North Gwinnett News

In March, Gwinnett County Public Schools are celebrating Music in Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month. The district is dedicated to enhancing students' education through fine arts. Students have the chance to explore their artistic interests and showcase their talents at local and state levels through various activities, events, and competitions.

Students from the School of The Arts (SOTA) at Central Gwinnett High School organized a "Roadshow" this spring featuring live performances. The show visited Simonton Elementary, offering more than 100 students an opportunity to enjoy vocal and visual performances. This event aimed to spark interest in auditioning for SOTA/CGHS, which provides pathways in theatre, music, visual arts, and dance. A fifth-grade student remarked on the performances: “The students were very good at their performances; it was impressive.”

Gwinnett County students benefit from access to Atlanta's vibrant art community. Recently, Moore Middle’s Art Club visited the High Museum of Art, home to over 19,000 artworks. Katherine Genser, a visual art instructor at Moore Middle, explained: “In Art Club, the focus is on providing our students with a dedicated space where they can develop their own artistic voice and collaborate with their art-minded peers.”

During their visit to the museum, students toured the Sonya Clark Traveling Exhibit: We Are Each Other. Isaiah, an eighth-grader and art club member shared his experience: “The best part of the trip had to be when we were talking about The Hair Project art with our docent. I got to see art in a different way than I had thought about it before... it wasn’t just about one person’s feelings and experience... it was tied to a bigger part of history.”

Moore Middle also offers visual art classes beyond its Art Club. Student artwork has been submitted to contests and displayed at several exhibits including The United Ebony Society’s MLK Day Art Exhibit and Tapestry at the Instructional Support Center.

Additionally, district students attended an event by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra celebrating female composers and historical figures who have significantly impacted music and society. Schools involved received a HERStory study guide featuring figures like Margaret Bonds and Rosa Parks.

For more information on participating in fine arts opportunities within Gwinnett County Public Schools, parents are encouraged to visit their school’s website.