Girraween High School

Aspire - Respect - Unite

Telephone02 9636 7293

Emailgirraween-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Creative arts

In creative arts, students discover a variety of art forms through a study of dance, drama, music and visual arts.

Studying the creative arts, students learn to appreciate, compose, listen, make and perform. Each art form has its own unique knowledge and skills, elements or concepts as well as a capacity to inspire and enrich lives.

Students must study 100 hours of both music and visual arts during Years 7 to 10. They also have an opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills in other art forms through elective subjects including drama, dance, photography and visual design. Students can then select from a range of courses in Years 11 to 12.

Students learn about culture and community through a study of the creative arts. Each art form has its own unique skills, concepts and a capacity to inspire and enrich lives. Creative arts is mandatory for students from Kindergarten to Year 6. In Years 7 to10 students must study both music and visual arts. They also have an opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills in other art forms through elective subjects.

Teaching practice in creative arts is explicit and purposeful. Experiences are sequential and meaningful to develop students' skills, knowledge and understanding within the art forms. Creative arts develops the whole child through its unique content and experiences.

Visual arts and photography

Visual arts has a significant role within the curriculum through providing learning opportunities designed to encourage students to understand the visual arts, including the different kinds of creative works they, and others, make.

Visual arts places great value on the development of students' intellectual and practical autonomy, reflective action, critical judgement and understanding of art in artmaking and in critical and historical studies of art. Visual arts plays an important role in the social, cultural and spiritual lives of students. It offers a wide range of opportunities for students to develop their own interests, to be self-motivated and active learners who can take responsibility for and continue their own learning in school and post-school settings.

View our visual arts and photography page for more information and examples of the outstanding work our students have achieved.

Dance

Dance has existed as a vital part of every known culture throughout time. It is a distinct form of nonverbal communication that uses the body as an instrument of expression, articulating the culture and society from which it emerges. Dance exists today in many forms and is performed for a variety of purposes in differing contexts.

Students have the opportunity to have dance training in a range of styles including jazz, contempory and cheerleading (pom and stunt).

They may also participate in school performances, eisteddfords, Australian all star cheer federation championships and Sydney West dance festival.

Drama

Drama is an artform with a discrete body of knowledge including conventions, history, skills and methods of working. It is an integral aspect of our society and is taught in school curricula worldwide. Drama fosters an understanding of continuity and change, and of the connections between different times and cultures. It provides opportunities to explore social, cultural, ethical and spiritual beliefs, including the diverse values of Australian culture.

Students can participate in:

  • In school productions
  • Regional and state festivals and camps
  • Shakespeare festival
  • Year 7 drama festival

Music

All students should have the opportunity to develop their musical abilities and potential. As an art form, music pervades society and occupies a significant place in world cultures and in the oral and recorded history of all civilisations. It uses a unique symbol system that uses sound to imply meaning and convey information, and has the capacity to cross-cultural and societal boundaries. Music plays important roles in the social, cultural, aesthetic and spiritual lives of people. At an individual level, music is a medium of personal expression. It enables the sharing of ideas, feelings and experiences.

View our music page for more details about our ensemble information and frequently asked questions.