Fine Arts

FINE ARTS

Where students are part of our city's artistic hub!

What if art teachers gave you the time and attention to build focus and skill that supported your creative ideas? What if the work of master artists and cultural treasures from different civilizations were right next door and the door was always open? What if joy and imagination weren’t relegated to the playground, but you and your friends were continually at play in music and on the stage? What if your school looked to you to lead as an actor, singer, and dancer? What if your God-given gifts were ignited, sending you forth with a greater knowledge of who you are meant to be? Schedule a visit to see a culture that honors the creative spark in every student and experience the PS difference.

The journey toward the product is full of challenges.
How we respond to the missteps and errors is part of
embracing the whole of life.

Courtney Daniell-Knapp, Director of Fine Arts

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exhibitions and performances

Students have many opportunities to participate in grade level and school wide exhibitions and productions throughout the year for peers, teachers, parents, grandparents and special friends.

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fine arts faculty & guest teachers

The School's fine arts department is made of a dozen experienced full-time faculty members and part-time expert professionals from the community who specialize in art, music, drama and dance.

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fine arts electives

7th and 8th grade students take a fine arts elective every day. There have been over 90 different classes in performing and studio arts offered to students to ignite creativity and exercise their imaginations.

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partnerships in the city

The proximity of world renowned institutions in the city has allowed the School to forge many partnerships with institutions in the Arts, Sciences and Medicine to expand our student's learning.

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museums within walking distance

The School is part of an archipelago of the arts and academia in the heart of Houston's Museum District. Students walk out of the school and into over 20 museums without ever boarding a bus. 

meet Jackson Williams

Presbyterian School ’15
Episcopal High School ’19


Find out what you are interested in as early as possible ...[because it] lets you create a very solid foundation at a young age that will set you apart from your peers.
I got into programming when I was 11 years old. My dad bought me an iPod Touch, and when I started downloading apps on it, I was very interested in how it worked. When I asked my dad how to make apps, he explained that I had to learn to program. The Christmas of my sixth grade year at Presbyterian School, I asked for a laptop and started teaching myself how to program. I read programming books after school and on class trips to learn how to make simple websites and games.

PS provided the foundation for my programming, and I’m grateful I was in an environment where my programming was appreciated and inspiring to everyone who interacted with my interest. During my eighth grade year, I made a game website that younger kids could play in the STEAM Museum. The younger kids’ interest made me feel that I had really accomplished something by making a website others could enjoy so much. The feeling of friends and teachers wanting me to succeed in what I was doing and helping me along the way is a great memory and affirmation of confidence from Presbyterian School.

After PS, I chose to attend Episcopal High School because I felt I would have the ability to achieve the most there. I enjoy the balance EHS offers between schoolwork and free time, because my free time is when I do the majority of my programming and investing. I do both every day and by doing so have gained a substantial understanding of both subjects. I believe that by doing what you are interested in for at least 30 minutes a day, you can truly become affluent in the subject, and over the years, this strategy has helped me.

When my first game app, Fast Feathers, was put on the App store, I was extremely happy to see everyone download it. I made three major game apps when I started high school. The summer before my sophomore year, a friend’s dad asked me to make a utility app for their life insurance company, Goheen Companies. I was ecstatic and started working on it right away. I finished the app a year later, with lots of learning taking place about how to work with a business. I still make modifications and updates on the app to this day.

This year Aston Martin hired me. I created an app that allows clients to customize an Aston Martin inside the dealership. The app helps to determine which options are available and compatible for customization. I have completed an app for the Aston Martin DB11 model and am discussing making a second app.

Programming has had a great number of ups for me, including job opportunities and the ability to fix everyday problems through technology, make use of my time efficiently, and express myself through the software I write. Bugs in code are frustrating when it feels like I’ve tried everything, but I always end up with a solution.

I have accepted jobs where professional results are expected while I am not currently a “professional.” This has pushed me to work harder and dedicate a lot of time to learning how to program more professionally. I’ve enjoyed these jobs, but some have more stress because I have to meet deadlines while balancing schoolwork. Stress is easily mitigated though creating a clear and organized schedule for the week and month to outline the programming work I have to complete. I’ve gained priceless insight into how a real job works and am very excited for what the future holds.

Find out what you're interested in as early as possible.

Jackson Williams '15

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