Creative Arts

Creative Arts

Art

The elementary art department participates in the annual ACSI art competition, from which students have received numerous awards in recent years. Elementary art students also have the chance to be named “Artist of the Month.” The winner of the title has his or her artwork displayed at the Giddens Gallery of Fine Art on Main Street in Grapevine for the month.

Junior high art enters students in three competitions: the Private International Art Show at the Dallas Episcopal School, the ACSI District Festival, and Grapevine Faith’s end of the year art show. Last year, students received first place in Sculpture at the Private International Art Show, and 4 first places, 5 second places, and 2 third places at the ACSI District Festival. Junior high art students also have the opportunity to visit Kindred, a local nursing home, four times year. While there, they deliver cards and crafts they made in class and build relationships with the people they meet.

The high school art department competes in TAPPS Art competitions. Most recently, the department was named Art State Champion for Division 4a, replacing a 5-year reigning champion. There were also many individual awards, including gold, silver, and bronze medals. In addition to the TAPPS competition, the department plans to enter VASE, the Congressional Art competition, as well as others. High school art student leaders have the opportunity to plan and teach an art lesson Faith elementary students, volunteer with local art businesses and organizations, and, as of the 2016-2017 school year, become a member of Grapevine Faith’s chapter of the National Art Honor Society.

Band

Junior high band offers an instrumental introduction to Grapevine Faith’s band program. Students spend class periods learning and practicing pieces and sharpening their music skills. Performances are often given throughout the year at events such as the Christmas Program and Grandparent’s Day.

High school band is a vital part of the GFCS creative arts program. Students have the opportunity to perform in school musical, jazz band concerts, special holiday events, and TPSMEA and TAPPS competitions. The drum line also performs at football games and pep rallies.

Choir

The Junior High Choir program aims to expose students to a wide variety of musical styles while developing students’ musicianship as they prepare for High School. Throughout the year, students will have opportunities to lead worship, perform in several concerts and community events, and audition for the Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA) Middle School Honor Choir. Students also compete at the state level through TPSMEA and ACSI.

At the High School level, students are encouraged to reach their highest musical potential in preparation for college-level music making and beyond. A greater emphasis is placed on worship leading and students have opportunities to lead worship in various capacities throughout the year. Students also perform at our annual Christmas and Spring concerts and compete both as soloists and as a large ensemble through TPSMEA and TAPPS. Individual students have the opportunity to audition for the prestigious TPSMEA All Region and All State Choirs. In addition, the high school choir classes, along with other creative arts classes, travel to such places as New York City, to perform in concert with other choirs from around the country in a Mass Choir event at Carnegie Hall. 

Dance

Dance is a big part of the Creative Arts program at Grapevine Faith! Whether it is in the daily classes in the state-of-the art dance studio, or dancing in the school musicals with hundreds of other students, or competing in dance competitions around the state, or dancing pieces for the Lord at one of the weekly chapels, the Faith dance program offers something for students of all ages. Twice a year, some of Broadway’s best choreographers and dancers come to Faith to lead Manhattan Dance Project (MDP) workshops. Dance styles at Faith include jazz, hip hop, ballet, lyrical, tapp, modern, and theatrical. The Grapevine Faith dance program has taken top honors at many recent dance competitions. 

Elementary Music

The elementary music department utilizes a variety of programs to instill a love for music in young students. Pre-K uses a combination of Classroom Music for Little Mozarts and various music and movement activities, while Kindergarten works through The Music Effect Kindergarten and completes group violin instruction. Older students use Theory Time for music theory studies. The entire department performs at an elementary Christmas program and Grandparent’s Day. Other performances that vary by grade level include Kindergarten Graduation, the 3rd and 4th grade ACSI Music Festival, and the 5th grade talent show. The 5th grade talent show is also an excellent opportunity for student leadership development, as students are responsible for planning, designing, and executing all aspects of the performance while showing off their own talents as well.

