The Arts
The Arts enrich our lives.
They are powerful forms of expression that recognise, value, and contribute to the unique bicultural and multicultural character of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Through movement, sound, and image, the Arts transform people’s creative ideas into expressive works that communicate layered meaning.
Learning in, through, and about the Arts stimulates creative action and response by engaging and connecting thinking, imagination, senses, and feelings.
Junior Arts
Drama, Music and Visual Arts
Year 7 & 8 students rotate around Drama, Music and Art during the year.
They spend approximately 1 term or 13 week blocks in each of the arts subjects.
Year 9 students choose two of these option subjects which run as a half year semester.
Year 10 arts subjects are chosen as a ‘whole year’ option.
Senior Arts
Drama
As students perform, they learn to analyse and respond to different forms of drama and theatre. They gain a deeper appreciation of their rich cultural heritage, language, and new power to examine attitudes, behaviors’, and values and extend to communication of complex ideas and concepts.
Music
In senior music students initially focus on the three main areas of performing, composition, and music analysis. From this foundation in Level 1, students in Level 2 & 3 are able to choose standards and courses that suit their own unique skill sets.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Department is offering a range of senior art curriculum areas. Each area offers a wide variety of opportunities for students to explore their artistic learning.
Level 1 is practical art which has an emphasis on painting and printmaking.
Level 2 and 3 specialises in painting and photography.
Contact: Please contact Rebecca Clist, HELA of Arts at rebecca.clist@otamatea.school.nz for more details.
Vision
The Arts Department is dedicated to facilitating creativity.
Te toi whakairo, ka ihiihi, ka wehiwehi, ka aweawe te ao katoa.
Artistic excellence makes the world sit up in wonder.
Languages
Te Reo Maori
Ko tou reo, ko toku reo, te tuakiri tangata.
Tihei uriuri, tihei nakonako. Your voice and my voice are expressions of identity. May our descendants live on and our hopes be fulfilled.
Te Reo Maori is taught in Years 7, 8 and 9 as a full year course in which students learn one hour per week and build on their prior knowledge.
Year 10 and NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 Te Reo Maori are optional.subjects, taught four hours a week.
Maori Performing Arts is a core part of the Maori course and means that students can utilise their kapa haka skills in a practical manner.
International languages
International languages are imbedded into our well-rounded year 7 and 8 study programme which gives our students a unique experience. Students learn basic greetings, how to introduce themselves and others, and how to express likes and dislikes. Alongside the functional language aspects, students engage in cultural practices, making links, and realising differences to their own culture. Students may have the opportunity to celebrate culture and language with food which can be motivational and a practical way to learn.