Creative arts is mandatory for students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
In creative arts, students discover a variety of art forms through a study of dance, drama, music and visual arts where they 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.
DANCE
The Dance program is a prominent part of the Creative and Performing Arts Syllabus.
The Dance P&C sub-committee works closely with school staff to enhance the program offered. Dance lessons are provided for students in all years. Dance teachers are employed to teach the students with the assistance of the class teachers. These lessons are held during school hours and are subsidised by a minimal payment from the parents at the beginning of each semester. Dance is a mandatory section of the Creative and Performing Arts syllabus. The program assists the students to develop coordination, social skills, and self-esteem and builds confidence.
Weekly Dance Lessons
Each class participates in weekly dance lessons with a specialised dance teacher.
Dance Ensemble
A special Dance Ensemble Dance Group is formed each year to enable the school to be represented at events such as the Mid North Dance Festival and various other eisteddfods. Students for the ensemble are selected by audition.
Performances
Various dance groups entertain the school and wider community with performances at various venues, giving our school a wonderful reputation.
Musical Heights
At the end of each year, the whole school presents a musical spectacular known as ‘Musical Heights'. Each class performs an original item displaying the dance and musical skills taught throughout the year. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to showcase their talents to parents and friends.
DRAMA
Drama is taught as part of the RFF (Release from Face to Face) program, by a specialist teacher.
In Drama, students develop skills by engaging in role, dramatic contexts, elements and forms. In making dramatics pieces, students learn how to investigate their world through devising plays, role-plays and imagined situations. In performance, they develop their skills and appreciation of dramatists, actors, playwrights, devisers, directors and designers. Learning in Drama is most effective when learning experiences in making, performing and appreciating are integrated in a planned and sequential process of teaching and learning.
Students from K-6 actively partake in drama lessons each week. Some dramatic photos have been posted in the Gallery.
MUSIC
HHPS has a broad and varied music program. With a dedicated music teacher each student is encouraged to reach their potential through singing, movement, playing instruments, listening and composition.
All students enjoy a class music lesson per week in the Music Room for one of the two semesters each year. In
Kindergarten, Years 1 and 2, students learn many musical concepts and play glockenspiels.
In Years 3 and 4 there is a specific emphasis on learning and developing skills on the Recorder.
In Years 5 and 6 students study different styles of music and improvisation.
Students in Years 3 - 6 are welcome to sing in the Combined Choir and have a terrific time each week at rehearsals. The Combined Choir competes in local eisteddfods and entertains audiences during community events. The choir may participate in Combined Primary School Choral Festivals at the Sydney Opera House and Town Hall. They also perform at many school events and functions. Over 70 HHPS students are involved in the choirs each year. The music they sing is varied and challenging and enjoyed by all!
VISUAL ARTS
In Visual Arts, students develop knowledge and understanding, skills, values and attitudes in Making and Appreciating by engaging with the concepts of artists, artworks, the audience and the world.
In making they learn how they can investigate the world through selected subject matter (eg people, objects, places and spaces) and work with the forms (eg painting, drawing, digital works) in expressive ways. These investigations of subject matter and the forms are further developed in their appreciation of artists, designers, craftspeople, architects and their works. Learning in visual arts is most effective when learning experiences in making and appreciating are integrated in a planned and sequential teaching and learning process. Teaching and learning experiences may begin with a focus on either making, appreciating, subject matter, a form, particular artists, selected artworks, audiences or the world. All of these offer valuable approaches to the teaching and learning of visual arts and should be varied over the entire program.
All students are taught Visual Arts by their classroom teacher. The lessons are well-considered, relevant and consolidate learning in other areas of the curriculum.