General Announcements

Rock Of Ages Rocks Our School

Our recent production of Rock of Ages was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing the incredible talent, dedication, and creativity of our students and staff. From powerhouse vocals to dazzling choreography, electric band performances, and jaw-dropping set design, every aspect of the show brought the audience to their feet.

The production has not only been a highlight within our school community but has also captured the attention of our wider region. We were thrilled to receive numerous shout-outs from our local Members of Parliament, recognising the hard work and talent behind the performance. In fact, Rock of Ages is set to be acknowledged with a Community Recognition Statement in Parliament, an honour that reflects just how significant this achievement is for our school.

Congratulations to the entire cast, crew, band, and production team for creating a show that will be remembered for years to come. You truly proved that, at our school, the stage is where dreams come alive — and rock anthems reign supreme!

Rock Band Competition – Join Bandwidth!

Are you part of or want to be part of a band that plays rock, folk, blues, metal, or any other style of contemporary music?

Then we want to hear from you! This term, we’re inviting students to form a band and audition for Bandwidth – an exciting band competition hosted by HSPA.

What’s in it for you?

Perform original songs or covers with up to 20 minutes of stage time.Play in a professional setting in front of a live audience.Get feedback from industry professionals to help take your music to the next level.

Whether you are seasoned performers or just starting out, this is your chance to shine.

Interested?

Head to the CAPA staffroom to register your band and show us what you've got!

A Huge Thank You to Our Prop Makers!

This year’s musical simply could not have gone on without the incredible skill, dedication, and creativity of our prop makers. Your commitment — giving up countless lunchtimes over an entire term — is truly applaudable.

A special shout-out goes to our amazing Year 9 Visual Arts class, who played a huge role in bringing the stage to life with their fantastic creations, including the bar backdrop, the car, and vital set pieces such as the bush.

Your hard work turned ideas into magic, and we’re so grateful for the passion and teamwork you poured into every detail. Bravo, prop crew!

A Fresh Canvas: Art Club Begins

We are excited to launch our new Art Club, open to all students who want a fun and creative space beyond the classroom. Whether you enjoy drawing, painting, digital design, or simply experimenting with new materials, the Art Club is the perfect place to build skills, share ideas, and explore your creativity.

The club runs weekly and welcomes everyone—no experience needed, just enthusiasm and a love of art!

State Drama Camp and Festival

Spotlight on Our Drama Stars! A huge round of applause to Thomas Meale and Lukas Johnson for their incredible achievement in being selected to attend State Drama Camp! Over the course of the camp, both students took their theatrical skills to the next level and have come away inspired and ready for even more.

An extra congratulations goes to Lukas, who has been chosen to perform in the State Drama Festival in Sydney, representing FGHS on the big stage! We can’t wait to see both of these talented performers shine even brighter in the year ahead.

Drama Ensemble Takes the Stage

The Drama Ensemble is officially up and running this term, bringing together talented and enthusiastic students from Years 7 to 12. Meeting each Tuesday, the group explores the magic of performance through improvisation, ensemble work, and playbuilding. This exciting opportunity allows students to build their confidence, creativity, and teamwork while developing performance pieces. Throughout the year, the ensemble will showcase their work both within the school and to the wider community.

If you are interested in joining this dynamic new opportunity, please see our Drama staff for more information.

Art Exhibition

As part of the recent PBL Assembly and Education Week Awards, our school proudly showcased a vibrant exhibition of student artworks. The display featured an inspiring range of works from different year groups, including Year 9 Photography pieces, Year 9 Visual Arts sculptures and lino prints, as well as Year 7 Optical Illusion cubes, Portraits, and lino prints.

This exhibition celebrated the creativity, effort, and skill of our students, while giving the school community an opportunity to experience the diverse and imaginative ways our young artists express themselves.

Beresfield Primary Showcase Night

On Monday 14th August, FGHS had the privilege of hosting Beresfield Primary’s biennial Showcase Night—and what a night it was! Our talented Drama and Music students took to the stage to share their skills, wowing the audience with a mix of laughter, music, and unforgettable performances.

Year 10 and Year 12 students brought the house down with their comedy skit about ghost hunters, performed by Lukas Johnson, Thomas Meale, Jim Avery, Pyper Willcocks, Layla-Rose Mcall, and Lochlan Chapman. Adding a touch of musical magic, Codey Whiting (Year 12) serenaded the crowd with a stunning piano rendition of Maneater.

