Mock Trials

Similarly, the Juniors lost narrowly in their attempt to argue that “This house would de-privatise childcare”. The students involved learned a huge amount from their first experience, including how to interrupt someone in the middle of what they are saying by calling out “Point of Information”!

We were looking forward to debating against Perth College next Wednesday 29 March, however we have just learned that PC needs to postpone, so our next debate will now occur in Term 2. Watch this space!

Ms Elena Jeffcoat-Sacco Maths Teacher

Last Tuesday evening the goal for our new St George’s Mock Trials team was to go up against a strong team so the team could get a real sense of what it is like to perform in the Supreme Court. Mt Lawley SHS gave us a fantastic opportunity and won the overall trial with a score of 129 points versus our 125 points. So close.

The St George’s Team is to be congratulated on their:

• amazing court etiquette,

• excellent preparation,

• strong cohesion for a new team,

• establishing an excellent rapport with the judge, and

• excellent understanding of the law and able to wax lyrical with the judge on subtle points of the trial.

The St George’s Team comprises Kyan Ambrosio, Katherine Mullaney, Neve Gulvin, Seb Searle, Georgia Rose Dewar, Rory Bingham, Eliana Roscoe, Claire Beltz.

We are super proud of the progress they have made so far and look forward to Trial 2.

Ms Mel Thorpe English Teacher

HASS Week 2023

Each year the Humanities Department strives to select a theme for HASS week which speaks to the critical events and developments of our time that affect us all. Our theme this year was ‘The Great Reset’, which is the idea that developed countries like Australia must become more sustainable, more equitable and more innovative to recover from the pandemic and to solve the problems of entrenched poverty and environmental degradation.

Fortunately for Australia and other developed counties, we can see many positive steps being taken by individuals, businesses, and governments toward these goals. We marked HASS Week with several activities including a daily PCG quiz, movies, documentaries, board games, computer-games, and a poster competition (a special shout out to Ms Higgins’ PCG which swept the boards with our quiz).

All these activities were purposed to raising student awareness of our learning area, the exciting themes we study and the intense relevance of their HASS learning to the events and developments which will inform and shape their lives as citizens of Australia and the world.

Mr Brian Mac Gabhann Humanities Teacher

Maths Week

On the eve of Maths Week (Friday, 17 March) 12 Students in Year 9 and 10 gathered at Trinity college for the event of a life time. The Have Sum Fun maths competition! Meanwhile across town 10 year 7 and 8 students were preparing for their own titanic battle at Bob Hawke college.

Both teams gave their all, earnestly discussing problems and showing their mathematical prowess. We may not have won but St George’s was clearly the school having the most fun.

Drama and Dance

Year 7 Drama – Physical Comedy

Over the past few weeks, the Year 7 Drama students have been working hard to develop their physical comedy performances. After working with Yip Yip Circus in Week 2 to develop their movement techniques and physical comedy techniques, the students then devised their own physical comedy performance inspired by a past comedic experience.

I was personality so proud of how the Year 9 and 10s conducted themselves. A massive thank you to all students who participated, parents who shuttled them there and back, and to Mrs Kerfoot for supervising the Year 7/8 teams.

This week PCGs have competed on Nerdle and seen how many of the Tangrams puzzles they can solve. During lunch students participated in maths relays which were riveting to watch as students worked collaboratively to solve problems against the clock. The Maths Department was blown away by the 40 students who came to CQU to watch the teacher vs students times tables competition. The staff winner was Mr Bochrinis and the student winner Oliver Lam.

Miss Chloe Hewitt Head of Maths

Some of the student performances included:

• Burglary gone wrong.

• Two little bears.

• My dog is stuck in the dog door.

• Karen waiting for her meeting.

The commitment and dedication the Year 7 students showed during their performances was commendable, and their creativity and comedic zest has been a highlight throughout the term. Over the next few weeks the students will take on the role of marketing/publicity as they create posters and materials to hypothetically promote a season of their devised performance.

Well done Year 7s on all your hard work and energetic personas.

Year 8 Drama – Costume Design

Over the course of the term, the Year 8 students have been studying realism in Drama and developing a costume design for a character from the text, Lockie Leonard.

After participating in costume design workshops and developing their knowledge of the elements and principles of design, students then created and analysed original costume designs that suited a representational style.

