learn. In Secondary II, percussion is introduced, and students become members of the Junior Concert Band, rehearsing during forum times and performing in two school concerts each year. Alongside performance, students explore music theory, history, and literature, and participate in masterclasses with professional Montreal musicians.
Cycle Two (Secondary III, IV & V)
Students advance to more challenging repertoire and technical skill development in Senior Concert Band, which rehearses both in class and weekly outside of class. They perform at school events, music festivals, and competitions, while continuing theory, ear training, and music history studies. Students also explore solo and chamber music, refining their skills through practice, performance, and regular masterclasses.
All students begin their musical journey in instrumental music. In Secondary I, students explore wind instruments through an instrument trial process before selecting the one they will learn. In Secondary II, percussion is introduced, and students become members of the Junior Concert Band, rehearsing during forum times and performing in two school concerts each year. Alongside performance, students explore music theory, history, and literature, and participate in masterclasses with professional Montreal musicians.
Cycle Two (Secondary III, IV & V)
Students advance to more challenging repertoire and technical skill development in Senior Concert Band, which rehearses both in class and weekly outside of class. They perform at school events, music festivals, and competitions, while continuing theory, ear training, and music history studies. Students also explore solo and chamber music, refining their skills through practice, performance, and regular masterclasses.
Junior Band
Junior Concert Band
Open to all Secondary I & II students as part of their music class, the Junior Band gives students the chance to perform as part of an ensemble, explore different instruments, and develop foundational musical skills.
Open to all Secondary I & II students as part of their music class, the Junior Band gives students the chance to perform as part of an ensemble, explore different instruments, and develop foundational musical skills.
Senior Band
Senior Concert Band
For Secondary III–V students, Senior Band is optional and brings together three senior classes into one ensemble. Students rehearse weekly outside of class, perform at school events, festivals, and competitions, and travel locally and internationally every other year.
For Secondary III–V students, Senior Band is optional and brings together three senior classes into one ensemble. Students rehearse weekly outside of class, perform at school events, festivals, and competitions, and travel locally and internationally every other year.
Listen to our first virtual concert!
June 2020
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June 2020
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Band Trip
Every other year, the Senior Band travels to compete in both local and international music festivals.
Choir
Open to all students, the Traf Choir meets twice a week and welcomes auditions from anyone interested in singing. Choir members develop their vocal technique, learn to read and interpret music, and strengthen their ensemble skills. Students perform a wide variety of repertoire, from classical pieces to contemporary works, at school concerts and special events throughout the year. Being part of the choir also offers opportunities for collaboration, leadership, and creativity, helping students grow not only as musicians but also as confident performers and communicators.
Visual Arts
Cycle One
Cycle One (Secondary I & II)
Students begin their visual arts journey by experimenting with a variety of materials and techniques. From clay and collage to wire contours, soft sculpture, and plaster masks, each project is designed to spark creativity while introducing the elements of art—line, colour, form, pattern, and composition. Along the way, students learn how to plan, sketch, reflect, and share their ideas in group discussions.
Students begin their visual arts journey by experimenting with a variety of materials and techniques. From clay and collage to wire contours, soft sculpture, and plaster masks, each project is designed to spark creativity while introducing the elements of art—line, colour, form, pattern, and composition. Along the way, students learn how to plan, sketch, reflect, and share their ideas in group discussions.
Cycle Two
Cycle Two (Secondary III, IV & V)
As they move into Cycle Two, students build on their foundations and explore both 2D and 3D art forms. They experiment with drawing, printmaking, sculpture, digital media, and mixed techniques, developing their own style and personal voice as artists. Projects become more complex and collaborative, including large-scale sculptures, props for the Senior Play, and the Transformation Project.
As they move into Cycle Two, students build on their foundations and explore both 2D and 3D art forms. They experiment with drawing, printmaking, sculpture, digital media, and mixed techniques, developing their own style and personal voice as artists. Projects become more complex and collaborative, including large-scale sculptures, props for the Senior Play, and the Transformation Project.
As students advance to Secondary IV and V, they continue to explore 2D visual language with the addition of 3D art and introduction to new media. For example, students work on sculptures, the packing tape project, props for the Senior Play, and the transformation project.
In Secondary V, students have the option of an additional AP component, where they can refine their portfolios, pursue independent studies, and further prepare for future artistic opportunities.
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