St. Johns Fine Arts Programs
St. Johns has a long history of excellence in the arts. Boasting programs that mentor hundreds of students from grades K-12. St. Johns is committed to supporting art opportunities for students throughout our district.
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21 Apr
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SJMS Spring Musical Performance 7:00 PM to 9:00 PMSJMS Spring Musical PerformanceDate: Apr 21Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PMCalendar: Fine Arts
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22 Apr
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SJMS Spring Musical Performance 2:00 PM to 4:00 PMSJMS Spring Musical PerformanceDate: Apr 22Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PMCalendar: Fine Arts
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SJMS Spring Musical Performance 7:00 PM to 9:00 PMSJMS Spring Musical PerformanceDate: Apr 22Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PMCalendar: Fine Arts
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23 Apr
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SJMS Spring Musical Performance 2:00 PM to 4:00 PMSJMS Spring Musical PerformanceDate: Apr 23Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PMCalendar: Fine Arts
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28 Aprthru Apr 29
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MIFA Forensics State FinalsDate: Apr 28 - Apr 29Calendar: Fine Arts
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Full Fine Arts Calendar
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SJPS Bands receive straight "1s" at MSBOA Band and Orchestra Festival.

St. Johns High School hosted the 2023 MSBOA Band Festival this year. Our Symphonic and Concert Bands both received 1s from all three judges and a one in sight reading, with an overall 1 rating for their performances. Our 9th grade band and 8th grade bands received the same honor, scoring all 1s with an overall rating of a 1 for both bands. Our band students put on impressive performances under the direction of Mr. Roy Davis.
St. Johns High School Marching Band
Redwing Marching Band Receives Highest Rating for 37th Year in a Row
On October 10, 2022, the St Johns Redwing Marching Band hosted the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), District V Marching Band Festival on the St Johns High School football field. Thirteen bands competed for a rating in front of judges, including Fulton, Fowler, Ovid-Elsie, Ithaca, Beal City, Pewamo-Westphalia, Carson City, Perry, Bullock Creek, Alma, Laingsburg, St Johns, and Owosso.
The St Johns Redwing Marching Band received the highest rating from all three judges, with an overall rating of a one. This is the 37th year in a row that St Johns has received a one rating.
Band director Roy Davis has led the band for 19 of those years.
“The band's success rests in the awesome band students and a supportive community,” Davis said.
St. Johns Public Schools is known for its outstanding band program. Students have the opportunity to start playing an instrument in in fifth grade and continue through twelfth grade. Many of our students leave the program and continue to play at colleges throughout Michigan.
At St. Johns Public School, we have the following programs:
- 6th Grade, 7th Grade & 8th Grade Band
- Freshman Band
- Concert and Symphonic Level Bands
- Marching, Pep, and Jazz Bands
We participate in:
- the MSBOA Marching Band Festival and Concert band festival.
- the St. Johns Mint festival Parade, Veterans Day Parade, Santa Parade, and Memorial day parade.
- the Lansing Silver Bells Parade
- America's Thanksgiving Day Parade every other year in Detroit.
We host:
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The Marching Band Festival, Concert Band Festival, and Solo and Ensemble.
Directors:
Grades 8-12
Roy Davis
Grades 6-7
Mike Scholes
2023 Theater Adventure
SJMS SPRING MUSICAL COMING APRIL 2023!
Students who participate in our programs learn...
The ability to problem-solve.
The ability to work well with others.
The ability to meet deadlines.
The ability to adapt to change.
The ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
The ability to think on their feet.
The ability, and the willingness, to make decisions, and to accept responsibility for those decisions.
The ability to build a strong work ethic.
The ability to develop strong organizational skills.
Finally, the gift of creativity!
Theatre - SJHS Fall Musical
St. Johns High School Fall Musical
The St. Johns High School Theatre Department was proud to present Roald Dahl's Matilda, a musical based on the 1988 children's novel by the same name. The story centers on Matilda, a precocious girl with the gift of telekinesis, who loves reading, overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school, and helps her teacher to reclaim her life.
Matilda was under the direction of Mr. Barry Palmer, Mr. Josh Heethuis, Mr. Jarod Moyer, Mrs. Dawn Flynn, Mr. Luke Smith and our incredible choreographer Ms. Madison Shutes.
Theatre - MIFA Competition (Nov-Feb)
St. Johns has competed in MIFA's theatre competition since its inception. With countless state qualifications and 10 state championships, St. Johns has a proven track record of excellence in competition. The current directors are Jackie and Nathan Charneski. St. Johns takes a 45-minute cutting and competes at the district and regional levels each year, to qualify for the state festival.
The competition production is primarily student-led. The directors will hold auditions and crew interviews in November each year. Once the cast and crew list is posted, rehearsals are held daily Monday-Friday and occasional Saturdays from December through February. Competitions take place on Saturdays from the end of January through mid-February.
