Students have exciting opportunities for self expression through fine arts, drama and music at SJND. Through the arts, students develop their cognitive abilities, social skills and self-esteem, and they also develop the motivation to learn and create.

The SJND Theatre Company

All students have the opportunity to test their skills onstage, as well as backstage, as part of the SJND Theatre Company, which promotes and celebrates the performing arts.

Auditions are open to all students at SJND, and the Theatre Company meets regularly after school so that students can pursue their passion for the arts, while at the same time focus on the core academic curriculum during the school day.

Members of the Theatre Company produce and participage in an annual stage production and perform at drama festivals in the community. SJND students have also written dramatic productions and staged them for the community.

Students may participate on stage as actors, singers and dancers. Or they may choose to go backstage with set design and construction, lighting, costume design and fabrication, props, makeup, and other technical aspects of theatre production.

Music

At SJND, there is a dynamic music program that encourages students to create and perform. The school offers a range of courses in instrumental music ranging from beginning to advanced levels.

Students get the chance to write musical compositions and have them pubished in the school's arts magazine, Prisms.

There are regular performances at school music festivals in the fall and spring, and SJND accompanies students to travel and perform at neighboring schools, colleges, honors festivals, theme parks, and venues in the community.

The school's Pep Band is one of the most popular groups on campus, and they play at most SJND home basketball games. Another performance group, the Percussion Ensemble, is a novelty in the Bay Area, pairing a group of students with a diverse selection of instruments, including marimbas, timpani, congas and full drum sets.

Visual Art

The visual art program promotes both technical and creative development. Students who study fine arts learn drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramic sculpture. A digital media class teaches students vector and bitmap illustration, film and digital photography, 2D and 3D animation, and digital movie editing.

Throughout the year, students have opportunities to display their work in several venues, both on and off campus. SJND also offers AP Studio Art for students who strive toward mastery in a particular visual art discipline.