26/10/02
A 16th century navigational device, a dance influenced by a high-profile murder case and a Geisha autumn dress, all created by secondary students, have won top honours in awards to recognise excellence in the Arts in government schools across the State.
Education Minister Alan Carpenter congratulated the winners of the Quest for Excellence Awards held at the Parmelia Hilton in Perth last night to bring down the curtain on Education Week 2002.
"The Quest for Excellence Awards were established in 1988 and have become one of the highlights of the school year and of Education Week in particular," Mr Carpenter said.
"They provide an opportunity for us to publicly recognise and reward endeavour, excellence and achievement in the arts and citizenship by students and their teachers in government schools across Western Australia."
A total of 213 entries were received this year from 46 secondary schools - including Albany, Broome, Narrogin and Busselton. A total of 31 entries representing 15 schools were selected as finalists.
"The awards have become so popular that entry numbers per school are restricted, with pre-selection processes beginning at the school level before submissions are made to Quest judges," Mr Carpenter said.
The Quest for Excellence Awards are the culmination of Education Week, which this year had as its theme Government Schooling. A Foundation For Life.
Awards were presented in five categories: written expression, the visual arts - functional and non-functional forms, performing arts, and citizenship. The judging panels included experts in specific areas.
All entrants were presented with a Participation Certificate while finalists and category winners received certificates, book vouchers and trophies.
Sheldon McIver, a Year 12 student of Leeming Senior High School, was a joint winner in the Visual Arts Functional category.
His entry Armillary Sphere was based on an instrument originally developed by early astronomers using rings to define the position and paths of planets and stars in the sky.
"My idea originated from the Unisphere in Flushing Meadow, New York which I first saw in the film Men in Black," Sheldon said.
"I did some research and discovered the Armillary Sphere from which I built this design."
Five Year 12 students of John Curtin College of the Arts combined to win the Performing Arts category for their choreography and presentation of Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay.
The music and choreography for the dance were influenced by the case of accused 19th century American axe murderess Lizzie Borden.
Mr Carpenter said Education Week activities such as the Quest for Excellence Awards showed how government school students were stepping outside the traditional parameters of school life into areas that enrich their lives and those of others around them.
"This is what government schooling is all about," Mr Carpenter said.
"It is a foundation for life and it is the base for ongoing learning because our schools and our teachers are teaching our children how to learn, not just what to learn.
"The awards are also a wonderful demonstration of how our teachers are inspiring students to scale the heights.
"This is not just a once a year occurrence - it is happening everyday in government schools."
The winners in the five categories were:
Written Expression: Heather Crawford, John Curtin College of the Arts, short story Frogs in Brown Suits;
Performing Arts: Emma Chat, Jessica Dunn, Hayli James, James O'Hara and Skye Silva (teacher Diedre Atkinson), John Curtin College of the Arts, Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay;
Visual Arts Non-Functional: Rheanna Tostevin, Balcatta Senior High School, Red Chair;
Visual Arts Functional: Joint Winners: Jessie Mitchell, Kalamunda Senior High School, Autumn Geisha; and Sheldon McIver, Leeming Senior High School, Armillary Sphere; and
Citizenship: Damian Smith, Albany Senior High School, The abundance, distribution and habitat selection of King George Whiting in Princess Royal Harbour, Albany and implications for future management.
Minister's office: 9213 6800
