SVAPA @ Lawley
The Specialist Visual and Performing Arts (SVAPA) program at Mount Lawley SHS in Year Eight and Nine (Middle School) is distinctive.
Drama, Media, Music, and Visual Arts are practiced with a combined, collaborative and contemporary focus.
This approach in the Middle School maximizes potential and allows students a broad appreciation and understanding of the Arts.
It ensures that the Arts are central to the learning experience and provides an opportunity for integration of the Arts across Learning Areas.
The SVAPA program has an additional pastoral function in the Middle School for students who have gifts and talents in this area.
The SVAPA Parent Group through fundraising and regular meetings supports the aspirations of the program. The reputation of SVAPA is embedded in the local community.
In Year Ten students are encouraged to specialise in their area/areas of excellence.
They are also involved in a SVAPA Project class which is a collaborative program assisted by artist-mentors from the community.
We aim to develop the students academically, vocationally and socially so that they are independent, creative and responsible lifelong learners.
Our proximity to WAAPA and Edith Cowan University has provided course enrichment and research-based initiatives that extend our combined, contemporary arts' focus.
As a pilot school in the Growing Future Innovators program or Spark-lab at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) the SVAPA program has been recognised for its unique arts' approach.
The SVAPA Production in 2012 was part of this project. The Museum of Now was directed by James Berlyn with four other artists from a Visual Art and Music background.
In 2013 the SVAPA Parents Support Group (PSG) supported further work under James Berlyn's guidance and B.I. G. (Bullying Is Good?) was produced at MLSHS.
Year Ten students were an essential part of the projects each year.
Further details about the SVAPA Program
Details about applying for the SVAPA Program
