Behind the Curtin JOHN CURTIN. In this issue First Maths Active Gold school in WA Thinking science with the national curriculum. College of the Arts

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1 LEARNING FOR LIFE JOHN CURTIN College of the Arts COLLEGE OF THE ARTS Behind the Curtin MAGAZINE October 2012 Performance on stage and in the classroom In this issue First Maths Active Gold school in WA Thinking science with the national curriculum LOCAL HISTORY PROJECT LIAISES WITH NATIONAL TRUST BRINGING FREMANTLE ARTS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER

2 New facility ignites students love of science (L-R) Mitchell Mackay, Principal, the Hon Peter Collier MLC, Minister for Education, Energy and Indigenous Affairs, Russell Hodson, Building Manager Stillcon Pty Ltd, the Hon Colin Barnett MLA, Premier and Adele Carles MLA, Member for Fremantle at the opening of the new science building. From the Principal John Curtin College of the Arts annual magazine, Behind the Curtin provides you with news about students past and present and current and future directions of the college. Our students use their passion for the Arts to achieve high Year 12 results which helps open doors to educational opportunities and exciting career paths. This edition will focus on the academic strengths of the college with stories on how our mathematics, science and humanities are achieving the best results from our Gifted and Talented Arts students. Our Academic Excellence Program, which is available to any student across the college in Years 8 to 10, meets students advanced learning needs through challenging and motivating learning experiences. Please enjoy reading about the success of our college and its students. Mitchell Mackay PRINCIPAL Thinking Science is an exciting new initiative for John Curtin College of the Arts students helping accelerate their level of thinking so they can better cope with the demands of the regular curriculum. Since Term 2 all Year 8 students have participated in the Thinking Science Australia, Australian Cognitive Acceleration in Science Education project, which is run in partnership with the University of Western Australia. Head of Science David Webster brought in the program to coincide with the national curriculum roll out. The Thinking Science program is carried out in 30 science lessons over a period of two years running parallel to other science lessons that give curriculum coverage, he said. The first five lessons have focused on investigation and inquiry skills and we are currently focusing on classification skills. Recent analysis of data on thinking skills shows that the Thinking Science program is likely to have demonstrable impact on student cognition and achievement well beyond Year 8. David acknowledged that this effect was not limited to science lessons but improved students thinking across all subjects. The thinking skills they gain lead to improved performance in examinations long after the program has been taught, he said. Further information on the Thinking Science program can be found at The program is receiving positive feedback from students. Thinking Science was supposed to improve my science results, I think it has helped my other subjects too. Josiah Widger-Hartree (Year 8) I think it makes learning easier in all subjects, it also makes learning fun. This program will help a lot of kids in the future that have trouble understanding work. Moses Le Grice (Year 8) The thinking scientifically lessons are always fun and enjoyable. It s always something to look forward to. I think it will help me in the future when I have a problem and I don t know how to solve it. These lessons are definitely the highlight of science. Ashley To (Year 8) (L-R) Hon Colin Barnett MLA, Premier talks about the important role quality science education plays in Western Australia s future with student councillors Bridgette Criddle and Madeline Zulsdorf. (L-R) Hon Peter Collier MLC, Minister for Education, Energy and Indigenous Affairs and Mitchell Mackay, Principal at the official opening of the new science building. At the official opening of the new science block, the Hon Peter Collier MLC, Minister for Education, Energy and Indigenous Affairs acknowledged the new building as a magnificent opportunity for public school students to access state of the art facilities and the highest quality science education. Funded through the Western Australian Government science funding initiative and completed in February this year, the modern building will further enhance the wonderful academic excellence program in science offered by the school, giving the subject the importance it deserves. Mitchell Mackay, Principal said that the quality of the building respects the high level of educational outcomes expected of public school students. John Curtin provides a unique and wonderful opportunity where a student can pursue their love of ballet or drama and combine that Year 12 course with chemistry or physics to gain entry into medicine, engineering, physiotherapy or environmental science, he said. Arts students have a sense of creativity and analytical ability that often draws them into science related careers. It is often surprising to learn that more than 40% of our students continue on to science related university degrees, he said. The event was attended by the Hon Colin Barnett MLA, Premier, Adele Carles MLA Member for Fremantle and Sharyn O Neil, Director General, Department of Education. After