VISUAL ARTS

‘Beastly Beasts’ is a multidiscipline unit aimed at developing a range of skills for Year 8 students. Inspired by Brett Whitley’s London Zoo animal drawings, the students focused on creating a sculpture with a sense of movement, freestanding and structurally sound. The results were outstanding, with the students demonstrating great problem solving skills.

The Vanitas tradition is an art movement that originated in the Netherlands in the 16th and 17th centuries, and was particularly popular in the Baroque period. The word “vanitas” comes from the Latin word meaning “vanity” or “emptiness”, and the tradition was focused on the transience and impermanence of life.Originating in the Netherlands in the late 16th century ‘Vanitas’ art is a form of art critical of the vanities expresses throughout Renaissance in the still life tradition. Vanitas art features objects that symbolized the fleeting nature of human existence, such as skulls, hourglasses, books, and flowers. These objects were often arranged in a symbolic composition that represented the inevitability of death and the ephemeral nature of material possessions.

Year 11 created an oil ‘Vanitas’ painting, based on observation of one set in class and were tasked to create their own contemporary photographic ‘Vanitas’ tackling issues of modern life and values.

Hsc Artexpress Excursion

Year 11 and 12 Visual Art students attended ArtExpress at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. ArtExpress is an annual exhibition of outstanding student Bodies of Work from the HSC. Exploring ArtExpress provided senior students with a greater understanding of the diverse and original artists’ visions, and the creativity and originality in curating an entire body of work.

Daniel Fisher

Year 7

Year 7 deserve special congratulations on completing their first and second terms of high school. They have successfully adjusted to the transition from primary school and have embraced the greater independence, heightened responsibilities and more challenging academic requirements. From the first day of term this cohort were enthusiastic, engaged and eager to be involved in many aspects of school life - from the performing arts to the swimming carnival to the Shakespeare competition, the Real Housewives of Disney production, showcases and the various mufti fundraising days.

Since their Orientations in December and January, Year 7 have navigated the usual social adjustments and all the academic assessments, ending the term with resilience, connectedness and undoubted energy.

Year Group Assemblies

As part of our well being program, every cohort is required to design, organise and host a school assembly. This opportunity occurs twice a year. During our daily homeroom sessions, year groups collaborate and brainstorm ideas on how to promote unity, respect and creativity.

We appreciate our assembly time, as it is a wonderful reminder of why we enjoy being an integral member of the APGS community. Our students are colourful, caring and compassionate, and we would not change a thing.

Creative And Performing Arts Program

This semester we were privileged to have some highly experienced tutors join our Creative and Performing Arts Faculty.

Students commenced the 2023 program by selecting two core electives within their major stream; Dance, Music, Visual Arts/Design and Drama. Students are then given the opportunity to nominate two electives in any other stream of their choice. This enables our students to develop into well rounded creatives who can nurture and aquire a wide range of skills to enrich their self discovery.

Music

Anton Koch: music theory/arranging

James Reade: digital music composition, theory/ arranging

Paula Baxter/James Reade/Kirsten Allison: Junior and Intermediate Music Ensembles (vocal/instrumental)

Paula Baxter and Kirsten Allison: Solo/duo Vocal skills and performance

James Reade: Instrumental Ensemble

Victor Rounds/Paula Baxter: Senior Music Company (vocal/instrumental)

Paula Baxter/Kirsten Alison: Song writing performance

Paul Brown: Guitar Ensemble

DRAMA

Kian Pitman/Tahlia Merlino: Junior Drama Company, Theatre sports, Scripts and scenes

Zachary Aleksander: Improvisation comedy, Screen acting and auditioning

Harriet Gordon-Anderson/Jake Fryer-Hornsby: Senior Drama Company

DANCE

Talia Fowler: Contemporary Ballet

Cassidy Nancarrow: Jazz

Andii Huynh: Contemporary

Brodie Shepherd: strength and conditioning

Robert Mejica: Hip Hop

Tiana Jae: Musical Theatre Company

Maya Gavish/Jess Rigby: self-devised dance and choreography

Jess Girvan: Latin dance

VISUAL ARTS

Victoria Valencia-Esguerra: Photography, Digital art and design, Digital Illustration

Dan Fischer: Body of Work

2023 School Photo Day

It has become an APGS tradition to take candid photos on our official school photo day. Whilst our students line up patiently for their school photos, we capture some heart warming moments of our school community. You can see our true colours shining through.

2023 Apgs Swimming Carnival

The APGS school spirit was amplified at our annual swimming carnival, held on a warm summer day in February at Victoria Park Pool. Mr Mankarious’ starting ‘gun’ signalled the start of over 80 races, from the freestyle age races, breastroke, backstroke, butterfly races to the novelty races and the elite Champions Race where APGS’s fastest swimmers competed for the prestigious title.

It was a day which showcased sporting talent, record breaking swims, personal bests, participation and House spirit. The energy and sense of connectedness shone, not just through the swimmers’ determination but in the students who volunteered as runners, timekeepers and all-round assistants to the staff.

The House Captains led and supported their houses, through the house chant competition ‘performance’ to enthusiastically cheering their swimmers.

Congratulations to winning house Cheetham, and to:

Senior Swimming Champions: Ned Pavlovic. (Y11)

Talia Rabin (Y12)

Junior Swimming Campions: Annika Huisman (Y8)

Talyn Pale-Eli (Y8)

Junior Swimming Champion, Annika Huisman, challenged Mr Fischer to a 50 metre race, which he accepted. Annika generously offered a 3 second handicap which led to a tightly fought out race, however she touched the wall half an arm length ahead - to rapturous applause.