Arts News

VCE Performance Evening - 2019 

On Tuesday of this week our VCE/VET Performing Arts students completed their 1st major assessment for 2019 in front of over 200 St. Peter’s College community members. The drama performances required students to devise an ensemble performance from stimulus material. The stimulus can be material such as an art work, poem, song, book, film or historical event. The Dance performances were required to include elements such as time, space and energy as well as numerous physical and movement skills. The VET Music Industry students were required to place themselves into various industry based scenarios to entertain a crowd.   

All students performed with a high degree of skill and artistry to create a memorable evening of creativity. Congratulations to all of the students involved as well as the teachers and AV team who together transformed the hall into a wonderful performance space.

Brian Wallwork

Production Coordinator

Creative Thinking in the Visual Arts – The Whatever Page

In 2018, The Arts Faculty introduced the Whatever Page to Year 7 Art. This was an experiment in using the Victorian Curriculum Capability, Creative Thinking, to see how and if this activity would enhance creative thinking of our new students. Here is a little about the philosophy behind the activity:

‘Student life is busy. Students switch their brains from one subject to the next within a matter of minutes after rushing to another classroom. Creative Thinking is essential in the Visual Arts but how do we ensure students can make that brain switch from one subject to the next as well as making the most of their class time? With this question in mind, Year 7 Art tried the Whatever Page Experiment. During each lesson, Year 7 Art students enter the classroom quietly knowing that they have 5 to 10 minutes to spend on their Whatever Page at the beginning of each lesson. Students are asked to focus solely on whatever is on their mind, to connect to their creativity, talking is kept to a bare minimum, the noise from the school ground out and creativity in.  Relaxation or Instrumental music plays during this time allowing students to fully connect with the present creative space. Students enjoy the freedom to do “whatever” they like on the page, draw, write, or experiment with materials and techniques. ‘

During this experiment I’ve appreciated my own brain switch to slow down my lesson and the rise in focus on Creative Thinking. Most of all, I am enjoying watching students connect to their creativity in an easy no pressure classroom situation and the positive influence this has on the way students approach assessment tasks during the rest of the lesson. Why not try it at home this weekend and get lost in your own Creative Thinking.

Here is some feedback from our students:

‘I feel that the page is a great idea because it is a way for kids to express themselves in a different way.’

Izzy Rowe, Yr. 7 ART

‘I think a page is a good idea to get into your creative space before doing art. It's also a great way to express your feelings through little doodles.’

Isabella De Pietro, Yr.7 ART

‘The Whatever Page is a great way to express how you feel and what you like to draw, it’s basically a page to do anything that is why it’s called the Whatever Page.’

Thiviru Dela, Yr. 7 ART

‘The pages are a really fun and refreshing activity to do at the end of the day especially after a stressful one. It allows kids to express themselves and find their way of doing art. It’s also really fun.’

Kevin Amunugama, Yr.7 ART

Ms. Pamela Fox    The Arts Coach – Cranbourne Campus