considerable consultation with the college the Minister also announced $2.75 million towards the full renovation of all toilet facilities throughout the college. This funding will also address the health and safety issues relating to leaking windows in the home economics and computer science areas. Thinking Science project tacks in to national curriculum EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS Behind the Curtin is the official publication of John Curtin College of the Arts. Edition Correspondence: Behind the Curtin is published annually. The Editor Copyright: John Curtin College of the Arts Behind the Curtin Please contact John Curtin College of the 90 Ellen St Arts if you wish to reproduce any part of this FREMANTLE 6160 newsletter. jennifer.beer@education.wa.edu.au (08) COVER PICTURE: Gifted and talented Year 8 music student Mika Cull is a Gold Swan Award winner for academic excellence. Editor and Writer: Jennifer Beer Photographs: Jeremy Wheaton, Liv Stockley Science teacher David Martin (R) works with Year 8 students Max Graphic Design: Wren Design 2 Kingsbury and Mika Cull. 3

3 Active in ma+hs: John Curtin leads the State in accelerating mathematics John Curtin College of the Arts has been recognised as the first Gold Status Maths Active School in the State by the Mathematical Association of Western Australia (MAWA). MAWA initiated the program for the 2012 school year to enable schools to demonstrate that they actively extend students and teachers beyond the normal mathematics classroom. Mathematics teacher Donna Buckley said the program promoted excellence in teaching and learning of mathematics in Western Australia. Receiving Gold status, which is the highest of three levels, is a testament to our mathematics department, which actively promotes additional mathematical activities for students and supports staff pursuing extra professional learning, she said. The scheme is recognised by the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers and is already in operation in two other States, she said. Principal Mitchell Mackay said this achievement was an excellent example of the value-added education that students receive by being immersed in the Arts and achieving to their full academic potential in all areas of their learning. Academic Excellence Program Our mathematics AEP program offers all students at the college the opportunity for extension and acceleration. John Curtin students consistently perform well in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools - Mathematics, this year achieving 11 high distinctions and 22 distinctions. Extension before and after school Mathematics teacher Noemi Reynolds has been running after school tutorials, homework sessions and revision programs for Year 12 students for a number of years. This year she established the Extension Performance in Maths Challenge and Enrichment before school program for Year 8 and 9 students. Coordinating Gifted and Talented Academic Online Mathematics Program for country schools Initiated by mathematics teacher Jason Callaway in 2009 at John Curtin, the GAT Online Academic Program of study is designed to meet the needs of gifted and talented students in more than 30 public schools in country Western Australia. The program is now coordinated by Noemi Reynolds who teaches Year 10 and Jason Callaway teaches Year 8 and Duncan Sandison Year 9. This is a wonderful program to reach out to gifted and talented students in isolated areas and provide them with the tools to help them achieve to the best of their ability, Jason said. Links with local primary schools Mathematics teachers Donna Buckley and Jason Callaway have been working with Richmond Primary School and East Fremantle Primary School to give extension lessons with the students on algebra. John Curtin is part of the riverside network of schools, linking with local primary schools to help distribute the national curriculum. This has formed a valuable link between the two schools to help students in the transition process, Donna said. Sharing ideas and resources with the teachers and giving lessons to students demonstrating some of the content that has now been pushed down from Year 8 to Year 7 in the national curriculum has been valuable for all schools involved. Young historians at large in Fremantle John Curtin Year 8 gifted and talented students have teamed up with historians from the National Trust and members of the local community to examine Fremantle s heritage, social history, sport, culture and the experiences of immigrants. Focusing on Fremantle s rich and unique history, English and society and environment students have been working with historians and the people of Fremantle for this oral history project, where their historical inquiries will culminate in interviewing and recording the experiences of Fremantle identities. History teacher Steve Cox said these would then be archived for future posterity by the National Trust in Fremantle Library. Students are also incorporating drama, music, visual arts and creative writing in order to better understand and preserve the past, he said. Academic Excellence Program Coordinator Lino Franich said the project was a way of connecting the school with the local community, in particular the rich resources in Fremantle including Samson House and Fremantle Library. Our students are building on the skills of formulating and constructing questions, talking to people outside the community, building on group