1. INTRODUCTION

Creative Arts is one of the six Key Learning Areas for the Primary Curriculum. At St. Philip Neri Catholic School we follow the syllabus by the NSW Board of Studies, (published in 2000). The Creative Arts Syllabus provides information about teaching and learning in Visual Arts, Music, Drama and Dance. Students engage in learning experiences in Visual Arts, Music, Drama & Dance as part of their natural growth and development.

At St. Philip Neri Primary school we employ a music teacher and a dance teacher to support classroom teachers. Classroom teachers provide Visual Arts lessons either as stand alone units of work or integrated with other key learning areas.

When developing this policy we acknowledged that the ‘Dance’ component of this K.L.A. is also addressed in our PD/H/PE program and the ‘Drama’ component is also addressed in our English programs. The focus in the Creative Arts Syllabus is on Dance and Drama as art forms.

2. PURPOSE & RATIONALE

Creative Arts is designed to offer students opportunities to explore social and cultural values pertaining to spiritual and secular beliefs in Australia and in other cultures, and to celebrate, share and negotiate these values and beliefs. It provides opportunities for students to explore how people are involved in making, performing and appreciating, and to think about these roles in their own creative activities in visual arts, music, drama and dance.

Creative Arts offers students opportunities for personal expression, enjoyment, creative action, imagination, emotional response, aesthetic pleasure and the creation of shared meanings.

3. AIM

The aim of this policy is to enable students to develop an increased understanding of the Creative Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Drama and Dance) through an appreciation of accomplishments and as means of expression.

4. BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING IN CREATIVE ARTS

Belief 1
All students have the capacity and the right to learn and the need to experience successful learning.

Therefore

Whole school programs will be continually monitored and evaluated to ensure that the children have experience of quality programs and successful learning.

Belief 2
All students are individuals who learn at different rates, with different strengths and with a variety of preferred learning styles.

Therefore

Class programs will be based on knowledge of individual learning needs and differentiated to cater for these needs.

Belief 3
Learning is lifelong, continuous, developmental and holistic; students need to learn how to learn and to actively evaluate their learning.

Therefore

Developing proficiency in and enjoyment of the Creative Arts requires that the children be engaged in learning that acknowledges lived experiences. In order to develop skills children require good models, explicit teaching, relevance, use, experimentation and reflection.

Belief 4
Teaching and learning need to take place within a context of high expectations and within a positive, supportive environment.

Therefore

The teacher needs to provide structures, scaffolds and challenging learning contexts, where adequate and appropriate resources are provided and sufficient, dedicated time is allocated to the teaching and learning of Creative Arts.

Belief 5
Effective learning occurs when students are engaged in learning contexts that are collaborative and draw upon prior experiences, knowledge, understanding and skills.

Therefore

Learning in Creative Arts occurs best when it is in a collaborative environment that structures modelled, shared, guided and independent work and allows for the supportive and critical mutual sharing of experiences, skills and ideas.

Belief 6
Teaching and learning is informed by explicit assessment and feedback, which in turn will inform future learning pathways.

Therefore

Class programs are based on authentic assessment and evaluation.

5. RELIGIOUS DIMENSION

This policy acknowledges the religious dimension, which is evident throughout all key learning areas, through content, process and environment.
The teaching and learning in all key learning areas develops knowledge, skills, values and attitudes in the beliefs of the Catholic Tradition.

Through the Catholic Dimension of Creative Arts, we aim to integrate faith, culture and lived experience through the celebration of liturgical dance, music, art and drama.
Creative Arts provides opportunity to respect the lives of others who live differently to ourselves.

Creative Arts seeks to engage the whole person. In developing these capacities and gifts, we become fully human in the way that God intended us to be.

6. OUTCOMES
As a consequence of this policy the following outcomes will be evidence in each of the following stakeholders.

7. REFERENCES

• NSW Board of Studies syllabus and support documents.
• School based Scope and Sequence.
• School based yearly overviews.
• Individual programs of specialists teachers.

8. PLANNED EVALUATION

This policy will be reviewed in 2004.

Overview Of Creative Arts

In Visual Arts, students develop knowledge and understanding, skills, values and attitudes in making and appreciating by engaging with the concepts of ‘artists’, ‘artworks’, ‘audience’ and ‘world’.

In Music, students develop knowledge and understanding, skills, values and attitudes in performing, organising sound, and listening by experiencing musical concepts within a wide range of repertoire.

In Drama, students develop knowledge and understanding, skills, values and attitudes in making, performing, and appreciating by engaging with roles, dramatic contexts, elements and forms.

In Dance, students develop knowledge and understanding, skills, values and attitudes in performing, composing and appreciating by engaging with the elements of dance through a range of contexts.