Saying it loud at Dominic College

YEAR 6 students at Dominic College recently performed Say It

Loud!, their annual show of original one-act plays devised, scripted and presented by themselves.

Now in its fifth year, the production is the culmination of the college’s primary drama curriculum, in which students develop, produce and stage their own plays, collaborating to build an ensemble piece over 10 weeks. They shared stories and combined ideas, and then used their lessons to workshop and refine the dialogue and movement for their performances.

Director of Creative Arts K-10 Mike O’Brien, said Say it Loud! was a play-building program unique to Dominic College. “A sequential primary program is implemented by specialist drama teachers from Year 3 onwards, to develop skills and experience,” he said.

“By Year 5, drama skills and techniques are established. In Year 6, students refine and consolidate the process by exploring theatrical elements needed to produce a performance for an audience.”

Mr O’Brien said that each year students produce diverse theatrical pieces and that the processes used are developing a full range of academic skills from literacy development to critical thinking and analysis.

Principal Beth Gilligan said schools can easily underestimate the capabilities of primary students.

“Teaching students the combined skills of research, analysis and performance through play-building is a powerful educational process for upper primary students,” Ms Gilligan said.

From K-2, the arts program is integrated within the curriculum. Music forms the baseline of dramatic experience for K-6 students, with Year 7-10 visual arts and drama teachers on rotating teaching blocks throughout the semester for Years 3-6.

“The successful development of a Year 3-6 model of Creative Arts has capitalised on the benefits of being a one-site K-10 school,” Ms Gilligan said.

“Students think differently with greater exposure to the Arts and approach problem-solving in more sophisticated ways.”