MUSIC

Trucks n’ Tunes – a night of music and food

After three years of weather and indoor contingencies, Trucks n' Tunes finally returned outdoors at Aberfoyle Park High School and it was absolutely worth the wait.

Held alongside our annual Art Exhibition, the evening was a vibrant celebration of music, creativity and community.

The middle school lawns came alive with food trucks, live student performances and relaxed picnic vibes as families and students enjoyed a warm but windy evening of entertainment.

Our music ensembles impressed audiences with a diverse program, showcasing their hard work and growth throughout the year. With a debut performance for the Intermediate Stage band and a guest performance from the School Staff band.

It was a joy to finally experience Trucks n' Tunes under the open sky again and the event truly reflected the energy and talent of our school community.

Thank you to all who helped make this special night such a success, we can’t wait to do it all again next year.

Article by Suriya Down | Senior Leader | Director of Music and The Arts

School Choir spreads joy at Resthaven

On Wednesday 19 November, the Aberfoyle Park High School Choir visited the local Resthaven community to share the gift of music with residents.

The choir performed a selection of songs they have learnt throughout the year, as well as some uplifting Christmas carols to celebrate the festive season.

The residents thoroughly enjoyed the performance and many could be heard singing along to well-loved classics, including songs by ABBA and “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music.

The event was a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with the wider community and bring smiles to the faces of those at Resthaven.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated choir members for their ongoing commitment. Their willingness to give up time after school for rehearsals and their passion for music are truly appreciated.

This memorable visit not only brightened the day for Resthaven residents but also highlighted the positive impact our students have beyond the school gates.

VISUAL ART

Urth Clay workshop

On Wednesday 5 November, year 10 art students, accompanied by Ms Sweet and Mr Peat, attended a half-day workshop at Urth Clay.

The session provided students with the opportunity to explore various pottery techniques and try their hand at the pottery wheel.

They discovered that mastering the technique is more challenging than it looks and demonstrated resilience as they experimented with this new skill

Article by Aimee Sweet | Visual Art and Photography Teacher

Art Exhibition showcases outstanding student creativity

This year’s Aberfoyle Park High School Art Exhibition and Competition was a vibrant celebration of student creativity and talent, featuring over 150 pieces of artwork across art, craft and photography.

Students from across year levels proudly exhibited a diverse range of works, demonstrating impressive technical skill, imagination and personal expression.

From detailed drawings and paintings to striking photographic compositions and creative crafted pieces, the exhibition highlighted the breadth and depth of learning in Visual Arts at the school.

The exhibition was extremely well attended on the night, with families, friends and community members enjoying the opportunity to view and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our young artists.

This year, in total, we had 97 individual students participate and the winners for 2025 are:

Year 12: Addi C

Year 11: Laura M

Year 10: Jaagriti V

Year 9: Zaya B

Year 8: Olyvia L

Year 7: Nivyn H

Photos of the winning works are below for your enjoyment.

Click to scroll through artwork

Congratulations to all students who exhibited their work and to the visual arts staff for curating such a high-quality and inspiring showcase.

Article by Suriya Down | Senior Leader | Director of Music and The Arts

DRAMA

Drama Showcase - year 9 and 10 drama students

Our year 9 and 10 drama students recently delighted audiences with their lively performance of the comedy Unfinished, an existing scripted work brought to life with energy, humour and strong ensemble performance.

Through their portrayal of colourful characters and comedic situations, students demonstrated growing confidence in timing, characterisation, voice and stagecraft.

The performance highlighted the importance of collaboration and commitment with students working together to deliver a polished and entertaining production.

Students are to be congratulated on their dedication and enthusiasm throughout the production process. Unfinished provided a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their performance skills while engaging audiences with a light-hearted and engaging theatrical experience.

Year 8 performance - Cinderella Untold

Our year 8 drama students recently took to the stage with their energetic and entertaining performance of Cinderella Untold, a humorous and contemporary twist on the classic fairytale that delighted audiences.

Although the evening performance was cancelled for injury, students were able to perform to Primary Schools.

Demonstrating impressive growth in characterisation, voice, movement, and ensemble work, bringing comedy, confidence and creativity to the stage.

The performance showcased the students’ ability to work collaboratively while exploring storytelling through a fresh and engaging lens.

Cinderella Untold was a wonderful example of the enthusiasm and talent within our year 8 cohort, and a celebration of their hard work and commitment throughout the rehearsal process.

Article by Suriya Down | Senior Leader | Director of Music and The Arts

DANCE

Dance Showcase - year 7 to 11 dance students

Our recent year 7 to 11 Dance Showcase was a joyful celebration of movement, creativity and student achievement and a particularly meaningful evening as it marked the final showcase for our retiring dance teacher, Shauna Thompson.

Students across all year levels performed with confidence, energy and pride, presenting a diverse range of choreography that reflected their growth, collaboration and passion for dance. From emerging year 7 performers to our experienced senior dancers, each group brought their own unique style and strength to the stage.

The evening was made even more special as we honoured Shauna Thompson’s outstanding contribution to Dance education at Aberfoyle Park High School. Over her many years of service, Shauna has inspired countless students, nurtured creativity and built a strong and supportive dance culture within our school.

We thank Shauna for her dedication, passion and commitment to our students and we congratulate all dancers on a truly memorable showcase performance.

Article by Suriya Down | Senior Leader | Director of Music and The Arts

End of term message

As we come to the close of another school year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly wonderful year for music and The Arts at Aberfoyle Park High School and a very special one for me in my first year as Director of Music and The Arts.

Throughout 2025, our students have shone through a rich and diverse program of performances, exhibitions and creative learning experiences. From ensembles and showcases to drama productions, dance performances and visual art displays, the talent, dedication and creativity of our students has been truly inspiring. These successes are only possible through strong collaboration between students, staff, families and our wider school community and I sincerely thank you for your ongoing support.

As the year draws to a close, I would like to remind families that all students who are not continuing with instrumental music next year are required to return their school instruments.

This is essential to avoid fees and to allow us to reallocate instruments to new students who will be beginning their musical journey in 2026. If you have school instruments, these need be returned to the library or if they have a size tag, the music office by the final week of term.

Finally, I would like to wish all students and families a safe, restful and well-earned holiday break. We look forward to another exciting year of creativity, collaboration and learning in 2026.

Article by Suriya Down | Senior Leader | Director of Music and The Arts

Aberfoyle Park High School Newsletter

Respect | Care and Compassion | Honesty

Issue 8 · 09 Dec 2025

In this issue