THE ARTS LEARNING AREA
Semester One has been an exciting and productive period for The Arts Learning Area, filled with creativity, exploration, and hands‑on learning. With Open Day, the VCE Media and Visual Communication Design Study Tour, and a wide range of artistic activities happening across classrooms, our students have certainly embraced every opportunity to grow as young artists.
MUSIC
Our Year 7 and 8 Music students have been thriving during their Specialist Music days. Under the guidance of Mrs Jennifer Gibson and Mr Lewis White, these talented young musicians have been encouraged to deepen their understanding of music theory, performance, and composition. Their enthusiasm and willingness to extend themselves beyond the regular classroom program has been inspiring to witness.
PERFORMING ARTS
Dance and Drama continue to be highly popular subjects in 2026, with strong student engagement across all year levels. The Performing Arts spaces have been buzzing with energy as students explore movement, storytelling, improvisation, and performance skills. Their commitment to creative expression is a testament to the strength of our Arts culture.
VCE MEDIA & VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDY TOUR
One of the highlights of Term 2 so far was the VCE Media and Visual Communication Design Study Tour to Melbourne. Mrs Bogna Collins and her students immersed themselves in the vibrant creative atmosphere of the city, visiting galleries, design studios, and cultural landmarks. Surrounded by world‑class examples of media, architecture, and visual communication, students gained valuable inspiration that will undoubtedly influence their upcoming practical folios and major works.
YEAR 9 ART
Our Year 9 Art students have also been hard at work, developing their drawing skills and experimenting with clay. They have been learning foundational hand‑building techniques (coil, pinch, and slab construction) and combining these methods to create their own unique tea‑light houses. This project has allowed students to explore both technical craftsmanship and imaginative design.
VCE ART CREATIVE PRACTICE
The Unit 1 and Unit 3 VCE Art students have been deeply engaged in preparing their folios, dedicating significant time to experimentation and creative exploration. Throughout the semester, they have trialled a diverse range of materials and techniques, such as drawing, painting, mixed media, and ceramics. These have allowed them to refine both their technical skills and the personal themes that drive their work. Alongside their practical investigations, students have produced comprehensive analysis and annotations, thoughtfully documenting their artistic decisions and the development of their ideas. Their commitment to the creative process has set a strong foundation for the impressive folios they will continue to build.
OPEN EVENING
Open Evening was a tremendous success, with hundreds of visitors exploring The Arts areas and celebrating the creativity of our students. The enthusiasm and curiosity shown by future students and their families reaffirm the importance of nurturing artistic expression within our school community. We look forward to welcoming these budding creatives into our programs in the years ahead.
St Joseph’s College continues to offer a vibrant, diverse, and thriving Arts program – one that encourages students to explore their passions, challenge themselves, and celebrate the joy of creativity.
Miss Andy Higgins
The Arts Learning Area Facilitator
ART
Year 10 Art students have been working on drawing Still Life compositions. They experimented with several different techniques and materials, such as ink, graphite, charcoal, watercolour and collage.
Mrs Joanne Fraser
Art Teacher
2026 VCE MEDIA & VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN STUDY TOUR
Held in the first week of Term 2, this Melbourne study tour connected students with specialists, workshops, environments, and the highest level of student achievement.
Being in Melbourne it was an environment that continually offers inspiration and opportunity to be creative in ways that do not exist in Mildura. From Skydeck and the night skyline to TopDesigns and a visit with RMIT, students saw exceptional work and found out how they, too, could aspire to great creative heights.
As part of the audience for the final episode of the current series of ‘The Weekly with Charlie Pickering’ we were entertained as well as saw the behind the scenes work that goes into producing a TV show with a live audience.
The Risky Playground seemed impossible with climbing frames emerging out of rocks and squishy pavers. The Sky Garden provided a place of peace and calm, but was itself located three stories above a constantly busy road next to Marvel Stadium.
The Film It! Workshop with ACMI gave students the opportunity to create their own production: planning, filming and editing a short film, all with the Melbourne skyline as their backdrop. Later that night they saw the musical adaptation of the 1980s film Heathers, with the promotion, sets and costumes that are part of it.
With Thursday being our last day, it was all about getting hands-on, First with a workshop at the Whitehouse Institute with their Tertiary staff and in their facilities. It was hard not to take notice of the amazing interior features and architecture around them every day. This was followed up with a visit to Precious Plastics, which had students recycling and creating objects from discarded plastic waste.
All these opportunities were extraordinary and gave students experience and awareness of the future opportunities and pathways design, media and creative ideas can offer.
Mrs Bogna Collins
Visual Communication & Media Studies Teacher
MUSIC
The Music Department has enjoyed a fantastic start to the school year, with students already embracing a wide range of exciting opportunities.
In Term 1, our Year 7 and 8 students participated in a highly successful Specialist Music Day. This extension program provided a full day of engaging musical experiences, including workshops, sectional rehearsals, and ensemble activities. Students worked across a variety of instruments and styles, developing their theoretical understanding, aural skills, and performance techniques – all while enjoying the collaborative spirit of music-making.
Our students also contributed meaningfully to the wider school community. They contributed to College Masses as soloists and choir members. Year 11 student Lilliana Bertalli also performed at key events, including ANZAC Day, where she delivered a moving rendition of the National Anthem, and the Mother’s Day Breakfast, where her performance added to the celebratory atmosphere.
A major highlight of the term was the annual Carpenters Classic Concert, held on Tuesday 28 April. This year saw a record number of auditions, including many enthusiastic Year 7 students making their debut. The concert was a vibrant and entertaining showcase of student talent across a variety of performance styles.
Congratulations to our prize winners:
- 1st Place – Metricol (Band – Oliver Capp, Eli Morrison, Ian Taylor, Rebekah Fernandes
- Equal 2nd Place – Ian Taylor (Drum Solo) and Josephine Van Reymersdael (Vocal Solo)
- Equal 3rd Place - Year 9 Girls (Band – Faith Lawrence, Eve Stewart Wolff, Rebekah Fernandes and Leliyn Beechey) and Freya McClaer/Lauren Reed (Vocal/Bass Guitar)
We commend all performers for their courage and commitment in sharing their talents with their classmates.
Our Year 9 Music students have been developing their performance skills and expanding their musical knowledge, while also exploring composition through their Film Music studies.
Meanwhile, our VCE Music students have been focused on preparing their performance programs for the year. They presented their first practice performances at the school Open Evening in March, marking an important step in their development.
Preparations are also well underway for our annual Performing Arts Showcase, and we look forward to sharing more of our students’ achievements in the coming months.
The Music Department is excited to continue working with our enthusiastic and talented musicians throughout the year.
Mrs Jennifer Gibson
Music Teacher