Nurturing young creative minds

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE High School’s annual Art and Technology Exhibition reveals in dramatic style the work which goes on all through the year in the various workshops, classrooms and studios.
The school boasts a comprehensive art-technology program, which starts in year seven and continues to evolve through to VCE.
Art-Tech coordinator Chris Murphy said all students at year seven engage in workshops focussing on wood/electronics, textiles, visual art and food tech.
“Design principles are introduced here and built upon in future years leading to VCE,” Mr Murphy said.
“In Year 8, students begin systems technology where they learn through designing and constructing clocks, dragster vehicles and rockets that can reach a height of over 100 metres.
“They also begin ceramics and continue to build on their skills in art/graphics, textiles and food tech which has an emphasis on health and nutrition.”
Students in Years 9 and 10 can have the option of moving into photography as a lead into VCE media studies, and into metalwork.
Next year, for the first time at the school, a new event management workshop will be offered with a focus on sound and lighting.
In wood, metal, textiles and ceramics students focus on the design principles and techniques that will prepare them for VCE design and technology and use more complex tools, equipment and systems to produce professional results.
The annual exhibition of work in the school’s new science/technology wing provides an opportunity for the wider community to see the excellent work being done by the district’s young people, and their teachers.
There will be many examples of creative and professional work on display from all workshop areas including VCE design and tech (wood), VCE media studies and studio art.
The exhibition is open at lunchtime, 12.45pm to 1.30pm, from Monday 19 November to Tuesday 27 November, from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday 22 November and 10am to 4pm on Election Day, Saturday 24 November.