Curriculum

2020 HSC Facts and Figures

With the HSC written examinations entering their second week, interested parents may want to learn some facts and figures about this year’s HSC from NESA at:

http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/about-HSC/HSC-facts-figures

This website is intended to provide public information about the 2020 HSC. Previous years are also included.

It is an excellent resource for informed parents. Some statistical data on this year’s HSC candidatures are provided by subject, gender and patterns of enrolment among other interesting facts.

Michael Cutrupi

Director of Curriculum

Painting Breen Oval With Light

On an early evening in late August, prior to daylight saving, the Visual Arts Faculty held an enrichment activity for elective and senior students studying Photographic and Digital Media and Visual Arts. The photographic workshop was a painting with light lesson taught by contemporary artist Peter Solness. The workshop was designed to extend students’ previously acquired knowledge of DSLR camera techniques, such as shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.

Beginning the evening, students listened to a detailed lecture in which Peter outlined his photographic practice and shared anecdotes from specific location shots, often situated in challenging rural spaces, caverns and waterways. Using a range of still life objects, torches, and light sticks, students began exploring the effects that quick light movements paired with a slow shutter speed have on a single still image. This progressed into light selfies and posed portraits, often with magical and ethereal outcomes.

To conclude the evening, students participated in a group light installation. A selection of students was given a small torch, instruction on how to create a light orb and asked to scatter across Breen Oval. A smaller group then ran around the orbs splashing and dragging light over the revered blades of grass. This provided a luminous and almost chaotic light display ready to be captured by a paparazzi line of cameras.

Post workshop time was provided for students to digitally edit their images. The Visual Arts Faculty then selected one light installation image to be professionally printed and framed. Senior Visual Arts student, Sebastian Cevenini (Year 11) captured the dynamic and beautifully composed shot, which he recently presented to Mr Chase to display publicly in the Principal’s office.

Accompanying images include, Flower Still Life by Zachary Sullivan (Year 10), Skull Still Life by Dorjan Perri (Year 10), Light Installation shot by Michael Chrystie (Year 10), Self-Portrait shot by Dominic La Greca (Year 9). 

Nick Phillipson

Visual Arts Faculty Leader