KLA Feature - Creative Arts

The Creative Arts faculty has enjoyed a fantastic start to Term 3, with students embracing a wide range of exciting learning opportunities and enriching experiences. Highlights have included the Cockatoo Island excursion, the HSC Dance and Drama Showcase, Choir Club rehearsals in preparation for upcoming performances, and the continued opportunity for our Music students to participate in private tuition. We are incredibly proud of our students' enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment, and we look forward to sharing more of their achievements throughout the year.

Visual Arts - Cockatoo Island Excursion

Last Wednesday, students in the Year 9 Visual Arts and Photography and Digital Media classes together with teachers Ms Wood, Ms Cusack and Miss Tsahtarlis set forth on a day of exploration and visual documentation of the historic site, Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour.

The day began with a coach trip to Sydney Olympic Park Wharf followed by a ferry ride which took us to the island.

It was a picture perfect day on the harbour with excellent light conditions for photographing and recording a range of relevant research images.

Cockatoo Island has a rich history and a number of precincts to investigate including the convict site, dockyard, workshops and Turbine Hall. The students explored the past histories of the site by photographing architectural structures, aged machinery, layers of surfaces, signs and text. These images are a valuable resource which will now be used in our current units of work, Hidden Secrets in Visual Arts and 

Every Picture Tells a Story for Photography and Digital Media.

Visual Arts students will use a combination of painting techniques to reveal or partially conceal aspects of the history of the island under layers of paint and textured surfaces. The Photography students will use their knowledge of photojournalism to create a photo essay of the day containing a signature shot, context shots or wide shots, close ups, detailed shots and a closing shot. Following this, they will create a Cockatoo Island photomontage using Photoshop techniques.

All classes will base their work on memories of the excursion, photos from the day and on further research about the island’s history, purposes and stories.

This was an invaluable experience with enthusiastic student engagement, and we look forward to the development of high quality work in both Visual Arts and Photography and Digital Media.

Dance 

Our HSC Dance students recently showcased the culmination of their hard work and artistic growth in the HSC Dance Showcase. Their performances reflected months of commitment and technical development, showcasing their talent while performing for friends and family. We congratulate our year 12 students and their Core Composition dancers, while wishing them every success as they complete their HSC Practical Dance exams on Wednesday 12 August. 

The CCC Dance Companies have also represented the school with pride at the PDSSSC Dance Competition last term. We have three more competitions this term, including the Hawkesbury City Eisteddfod and Inspire Arts Challenge, in the coming weeks. These experiences enable our dancers to perform in a professional environment, build confidence and develop valuable teamwork and performance skills. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm, resilience and commitment to excellence both on and off the stage.

In the classroom, students in the Stage 5 and Stage 6 elective Dance courses have continued to strengthen their technical skills while exploring choreography and performance. Students have embraced opportunities to collaborate, think creatively and reflect on their own artistic development. It has been wonderful to see students challenge themselves, support one another, and grow as confident performers and creative thinkers.

We look forward to another exciting term of dance.

Drama 

This year has been a busy and exciting one for Drama. In particular our Year 12 Drama students have been hard at work preparing their HSC practical projects, including their Group Performance and Individual Projects.

The class has devised an imaginative group performance that follows the planets as they embark on a journey to avenge Pluto after its declassification. Along the way, they overcome challenges from both space and Earth as they seek revenge against the Earthlings.

The Individual Projects showcased the students' creativity and talent across a range of forms, including three monologues, a video drama, set design and costume design.

We wish our Year 12 Drama students all the very best in their upcoming HSC practical examinations and look forward to celebrating their achievements.

Music

The co-curricular music programs are flourishing at Caroline Chisholm College.

In-school Music lessons have a growing number of students who participate in private lessons with peripatetic teachers in Voice, Piano, Guitar, Drums, Violin and Cello. Some spaces are still available for interested students. If you would like to participate in the school instrumental tuition program, please contact Mr Caws for more information.

The CCC choir rehearses on Mondays at lunch with a very enthusiastic group of approximately 30 students from years 7 through to 11. Members have the opportunity to perform at Mass’, Liturgies and other events such as assemblies where their developing talents are acknowledged and appreciated within the school and greater community. The girls should be commended for their continued attendance which supports the wonderful and evident growth of this performing ensemble.

The String group meets on Fridays at lunch and currently boasts 11 students of varying levels on violin, viola, cello and double bass. We are currently working on an arrangement of Beethoven's ‘Ode to Joy’. The growth of the girls working as an ensemble is to be commended as is their commitment to attending rehearsals each week.

The College band rehearses on Thursdays at lunchtime and consists of a variety of musical instruments from Double Bass through to Glockenspiel. The College band is currently working on two arrangements of music: ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean’ by Hans Zimmer and ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ by Edvard Grieg that will be performed later in the year at the annual Music Showcase.

As a music faculty we also encourage solo performers and small ensembles who enjoy rehearsing at break times. These performers use the practice rooms and recording studio facilities that are available at the college. We are keen to expand the musical capabilities of our college and encourage all students with an interest in Music to come forward and share their talents with the college community. The first step to achieving this goal is to let your friendly Music teachers know about your musical interests and then to join one of the many performing groups at the college.

Mrs Belinda Pranjic

Leader of Learning Creative Arts