Behind the scenes, our tech whizzes kept the show running smoothly—Lachlan Jenkins (Year 10) on lighting and Rose Palmblad (Year 9) on sound.

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to perform in front of a live audience, and they represented FGHS with creativity, skill, and plenty of stage presence.

FGHS Students Shine in the Hunter Arts Collection!

A huge congratulations to a selection of our talented young artmakers from Years 7, 9, and 10, whose works have been chosen for display in the prestigious Hunter Arts Collection.

Year 7 wowed audiences with their vibrant Keith Haring–inspired paintings, bursting with colour, rhythm, and movement, and carrying meaningful undertones of connectedness and humanity. Year 9 impressed with striking ceramic masks in bold Cubist style, each piece telling a personal story through signs and symbols that reflect aspects of the artists’ identities. Meanwhile, Year 10 showcased thought-provoking surrealist mixed media works, drawing inspiration from the imaginative practice of Australian surrealist artist James Gleeson.

We are incredibly proud of these students for sharing their creativity, skill, and unique voices with the wider community. Bravo to our young artists — the future of the art world is in very good hands!

Year 7 artists: Amalia King, Laila Davison, Mikayla Jones, Phoebe Patterson, Bella Woodhouse and Tearo Te Rangi.

Year 9 artists: Georgia Mildren, Danikah Dollin, Halle McIntyre, Isobel Murphy, Lara Trigg and Mia Dodds.

Year 10 artists: Dhivyaa Letchumanan, Amelia Burnes, Gwynieve Ireland and Abbie Leonard

Drama

Making Theatre That Packs a Punch in Year 10 Drama

In Term 2, our Year 10 Drama students stepped back in time to explore the fascinating world of Ancient Greek Theatre, discovering how those early performances shaped the theatre we know and love today. This term, the class is diving into Political and Protest Theatre, with a special focus on the groundbreaking work of Bertolt Brecht.

Through Brecht’s Epic Theatre, students are learning how drama can challenge audiences to think critically about society, rather than just sit back and be entertained. They’ve been experimenting with the famous Verfremdungseffekt (or “alienation effect”), a powerful tool Brecht used to make sure audiences walked away questioning the world around them.

Not sure what Verfremdungseffekt means? Just ask one of our Year 10 Drama students—they’d love to show you how they’re using it to make theatre that really packs a punch!

Creating Characters, Challenging Audiences in Year 11 Drama

This term, students have been exploring different theatre practitioners and delving into the contexts and dramatic philosophies of Konstantin Stanislavski and Antonin Artaud!

Through studying Stanislavski and his desire for naturalistic performances, they have been drawing upon their own experiences to explore emotional memory and have applied these to a range of situations present in the unconventional play, Love and Information, by Caryl Churchill. Students have explored the objectives and super objectives of their characters, the given circumstances, and the magic if. They have created some incredibly three dimensional characters based on their hard work and their participation in hot-seating exercises!

To look at the complete other end of the spectrum, students will be exploring Artaud and his aim to shock and confront theatregoers out of their passivity with his use of symbolism, ritual, and primal energy!

Ms Loftberg will be running masterclasses with the students to support them in exploring some of Artaud’s infamous theatre techniques. For their yearly examination, students will perform chosen excerpts from Love and Information using one (or both!) of the theatrical styles studied this term. They will reflect on this learning and the effect on audiences in their critical analysis essay. Great work year 11!

All the World’s a Stage for Year 12 Drama

Our Year 12 Drama students are in their final term of study, diving deep and revising Contemporary Australian Theatre and Significant Plays of the 20th Century. With their HSC practical exams fast approaching on the 1st and 2nd of September, the Drama room has been buzzing with energy—students have been rehearsing every spare moment, fine-tuning and polishing their performances to perfection.

We are so proud of their dedication and creativity, and we wish them the very best of luck as they take the stage for their practical exams, and again in October when they tackle their written papers. Break a leg, Year 12!

Music

Exploring the Purpose of Popular Song Lyrics in Year 8 Music

This term, Year 8 Music students are delving into a wide range of popular song lyrics, examining their purpose and societal impact. Through listening, discussion, and reflection, students will explore how music plays a vital role in shaping and reflecting the world around us.

