Visual and Performing Arts

The American High School Visual and Performing Arts Department offers comprehensive and sequential instruction in a wide variety of courses. If you, as a parent, take a holistic view of your child, this is the perfect opportunity for you to ensure that they get a well-rounded education. The Arts provide students meaningful ways to create, express, share, connect, and respond to others. Visual and Performing Arts classes allow students to solve problems, thinking critically and creatively, in a hands-on learning environment.

Students with visual and performing arts experience score higher on SATs than students without arts experience. There are many other reasons to sign up for an art, drama, or music class, however. 

Students, sign up if you want to challenge yourself to  be the best you can be, if you want to explore creative means of self-expression, if you would like to make many new friends, if you like to travel (figuratively and literally), if you like to perform, or if you want to learn skills you will be able to use for the rest of your life.

Visual and Performing Arts Course Overview Video

Use Passcode: PQ7$t7vS (case sensitive)

Visual and Performing Arts Course Information

(Information regarding Band can be found at the bottom of the page)

• Architectural Design: Architectural Design (1, 2, 3, 4)
  • Contact: Mackie McLoy, mmcloy@fusdk12.net    510-796-1776, ext. 57707
  • Architecture 

• Art: Art (1, 2), AP Art History, Studio Art
  • Contact:  Mackie McLoy, mmcloy@fusdk12.net, 510-796-1776, ext. 57707  or Megan Olson, molson@fusdk12.net, 510-796-1776, ext. 57706
  • Welcome to Art 
  • Art History

• DigitalArts: Digital Photography (1, 2), Media Arts/ IT Technology (co-taught with Mr. John Holcomb)    2-D Animation, Web Page Design & Development
  • Contact: Thomas Bartholomew-Couts (B.C.), tcouts@fusdk12.net, 510-796-1776, ext. 57711

• Drama: 
  • Drama/Advanced Drama
    • Contact: Savanna Benedetti, sbenedetti@fusdk12.net, 510-796-1776, ext. 57702
  • Drama 1
    • Contact: Katie Martin, katiemartin@fusdk12.net, 510-796-1776, ext. 57004

• Music: Band 1 (aka Concert Band), Choir (1, 2), Guitar (1, 2), Jazz Ensemble (Spring semester only), Marching Band (Fall semester only), Symphonic Band 

  • Contact: Richard F. Wong, rwong@fusdk12.net, 510-796-1776, ext. 57708