Catholic Outlook August 2015

14 CatholicOutlook August 2015Students during a drama performance at the CAPTIVATE Showcase.Students leave audience captivated during showcaseHundreds of students from 42 Catholicprimary and secondary schools fromacross the Diocese showcased theircreative talents in a series of music, danceand strings performances throughoutJune, culminating in the ‘Best Of’performance on 19 June at the JoanSutherland Centre, Penrith.The showcase events demonstrated thehigh calibre of choral, drama, music anddance works from Catholic schools, underthe Diocese of Parramatta’s creative andperforming arts initiative, CAPTIVATE.CAPTIVATE Team Leader, MarkHopkins, said the showcase was a hugesuccess, with students able to learnmore than dance, drama and music.Ann D Clark2015 LECTURETuesday 25 August 5.00pm at the Evan TheatrePanthers World of Entertainment, Mulgoa Road Penrith“Studies reveal the power of thearts to inspire, motivate and educatetoday's students,” Mark said.“Research shows that arts educationdevelops learning habits that improveperformance across all subject areas.“Teachers also benefit from studentsparticipating in creative arts programsas they are more engaged in theclassroom and enjoy learning.”The program provides learning andperformance experiences for students,as well as building expertise and a senseof community across the system.The CAPTIVATE Showcase has becomevery popular with seven new schoolsjoining the program since last year.Students performing a dance routine.Young musicians’ talents on show.Time for a Seismic Shiftin Systemic AssessmentsPRESENTED BY Emeritus Professor Patrick Griffin,Melbourne Graduate School of EducationAfter a career spanning more than 40 years in the field of educational assessment Prof Griffin will reflect uponthe changes in assessment during the period and project well into the 21st century in terms of the wayassessment is changing, how it is linking to teaching and changing teaching practice.Email tickets@panthers.com.au Enquiries: events@parra.catholic.edu.auPlease include name, address, contact phone number and total number of ticketsrequired when requesting tickets. Subject line will need to include Ann D Clark Lecture.St Francis of Assisi Primary divides and conquersSt Francis of Assisi Primary,Glendenning, held its firstMaths-a-thon on 12 June.The school’s Lead NumeracyTeacher, Chris Boyer, said allowingstudents to “number bust” usingthe large expanse of the pavedarea of the playground displayeda student's ability to mentallypartition numbers outside theclassroom in a creative, individualand exciting way.“It is valuable for parents to seefirst hand their children implement new strategies in problem solving and support them asit has been proven that student learning is more effective when parents and the school workcollaboratively,” Chris said.Parent Katrina Whyman said she was impressed by the skills gained by the students and thevarious modern strategies they were implementing independently.St John Paul II students recognised for completing uni coursesFrom left: Joe Evans, Jim Fanning, Monique Borg, Katarina Sepping,Keeley Chidgey, Alexandra Garcia, Megan Foong and Phil Smith.On 17 June, five students fromSt John Paul II Catholic College,Nirimba, received awards andscholarship offers from theUniversity of Western Sydney(UWS). The students attendedthe UWS Awards ceremony aftersuccessfully completing universitycourses during their Year 11preliminary study in 2014.Last year, students Monique Borg,Katarina Sepping, AlexandraGarcia, Keeley Chidgey and MeganFoong took on the challenge andbegan university courses at UWS (Nirimba), located within the precinct of the senior campus.Along with their awards for completion, the students also received a $500 grant towards theirstudy for the HSC, as well as a scholarship grant of $5000 a year for a four-year degree coursewithin the university.The 2015 program has commenced with six Year 11 students undertaking their orientationactivities before they commence university study in Terms 3 and 4.St Canice’s Katoomba sculptures at schoolStudents from St Canice’s Primary,Katoomba, have been workinghard to transform their schoolinto a walk-through art gallery forSculptures at School.Inspired by a whole-schoolexcursion to Sculpture at ScenicWorld, each class has beenworking on creating masterpieceson the theme, ‘Animals of War’.Displays throughout the schoolincluded a glow room, aSt Monica’s gets political using project-based learningThe Tree Savers Party (from left): Brooke Emphield, Jordan Crockett,Patrick Newey and Hayley Herder-Beke.Year 1 student Jazlyn uses “number busting” to solvemathematical problems.Year 6 student Mia and Year 3 student Julian sitting on ‘FlandersField’, to which the whole school contributed.recreation of Flanders Field, a maths trail, drawings of poppies, letters home from the warand sculptures of animals of war.Principal Mark Geerligs said that the school used the creative project as a way to involveaspects of the curriculum, including persuasive writing and an ANZAC-themed maths trailaround the school.In Term 2, Years 5 and 6 (Stage 3)students from St Monica’s Primary,North Parramatta, were askedto create a political party anddevelop a campaign to identifyand address the needs of the localcommunity using a project-basedlearning (PBL) approach.On 24 June, parents and peerswere welcomed to the schoolwith students handing out flyersto promote their political partiesand campaigns.After registering their ‘vote’, visitors walked around to each party and asked questions aboutthe campaigns, messages and plans for the future.Stage 3 teacher, Kellee Bagnall, said students were inspired by an excursion they took to StateParliament on 5 June.“The students were given the opportunity to see how real political parties function and thework involved in putting campaigns together,” Kellee said.For more school news visit CatholicEdParra and @CatholicEdParra or www.parra.catholic.edu.au