work skills and learning how their knowledge from texts can become living breathing things, he said. Learning about Fremantle and oral history is great! I hadn t learnt anything about oral history before and it s been a very interesting experience being able to work both independently and as a group, taking control of how we learn. It s challenging but fantastic. Roisin Hille (Year 8) I ve loved learning about the history of Fremantle and I m very excited to be interviewing an immigrant who is in their 90s. Kelly Keesing (Year 8) Learning about the lives of children that lived earlier in the first half of the 20th century has been very eye opening because we now understand how privileged we are. Georgia Wright (Year 8) 4 Mathematics teacher Donna Buckley (centre) helped establish John Curtin College of the Arts as a Maths Active School. (L-R) Year 8 students Kelly Keesing and Georgia Wright work on the oral history project with history teacher Steve Cox. 5

4 6 Prizes & Awards Francina Snyman (R) won the 2012 Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists and Jade Vennitti (L) received runner up. 180 Degrees Francina Snyman The Duja Bird Jade Vennitti Visual arts students star in State competitions Winner Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists Our college oval inspired gifted and talented visual arts student Francina Snyman to make a sensitive graphite drawing, 180 Degrees, which won this year s lower secondary section of the 2012 Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists in July. Fellow gifted and talented visual arts student Jade Vennitti received runner up in the upper secondary section of the awards with a digital illustration of her alter ego, The Duja Bird. Other finalists in the exhibition included Cooper Gleeson (What Would Warhol Do?), Ellie McDonald (Self Portrait), Luke Cannon (A Space for the Strange) and Priyanka Sivabalan (Alter Ego). Shaun Tan presented the awards at the ceremony to this year s winners who were chosen from more than 1200 entries from across Western Australia. Only 20 artworks were on show from secondary school categories with six selected from John Curtin. Winner 2012 Metamorphosis Award Year 11 visual arts student Emily Smith won the prestigious art award in the 2D section at the Metamorphosis Exhibition at the Central Institute of Technology for her work Untitled. Untitled Acrylic on canvas Emily Smith Her subject matter was a railway underpass in Fremantle. This highly selective competition presented works from Year 11 and 12 students from across the State. Alex Scott won the Highly Commended award in the photography section with his series of three images. Lucy Schneider was also selected for the exhibition. Outstanding results achieved in international writing testing John Curtin College of the Arts English department has received outstanding results for the 2012 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Writing with two high distinctions and 12 distinctions. Year 8 students Roisin Hille and Una Rehill were awarded top honours for the writing segment in the ICAS tests, which are run by the Univeristy of New South Wales and assess students academic ability across Australia. Young Writers Contest winner Gifted and talented Year 8 drama student Teale Harrison placed in the top three in The West Australian Young Writers Contest run by the Newspapers in Education. Teale won the award in the Years 7-8 poetry segment for her piece Dr Seuss. IN THE COMMUNITY Bringing Fremantle Arts communities together Deckchair Theatre on board John Curtin College of the Arts has teamed up with Deckchair Theatre in a unique partnership to benefit our gifted and talented drama students. Head of Drama, Travis Vladich said he was excited to announce this momentous occasion for our college. This partnership creates a sharing of expertise across both education and industry, he said. Not only will we be able to share resources but we have started looking at avenues on how we can work together as a local school and local theatre company. Deckchair are putting on special performances from their season specifically for John Curtin students and we have created student rush prices. Our students will have the opportunity to undertake work experience directly with the company as well, he said. The partnership is also about bringing awareness of our drama students abilities to our local theatre community. For the past 30 years, as Fremantle s only adult professional theatre company, Deckchair Theatre has been dedicated to developing and G. presenting new Australian theatre. Side by side with Fremantle Arts Centre Side x Side Exhibition at Fremantle Arts Centre marked a milestone of a successful five year partnership between the City of Fremantle Art Collection and John Curtin College of the Arts as Years 10 to 12 visual arts students exhibited alongside artworks from the collection. This unique exhibition of 19 artworks by our visual arts students and artworks from the City of Fremantle Art Collection that inspired them was in response to the 2011 exhibition Not Dead, which consisted of work in the still life genre. Visual arts teachers Katrina Lievense and Kirstine Sadler have developed programs to complement the Fremantle Collection through which the students learnt about the genre of still life. Our Years 10 to 12 students then created responses that varied from graphite drawing, traditional symbolic vanitas style still life in oils, watercolour and