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.
Art, Language, Performing Arts & Creative Arts (ALPACA) at Kotara High School
The ALPACA faculty is the cultural heart of Kotara High School with a dedicated and creative staff who provide innovative programs of work to cater for the wide range of ability and talents of our students. We are one of the larger faculties in the school and cover all areas of the Visual Arts, Music, Drama and Languages including working with EAL/D students in the school.
The ALPACA faculty offers opportunities for students to exhibit their works and present their performances including Star Struck, public performances, HSC Drama, Music and Visual Arts Nights, regional music festivals, KHS School Band, school assemblies, annual Archibald Competition, excursions to the AGNSW, MCA and NRAG. Language students compete in the Ube High School Speech competition each year with our students regularly winning three of the four free trips to Japan. Language students also participate in many cultural activities including trips to Japanese and French restaurants and have the opportunity to host overseas students in their homes. Every second year there is an excursion to Japan that takes in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima as well as a homestay with students from our sister school in Ube. On alternate years there is an excursion to France including a stay in Paris. All overseas trips focus on places of cultural significance, also providing students with ample opportunity to put into practice language skills learnt in the classroom. Visual Design students have had great success in regional and national competitions. An Art Camp for gifted and talented students is held every second year at the former home of Arthur Boyd at Bundanon where students experience intensive Visual Arts Education for three days.
ALPACA Subjects offered:
Stage 4 : Music, Drama, Japanese, Visual Arts, Art in the 3rd Dimension, Guerilla Art, Photography
Stage 5 : Music, Drama, Film and Media Studies, Japanese, French, European Languages and Culture, Visual Arts, Visual Design, Photography
Stage 6 : Music, Drama, Beginners French, Japanese Continuers and Beginners, Visual Arts, Visual Design, Photography and Ceramics
ALPACA requirements:
Homework : students are expected to complete regular homework tasks and revision that may include :
- Practice Exercises : to help students remember and practise newly acquired skills
- Preparation : which may include sourcing and reading background information in preparation for future lessons
- Assignments : that encourage students to pursue knowledge individually and creatively
Assessment : will include a variety of practical and theory tasks based on the following :
- emphasising the interactions between learning and assessment strategies that promote learning
- clearly expressing the goals of the learning activity
- reflecting a view of learning in which assessment helps students learn better, rather than just achieve a better mark
- providing ways for students to use feedback from assessment
- helping students take responsibility for their own learning
- inclusive of all learners.
Equipment [WHS etc] : All students are expected to have the correct equipment with them at all times. This includes all texts, workbooks, equipment and BYO devices.