Creative and Performing Arts Report

This is my first year at Henry Kendall High School and, at the beginning of Term 4, was successful in gaining the permanent position as Head Teacher Creative & Performing Arts. I say this not in terms of self-promotion but to put into context this personal statement.

It is an absolute privilege to be part of the Henry Kendall High School learning community.

The students, parents and staff that I have worked alongside this year make this a special place with many wonderful events occurring in and outside the classroom.

The CAPA Team I have worked with over the year are not only talented teachers, they are talented in their areas of specialisation which makes their teaching real, purposeful and engaging. To Ms Dawn Keft, Mrs Mary Gillard, Mrs Gemma Lucca, Mrs Janelle Wilkinson, Mrs Jade Draper and Ms Angelique Papadelias; thank you for a very special year at Henry Kendall High School!

There are so many highlights to the year that it may be easier just to browse through our wonderful HKHS CAPA Facebook page, but I will highlight a number of highlights here now and why they were so special.

Music is alive and well at Henry Kendall High School and ranges in experiences from classroom practice, instrumental lessons, assembly items and performances, high profile events and combined performance concerts. Students engage in wide range of learning experiences from listening and talking about music, to workshops and creating opportunities. The following images demonstrate event including learning to play the drums, performing at OnTrack and Performing Arts Nights (PAN), Celebration Assemblies, Important Ceremonies, Competitions and Showcases. Lets’ not forget our committed group of Band Students that work hard on Monday afternoons with Esther, gathering and refining the expertise in ensemble and score reading skills;

Visual Art and Photography are the vibrant imagery of life at Henry Kendall High School and how our staff and students celebrate and explore the community and greater world they live in. From VISTAS which celebrates the excellence demonstrated by our HSC Visual Art and Photography students (with the many talents of the TAS students); to our Young Achievers, classroom artists in the making and many elective students in our Year 9 and 10 classes. Our arties explore topics from Crazy Creatures, Fantasy Landscapes, Nature Up Close, Photoshop Special Effects and Old School specialist in the Darkroom. We have engaged in the community with the ‘Exposure’ workshop and display that was projected onto the CBD of Gosford in a ‘Sydney Vivid’ style and theme. Enjoy a selection of the artistic excellence profiled throughout the year;

Drama, drama and more drama was the theme this year with our year 10, 11 and 12 students active not only in our high school, but across in the Primary School as well! With students sharing the talents of two teachers this year, diversity was all the rage with many learning experiences ranging from Circus Acrobatics, Stage and Costume design, workshops with Gosford High School students, excursions to high profile performances such as ‘COSI’ and workshopping our Gosford Primary students through circus feats of wonder and entertainment. Enjoy the many images of brilliance coming out of the Drama studio;

Getting to know and work with the students and staff of Henry Kendall High School has set the foundation for what I anticipate to be a ‘flourishing’ of the arts here in our community. I can see how much talent is available to use in a way that celebrates the individual and the community each and every one of us lives in. 2020 promises to be an exciting year for the faculty; I have a couple of surprises up my sleeve to offer to you the community and the students of Henry Kendall High School.

Thanks to all for a fantastic year

Mr Jarrod Walters

Head Teacher Creative and Performing Arts