As costume designs started to roll in, it was clear that their creativity and application of design elements were very successful. Please see this impressive costume designs from our Year 8 student, Jaya Chopra.

Over the coming weeks, the students will take on the roles of actors and directors as they prepare for their realism performance of Lockie Leonard. The collaborative skills and commitment to their characterisations has been impressive thus far.

Well done Year 8s on all your hard work.

Year 9 and 10 Dance – Jazz Technique

particularly excited for this assessment as this will give them the opportunity to have creative freedom regarding their intent and stylistic movement choices.

The Year 10 Dance students will also continue to develop their jazz routine while also beginning their preparation for their first case study of the year.

Year 10 Drama – Scripted Performance (Realism)

The Year 9 and 10 Dance students have been developing their jazz technique and movement retention skills. Students have been learning a variety of phrases exploring the application of warm up components, pirouettes, travelling pirouettes, kick variations, leap variations and routine retention. Students then performed these phrases and their jazz routine for their jazz technique assessment.

The Year 9 students have been developing a Broadway Jazz routine inspired by the musical ‘Six’ and the Year 10 Dance students have been developing a commercial jazz routine inspired by empowerment. I would like to commend the students for their professionalism and dedication to developing their skills in these areas.

Over the next few weeks, the students will continue to develop their jazz routine in preparation for the Inter-House Performing Arts Festival where they will be assessed on their developed technique and performance qualities.

The Year 9 students will also begin developing their group choreography pieces that will further their improvisation and collaborative skills as they demonstrate technique and performance qualities in a style of their choosing. The Year 9 students have been

The Year 10 Dance students have been busy analysing unseen and set texts while developing their scripted performance of ‘Blackrock’ by Nick Enright. Students have been learning a variety representational performance and design skills and have been studying this through the lens of the realism practitioner, Stanislavski. Students then performed these scripted scenes for their assessment and demonstrated professionalism and maturity, as they approached mature themes with compassion and respect.

The students are now diving into a new style of acting, exploring presentational approaches and design choices as they work to devise a theatre piece using poor theatre conventions and applying the ideology of the practitioner, Jerzy Grotowski. The students have been particularly excited for this assessment as their groups have been allocated at random as they explore a new style of theatre.

Year 11 Dance – Contemporary Technique

The Year 11 Dance students have been developing their contemporary technique and movement retention skills over the course of the term. Students have been learning a variety of technical phrases exploring the application of warm up components, leg swings and windmills, spinal rolls, drop swings, planks, travelling pirouettes, small and big leap variations and routine retention. Students then performed these phrases and their contemporary routine for their contemporary technique assessment.

The students will also be taking on a designer role of their costume, lighting, sound and set and documenting their progress in a journal which will explore reflecting processes and develop their written application.

Stay tuned for more Dance and Drama news!

Jessica McGaw Dance and Drama Coordinator

The Year 11 students have been developing a contemporary routine with a narrative structure that explores the idea of transformation inspired originally by the character, the ‘Joker’. Students performed very well in this assessment and conducted themselves in a professional manner, maintaining safe dance practices.

one is homeless because of one single event

Over the next few weeks, the students will continue to develop their contemporary routine in preparation for the Inter-House Performing Arts Festival where they will be assessed on their developed technique and performance qualities.

The Year 11 students have also begun developing their group choreography piece that will develop their choreography and design skills. They have been particularly excited for this assessment as this will give them the opportunity to have creative freedom regarding their intent and movement choices.

Tasked with the undertaking to recreate an iconic historical dance, the Year 11s have decided to recreate three classical styles and dances that follows their journey of dance as they have grown into who they are today. They have decided to follow a linear narrative structure that focuses on their passion for dance and growth as an individual.

Group Choreography Intent Scaffolded:

Part 1: Ballet - Toddler (Fairy Dance - Swan Lake)

Transition: Lyrical (Transition to teen)

Part 2: Jazz - Teen (Musical Theatre – Disney musical)

Transition: Contemporary (Identity challenged)

Part 3: Hip Hop (Rhianna Superbowl – Acceptance)

A unique collection of stories from five young Western Australians about their experiences of navigating homelessness. Authentic and uplifting, this film event will challenge perceptions.

0

- events.humanitix.com/stained-glass-window-screening