Specialist Educators – Mel Phillips

Hello, my name is Mel Phillips and I am one of the Arts Educators at Brighton Primary School. This is my first year at Brighton and I am excited to be here. You will find me in the art room/studio from Tuesday to Friday and Steph Dawson in the space on Mondays and Tuesday mornings. I have been teaching for 13 years in numerous roles including, Well-being Coordinator, Science/I.T teacher, classroom teacher R-7 and specialist Arts teacher. We are both practicing artists – My main influence is from my Grandmother, an artist for 60 years and still practicing at 102 years old!, and Steph from her father who has been painting with her since she was able to hold a brush.

In the Art room/studio, our lessons focus on visual arts and drama. Singing and dancing are also incorporated at times especially with the junior primary classes. This year we will alternate Art and Drama each term beginning with Art in term one. In term three we will be having our Art exhibition with the student’s work being displayed and up for sale.

Learning in Visual Arts involves experimenting with conventions and techniques, exploring ideas, practices and artworks from different cultures and times, particularly those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists.  By focusing on different artists and art forms, students will represent a theme, concept or idea, different views, beliefs and opinions, and use artists as inspiration for their own representations.

Students in Drama will explore and express ideas and narrative structures through roles, situations and performances. They will use empathy in their own improvisations and devised drama. Students will use scripts and real or imagined events to develop and create characters and situations by using their voices, facial expressions, bodies, movement and language.

We are constantly trying to stretch students’ learning through an Art lens by complimenting and extending what is happening in their home classes. This may be in the form of showing understanding and interpretation through mime, storytelling, dance or a sculpture, print, painting or drawing. For example, aligning historical topics with relevant artist studies, creating meaningful performances out of certain social studies themes.

Term 1 is a fabulous time to be exploring Adelaide with so many Arts festivals at our doorstep.

• The FRINGE https://adelaidefringe.com.au/ which runs from February 14^thuntil March 15^th has over 88 shows specifically targeted at children and many are free. The link will take you to the homepage and if you filter genre and tick children, a list of available shows will appear.
• The ADELAIDE FESTIVALis on from February 28^th until March 20^th https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/ and has many programs/sessions for children including writer’s week running from February 29th until March 5th.
• WOMAD https://www.womadelaide.com.au/ is from the 6^th-9^th of March and really supports children in the ARTS. They have a specific area just for Kids called Kidszone https://www.womadelaide.com.au/lineup/kidzone with arts/craft, storytelling, singing and dancing and workshops.
• In our backyard, was our Brighton Jetty Sculptures hopefully you got to get down over the holidays and see them.

Art and Drama skills and knowledge are taught to enhance the abilities and creativeness of all children and encourage them to have a positive life long relationship with the Arts. We also focus on ways to build confidence, imagination, and communication skills in our arts space.

The Art Room Studio is located upstairs in Learning Area 2, Room 12. We have an open door policy and  everyone is welcome. I would love to hear from any of the community who have skills in the ARTS who would like to share them with us. Please come and have a chat or I can be contacted via email at mel.phillips456@schools.sa.edu.au and Steph can be contacted at stephanie.dawson689@schools.sa.edu.au

On Acquaintance Night Steph and I will be in our room from 5.35-6-00pm. Please feel free to visit us.

Mel Phillips & Steph Dawson