Every Student Takes the Stage: Class Plays at Pinewood
Pinewood’s performing arts tradition dates back to its founding. Pinewood’s tradition of prioritizing creative arts dates back to 1959, when founder Gwen Riches began an after-school arts program. That emphasis has remained central to the school’s identity ever since. Every student from kindergarten through 6th grade participates in a class play each year, regardless of whether they’re natural performers or first-timers. Beyond building comfort on stage, the format teaches students to project their voice, use gestures with purpose, and collaborate with classmates toward a shared performance.
The growth I’ve seen in my son through the plays is amazing. Seeing him on stage feeling proud and confident is wonderful.
— Leena Faerber, Pinewood Parent
What Changes as Students Move Up
The format grows with students: 7th graders present a variety show with more complex roles than the K-6 class plays, and 8th graders can opt into a class musical as an elective. By high school, students can pursue drama, musical theater, or technical theater as coursework or audition for Take Note, Pinewood’s award-winning a cappella group.
Comparing Arts Programs Across Bay Area Schools?
Cardinal Education helps families weigh how a school’s arts offerings, from class plays to ensemble music, fit a student’s interests over the long run.
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Music at Pinewood: Choir and the Middle Campus Band
Music at Pinewood starts with singing: K-6 students can join a student choir, building rhythm, melody, and the experience of making music as a group. Starting in 3rd grade, students who want to play an instrument can join the Middle Campus band, developing technique and ensemble skills through 6th grade. From there, junior high and high school students can continue into more advanced vocal and instrumental groups, including Take Note.
| Grade Band | Music Opportunity |
| Kindergarten – 6th Grade | Student choir |
| 3rd – 6th Grade | Middle Campus band |
| Junior High – High School | Advanced vocal and instrumental groups, including the a cappella group Take Note |
Visual Arts, Grade by Grade
Visual arts time scales up as students get older. Kindergartners have art class every day, while 1st and 2nd graders have it three times a week, both focused on building foundational skills in painting, drawing, and sculpting. In Grades 3-6, visual arts becomes part of the rotating enrichment class curriculum, letting students build on those foundations with more advanced techniques. At Upper Campus, students take required foundational visual arts courses before choosing electives in areas like design, photography, and studio art.
Why Daily Art Time Matters Early On
The frequency in K-2 is deliberate: daily or near-daily exposure to painting, drawing, and sculpting at that age builds fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination alongside creative expression, laying groundwork the school then builds on through the enrichment rotation in Grades 3-6.
The Bottom Line for Families
Pinewood’s arts program isn’t an add-on; it’s built into the daily and yearly rhythm of K-6 life, from a guaranteed class play every year to daily art time in kindergarten. Families weighing Pinewood against other Bay Area schools should ask specifically how much class time is protected for the arts at each grade, since that commitment is part of what distinguishes Pinewood’s model. For students balancing rigorous arts and academic requirements, strategic academic coaching can provide helpful additional support.
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