Celebration of the Arts 2025

Last Thursday evening, our school grounds were transformed into a vibrant, joyful and proudly rebellious celebration of creativity as we welcomed families to our 2025 Celebration of the Arts. It was, without doubt, one of the true highpoints of our school year and a wonderful reminder of what makes our community so special. 

From the moment families arrived, there was a real sense of excitement and anticipation in the air and the energy continued long after the final performance finished.

Things kicked off in style with our parents band, Parental Guidance, setting the tone for the night. Their enthusiasm and willingness to get up and perform helped create an atmosphere of togetherness that carried through every performance that followed. 

From there, our incredible school orchestra took to the stage and delivered a polished, uplifting set that showcased just how much talent is within our student body. It was a brilliant example of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to learn, practise, and perform together.

Throughout the evening, every single class from every year level brought something special to the stage. The dance and musical performances were creative, confident and full of personality. It was wonderful to see students celebrating the theme of Rebellion and embracing the idea of thinking differently, pushing boundaries and challenging expectations. 

The costumes on the night were spectacular too. Thank you to all of the families who leaned into the fun and dressed in truly imaginative outfits. You added colour, humour and character to the evening in the best possible way. Of course, the staff dance finale was a crowd favourite once again and a reminder that our teachers will always step up for our students.

While the performances were a highlight, the art show in the pavilion was just as impressive and once again demonstrated the richness of learning taking place across all year levels. Hundreds and hundreds of artworks were displayed, each one thoughtfully created and linked to our theme. 

Students have spent the term exploring artists who rebelled in their own way. Seeing our children take inspiration from Joan Miro, Yayoi Kusama, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring was remarkable. 

Even more inspiring was seeing how these influences were interpreted. Slate tiles rescued from our recent roof renovation took on new life as textured canvases. Students published their own zines to tell the stories of their favourite rebels. A collaborative mural emerged from the contributions of our entire community and grew across the evening, piece by piece. It was a powerful symbol of what happens when young people feel inspired and supported to create.

A night like this requires an enormous team effort and we would like to acknowledge the many people who made it possible. A huge thank you to our Arts team, Chantel Jose and Melanie Alma Gertler, for their leadership and creativity throughout the term. Their passion shines through every piece of art and every student performance. 

Thank you to all staff for their work preparing students, fostering confidence and showing pride in their effort. Thanks also to Mat Gdanitz for lighting and filming the event, helping us capture the magic of the night.

We are deeply grateful to our photographers, the talented Bec Walton and Georgia Maselli, who ensured the memories were preserved through stunning photos. 

To SKIPPA, our Parents Association, we thank you for once again turning a school event into a genuine community celebration through food and refreshments. To every parent who volunteered to frame and prepare artwork, set up the exhibition, dress the stage, serve food, or support in any way, we thank you. This event simply would not be possible without your generosity of time and spirit.

Finally, thank you to all of our families for your enthusiasm, support and warm feedback. In a time when many schools are reducing their arts programs, it is wonderful and important that we stand proudly in support of creative expression. Events like Celebration of the Arts tell the story of who we are. They showcase our values, our community connection and the power of learning through imagination. Seeing creativity celebrated so highly across our school is something we should all feel proud of.

The best part is that we are already planning our theme for 2026. If last Thursday was anything to go by, we know that next year will be just as exciting. We cannot wait to see what our students dream up next.