Generosity and Safety:
Research has shown that people involved in the Arts, as practitioners, audience or administrators have skills that enable them to create happy and productive communities while living happy and productive lives. The Arts in schools have the capacity to inspire and enrich education. At St Mary’s we give all children the opportunity to participate and create in the generous and safe environment of The Arts. The Arts programme follows the Australian Curriculum and Assessment and Reporting Authority Guidelines. The Performing Arts subjects of Music, Dance and Drama are taught explicitly by a specialist teacher while Visual Arts is part of the classroom domain. Media Arts can be found in both specialist class and year level classroom.
Facilities: St. Mary’s has an exciting theatre space with classroom opening onto large workshop space/ floor of auditorium. A large proscenium arch stage with appropriate light and a state of the art sound system is available.
Classroom Music, Dance and Drama are taught by a specialist teacher and attended by all year levels Prep to Year 6.
Years 4 - 6 perform and produce a public performance in three terms. These performances can be devised by students or scripted.
The Music Programme is designed to follow the Kodaly philosophy whilst utilising the “First Steps in Music” devised by Professor John M Feierabend of The Hartt School, University of Hartford. The Music Curriculum is devised to develop people who are “Tuneful, Beautiful and Artful”.
The Drama Programme enables an exploration of voice, movement, improvisation and performance. This can be an extension of classroom activities, interconnected with other arts subjects or as a ‘stand- alone’ subject. A Tech Crew is developed using volunteer year 6 students who take responsibility for light and sound in productions.
The Dance Programme has students exploring the elements, skills and processes through the integrated practices of choreography, performance and appreciation. This can be an extension of classroom activities, interconnected with other arts subjects or as a ‘stand- alone’ subject. These often result in public performances.