acrylic painting and mixed media, she said. Our visual arts department is the only school with a link to Fremantle Arts Centre and we are fortunate to be the only school in WA to have this collaboration. Established in 2005 the partnership has involved locating an exhibition drawn from the collection at the Curtin Theatre supported by a series of tutorials specifically devised for a student audience. Rowan 2005 Kirstine Sadler Visual arts teacher exhibits at UWA Visual arts teacher Kirstine Sadler exhibited at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery at the University of Western Australia as part of the Cruthers Collection of Women s Art. Her work Rowan 2005 is part of Surface and self: The work of Leanne Emmitt, Jillian Green and Kirstine Sadler, where the artists have captured moments of great drama or significance, which reverberates long after the moment of viewing has passed. Convict reminiscences in Fremantle Heritage Festival As part of the 2012 Fremantle Heritage Festival Year 10 gifted and talented drama students performed at the Crown Theatre, Fremantle Prison and The Terrace in an original work written and directed by Will O Mahony reflecting Australia s cultural heritage and convict past. Head of Drama, Travis Vladich said the performance revolved around a group of convicts in a Fremantle prison cell in 1856 contemplating being involved in a Shakespeare performance. As they learnt more about famous Shakespearean characters they discovered more about themselves and the trials and tribulations of their transportation and the lives they left behind, he said. Our nation s first performers of drama were convicts from the Sydney penal settlement in City of Fremantle Art Collection Curator Andre Lipscombe (L) conducts a tutorial with John Curtin visual arts students.

5 Student News & ACHIEVEMENTS London, Paris and now New York It s been a year of overseas and interstate adventures with the Year 11 and 12 drama and visual arts London/ Paris tour in January, the Years 10 to 12 dance tour at the Australian Youth Dance Festival in Gosford, New South Wales in April and the annual Ski Tour to Queenstown, New Zealand in July. The inaugural Arts tour to London and Paris in January had many art gallery and museum highlights including art galleries the Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Saatchi, Courtauld, National, Louvre and Musée d Orsay and the British Museum, Victoria and Albert and Natural History Museums, providing a treasure trove of wondrous and awe inspiring objects. Dean of the Arts, Carolyn Byatt said the students enthusiasm, generosity and warmth towards each other and the staff was impressive. They were excellent ambassadors for the college, the Department of Education and their country, she said. We are sure the experience was invaluable in strengthening their love of the artistic world and increasing their resolve to become a part of it. The next Arts immersion tour will be to New York in January 2014 for Year 11 and 12 students. Scholarships for academic achievement and soccer success Generous contributions from the Friends of John Curtin College of the Arts reward and acknowledge our exceptional Arts students educational achievements at the college through an annual scholarship for a gifted and talented student. This year we were also fortunate to have additional funds from the Gifted and Talented Department. Due to the large number and excellent quality of applicants for the Friends of John Curtin College of the Arts scholarship we were able to award a number of additional scholarships. Congratulations to Year 11 gifted and talented visual arts student Samantha Carbon on being the recipient of the original 2012 Friends of John Curtin College of the Arts Scholarship and congratulations to the following students who received a Gifted and Talented Scholarship for Year 9 Eljo Agenback Music Remy Arrow Music Theatre Hunter Campbell Music Sophie Drummond Drama Meredith Jackson Music Theatre Simon Joachim Drama Demelza Wall Drama Year 10 Shae Larsen Ballet Jade Vennitti Visual Arts Tess Whitelaw Drama Year 11 Ellie Costantino Dance Year 12 Kylie Graham Dance Seb Nye Scholarship 2012 This is a prestigious award that is presented to one student in each year group within the Specialist Soccer Excellence Program and is based on performance throughout the previous 12 months. Sebastian Nye was in the Soccer Excellence Program between 2006 and Seb died in a car accident in December Through various fundraising activities, Seb s parents John and Deb have very kindly donated money to the college to be used specifically for the purpose of the scholarship. Year 9 Jamal Yusof Year 10 Darryl Ong Year 11 Erin Armstrong Year 12 Amy Smeding Business and Arts are a winning combination A finalist in the Belmont Small Business Awards, Year 11 gifted and talented music student Jazzy Rooney-O Rourke shows that you are never too young to start chasing your dreams. Alongside her studies, the 16 year old entrepreneur co-manages her own fashion business Jazally Beach, which showcases a range of unique designs from beachware to bar. Jazzy said she has completed many business courses and is always the youngest by far. Someday I want Jazally Beach to be in fashion week and I want to be the youngest successful business owner! she said. To see Jazzy s designs visit jazally.com 8 London / Paris tour 2012 Jazzy Rooney-O Rourke (R) showcases her easy care, versatile, light weight and compact designs.