They will analyse how songs can serve various functions, including:

Artistic expression
Emotional communication
Cultural identity
Entertainment
Education
Ritual and ceremony
Protest and social commentary

Assessment Task

As part of their learning, students will:

Select and perform a piece of music that has played a significant role in shaping the world or expressing important societal themes.
Analyse the structure and performing media of the chosen piece, developing their ability to aurally identify and comment on these musical elements.

This unit encourages students to think critically about the power of music and its ability to influence emotions, communities, and change.

Year 8 students have been working hard in their practical music lessons, rehearsing songs together and building their performance skills. A big focus has been on persistence and teamwork, as they challenge themselves to work through tricky sections of their pieces. By supporting each other and problem-solving as a group, students are developing not only their musical ability but also valuable collaboration skills.

Finding Their Voice in Year 9 Music

This term, our Year 9 students are diving deeper into music theory and performance, with a unique focus on whole-class singing — something not often seen at this stage. Together, they have been working on vocal warmups, runs, and intervals, while learning how to shape vowels for clearer sound and blend.

This collaborative singing has boosted their confidence, sharpened their pitch accuracy, and strengthened their ensemble skills. At the same time, students are exploring harmonies, chords, and scales, using these to compose short melodic ideas. Their learning will culminate in a final assessment, where they present a polished composition that showcases both their creativity and technical growth.

Stepping Into the Spotlight in Year 10 Music

This term, our Year 10 students are hard at work preparing for their upcoming performance assessments, focusing on the skills needed to deliver confident, well-rounded performances. Each student has selected a more challenging repertoire to extend their abilities, with some choosing to rehearse and perform in groups while others are working independently.

Many have already embraced opportunities to perform in front of their peers and small audiences, strengthening their stage presence and gaining valuable experience in sharing their music with others. These ongoing performances are not only building confidence but also shaping them into more expressive and capable musical.

Perform, Listen, Shine in Year 11 Music

Our Year 11 Music students are approaching an important milestone as they complete their final assessments for the course in Weeks 9 and 10. This assessment has two components:

Performance – where students present a prepared piece, demonstrating their technical skills, musicality, and stage presence.
Aural Examination – testing their listening skills, theoretical knowledge, and ability to apply musical concepts.

Students are encouraged to maintain consistent practice and preparation so they can confidently showcase their talent and understanding across both areas.

All the World’s a Symphony for Year 12 Music

The Year 12 HSC Music Practical Examination is just around the corner, taking place on Tuesday, 16th September. Our dedicated students are hard at work, refining and perfecting their performance pieces as they prepare for this important milestone in their HSC journey.

We wish all our performers the very best and can’t wait to see their talent, skill, and hard work shine on exam day!

Photography

Tiny Worlds, Big Ideas in Year 9 Photography

This term, our Year 9 students are halfway through an exciting photography program exploring the art of the miniature. Inspired by professional photographers who specialise in tiny worlds, students are bringing their own creative visions to life. Using toy soldiers, trucks, and LEGO pieces, they are constructing imaginative scenes that showcase a strong eye for detail and storytelling.

Alongside their practical camera work, students are also refreshing their Photoshop skills through a digital activity that cleverly “shrinks” human figures to fit into miniature landscapes. This unit has provided a unique opportunity to combine hands-on photography with digital editing, and the results so far have been both innovative and playful.

#ComboPhotos in the Making in Year 10 Photography

This term, Year 10 Photography students are building their Photoshop skills while exploring the exciting possibilities of digital art. They have been looking closely at the work of artists Gabriel Orozco, Stephen McMennamy, and Barbara Kruger, examining how each uses photography and digital media in unique and thought-provoking ways.

This week, students have been challenged to create their own #ComboPhotos—imaginative digital artworks that combine two images into a single, surprising composition. Through this unit, students are not only refining their technical editing skills but also developing their ability to communicate ideas visually in creative and innovative ways.

Framing the Future in Year 11 Photography

This term, our Year 11 Photography students are showcasing their practical skills through the creation of a series of photographic works that explore contemporary ideas and techniques. Their projects span the three traditional genres of portrait, still life, and landscape, providing opportunities to experiment with different approaches to image-making.

Alongside their practical focus, students are also strengthening their theoretical understanding by completing three artist studies and by analysing, reflecting on, and evaluating their own work. This balance of creative practice and critical reflection is helping students build strong foundations for their senior photography journey.

