An appreciation for the arts is an important part of a Hawthorn education. A comprehensive program covering visual art, music and drama has been developed to enable students to become culturally literate, and to give them opportunities to flourish artistically. Whether it is sketching the flowers of Hawthorn’s flower bed during an outdoor art class, attending the ballet at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, or performing during the Fine Arts Week lunchtime performances, students in Hawthorn’s Lower School are nurtured to have a great understanding and love of the arts.
Music
Hawthorn School for Girls’ music program lays an exceptional foundation for students to pursue their passion for music. All music classes are taught by specialist teachers, and include a combination of music history, theory, and singing.
The music curriculum at Hawthorn School for Girls presupposes that a love and appreciation for music is an important part of the development of the whole person. Students are exposed to a wide range of music and acquire a basic knowledge of the four historical periods in music: baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary, as well as knowledge of the major composers within each period. While the emphasis of the Lower School music curriculum is on strong vocal training, students are introduced to woodwind fingering through the recorder and rhythm instrumentation through Orff instruments.
Our highly developed music curriculum utilizes a kinesthetic and multi-sensorial approach; students in the Lower School are taught the innovative solfège method.
Students work with enthusiastic and talented music faculty developing music literacy and appreciation. All our students are involved in performances throughout the year at assemblies, concerts and during our annual Fine Arts Week each spring. In the upper grades students’ talent takes flight as they participate in Woodwind Ensemble and the CIS Music Festival. Lessons in violin and piano are offered at the extra-curricular level.
Visual Arts
The visual arts program in the Lower School strives to improve a student’s perception of the physical world, in order to develop artistic skills. Through sketching and drawing techniques students develop improved hand eye coordination skills, as well as an understanding of design elements. The program varies according to grade, but includes colour theory, 3D design, illustration, graphic design, watercolour and acrylic painting. The program keeps in mind not only the student’s skills, but also their efforts to improve on their technique. Creativity and imagination are key elements of the Lower School visual arts program, and are explored and encouraged.
Creative Writing Program
In September 2007 Hawthorn introduced a new creative writing program in the Lower School: 6 + 1 Traits of Writing.
The 6 + 1 Traits of Writing program was developed by Ruth Culham, a leading expert in the writing process. The program is based on a model that covers writing from all dimensions and breaks down the writing process for students. It enables students to become stronger, more confident writers.
The 6 + 1 traits include:
- Ideas: The content, or main theme
- Organization: The internal structure of the writing
- Voice: The personal voice of the writer
- Word Choice: The use of precise and effective words that give clarity to the writing
- Sentence Fluency: The use of words and phrases that flow together throughout the writing
- Conventions: Mechanical correctness, including spelling and grammar
- Presentation: The overall appearance of the final product