Senior School Creative Arts

Music

A major focus of the course is the development of instrumental and performance skills with students working individually and in groups. Students explore and develop ideas by playing, creating and arranging music; use industry standard music software in the recording studio; explore music in society (past and present) and develop excellent listening and performing skills.

The Music department offers individual instrumental tuition to students and encourages all budding musicians to belong to one or more of the department’s extra-curricular music ensembles. The groups currently rehearsing include: Concert Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Primary Choir, Choral Group, Saxophone Ensemble and String Ensemble. We perform at many public events both locally and, through our Music Performance Tours, interstate.

Drama

Through Drama students explore the expression of ideas, feelings and human experience through movement, sound, visual image and the realisation of role. Value is placed on a broad range of activities including improvisation, role play, text interpretation, theatrical performances and stagecraft. In drama, students work cooperatively in groups or individually to search for, explore, negotiate, rehearse and realise meaning through action.

Integral to making drama is sharing drama. At St Mary’s College, this sharing ranges from informal and personal to the formal and public. Drama aims to develop a student’s capacity to reflect upon experience, to work as a supportive member of a team and the ability to set achievable goals. Learning through drama develops the ability to appreciate value, make judgements and use the vocabulary necessary for the creation of, and critical reflection on, dramatic works.

Art

The Art course offers students the opportunity to experience drawing and painting (with different mediums), etching, print making, sculpture, ceramics, photography and graphic design.  Students learn to communicate meaning and develop individualism and self-expression through their artistic compositions.

All students gain an understanding of colour, shape, form, shading, subject matter, artistic perception, pictorial space, critical evaluation and analysis. Students use the latest computer technology to create their Graphic Designs and their ideas are expressed through layout, illustration and typography. Student work is regularly displayed throughout the school.

 Home Economics – Food Studies

This course is practical in nature and develops cookery skills with an understanding and awareness of food in our daily lives. Students will study topics such as safety and hygiene, meal planning, nutrition, health, food advertising and labeling, as well as prepare meals using a wide variety of recipes.

Students develop skills in research and are expected to maintain a folio of their recipes and studies on food topics. The Grade 10 VET students are prepared for working in hospitality establishments as part of their course. They cater for many school functions and attend workshops held by the hospitality trade.

Home Economics – Textiles

Students in this course learn the haberdashery trade. Students learn about different materials and various sewing techniques (using both hand stitching and machine stitching). These skills are developed through making dolls, bags, t-shirts, pajamas and dress clothes.

Design in wood

The Design in Wood course introduces students to designing functional furniture and ornamental objects for the home. Students learn how to design jobs from scratch and transfer their ideas from paper onto wood, measure and mark, cut and shape using saws (both hand and machine) and chisels.

Power tools that students will use include sanders, routers, joiners, jigsaws, drills, planers, saws and lathes. Students will be involved in problem-solving and exploring various possibilities when designing.

Housing and Design

Students undertaking this course develop skills in architectural design, environmentally sustainable practices and gain an understanding of the needs, precedents and influences of buildings. Students visit various houses that demonstrate good building practices and are environmentally sustainable. They draw up their own architectural plans using correct measurements, scaling, ratios, design principles, use of space (room layout, circulation and zoning) and construction materials. Students look at various sources of energy for housing including solar and various building materials.

	For information about enrolling in our Senior School, please contact the Enrolments Officer by email, telephone (03) 6234 3381, or view or download the Senior School brochure.