Teaching and Learning News
At SMDP we believe in providing a range of opportunities that nurture and develop the whole person, not just academically, but socially, spiritually and emotionally.
Our five specialist areas, Music, Physical Education, Digital Technologies, Japanese and Visual Arts are taught by expert teachers as stand alone lessons and are integral to meeting our teaching and learning pledge to educate the whole child and develop lifelong learners who embrace diversity in an ever-changing world.
Specialist subjects of Music and Art fall under the "The Arts" in the Victorian Curriculum. The Arts contributes to the development of confident and creative individuals and aims to enrich Australian society.
The Music curriculum aims to develop students’:
- confidence to be creative, innovative, thoughtful, skillful and informed musicians
- skills to listen, improvise, compose, interpret, perform, and respond with intent and purpose
- aesthetic knowledge and respect for music and music practices across global communities, cultures and musical traditions
- understanding of music as an aural art form, its relationship with other arts forms and contributions to cultures and societies.
The Visual Arts curriculum aims to develop students’:
- conceptual and perceptual ideas and expressions through design and inquiry processes
- visual arts techniques, materials, processes and technologies
- critical and creative thinking, using visual arts languages, theories and practices to apply aesthetic judgment
- respect for and acknowledgement of the diverse roles, innovations, traditions, histories and cultures of artists, craftspeople, designers, curators, critics and commentators
- respect for visual arts as social and cultural practices, including industry practices
- confidence, curiosity, imagination and enjoyment and a personal aesthetic through engagement with visual arts making, viewing, discussing, analysing, interpreting and evaluating.
(Victorian Curriculum - https://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/the-arts/introduction/about-the-arts)
On Sunday at our 50th birthday the musical and artistic talent of students and specialist teachers was on full display! We witnessed through "Our Blink of an eye art show", the artistic talents of our students. There was a broad range of high quality art techniques on display. The materials included paint, clay, charcoal, ink, photography, fabric, and dye.
The "Stage" was a highlight for many. This is where our talented musicians and dancers performed their acts that they had been learning, refining and practicing all term. During the Year in music the students were involved in active listening, composing, singing, playing practicing different instruments and songs. All of their performances were evidence of their learning and hard work throughout the year.
Elise Coghlan
Co-Deputy Principal | Literacy & Numeracy Leader | Visible Learning Leader
Denise Kelly
Co-Deputy Principal | Learning & Teaching Leader