News from the Arts
January 2025 • Princeton Public Schools
Welcome to News from the Arts
Arts Department Philosophy
Active participation in an arts program is a critical component in every child’s education. Arts programs enrich students’ lives and provide a vehicle for them to communicate and express human emotion and ideas. In addition, the study of the arts prepares students to be successful in a twenty-first century world that demands innovative thinking and creativity in an increasingly competitive global society. We believe that all students are capable of growth in the arts and that there are skills and concepts inherent in the arts that cannot be taught in other disciplines. Participation in an arts program allows students to make connections across content areas and cultural boundaries. The arts enable personal, intellectual, social, economic, and human growth by fostering creativity and providing opportunities for expression beyond the limits of language.
We support this mission through our instruction aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and to the National Core Arts Standards. We are a nationally-recognized program, and Princeton High School has been designated a New Jersey Model School in the Arts. Our distinguished faculty members provide sequential instruction in each arts discipline, challenging each student to reach his or her potential.
Referendum on January 28, 2025
Tuesday, January 28 is a big day for the arts! It is the day that the 2025 Facilities Bond Referendum will be voted on by members of the community. Improvements to better support arts programming have been included in each of the three ballot questions.
In question 1, the Community Park expansion will include a new, larger music room and a new multipurpose room with a stage for performances. In question 2, the Princeton Middle School expansion will expand the vocal music and band rooms. At the high school, the Numina Gallery will be updated and modernized. And in question 3, the Littlebrook expansion will provide the building with a new, larger music room.
For more information, please visit our referendum website.
Princeton Public Schools recognizes the value of the arts and the critical role they play in every student's education. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, January 28!
PMS Winter Art Exhibition
Thursday, January 9, 2025
6:00 PM
PMS Main Commons
The "Winter Exhibition" is brought to you by Princeton Middle School's Visual Art department. The works highlighted in this show have been thoughtfully created by sixth, seventh, and eighth graders who have been working in the 2-D or 3-D Visual Art courses during this fall semester. We are excited for the opportunity to publicly showcase this artwork for families, friends, and the school community. Light refreshments will be served.
PMS Winter Art Exhibition
Thursday, January 9, 2025
6:00 PM
PMS Main Commons
The "Winter Exhibition" is brought to you by Princeton Middle School's Visual Art department. The works highlighted in this show have been thoughtfully created by sixth, seventh, and eighth graders who have been working in the 2-D or 3-D Visual Art courses during this fall semester. We are excited for the opportunity to publicly showcase this artwork for families, friends, and the school community. Light refreshments will be served.
PHS Studio II/III/IV Art Exhibition
***NEW DATE AND TIME***
Thursday, January 23, 2025
5:00-7:00 PM
Numina Gallery
151 Moore Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
This exhibition features recent work from PHS students in our six upper-level studio classes: 2DII, 3DII, Art of Craft, 2DIII, 3DIII, and Studio Art IV. All artwork will be on view through February 13, 2025.
PHS Winter Big Band Dance
Friday, January 31, 2025
7:00-10:00 PM
PHS Cafeteria
Please attend our Big Band Dance featuring the PHS Studio Band and Jazz Ensemble playing music from the 1940s to the current day. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students; tickets are available at the door. If the cost of admission would present a financial challenge for your family, please contact us.
JP 5th Grade Winter Chorus Concert
Thursday, February 6, 2025
6:30 PM
Johnson Park School Gymnasium
Please join us on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the JP gym for an evening of world music. You won’t want to miss this special event! All 5th grade students are expected to attend and perform. All JP community members are welcome to attend! We hope to see you there!
District Collaborative Art Show
Princeton High School’s Numina Gallery will host a district-wide collaborative exhibition by students from all six of the Princeton Public Schools. The opening night of the show is Friday, February 21, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM; all are invited to attend. The show will include hundreds of pieces from the four elementary schools, Princeton Middle School, and Princeton High School. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. The exhibition will also be open to the public by appointment through March 14.
February 21, 2025
6:00-8:00 PM
Numina Gallery at Princeton High School
Please enter through the PAC Lobby.
Princeton Middle School Proudly Presents: Matilda, Jr.
Rebellion is right in Matilda, Jr., a gleefully witty ode to the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.
Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence...and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts and could be the school pupils' saving grace!
Thursday, March 6, 2025, 7:30 PM
Friday, March 7, 2025, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 8, 2025, 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 1:00 PM
Princeton Middle School Auditorium
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on February 1, 2025. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance through our Ludus ticket website. The link, address, and QR code are also located on the poster.
Tickets can also be purchased by cash or by check at the door and can be made out to "PMS Student Activity". If the cost of admission will present a financial hardship to families, please contact VPA Supervisor Patrick Lenihan at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org . We’re looking forward to you joining us in celebrating the success of our amazingly talented middle schoolers!
PHS Spectacle Theatre Presents Groundhog Day the Musical!
Critically acclaimed on both the West End and Broadway, Groundhog Day revels in one man's journey of self-discovery, day after day. Inspired by the hilarious film starring Bill Murray, Groundhog Day features a book by original co-screenwriter Danny Rubin, and music and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Tim Minchin (Matilda the Musical).
How would you spend your time if forced to repeat the same day over and over again? Phil Connors, a seasoned big-city weatherman, is frustrated to be to reporting the annual Groundhog Day Ceremony in small town Punxsutawney, PA. His arrogance and cynicism are in direct opposition to the cheery townsfolk, who are ready for their favorite Groundhog to not see his shadow and welcome an early spring. After disdainfully covering the rodent's negative forecast, he awakens the next day only to discover it's February 2 once more. Initially in disbelief, Phil finally accepts he is doomed to repeat the same day over and over again... Will Phil accept that he is doomed to repeat the same day over and over again? Or will he find the courage to change himself and his fate?” (MTI).
Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Friday, March 14, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM
Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Princeton High School Performing Arts Center
Tickets are available at our Ludus ticket website. Tickets: $15 Adults, $10 Students/Seniors. All tickets are General Admission Seating. Doors will open 30 minutes before curtain time. If the cost of admission would present a financial hardship for your family, please contact us at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org.
National Jazz Festival on March 22, 2025
Studio Band, Jazz Ensemble, Studio Vocals, Jazz Combo, and multiple PHS soloists will compete against schools from across the nation in the sixth annual National Jazz Festival. The event is open to the public and will be held live at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Details are posted on the NJF website.
Contact Us
Princeton Public Schools
Email: patricklenihan@princetonk12.org
Website: www.princetonk12.org/TheArts
Location: 217 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ, USA
Phone: 609-806-4315