6 Dancing to her own song Student News & ACHIEVEMENTS Last term the college was lucky to have onboard a Deaf Role Model for one of our gifted and talented ballet students. Drisana Levitzke-Gray worked with Year 10 student Jemima Browning weekly as a mentor to encourage and support her in future decisions regarding study, career and involvement in the Deaf Community. Principal Mitchell Mackay said Drisana s involvement at the college was a testament to Jemima s determination and character. Jemima is a successful ballet student, having been in the Gifted and Talented Program for three years and her drive to succeed is admirable, he said. In The Spotlight John Curtin College of the Arts leaders - Principal Mitchell Mackay and Student Council President Rose Fitzpatrick Mitchell Mackay Rose Fitzpatrick Ultimate Frisbee brings the ultimate reward Gifted and talented dance student Jaxon Botje and gifted and talented music student Sam Francoise recently competed in the World Junior Ultimate Championships u19 in Dublin. The Year 12 students were part of the national team that competed in Ireland winning six out of nine games and placing 11th. Jaxon Botje (front) and Sam Francoise competed in the World Junior Ultimate Frisbee Championships in Dublin. Year 10 ballet student Jemima Browning rehearses for a major dance production. John Curtin finalists dominate at the Mandorla Art Award Works by our talented Year 12 visual arts students were on display at Perth Town Hall at the Mandorla Art Award in August. A quarter of the artists in the youth category (aged 16 to 25) selected as finalists came from John Curtin College of the Arts. Angel Adams, Alex Scott, Anisah Fiedorowicz, Germaine Erok and Ceitidh Hopper exhibited with works by Ceitidh Hopper and Alex Scott selected for a tour to travel to New Norcia for another exhibition. Ceitidh Hopper was interviewed about her work by Dr Rachel Kohn for Radio National s Spirit of Things. Principal Mitchell Mackay has been working with the Department of Education for 29 years and has been at John Curtin College of the Arts for seven years. Last year he was recognised as runner up Principal of the Year in the Western Australian Education Awards. This year he won the Australian Council for Educational Leaders Certificate of Excellence in educational leadership for his work as principal. His nomination by John Curtin parent Cavelle Monck and ICT manager and teacher Jacqui Butler for Principal of the Year reflected his proactive approach to improvement, innovation and change on every level at John Curtin. Jacqui Butler said Mitch s strong sense of integrity continually inspires staff at the college to strive for excellence. His belief that the success of the college is in staying true to its values, coupled with his passion for the public school system is demonstrated through his example, integrity and belief that leadership is the unshakeable foundation of the college, she said. President of the College Council, Robin Pascoe highlighted commitment, caring and community as three of Mitch s many fine attributes as Principal. His commitment to the college is outstanding and he brings to his role a sense of deep caring for people, for students, staff and parents; which in turn leads to the sense of community he has created through partnerships and people, he said. Cavelle Monck said that Mitch has achieved his vision for positive teaching, rigour in the classroom and a college that is complementary to both the Arts and academic excellence. He strives for JCCA to be known as a school where staff are valued, students receive the highest in academic and Arts education and where all are compelled to achieve their very best, she said. Mitch said that it was a delight to work with creative and inspirational students who love coming to school. I am surrounded by colleagues who are strategic forward thinkers, not frightened to embrace change and professional and passionate in what they do. Before coming to John Curtin he was Principal of Rossmoyne Senior High School, Principal of Leeming Senior High School, Manager of Operations of the Fremantle-Peel District Office, Deputy Principal of Hamilton Senior High School and Deputy Principal of Bridgetown High School. He has a Masters of Education in Educational Management and Administration and Bachelor of Education in Mathematics and Science. He has three children who have all attended public schools in the Fremantle-Peel Education District and is passionate about excellence in the public education system. Five Minutes with the President of the Student Council Rose Fitzpatrick speaks about her role and what the student council has been doing this year. What