The Communication Arts Academy (CAA) is a college preparatory school with a focus on the visual and communicative arts. Students may find a focus in Fine Arts, Graphic Arts, Film, and Journalism. Although the classes are geared toward the creative student, academics are a priority. CAA is a Partnership Academy with special funding to provide exposure to colleges and the world of work through field trips (at least 1 per semester for each grade level) and work experience.
CAA inspires students not only to value arts education but also to consider how to effectively communicate through oral, written, visual, artistic, and electronic means. The courses are designed to encourage students to enhance and develop their capacities for critical appraisal, reflection, and expression, and to expand their participation in the communication-driven social and civic life of the twenty-first century. Students are well prepared to enter an ever-changing world.
The teachers, administrators, staff, and parents of Hamilton High School believe in the dignity and worth of all students. We are committed to creating and maintaining small learning communities in order to maximize the achievement of our diverse student population.
Director's Statement
My name is Jaime Ledezma and I am the CAA academy director. I am committed to create the best possible learning environment for all of our students. By establishing positive relations with teachers, counselor, families, students and community CAA will be able to create an environment that promotes integrity, rigor, discovery and respect. The academy is a welcoming place where students experience the joy of learning through engaging opportunities that will prepare them to achieve their personal best. To my CAA family let’s continue to explore unity, the arts and powerful self-expression as a dynamic community in our complex world
CAA Enrichment
Brandon received a scholarship from LMU to attend their Summer Graphic Design for Publication program. He was able to gain exposure to the college experience, as well as continue his love of image-making. He created assets for a magazine which could also be used in his portfolio. He developed conceptual and problem-solving skills and used them to create graphic form for digital Zine (e-magazine). The course covered the principles of design, word and image exercises, typographic hierarchy, generating powerful ideas, digital collages, and designing an interactive PDF.
Click on image above to view video
CAA Current Events
On Thursday November 10, CAA student had the privilege to go on a field to LACMA and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures where they got to see art works from different mediums inspiring them to think creatively and take what they learned back to the classroom to create their own art.
CAA Life
Intro Graphic Design Class: Along with our industry partner Hook the students designed a sticker that is a representation of themselves. It had to convey some aspects of who they are, which may have included their passions, hobbies, family background, or personal story (see attached sticker jpeg)
Capstone Class: With our industry partner Hook, the students created band posters https://heyzine.com/flip-book/c5ecc8a49a.html to promote a fictitious concert at the Forum. This project culminated with 26 students receiving a certification for successfully completing the Sandbox Creative Mentorship Graphic Design Project. This student delivered the required graphic band poster for their final project, demonstrating their knowledge and skills in brainstorming, researching, typography, illustration, and layering techniques, among others design fundamentals covered during this mentorship program: https://byhook.com/activity/sandbox-x-hamilton-high-school
Hamilton's Communication Arts Academy was mention in AgencySpy's news article "The Rising Marketer’s Guide to Hook’s Sandbox U Virtual Mentorship Program". This article highlights Hook’s ongoing partnership with Leila Lujan's Capstone Class which provides CAA students with one-on-one mentorship helping them compile a portfolio and navigate future hiring process. Click the link below to read more!
