Latest news
Mastering the art of cooking and creating at home
SMC's Food Technology and Textiles Art and Fashion students brought new techniques and creativity to their families and homes during the remote learning period, transforming kitchens and dining rooms into their very own culinary and textile workspaces.
Families were able to witness learning experiences of students first-hand, as they made a variety of delicious meals, dishes and baked goods and used their crafting and sewing skills to continue works while learning at home.
Food Technology students have studied different flavours and cuisines from around the world, with multicultural banquets dished up in Indian, Asian and Italian, while Textiles Art and Fashion students experimented with natural dyes made from plants, fruits and vegetables. They created tie-dying delights with beetroot, raspberries, cabbage and even turmeric.
Thank you to parents, carers and all relatives at home who supported the students' culinary and design learning and allowed them to continue to work on their projects at home while using their kitchens and sewing machines.
Understanding Aboriginal spirituality
This term, the College's Year 9 Religious Education classes have been learning about Aboriginal spirituality.
To develop their understanding of the deep connection Aboriginal people have to land, students were encouraged to choose a place which was special to them and reflect on their own connection to that place. Then, they were asked to produce a creative visual response to demonstrate their connection.
Here is a small selection of the many beautiful responses our students produced.
SMC cares
Students in the Senior School recently gathered in solidarity to demonstrate their support for everyone who is a part of our SMC community.
Thank you to all students who spoke at the rally and highlighted ways to acknowledge, provide space for ideas and encourage future action.
Performing Arts update
Over the past few editions of The Fountain, I have been advertising the Music department's tutor program. It has been very pleasing to see a number of students wanting one-on-one music instrumental lessons. In the next publication, I will have another spotlight on a tutor. Remember that if we have the instrument (and voice), then we will have a tutor.
It was exciting to see the College's string ensemble increase in number last rehearsal with three very enthusiastic young ladies joining the fold. We welcome Hannah Cowie, Isabella Kelly, Aoife Kelly on violin and Arabella Butterworth-Barry on cello.
Scott Weston
Learning Area Coordinator – Arts and Director of Music
The Envious Curator – Visual Arts
What an eventful term we have had. Despite obstacles, an immense amount of sophisticated artwork has been produced.
At the weekend, I read a post reporting that the Sunday Times conducted research on what people considered to be the 'top essential and non-essential professions'. Obviously, it may be seen that I am in a position of bias, but I prefer to consider myself to be in a position of privilege.
I have seen many of my students graduate from Arts degrees and pursue careers in advertising, marketing, film, graphic design, interior design and architecture. The past few months have been the most telling about how essential the arts are in enriching our lives. During this state of flux, many of us have tried our hand at painting portraits of our pets, creating macramé wall hangings, as well as engaging in mindful colouring. Some of you may have chosen colours to repaint the house or taken up the challenge of finally taking that camera off automatic.
In addition to all the career possibilities that the Arts offer, it is the enrichment that it brings our lives that resonates with me. With this in mind, and I may be bias, the Arts seem pretty essential to me!
Year 7 photography scavenger hunt
During remote learning, Year 7 Visual Arts students were challenged to take the best possible photo that depicted the following elements: line, shape, colour, tone, texture, space and movement. Here are some of their amazing captures.
Year 10 Visual Arts face-off
Before we entered into our period of remote learning, the Year 10 Visual Arts class had been exploring portraiture. The unit saw them develop an appropriation on the 'grid technique' championed by contemporary American artist Chuck Close, who happens to be quadriplegic. Faced with adversity, Close did not accept that this challenge would prevent him from engaging in his passion. So, he adapted his technique to enable him to paint with his brush in his mouth! Famously, he says, 'Nothing is impossible if you just break it down into small, achievable parts'.
While we did not paint with our mouths, we did however investigate some of Close's more complicated gridding techniques and challenged ourselves to break it down into small, achievable parts. The girls then had to complete these during remote learning and did so with exceptional results!
Sarah Adams
Learning Area Coordinator – Visual Arts
Students get savvy about enterprise
Usually in Term 2, Year 9 Economics and Business students have the opportunity to plan and run a business as part of the unit. Due to current restrictions, they instead ran an online workshop through the Youth Change Agents' Academy of Enterprising Girls Virtual Program. St Mary's College was one of two schools to participate in Tasmania, with support from the event team via live chat and video on Microsoft Teams.
The class took part in this full-day workshop on Friday 19 June. In groups, students participated in a real-world application of the design thinking process. The projects were required to be a response to the situations we now face in light of changes due to COVID-19.
The groups developed some enterprising ideas, including a news 'fact checker' app to weed out incorrect COVID-19 updates and only provide the correct and accurate news media for public consumption.
One group created a Dark Mofo-inspired online virtual experience of the highly popular, and very much missed, winter festival, which would feature online artist exhibitions, virtual tours and the ability to purchase items from local businesses that would normally feature at the event.
Another group delved into designing an online platform for protesting social justice issues, including racism, at this time when we cannot hold mass gatherings. The platform would provide a place to attend a live, virtual protest; sign petitions and voice opinions in a forum where they are heard and recognised.
Spotlight on design
Pictured is Materials and Design student, Bree O'Dwyer (Year 10) showing off her latest masterpiece. Excellent work, Bree!