do you enjoy most about your role? Being president of the student council has allowed me to see further into the workings of the school. I am even more involved in making constant improvements and adjustments to make the grounds, the student welfare and the schooling experience at John Curtin the best it can be. The part I enjoy most in my role is heading a council of very intelligent and perceptive students who are constantly thinking of new and innovative ways to improve the school for themselves, their fellow students and future students to the college. What projects have you been working on across the college? We have seen several renovation improvements underway this year that students are happy with. The council has been working alongside teachers and administration staff to improve things behind the scenes including year transitions, exam preparation in classrooms and we recently organised the very successful Study Sensei program that ran for the upper school students. We also have several other projects and ideas we re developing alongside the student services staff to be more proactive in supporting students through a range of different problems. We will hopefully be able to share and have these up and running by the end of the year. What have you learnt most about being a leader? The things I ve learnt from experiencing the behind the scenes of the school, working with the student body, the council and the school staff, are invaluable lessons that I look forward to taking with me to the next stage of my life. I feel like I need about four more years to do all the things I want to do in this role, but I look forward to passing the projects we ve started onto the next generation. What are your future plans? At the moment my involvement with the staff and students working to better the school has left me thinking that I want to continue a career in youth issues and I ll be applying at the end of the year to several courses including Social and Applied Psychology, which I hope will help me in continuing along this path. I guarantee that if the students I ve worked with and other like-minded young geniuses trust themselves and continue with their intuitive and inventive ideas, the school is going to continue to be a great place indeed

7 Performance Highlights Arts college presents iconic play in entirety In the 21st year after the release of Tim Winton s classic Australian novel Cloudstreet, John Curtin College of the Arts was the first public high school in Western Australia to present the stage production of the iconic story in its entirety. Spanning across two performances, John Curtin College of the Arts Year 11 and 12 gifted and talented drama students performed this epic stage adaptation in its five hour original structure. According to guest director, and celebrated actor, Caitlin Beresford- Ord performing such a lengthy text is a big leap for high school students and John Curtin College of the Arts drama students were fit for the task. They are a keen, hungry, smart and intuitive group that can handle the complexities and sensitivities of the story, she said. CaucasianChalk.jpg: Life is a cabaret old chum Come to the cabaret Our Years 8 to 10 gifted and talented music theatre students presented the delightful performance Life is a Cabaret. The joyous tribute to some of the most popular cabaret style pieces from the music theatre genre provided an evening of laughs. (L-R) Shanee Osborne, Chris Buckle and Aria Oldmeadow perform in Tim Winton s Cloudstreet. Midyear Artsmedia Film Festival sets the scene Gifted and talented Year 8 and 9 Artsmedia students put on an inspiring evening for the Artsmedia Film Festival. AFI award winning documentary filmmaker Frank Rijaec was in attendance and said the images and their flow and layering was beautiful and sad. It was the tenderness through all of them that was most remarkable, he said. Keeping this sensitivity and learning how to put it out in the simplest, clearest ways exploring your own education rather than just receiving what any curriculum offers is what will make filmmaking alive. Gifted and talented Artsmedia student Natascha Sieg prepares for the Artsmedia Film Festival. Wind Orchestra shines in festival premier division Congratulations to our music department for their successes at the recent Band and Orchestra Festivals. Wind Orchestra 1 achieved Excellent in Premier Division, a tremendous achievement in this top division. Wind Orchestra 2 in B division and Wind Orchestra 3 C division also received the accolade of Excellent. Our Symphony Orchestra and String Orchestra, both in A division, received Outstanding. Gifted and talented flautist Bridgette Criddle performs in the Band and Orchestra Festival

