Theodore Roosevelt High School

Creativity is a driving force in the 21st-century global economy, with the fastest growing jobs and emerging industries relying on the ability of workers to think unconventionally and use their imagination.

Mission: The mission of the Roosevelt High School Fine Arts Department is to provide creative curriculum, technical development, and engaging opportunities that will ignite a personal passion for every student enrolled in a fine arts course.

Vision: The vision of the Roosevelt High School Fine Arts Department is to instill in our students and community a life-long passion for the performing and visual arts that results in personal and professional artistic pursuits beyond high school.

The Roosevelt High School Rough Rider Bands are a team under the leadership of director David Ernsthausen. We dedicate ourselves to build upon our firm foundation of excellence in music through integrity, discipline, and trust. By consistently giving our personal and collective best, we will continually raise the standards of each performer, maximizing the total potential of the group and achieving a sense of success for ourselves and our Community.

This beginning level course focuses on the development of fundamental music skills and correct playing habits on instruments such as flute, clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, cornet, trombone, baritone, French horn, tuba, and percussion. Instrument is provided.

This course continues mastery of the skills introduced in Beginning Band. They include basic instrumental skills, posture, embouchure, hand position, breath support, fingering of notes, accurate note reading, meter, rhythm, key signatures, dynamic markings, and musical style. Daily individual practice is required.

This course is the reinforcement of the concepts learned in intermediate band, and a study of a more advanced level of music literature. Daily individual practice is required.

The mission of the Roosevelt High School Theater Program is to provide an educational experience which enables all students to grow personally through creative expression, while nurturing their performance skills to the fullest. Students will be knowledgeable artists who possess an awareness of the evolution of theatre through time and key works of these eras. The school's curriculum prepares students to be well-rounded, contributing members of the community, as well as theater professionals.

This class is designed for students with little or no theatre experience. Classwork focuses on the exploration of theatre literature, performance, historical and cultural connections, and technical requirements. Improvisation, storytelling, and beginning scene work are used to introduce students to acting and character development. Students will develop fundamental group- and self- assessment skills, problem-solving skills, and development of 21st-century skills that will help students be successful after high school graduation.

This class promotes enjoyment and appreciation for all aspects of theatre through opportunities to build significantly on existing skills. Classwork focuses on characterization, playwriting, and playwrights’ contributions to theatre; while improvisation and scene work are used to help students challenge and strengthen their acting skills and explore the technical aspect of scene work.

This class promotes will strengthen and enhance skills in ensemble work/teamwork, movement, voice, scene and play analysis, scene work including an emphasis on character development and emotional truth, improvisational skills, character analysis and performance, audition skills, career paths, designing, directing and playwriting with an emphasis on performing original work.

The mission of the Roosevelt High School Visual Arts Programs seek to address art not merely as a skill, but as a tool of communication and expression. Students will learn to use skills, vocabulary and concepts to bring a visual voice to their ideas.  Students will be looking at how art is used to shape opinions and how art can be used it to make an impact. Art can encompass a broad range of ideas and concepts. Students will look at art as a skill, a language and a contributor to our culture.

By exploring a variety of materials and techniques, the student enhances his own creativity, develops a keener sense of observation, and examines how this creative process develops the brain for all areas of life. You will draw people, objects in perspective (3D, buildings, etc.) and other subjects. You will create abstract compositions with mixed media, paint, oil pastels, and other media. You will also explore various cultures and periods in history through art.

This class involves a more intensive experience in the visual arts stressing the development of an individual style of drawing, painting, and other two and three-dimensional work. Continued emphasis on composition and technique will be explored through mixed media, abstract painting, collage, mask making, and printmaking. You will also explore career options related to art and study art throughout history.

This class seeks to address art not merely as a skill, but as a tool of communication and expression. You will learn to use skills, vocabulary and concepts to bring a visual voice to your ideas. This class will explore a variety of mixed-media art forms and techniques from a 2D Design, 3D Design and Drawing & Painting basis while expanding on the Elements of Art & Principles of Design learned in previous art courses.  We will be looking at how art is used to shape us and how we can use it to make an impact. Art can encompass a broad range of ideas and concepts.

As described by the College Board, The AP Art and Design course framework presents an inquiry-based approach to learning about and making art and design. Students are expected to conduct an in-depth, sustained investigation of materials, processes, and ideas. The framework focuses on concepts and skills emphasized within college art and design foundations courses with the same intent: to help students become inquisitive, thoughtful artists and designers able to articulate information about their work. 

Roosapalooza is an after school event sponsored by the Fine Arts Department. This event was created to showcase the amazing happenings of our school and students.  It is an all ages event wherein all the clubs and organizations in Roosevelt come out to represent.  We start outdoors immediately after school where clubs showcase their programs and provide information regarding what they do.  After the outdoor “fun fest,” we head inside to view the many talents of our students, teachers, and community members on the stage!  This event has been a hit for the past 3 years, and we are continually growing every year.  This year, over 400 people attended the event!