Performing Arts

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Performing Arts are an integral part of school life at Stella Maris. All students have the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive range of curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities during their time at primary school.

​Curriculum:

Music

All students participate in a weekly classroom music lesson with a specialist music teacher where they sing, compose, create, and perform on a variety of melodic and percussion instruments.

The Arts

Students participate in many forms of art during the year, including visual art, media art, dance and drama. These classes aim to engage, inspire and enrich all students, exciting students imagination and encouraging them to reach their creative and expressive potential. Participation in the Arts assists with:

  • creativity, critical thinking, aesthetic knowledge and understanding about arts practices, through making and responding to artworks with increasing self-confidence
  • arts knowledge and skills to communicate ideas; they value and share their arts and life experiences by representing, expressing and communicating ideas, imagination and observations about their individual and collective worlds to others in meaningful ways
  • use of innovative arts practices with available and emerging technologies, to express and represent ideas, while displaying empathy for multiple viewpoints

 

Co-Curriculum:

Liturgical Music

Students perform alongside staff at school liturgies, masses, and other special school events held throughout the year.​

Performing Arts Tuition Program

Stella Maris School offers a comprehensive performing arts program taught by a team of specialist teachers.  We cater for all needs - including preparation for examinations and external performances.

Lessons are scheduled during the school day on a rotating timetable to minimise disruption to class learning time. Depending on age, physical ability, development, musical aptitude and interest, tuition is available for the following disciplines:

  • Available from Year 2 - 6

    • String Instruments - Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

    • Voice - Singing, Speech and Drama

    • Piano - including keyboard

  • Available from Year 3 - 6

    • Brass Instruments - Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium      

    • Woodwind Instruments - Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Saxophone 

    • Percussion Instruments - including Drum Kit, Xylophone and Glockenspiel

    • Guitars - Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar (only from Grade 6)

    • Theory of Music

  • Tuition is not available for students in Prep and Year 1

Dance Program

The Stella Maris School Dance Program offers weekly classes to students before school and during lunch times. Students develop fundamental motor skills and learn techniques through different genres. They enjoy opportunities to perform on assemblies, community events including an end of season concert. 

Dance groups are determined based on experience and age groups to provide growth and enjoyment for all students.

 Ensembles

  • Choral - Piccolo Choir (Year 2 boys and girls), Stella Fellas (Year 3-6 boys) and Stella Bellas (Year 3-6 girls)
  • Dance - Stella Juniors Dance (beginners, Grades 2-3), Stella Dance Extension (have some basic skills, Grades 4-6), Stella Dance Unique (very experienced).
  • Drama - Drama Club
  • Instrumental - Junior Band, Concert Band, String Club, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and various Chamber Groups

 

Extra-Curriculum:

Performances

Throughout the year, all of our school ensembles perform within and outside the school at a range of events. These include school events, festivals and Eisteddfods and combined school workshops and performances.

​School Musical

A school musical is staged every two years on-site at the school. Students are invited to be involved in a range of different aspects of these productions including singing, dancing and acting on stage, playing in the orchestra, working backstage or being part of the technical support crew. The musical embraces the entire school community with many opportunities for students, staff and parents to be involved.

Previous productions have included:

  • Mary Poppins (2022)
  • Through the Looking Glass (2020)​
  • ​​Beauty and the Beast (2018)
  • Peter Pan (2016)
  • The Wizard of Oz (2014)​
  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat​ (2012)