House Arts

License CREATIVE TO COLLABORATE & PERFORM Although the House Arts competition has evolved over time, the premise has always remained the same: to provide students with leadership opportunities and creative license to collaborate and perform as an entire House group.

The performance night at the end of Term 4 marks the culmination of a year’s worth of preparation for the Year 11 leaders, and a week of rehearsal and work by every member of each House. Thankfully, we were able to stage a modified version of the competition in 2020, and the Michael Bond Memorial Trophy was lifted by Davis for only the second time in the competition’s history. Needless to say, anticipation is already building for this year’s event. One of the most important aspects of House Arts is that it is led and run entirely by our students. For the last 16 years, Year 11s have gathered during Term 1 for the unveiling of the annual House Arts stimulus pack, and set to work on planning and developing their concepts, scripts, characters, choreography, and set designs. Students experience practical leadership within a goal-oriented project and are supported by others who have undertaken these challenges before. Year 11 leaders learn about the importance of planning, communication and compromise, but also about the logistics of people and time management, deadlines, and the rewards of completion – all whilst instilling a sense of fun, camaraderie and competition within younger students. Previous stimulus packs have tasked students with creating a House Arts play based on ideas like the four seasons, famous artworks, nursery rhymes, and many others. This year, the stimulus and set song link to St Catherine’s 125 years of history. We are looking forward to seeing four new and exciting productions come to life in 2021. We hope with an audience back in attendance for the performance night.

Mr James Brown Head of Performing Arts