8 NEWS BITES Where are they now? Chelsea Basham Two days after Chelsea Basham graduated from John Curtin College of the Arts in 2007 she packed her bags and made the move to Sydney to surround herself in the music industry. Chelsea went on to study at the CMAA Country Music College. After making the grand final of the prestigious competition Toyota Starmaker in 2010 she independently released her debut single and video Truth About Me, which was embraced by radio and the Country Music Channel. She then toured with McCalister Kemp, Kirsty Lee Akers and Liam Brew in the Guys, Girls, Guitars and Bars tour. Chelsea said in early 2011 she coldcalled producer Graham Thompson as she wanted to make an abum. I grew up listening to Compass Bros records that Graham produced Adam Brand, Melinda Schneider other great records and I always wanted to work with him, she said. According to Graham, he was impressed the first time she came into the studio. She pulled out her little guitar, I put a mic in front of her and she sang I Learned The Hard Way which she had just written, he said. She floored me with the opening line I was barely out of school when I left home to see the world - the sound of her voice was so sultry and soulful, like Dusty Springfield on the Memphis album. And it was her story. She was 20 years old singing about her life so far she won me over as soon as she sang that line. The pair spent several months on pre production in Sydney before heading to Nashville Tennessee to record the album. I d say the primary theme of this album is rejuvenation picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and getting on with your life, Chelsea said. The first single and title title track off the album I Make My Own Sunshine has had over 170,000 hits on youtube and enjoyed top 10 success on country music charts around Australia. Chelsea BasHAm Country singer superstar Chelsea signed to Compass Bros Records through EMI and launched her debut album in August this year at the Gympie Muster in QLD. She also performed on the ultimate stage, the Musters Main Stage, the same day. Her self penned current single Laugh It Off is working its way up the chart and is already proving to be Chelsea s most successful song yet. If it weren t for John Curtin College of the Arts I wouldn t be the person I am today, Chelsea said. The people at that school embrace you for who you are, push you to strive for the best and give you the tools you need to prepare yourself for the real world. I have the fondest memories of performing at John Curtin and I feel so grateful to have been given the opportunities the school gave me to be the best all round performer I can be. Thanks JC! Eskimo Joe Tom Tyson, 2011 dux of the college is studying history and economics at Cambridge University, which is ranked as the world s best university. Tom studied Ancient History and Modern History at John Curtin. He is enjoying being taught by some of the world s leaders in their respective fields and being around some of the world s future leaders. A number of 2011 graduates were accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) o Alistair Peel into the Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) o Madeline Hangan and music teacher Leonie Nicholls into the Certificate II in Music Theatre o Jessica Clancy into the Advanced Diploma of Contemporary Music o Chester Craig into the Certificate II in Music (Classical Guitar) o Blythe and Isaac Campbell into the Diploma of Dance (Classical) 2001 graduate Cy Clayton is the sub editor for Habitat in the West Australian newspaper. Dance graduate Jo Pollitt has created a new creative arts magazine for kids and artists called BIG Kids Magazine Bravery Imagination and Generosity. Visit to learn more. Singer Suzannah Espie accompanied the Australian Ballet in the new ballet Sweedeedee as part of Let s Dance, a show celebrating the Australian Ballet s 50th anniversary. Suzannah studied performing arts (theatre, dance and music) at John Curtin Senior High School in the late 1980 s. Gerard Schneider Tom Tyson BECOME A FRIEND OF JOHN CURTIN Help our future Arts graduates COLLEGE OF THE ARTS achieve their goals Would you like to help budding actors, musicians, dancers and artists? Become a member of the Friends of John Curtin College of standards at the Curtin Theatre for all our students. For a one o donation of $250 you can have naming plaque placed on a sea the Curtin Theatre. Your contributions, even in the smallest way, can provide considerable positive change fo Become a Friend of John Curtin the Arts. We have established this students within the Arts and he