Morris School District

The Morris School District is proud to provide ample opportunities in the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Our teachers are extremely dedicated and skilled in promoting and developing creativity, aptitude, and enthusiasm, within their respective fields. Our students excel in the art studio, on stage, and in the graphic arts.

If you would like to highlight an accomplishment of a district student or teacher, please e-mail Christopher Miller, K-12 Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator, at christopher.miller@msdk12.net.

The Marching Colonials are celebrating 100 years of Pride, Honor, Tradition, and Excellence this season! A special centennial celebration was held on September 27th with over 60 alumni representing every decade going all the way back to 1954. Students and alumni shared in music making and flag spinning but the highlight of the day was watching everyone connect and share how special the marching band program is to them.

A Century of Connection: Alumni Share What the Marching Colonials Mean to Them

“Being a part of the color guard, and the marching band has made a lasting impact on my life. It's where I met three of my closest friends and my husband.”

Gemma Trackenburg - Class of 2010

“The band gave me a place where I felt like I belonged. I made lifelong friends and cherish the memories I have.”

Casey McNichol - Class of 2020

“A totally great time, practicing in the snow comes to mind as well as the unique formations we created under the leadership of director E Paul Giersch”

Robert G Hurring - Class of 1954

The marching band was featured in two articles on Morristown Green, one written by Senior Flute Captain Aryaa Vyas.

Morristown Green Article - Aryaa Vyas

Morristown Green Article

Don’t miss the marching band at our two remaining home football games! October 17th and October 24th!

The Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) is celebrating its 20th year of the highly recognized Music Student of the Month (MSOM) program, which honors Morris County middle and high school students. This initiative celebrates young musicians nominated by their teachers for their excellence in music, as well as their dedication, leadership, and commitment to their entire school community. Each month, students are honored based on specific musical categories, receive recognition on stage before a chosen performance, and are given complimentary tickets to the show. All honored students have the opportunity to participate in an annual recital on the MPAC stage.

To see the outstanding students who have been nominated each month, please click here!

The MSD Summer Music Academy successfully concluded four weeks of music with two days of stunning final performances. Over 60 students and 14 instructors collaborated on a diverse showcase featuring 3 Bands, 2 Orchestras, a Jazz Ensemble, a Choir, a Guitar Ensemble, and many solo groups.

The Academy offers comprehensive instruction for grades 4–12, including specialized lessons and popular electives like music theory and music technology.

2026 Dates: Mark your calendars for next summer: June 29 – July 24 (weekday mornings).

MHS Theatre is an award-winning, collaborative program in Northern New Jersey. Over 140 students are involved in all aspects of each production through cast, pit orchestra, set construction/design, visual arts, prop design, lighting & sound design, special effects, hair & makeup, costuming, graphic design, photography, videography, and more!

Our student-led program offering a variety of opportunities for students to gain leadership experience through in each of the areas list above. Our student directing team, also known as PMT (Production Management Team) works hand-in-hand with our directors to ensure each production reaches its' fullest potential.

To learn more about MHS Theatre, click here to visit their website.

The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) recently unveiled its first seasonal window display at Shade Tree Garage. This initiative is a tribute to the strong, supportive relationship between our art program and the local business community.

We extend our sincere thanks to John O’Connor, owner of Shade Tree Garage, for his continued support of our student artists. Please take a moment to stop by the garage and enjoy the beautiful work our talented students have created.

Special recognition goes to Davnette McNamara, an NAHS leader whose dedication and organization were essential to the project's success.

We are delighted to shine a spotlight on Mrs. Polcaro's Drawing class, where students are engaging with the critical technical elements that form the basis of all visual art.

Recently, Mrs. Polcaro’s Drawing class learned about Value (the range from light to dark), shading to create Form, Asymmetric Balance and non-representational imagery.

Mrs. Escobedo’s and Mrs. Rodrigues’s General Art 7 class created neon skeleton drawings on black paper using neon paint markers. They focused on expressive line-making to emphasize movement, form, and creativity, while accurately transferring an image using grid techniques.