Future in Focus in Year 12 Photography

Our Year 12 Photography students are now immersed in their Individual Project, consolidating the knowledge and skills gained throughout the HSC course. Each student is researching, conceptualising, creating, and curating their own body of photographic work, with submissions ranging from still photography to video or a blend of both.

As part of this process, students have submitted a project proposal and presented it as a milestone checkpoint. They are also undertaking independent research to develop new technical skills and are gaining inspiration by analysing photographers’ practice through the Conceptual Framework.

This unit encourages independence, creativity, and critical thinking as students prepare to showcase their final body of work in the HSC.

Visual Arts

Portraits and Identity in Year 7 Visual Arts

This term, our Year 7 Visual Arts students are embarking on an exciting journey into the world of portraiture this term. They are studying artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Frida Kahlo, gaining inspiration from their unique approaches to self-expression. Through this study, students are learning how artists use iconography, visual symbolism, and colour to communicate meaning.

Building on these ideas, students are creating their own artworks that explore personality, identity, and personal interests. By experimenting with silhouettes, symbols, and colour choices, they are beginning to tell their own stories visually, developing both their technical skills and their ability to express themselves through art.

Mix it Up – Street Art Meets Photography in Year 8 Visual Art

This term, Year 8 Street Art and Photography students have been busy exploring the dynamic world of street art and photography, combining both forms to create striking mixed media artworks that reflect their personal worlds.

The journey began with an investigation into the cyanotype photography technique — using the power of the sun to expose photographic portraits of themselves onto artist-quality paper. From there, students turned to the bold language of street art, painstakingly learning how to cut clean and effective stencils, designing their own unique imagery, and experimenting with aerosol spray techniques to achieve a successful sprayed stencil.

To bring it all together, students layered in their drawing skills, combining each method to produce a final artwork rich in texture, technique, and meaning. The results were as diverse as the artists themselves, showcasing creativity, patience, and an adventurous approach to artmaking. Well done year 8 - you displayed great commitment and artistic talent!

Portraits with Depth and Meaning in Year 9 Visual Arts

This term, Year 9 Visual Arts students are refining and deepening their skills in the art elements of Value and Form, creating thoughtful portraits of significant human beings. As part of their studies, students have been exploring the Archibald Prize and the genre of portraiture, examining how it has evolved over time.

From its historical roots, where portraits often served to represent the wealthy and immortalise them in time, the genre has transformed into a powerful art form that conveys far more than a sitter’s physical appearance. Today, portraiture can capture personality, emotion, context, and even social commentary.

Through careful observation and skillful use of shading, tone, and structure, Year 9 are producing artworks that not only resemble their subjects but also reveal something deeper about who they are.

Year 10 Visual Arts – Public Art in Action

This term, Year 10 Visual Arts students have been diving into the world of public and installation art. Inspired by artists Shepard Fairey, Jean René, and Andy Goldsworthy, students have been learning how art can be used to communicate ideas, spark conversations, and transform public spaces.

They began by designing their own homemade stickers, focusing on political and environmental issues that mattered to them, before moving on to create striking acrylic paste-up artworks, which were installed around the school. Many of you may have already spotted these powerful and thought-provoking works brightening our walls and walkways.

Building on this exploration of public art, students have now turned their attention to land art, taking inspiration from Andy Goldsworthy’s incredible works created in and with nature. Armed with natural materials such as leaves, sticks, rocks, and flowers, students have been experimenting with ephemeral artworks in outdoor spaces around the school. This hands-on practice has encouraged them to think about the relationship between art and the environment, while also appreciating the temporary and ever-changing nature of these creations. Year 10 have truly brought creativity to life in both our built and natural environments this term.

The Final Brushstrokes in Year 12 Visual Arts

For our Year 12 Visual Arts students, the end of their artmaking journey is in sight. Their Body of Work is due for lock-up in Week 7, marking the completion of their practical HSC examination and the culmination of months, even years, of creative effort, experimentation, and refinement.

This is an extremely busy and intense time, as students balance the final touches on their artworks with preparation for their HSC Trials in Week 6. Despite the pressure, their dedication, resilience, and passion for their art have shone through every step of the way.

We wish our Year 12s the very best of luck in this final chapter of their schooling careers. May your hard work be rewarded, your creativity celebrated, and your futures as bright as the talent you’ve shown.

Samantha McGaw

Photography and Visual Arts Teacher

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