She has recently launched an album association to help Would the you students like to help them budding gain actors, opportunities that th called Sunshine- Filled Songs of Death at the college by musicians, raising funds dancers and otherwise artists? Become would not be able to and Deceit. that can provide a support member and of the Friends access. of John Curtin 1989 theatre arts graduate Sean Cook is scholarships a in the College Arts. of For the an Arts. We have established For more information please screenwriter living in London and earlier annual payment this of $25 association you can to help the students at the contact our Communications this year wrote an episode of SPOOKS become a member. college by raising funds that can provide Coordinator, Jennifer Beer on 9 (series 10, ep 4). Sean said he had such support and scholarships in the Arts. For an fond memories of his time at John Curtin Our Name Your Seat campaign 7297 or Jennifer.beer@de annual payment of $25 you can become a and is still in touch with most of the people makes a significant contribution wa.edu.au member. he went to school with. to maintaining the professional Name Your Seat Three 2009 drama graduates had lead roles and starred in WAAPA s How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying at the Regal Theatre earlier this year. Tim Grimes, Mia Donatelli and Jessica White completed the Certificate II in Music Theatre and were accepted into the Bachelor of Musical Theatre at WAAPA. Soccer Excellence student Aaron Younger was the youngest member of the Australian water polo team, the Sharks, at the 2012 London Olympics music theatre graduate Gerard Schneider recently performed as a tenor soloist at the Government House Ballroom in a Grand Operatic Concert where all proceeds went to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. His credits include Jekyll and Hyde in Taiwan, Le Nozze di Figaro in Europe, Acis and Galatea in Singapore and Malaysia and a national tour of La Boheme in the role of Rodolfo. Gerard is moving to London to take up a full scholarship in the M.Mus at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in If you would like to contribute to our Where are they now page, please send your contact information and a brief blurb about yourself to Jennifer.beer@education.wa.edu.au DONATE TO JOHN CURTIN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS Our Name Your Seat campaign makes a significant contribution to maintaining the professional standards at the Curtin Theatre for all our students. For a one off donation of $250 you can have a naming plaque placed on a seat in the Curtin Theatre commemorating the support you have given. All donations are tax deductible. Tax Deductible College Building Fund Donate to our tax deductible College Building Fund to support improvements and additions to our existing buildings which will make a significant difference to the learning environment of our students. All donations are tax deductible. Your contributions, even in the smallest way, can provide considerable positive change for students within the Arts and help them gain opportunities that they otherwise would not be able to access. For more information please contact Jennifer.Beer@education.wa.edu.au or visit jc.wa.edu.au to download an application form

9 CALENDAR OF EVENTS TERM DATES 16 October Term 4 commences for students 18 December Term 4 ends for students 4 February Term commences for students PERFORMANCE DATES 25 & 26 October Shades of Difference, Years 8 to 10 music theatre 9 November The Future Music, Years 8 to 10 music 14 November Visual Arts Exhibition opening 19, 21 & 23 November The Year of Living Dangerously, Year 9 drama 29 & 30 November, The Nutcracker, Project Company 1 December 29 November Artsmedia Film Festival 3, 5 & 7 December Macbeth, Year 8 drama 11 December Man Up, The Boys Project 14 December Showcase, Year 12 graduates EVENTS 15 October Year 12 Breakfast 17 October P&C Meeting 20 October Year 11 drama practical exams 24 October A division interschool athletics carnival 26 October Ballet stage exams 29 October Year 10 exams begin 29 October Parent information evening - Year November WACE begins 2 November Year 10 exams end 5 November Year 11 exams begin 7 November P&C Meeting 12 November Year 10 to 11 transition program begins 13 November Year 8 river cruise 16 November Year 11 exams end 23 November Year 12 Graduation 24 November WACE finishes 1 December Singapore Soccer Tour 6 & 7 December Year 8, 2013 Orientation Days 10 December Years 9 to 12, 2013 Orientation Day 12 December P&C Meeting 17 December Years 8 to10 Assemblies 18 December Years 8 to 12 book market Last day of school