For additional information about MIFA theatre events in the state of Michigan, please visit the MIFA Theatre website.
Former directors include Bob Koger, Barbara Markman, and Ashley Bowen.
Forensics (Feb - May)
The Forensics Team allows students to compete as a team representing their school, performing in individual public speaking and acting events. The forensics season typically takes place from the end of February through May. Students travel to schools around the state on various Saturdays during this time to compete in tournaments against other schools. Students have the opportunity to earn individual awards as well as school awards. The Forensics Team is able to attend these tournaments through membership in the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association (MIFA) and Michigan Speech Coaches Incorporated (MSCI).
PUBLIC SPEAKING EVENTS
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Broadcasting - Students prepare a 5-minute news broadcast with international, national, state, and local news, sports, weather, and a 1-minute editorial about a chosen article from the news copy.
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Extemporaneous - Students have 45 minutes to prepare and present a structured speech based on a current event using a file of research that they have prepared in advance.
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Impromptu - Students have 6 minutes to prepare and present a structured speech interpreting a quote and supporting their interpretation with examples.
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Informative - Students perform a 5-8 minute speech informing the audience about a topic, complete with visual aids.
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Oratory - Students perform a 7-10 minute speech that is persuasive.
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Sales - Students perform a 5-8 minute speech selling a product or service, complete with visual aids.
INTERPRETATION EVENTS
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Dramatic Interpretation - Students perform a 5-8 minute cutting from a play or film script.
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Prose - Students perform a 5-8 minute cutting from a short story or novel.
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Duo - Two students perform a 7-10 minute cutting from a play, film script, or novel.
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Multiple - Three to eight students perform a 10-15 minute cutting from a play, film script, or novel.
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Poetry - Students perform a 5-8 minute poem or collection of poems centered around a common theme.
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Storytelling - Students perform a 5-8 minute cutting from children's literature, folk tales, or mythology.
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For additional information about MIFA forensics, please visit the
(Forensics) page.
Forensics Coach
Mrs. Jaclyn Charneski
Orchestra
St. Johns Public Schools features a terrific orchestra program lead by Mrs. Jen Parker. Students have the opportunity to start playing an instrument in in fifth grade and continue through twelfth grade.
At St. Johns Public School, we have the following orchestra programs:
- 6th Grade, 7th Grade, & 8th Grade Orchestra
- 9-12 Concert Orchestra
- 9-12 Symphonic Orchestra
- Pit Crew for Theater
We participate in:
- September 16 - SJHS Homecoming Parade
- October 27- High School Orchestra Fall Concert, 7:00pm, High School Auditorium
- December 15 - High School Orchestra Winter Concert, 7:00pm, High School Auditorium
- February 11- High School District Solo & Ensemble, Times TBA, Bay City Western HS
- February 27 - Orchestra Pre-Festival Concert, 7:00pm, High School Auditorium
- March 3 or 4- Band & Orchestra Festival, St. Johns High School.
- May 23- High School Orchestra Spring Concert, 7:00pm, High School Auditorium
Grades 6-12 Director:
Jennifer Parker
Choir
Students at St. Johns Public Schools have the opportunity to singing beginning in elementary music programs. They then can continue all the way through High School. Many of our students perform in musicals as well.
At St. Johns Public School, we have the following programs:
- 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade Choir
- 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade & 12th Grade Choir
We participate in:
- musical theatre productions at the Middle School and High School level.
Grades 6-12 Director:
Jarod Moyer
SJHS Student receives Honorable Mention at MSUFCU Student Art Show.
Sam LeFler, an art student at SJHS, won an honorable mention at this year's Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) 2023 Student Art Show. Sam's piece was a self portrait using a 5 color ballpoint pen. Congratulations to Sam on this beautifully executed artwork.
Elementary Art Exhibit at Briggs District Library
Over 130 artworks created by elementary artists from Oakview, Gateway, Riley, and Eureka Elementary Schools will displayed at Briggs District Library in downtown St. Johns. Artwork can be viewed during library hours from March 13, 2023 through May 4th 2023.
Student artists will be recognized at a reception to be held on April 20, 2023 from 6:30PM-8:00PM
Briggs District Library Operating Hours:
Mon -Thurs: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Elementary Visual Art and Music
St. Johns Public Schools provides comprehensive art and music education in each of it's 4 elementary schools K-5. Students have opportunities to explore, create, perform, and grow in the arts. Art and music education is taught by certified art and music education specialists who are experts in their field and are committed to giving students positive experiences in the arts at the elementary level.
Students attend art and music classes once every 4 days. Music classes include experiences in vocal and instrumental music, movement, and music history. Art classes include exploring the use of multiple art media and study of a variety of artists, styles, and time periods.