The arts play a critical role in our culture, economy and daily lives. The visual and performing arts are a vibrant presence that enables us to express our creativity while challenging our intellectual capacities. Arts education provides children with a unique means of expression that captures their passions and emotions and allows them to explore ideas, acquire new learning and to examine their relationship with the world. In the Weston Public Schools, we believe that every child deserves a quality arts education and we provide our students with challenging curriculum content that is aligned with national and state standards. While each of the arts disciplines has its own unique set of knowledge, skills, and processes, achievement in the arts develops essential thinking skills. These skills, such as problem-solving, creative thinking, collaboration, time management, effective communication, and an understanding of technology help to prepare our students to be successful citizens of the world.