HSC Showcase

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Computing Studies

2020 saw students of Information Processes and Technology and Software Design and Development courses face a range of challenges when completing their major projects. Despite the myriad of curve balls thrown at them this year, both classes produced a wide range of major projects that helped to entertain and inform their users. Congratulations to all the Year 12 students for their projects in ensuring that the HSC Showcase was a success. The boys of King’s were able to come, play and use these projects on the day. I would also like the congratulate Mikey Lee and Connor Sinclair for winning the SDD and IPT Showcase prizes respectively.

Industrial Arts

The students studying Industrial Arts subjects for the HSC once again thrived in 2020. This year we had 50 boys studying practical subjects, designing and producing a diverse range of products from farm drones to trailers to a wide variety of furniture. Whilst there was a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the HSC and the Major Projects and Folios, boys and staff continued to work diligently, never letting the situation overcome them. If anything, the period just prior to online learning enabled our boys to have a couple of intensive days in the School workshops to get ahead of schedule on their projects. The quality of workmanship and the camaraderie this year was some of the strongest we have seen. All boys can be extremely proud of what they achieved in 2020. Their practical work was outstanding and the time of online learning aided in their portfolio development. Whilst we could not celebrate with a traditional Showcase evening, all the students of the School were able to view and celebrate the boys’ work in a modified fashion. Prize winners for this year included Henry Gubbins who received the Owen Wuillemin Memorial Prize for his Flatbed Hydraulic Tipping Trailer, Michael Maung (Industrial Technology Timber and Furniture Industries) for his Waterfall Executive Desk, Harry Daikin (Industrial Technology Metal and Engineering Industries) for his Calf Cradle and Harry Martens (Design and Technology) for his Shredding Recycling Bin.

Metal: https://vimeo.com/491836971/caf172d6f7 Wood: https://vimeo.com/491852589/0466cac86e Tech Design: https://vimeo.com/491857424/8302d00221

Drama

Drama students excelled once again in presenting their HSC Individual Projects at Curtain Call, our spectacular Showcase of student performances. Whilst COVID-19 saw the exclusion of the much-revered Group Performance in 2020, The King’s School Drama Department worked overtime rehearsing, refining, polishing and perfecting the boys’ Individual Performances. Student performers felt the support from an intimate, COVID-safe audience of loved ones and a panel of markers in the Drama Studio, whilst peers and additional audience members viewed the live stream in the Drama Theatre. The internal fortitude and resilience of these students in what was a seemingly tumultuous year, saw them excel once again, with a record 20 Individual Performance OnSTAGE Nominations and one Individual Project Set Design OnSTAGE Selection.

Music

The 2020 HSC Music Showcase took on a slightly different format this year. Boys were able to invite a small number of family and special guests attend, to witness their HSC programs with great professionalism, demonstrating excellent preparation and performance expertise. The evening was spectacular, with highlights showcasing, Jamie Robinson and Lyndon Lin presenting their Music 2 and Extension pieces on Saxophone, Rami Al Mansuri performing his Music 1 program on Timpani and Marimba, and Alexander Negro delighting us with his Electric Guitar and Vocals. Even though this year disrupted our musicians in many ways, our HSC boys produced a highly successful evening of celebration. Lyndon Lin was subsequently awarded an HSC Music Nomination, which provides a possible inclusion in ENCORE, a concert including the selection of performances and compositions from exceptional Higher School Certificate Music students.

https://vimeo.com/491859141/4d94aebba8

Visual Arts

Once again, the young men studying Visual Arts for their HSC produced an exhibition of sophisticated, highly skilled artworks that explored a range of complex and emotive concepts. The exhibition was held in the CLL and displayed 30 Bodies of Work in a range of forms from sculpture, ceramics, painting, drawing, film, photography and printmaking. These highly resolved artworks were an indication of the significant creativity within The King’s School students, exhibiting their drive, talents, craftsmanship and view of the world.

Although all of this year’s artworks were of a very high standard, there are a number of awards presented at Showcase each year for the Bodies of Work. Jonathan Bartlet was awarded the Headmaster’s Prize and the Body of Work Prize for his Body of Work Lepidoptera Deiectae. John Cha’s Memoirs of a Korean Australian was also awarded the Body of Work Prize. Glenn Feng’s Censorship and Harrison Stewart’s Beyond the Shortboard were awarded the Technician Prize. COVID-19 presented us a number of challenges, however, we were still able to have an Open Day during the school holidays, so the families of the students were able to see the artworks on display and celebrate their achievements. This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate these young men’s achievements and it was lovely to see the students and parents so proud of the work displayed.

https://vimeo.com/491862145/6919568bed

“Despite the myriad of curve balls thrown at them this year, both classes produced a wide range of major projects.”