THE ARTS LEARNING AREA
THE ARTS
So far, Semester One has been a busy time for The Arts Learning Area, with the Open Evening, the VCE Visual Communication Design Study tour, and general learning taking place in the classrooms.
The Music students have been dynamic in their Specialist Music days, which saw the days needing to be split into separate Year 7 and Year 8 days due to the large number of students participating.
VCE VCD students had a wonderful time in Melbourne soaking up the culture and the world of design in the city.
Year 9 Art and VCD have also been busy working on their Surrealist paintings and Personal Story Posters respectively.
With visitors enjoying The Arts areas on Open Evening, we hope to continue teaching our future students the value of their creative endeavours.
St Joseph’s College definitely has a thriving and creative Arts program on offer!
Miss Andy Higgins
The Arts Learning Area Facilitator
SPECIALIST MUSIC
The music department has had a fantastic start to the school year holding two Specialist Music Days in Term 1.
On Friday 9 February, 42 Specialist Music students from Years 7 and 8 gathered for their first Specialist Music Day held at the Enright Campus.
Students had a special treat in store for them with special guest Gen Bryant and some of her band members. Gen Bryant is a Christian singer/songwriter/musician who inspires young people through her work as a performer and composer.
Students participated in musical activities and workshops, along with sectional and group rehearsals throughout the day, learning some of Gen Bryant’s songs that we use regularly in our school Masses. With a range of instruments and experiences, the aim of the day was to develop skills through activities that focused on participation through performance, singing, and making music with others.
Due to high enrolment numbers, our second Specialist Music Day was held on Thursday 7 March for our Year 7 music students only. Workshops included ‘getting to know you’ activities as well as sectional and group rehearsals. Students worked diligently and learned two pieces of music for the day. They were also able to develop their group performance skills and apply theoretical knowledge to enhance their playing.
Mr Dylan Watson, Mr Lewis White, and I were extremely impressed with the students' enthusiasm and ability to learn various songs within such a short timeframe. Congratulations to all students involved for their commitment and hard work throughout Term 1.
Mrs Jennifer Gibson
Specialist Music Teacher
VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN
The 2024 Visual Communication Design Study Tour took our Year 12 students on an inspiring journey through Melbourne’s creative landscape. Departing early, we boarded the bus and headed to Bendigo where we caught the train to the city.
Tuesday was a day of industry insights and street art. We ventured into the Risky Play Park in Southbank. Katelyn Testa, an alumnus of the college now working in the advertising industry, shared her expertise, offering valuable perspectives on design processes. We saw an incredible amount of street art on a tour and then created our own spray paint stencils at a workshop at Blender Studios. We finished off the day being part of the audience on Channel 10's ‘The Project’ as it was filmed live.
Wednesday was about design innovation. Melbourne Museum showcased 'Top Designs', where we could see the top scoring folios of students from around the state. Later, one of the top architecture faculties in the world, RMIT, welcomed us, inspiring us with their building, course offerings, and the innovation taking place. Our industry visit to Big Plans helped reaffirm the importance of understanding our drawings and clients' needs. We finished off our day by attending a performance of Wicked.
Thursday was a full day workshop with the Whitehouse Institute Interior Design faculty, which gave us practical exercises and hands-on learning. We learned skills and techniques to help develop and create our own interior design projects. We then got to sit back and immerse ourselves in the projections and music of LUME before we headed off to Marvel Stadium to watch an AFL game.
We bid farewell to Melbourne on Friday. This study tour was more than a trip—it provided a bridge between theory and practice. Students witnessed design principles come alive in the city’s architecture, street art, and industry spaces. It allowed students to interact with professionals and observe design processes firsthand. We eagerly anticipate the innovative projects and designs that will emerge from this adventure!
Ms Bogna Collins
Visual Communication Teacher