I want to be inspired by you!

[Clara Ngo]

My school, Hillbrook School, is doing an audit for our visual arts, performing arts, and design and engineering program. We have some questions we'd love to get answered through a school visit or through this Google Form.

If you're open for me to come visit or plan a Zoom, please reach out. I'm in Los Gatos but can drive up to an hour to visit a school. Wednesdays before 12:30 would be best for me. Let me know what works for you! 

If you'd like to share via the Google Form, I'd very much appreciate it and am happy to share the rest of the results with you as well! 

THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

Here are some of the questions we'd love answered (much shorter on the Google Form)

1. Real-World & Cross-Disciplinary Learning

• How do students connect their work to real contexts, audiences, or problems?

• How do programs collaborate across disciplines (shared themes, co-teaching, joint projects)?

• What structures make this possible (schedule, shared planning, physical space)?

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2. Through-Lines & Program Identity

• What skills, habits, or values are consistent across grades and disciplines?

• What makes each program distinct (visual, music, theater, engineering)?

• How is vertical alignment handled (skill-building from grade to grade)?

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3. Technical Skills ↔ Creative Expression

• How do they teach fundamentals (technique, process, vocabulary)?

• How do students get to experiment, choose direction, or express personal ideas?

• How do collaborative or ensemble experiences support creativity?

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4. Staffing, Time, and Structural Supports

• How is staffing organized (FT teachers, specialists, shared roles)?

• How is prep time, rehearsal time, studio time, and collaboration time built in?

• How is the budget allocated and managed across disciplines?

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5. Pathways & Community Engagement

• What pathways exist for students to grow deeply (advanced work, performances, exhibitions, competitions, showcases, independent study)?

• How does the school make the arts visible or central to the community?

• How do families and external partners engage with the program?

 

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Clara Ngo (she/her) Director of the Hub and Student Council Advisor Hillbrook School A 300 Marchmont Dr. Los Gatos, CA 95032 E cn...@hillbrook.org | P (408) 356-6116 Be kind. Be curious. Take risks. Be your best.

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