Mrs. Belzel’s and Mrs. Escobedo’s General Art 6 class designed their own Alebrije-inspired drawing by combining imaginative animal forms with bright colors and detailed patterns, demonstrating creativity, cultural awareness, and skillful use of color and design elements.

Alexander Hamilton and Hillcrest are both participating in an Art To Remember Fundraiser. Students are super excited to make a special picture that can be used to decorate various objects of their choice. Artists are excitedly discussing the unique things that they would love to see their picture displayed on! Kindergarten students are drawing a self-portrait of just their face while the first graders are doing an entire body self-portrait. Second graders are drawing their entire family portrait. Third graders are having a ton of fun creating optical illusions, 4th graders are designing city skyline silhouettes and 5th graders are creating a monochromatic painting with tints and shades. All the pictures are coming out awesome.

Students make art work at home and share it with us for a month to highlight some of their special talents and to encourage students to be creative outside of the art room.

Normandy is kicking off the year of “Leveling Up” with some fun in the Art room! The whole school participates in the annual "Portrait Quilt”. Each student and teacher submits a self portrait to be added to the whole school “quilt” that hangs in the hallway. Parents are encouraged to find their students among the patches. The students enjoy finding friends and teachers each time they pass by in the hallway.

Also students of NPS add their handprint to the building each year. In the spring they can check in and see if they have grown by finding their hand from the start of the year. Kicking off the year as a whole community has become a tradition at NPS. It is always fun to check out our growth throughout the year!

Morristown High School is one of the few high schools where students lead both a

TV and Radio Station developing their broadcasting and production skills. Check out their work

here!

MHS Broadcasting started off the year with a live radio “Welcome Back to School” broadcast on

WJSV Radio. Our Senior Program Directors arrived at school at 6:15 am to set up so that they

could play music and interview students as they arrived for the first day of school. Our Colonial

Corner video team was also on hand to get interviews and shots of students arriving. Their

video will be part of the first episode of Colonial Corner that will be posted to our YouTube

channel soon.

The Broadcasting team was also on hand at the SGO Club Carnival letting all of our students

know about the many activities that are available through the Clubs offered at MHS and to

promote our own broadcasting clubs WJSV and Colonial Corner.

The Maroon & White Music Boosters (MWMB) is a 501(c)(3) exempt organization that supports the music programs and all music students at Morristown High School.

The goal of the Maroon & White Music Boosters is to enhance MHS music experiences in the classroom and beyond, while focusing on 3 key areas, SUPPORT MHS Music activities through Parent Involvement, FUNDRAISING (click here to learn more about Fundraising and support), and COMMUNICATION (click here to contact).

Some of the ways the Maroon & White Music Boosters supports our MHS Music Programs include helping with Instrument Repairs and Purchases, paying for Master Classes, offsetting costs for Music Trips, giving Scholarships, helping those music students with Financial Need, Volunteering to serve dinners during Marching Band Camp, and creating opportunities for music students to obtain volunteer/service hours.

To learn more, please visit their website by clicking here.

The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) works year-long in collaboration with the Morris School District community to bring resources to all students and all schools. Together, we help everyone Imagine the Possibilities - and make it a reality.

This includes funding for annual Cultural Arts programming, classroom grants as well as literacy programs and resources to name a few. We rely on our donors to make this all possible and during this season of giving, we ask for you to consider a gift at bit.ly/MEFgift to help us continue our impact for the ‘23-24 school year.

Click here to learn more about the MEF's impact. The Morris School District is an amazing place, and the MEF is proud to be its partner for over 30 years. We hope you will join us this school year to Imagine the Possibilities!

The Morris Museum creates opportunities for lifelong learning, discovery, and creativity, driven by the contemporary interpretation of its Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata as well as its general collections.

To learn more about the Morris Museum and what it offers, visit their website by clicking here.