ART

In art class, our main focus is to develop artists who will continue to create art throughout their lives. By exploring a variety of creative projects—such as sculptures, fiber design, ceramics, drawing, painting, collage, and play-based art—students gain skills and confidence to express themselves freely.
I emphasize the “studio habits of mind, heart, and hands,” which help students think critically, feel deeply, and create purposefully. We use our minds to come up with ideas and problems throughout the whole art process. We use our hearts to create artwork based on different emotions and things we love. Lastly, we use our hands with different materials to create our art.  Our youngest learners focus on process art, emphasizing exploration and creativity rather than perfection. 
Art class also shows students how to care for different art materials, empowering them to use these tools confidently outside the classroom. With each project allowing for student choice, the art classroom at Hollister Lake Elementary inspires every young artist to develop a lifelong passion for creating art.

MUSIC

Dr. Mesquitic's music classroom is a dynamic space where students explore music through expression, theory, and movement. Mr. M believes that a holistic approach to early childhood music fosters a stronger connection to society and an appreciation for the arts. All grade levels delve into the fundamentals of music through dance, instrument playing, singing, and musical games. Concerts are a key component of the Hollister Lake music program. Each grade level throughout the year has its own individual performance, showcasing the skills they've developed in their music classes.

SMARTLAB

Hollister Lake has the honor of piloting one of Weld RE4’s first SmartLabs. Learning is different here in SmartLab as students are engaged in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through student-led, project-based learning. 

Students learn best with a diverse, hands-on approach to learning and that’s exactly what they experience in SmartLab. The project-based STEM learning environment and curricula prepare students for the careers of tomorrow. Grades K-2 work on whole class project exploration and grades 3-5 work through project rotations as students choose their own areas of interest.

LIBRARY

Our library specials class invites students to learn, discover, create and connect in the Hollister Lake library. Students explore different areas of the library, learn how to access digital library tools, and collaborate using hands-on materials. Through interactive activities, students develop confidence in finding, using, and enjoying library resources, which fosters a lifelong love of reading and learning.