On Friday 10 May and Thursday 16 May 2024, St Joseph’s School will be holding workshops and performances to develop, celebrate and showcase the creative talents of our students and more broadly, the creative pedagogy which underpins the learning experience within the school.

Background

St Joseph’s School provides a rich and stimulating learning experience for our students. This experience is clearly seen in the range of Arts activities on offer—Music, Drama, Visual Art, Choir and Band—but is, more importantly, deeply embedded in the entire curriculum through a range of creative responses to teaching and learning.

As a Lighthouse School for Visible Learning, St Joseph’s School believes that all students can learn, and teacher practice is characterised by a reflective and responsive praxis. Adapting the curriculum to the particular needs, capacities and interests of each student remains a clear pedagogical goal in all classrooms. Success for individuals and the group as a whole requires creative and inventive responses to teaching and learning, and indeed, such an attitude is a constant point of reference for teaching staff.

Learning Experiences

Over the two days all students across P-6 will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the different fields of Arts.

Dr James Cuskelly OAM, our Music teacher, will work with students on their choral performances during their normal classes.

We have invited leading teachers in Music Theatre and Drama to work with the students over the two days and prepare them for a showcase concert.

The Music Theatre tutors will be:

Annie Lower

Peggy Channon

The Drama tutor will be:

Kelly Lazarus

Details about our presenters are attached with the schedule of activities.

Secondary Students

Secondary students will be involved prior to the Arts Festival in developing materials which can be used to explain the role of creativity in the school environment and these materials will be used as part of the narration on the day of the performance.

Concert

On Thursday 16 May, we will be hosting a concert for families to experience the wonderful work the students will be doing and already do at St Joseph’s School. All families are invited to attend the event which will held in the Bathersby Centre from 1:45pm – 3:00pm.

We are all looking forward to this opportunity to develop and highlight the creative talents of our students and showcase the learning that happens at  St Joseph’s School.