Graphic Design

Graphic design is a hands-on class that gives an introduction to the world of designing logos, websites, advertisements, and other types of computer graphics. Students have the chance to compete in the TAPPS State Art competition. Products of this class have included the 2016-2017 GFCS yearbook cover, the 2016 GFCS Valentine’s Day logo, and the 2016 GFCS Summer Camps logo. Adobe Creative Suite is provided for student use.

Media Production

In this department, students dig deep into the world of video production and cover all stages and types of media production from short films to advertising to script writing. Students have the chance to compete in the TAPPS State Art competition and have recently placed first and second in Narrative Short Film, first in Animation Short Film, fourth in Documentary Short Film, and first overall as a department. Projects often include filming chapels, sporting events, and other functions for the school. Adobe Creative Suite and Canon DSLR cameras are available for student use.

Photography

Grapevine Faith’s photography department includes classes at all different levels. Introductory classes include all grade levels and offer an overview of photography, art, design, Photoshop, and basic camera skills. Advanced classes are offered for second year photography students and focus on applying photography skills by completing projects for Faith events, learning editing techniques in Photoshop and Lightroom, and using studio lighting. All photography students also have the opportunity to compete in the TAPPS State Art competition and have received many awards in past years, including third in Color Photography, third in Black and White Photography, and first and second in Creative and Experimental Use of Photography. This department also takes field trips to the local museums, parks, and school events.

Theatre / Music Theatre

Theatre at Grapevine Faith has involved hundreds of students over the past 2 decades. Students as young as 2nd grade all the way up through seniors in high school have been a part of theatre and musical productions. Many of the productions have involved over 200 students at a time in the cast and crews for each performance. Some of our very own Grapevine Faith Christian School performers have gone on after high school to perform in college, regional, and Broadway touring productions, as well as Hollywood movies and primetime television shows. 

Theatre classes begin in junior high. Students learn acting skills while working on improv, memorization, blocking, and basic theatre knowledge. High school theatre expounds on the skills taught at the junior high level to continue to develop students’ acting and musical theatre talents. The award winning theatre program at Grapevine Faith has taken top honors at TAPPS stage competitions in Solo and Duet Acting, has performed and won top honors at the Texas Thespian Festival, and has been nominated for many awards at the DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards. In 2012 and 2018, the program won Best Musical at the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards. Each year, dozens of Broadway choreographers, directors, and performers come to Faith to teach workshops and special classes. 

Clubs

Art Club

The Art Club has won top awards at events like Art in the Square, TAPPS  and VASE state competitions, and Scholastic awards. Two students have even had their artwork featured in government buildings in Austin, TX, and Washington, D.C.! The club involves students of all ages, elementary through high school.

Chapel Worship Team

Every Thursday is Chapel Day at Grapevine Faith. Elementary, junior high, and high school chapel worship services are led by teams of students. Auditions and interviews for the Worship Team take place in August. 

Drum Line

What started out many years ago as a bunch of students pounding on garbage can lids and 10-gallon buckets as evolved into a competitive drum line! Drum line is open to students in 8th-12th grade who have a passion to learn the art of percussion. Drum line begins in early August.

 Infusion Dance

A club that started with just 22 students has now grown to over 100! Infusion Dance includes ballet, jazz, modern, theaterical, tapp, and lyrical styles. 

International Thespian Society

The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society for high school and junior high theatre students. Thespian troups serve students 9th-12th grade, while 6th-8th grade students can participate in junior troupes. Festivals are held annually at the district, state, and national levels. Grapevine Faith’s club was officially chartered in 2017 as Troupe #6361. The mission of Troupe #6361 is to encourage students to excel, grow, and learn more about theatre arts, to discover the truth in our craft, to immerse oneself in theatre activities for the simple appreciation of the process and the craft and to ignite a passion for theatre.

Speech & Debate

This award-winning club has launched many students out into the world with the skills to debate and defend their positions on current issues. Events include weekly competitions, Rotary Club presentations, TAPPS competitions, and more. 

Tech Theatre

Tech Theatre Club introduces students to the lighting, sound, video projection, and special effects that go into every theatre production. Students run tech for chapel services, special events, concerts, and the productions put on by the department. They are also eligible to compete at the Texas Thespian Society Festival.