Performing Arts 

Music Matters

As we draw a close to the end of this term I would like to highlight the range of activities the Performing Arts has been involved in. Firstly our second Concert called the “Twilight" Concert that highlighted our strings and guitars. We also welcomed back our Choir in its quest to recover from 1 & 1/2 year hiatus. Our concert and jazz bands have worked hard to record their Eisteddfod programs, we should see results soon. We participated in the 200 years of Catholic Schools in Australia Mass, combining with Mercy College and OLD Primary School, streamed live to our students. Classes continued to work on their individual performances with many assessments for and of learning.

Our Drama students completed their Climate Change film project and it has been sent for editing. We should see the results in Term 3. Numerous classes saw live theatre and our senior students benefitted through workshops help by Ms Lindley and industry professionals.

A particular activity, led by Mr Taylor, had our Year 6 boys learning a band instrument to utilise school instruments. In Term 3 we will have our boys experience string instruments on instruments provided gratefully by PAPA. 

The boys in Year 8 will be participating in a Drama workshop early next term and we will be farewelling our Senior Performing “artists” with a Twilight Concert and Splinters, Splashes Stage and Sounds. We also have the Manly Jazz Festival to look forward to.

You can see that a “normality” is returning to activities as we find our way out of COVID and to that a great sense of relief. 

Not wanting to “jump the gun” I would like to say thank you to everyone who played their part and trust that as restrictions further ease and our authorities guide us we can fully come together in Term 4 for our Christmas celebrations.

These holidays give our students a chance to relax and prepare for the final semester. Some are on tour and for our senior students its important that they maintain their practice and preparation for their major works. 

All students should take their music instruments home over the holiday break. This is due to construction work on the Band Room and Music Rooms over the break.  There will be no access to the instrument storeroom after this Thursday, 17 June (tomorrow) until the start of Term 3.  I look forward to showing photos of the completed work on the Band and Music Rooms. The Sarto Centre will also get a new coat of paint to refresh this very busy building. We all remain committed to improving our Performing Arts facilities.

Lastly I present the positive participation nominees. Hopefully this has given the students a sense of pride an achievement in their ensemble work.

Mr Anthony Timmins - Performing Arts Coordinator

Drama Matters

Drama Matters

Students in Year 10 studied the Elements of Design and how design is used to create dramatic meaning in a poster. We looked at different theatre spaces, design choices and understanding the purpose of a poster to promote a play. Students researched the Bosnian War, which was the setting of our play Stories in the Dark by Debra Oswald. Not only is this an excellent contemporary play it presents more than one ‘world’ on stage. This allows students to creatively interpret the context, ideas and images present in the text and create their own concept or vision for the play. Caleb Hanrahan’s research is outstanding and is presented below. Please take time to view a section of the posters created by Year 10 this term.

Drama Excursion

Yesterday Years 9 & 11 Drama students travelled into the city to attend The 7 Stages of Grieving at the Sydney Theatre Company Wharf. It was a great opportunity to listen to our First Nation's voices and see this new version of a play written 23 years ago. Unfortunately many of the issues explored still resonate today. We ended on Reconciliation but with an urgent need to take action on a number of initiatives relevant today, #raisetheage and #banspithoods were the two most prominent. Students were able to listen to the creatives involved and ask questions on both this production and some of the ideas it explored. 

Ms Penny Lindley - Drama Teacher