THE ARTS

The Arts Department at Saints continues to build and thrive under the direction of our specialist teachers. Though the year has just begun, all students in our arts subjects are engaged and participating, creating excellent artworks, drama plays and film opportunities. 

Drama

In Year 7, students have been learning about the elements of drama and creating a small drama skit, showcasing their improved skill in confidence and creation.

The Year 8s have been learning about the play Compass. Think Lord of the Flies but on a Year 7 camp. The students have really enjoyed taking on different characters and are beginning to understand how high stakes and pressure can bring the best and worst out of people. Their biggest challenge will be to memorise a large section of the play while delivering a realistic performance. We have also been working on improvisation skills as their next unit will focus on comedy.

The 10s, are exploring magical realism through the play Boy Girl Wall by Lucas Stibbard and Matthew Ryan. Students are learning to navigate changing landscapes and characterisation. They are busy learning their scripts by heart and directing their movement in the space. It's fantastic to witness the boys improving their acting and directing skills.

Senior Drama is a composite class this year, however, this is benefitting the students. Both Years 11 and 12 have been able to lean on each other, sharing their ideas. All students are preparing for internal assessment 1 and formative assessment 1, a performance task, where reciting their script is incredibly important, likewise portraying the human experience through characterisation. 

Media and film

For the first time, we are running a Media class for Year 9 students. They are excited and ready for their first assessment item: a news bulletin. Students have created a name for the TV news program and have considered and researched newsworthy ideas around the College. Students and staff alike are looking forward to the end result.

The 10s have recently completed a trivia quiz on film with surprising results. Students thoroughly enjoyed completing the quiz and exploring their knowledge on film. Students are now creating storyboards, a process important in film; concept to idea creation.

The 11s are exploring film symbolism. An element that is shared in drama and English - helping students to see the intertextuality of symbols and how they are part of human experience, adding perspective and relevance to their knowledge.

Lastly, our 12s are exploring multiplatform and commencing their first films for 2025. Every year, the films in Year 12 are outstanding, showing a culmination of knowledge and skill throughout senior film subjects. 

Visual Art

Year 7 Visual Art students have been working hard at creating ceramic animals of their choice.  Our gents have been motivated to experiment with manipulating clay to reach their goals with individualised and original results.

Year 8 gents are drawing their realistic self-portraits. Currently the artwork is looking fantastic! It's a credit to the students who are developing their drawing skills.

The Year 9s are creating functional ceramic artworks inspired by the reef. Students have conducted research of our oceans and the reef at our doorstep. Students are not only creating something incredible, but the artwork needs to serve a function (teapot, vase etc).

Year 10s are painting or screen-printing propaganda portraits in a contemporary pop-art style. 

Lastly, our Senior General Visual Arts gents are working on answering their individualised inquiry questions using materials and techniques of their choice while our Senior VA in Practice gents are creating prototypes for ceramic totems that will be installed at Saints.

The work in our classrooms is incredible, and we look forward to inviting you into our spaces soon.

Student Opportunities

Bus Stop Design Competition

​In conjunction with the Cairns Bus Stop Design Competition, Cairns Regional Council is offering school-based design workshops with CRC’s City Architecture team.

The design-focused workshops will unpack the competition criteria and examine placemaking, identity, accessibility and sustainability. The workshop will assist students in understanding the value of good design within our city.

Competition outcomes will be showcased in a public exhibition from 4-19 June 2025. Gents considering architecture, industrial design or town planning are encouraged to email or Teams message or chat to Ms Almond. Students will be able to work on their submissions on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30pm in the art studio. Expressions of interest closed today. 

In-house Short Film Competition

This competition is open to junior and senior students. Information will come out in Term 2. Stay tuned!