Hamilton Secondary College
Hamilton Secondary College is located in the Inner Southern Adelaide region of South Australia. With an enrolment of over 1100 students (includes an Adult campus), Hamilton Secondary College is the most comprehensive state secondary school in the South Western suburbs of Adelaide.
Hamilton Secondary College is a complex institution consisting of 4 campuses, including:
- Adult campus consisting of re-entry students and adults;
- Hamilton Disability Unit for students with severe and multiple disabilities;
- Middle School for students in Years 7 to 9; and a
- Senior School for students in Years 10 to 12+.
The college also caters for:
- Students wishing to re-enter education, after a gap in their schooling for intensive/specialist courses not available at their own school;
- Country students requiring intensive courses;
- Students with special learning needs, such as Aboriginal students or those with a Non-English Speaking Background; and
- Students with disabilities.
A Special Class was established at the commencement of 1999 to more effectively meet the needs of students coming from Primary Special classes. The Hamilton Disability Unit is a specialist facility for students with significant intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Students in the Centre also access mainstream facilities and resources as part of their educational program.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: Niccy Pallant
ARTIST: Katherine Ellis
PROJECT: Circus Hits Hamilton
Aims:
- Engage students in the creative process of planning and operating an arts festival
- Expose the whole school community to arts as a form of expression
- Give opportunities for the students to work with and alongside a professional artist
The project was developed to provide students with an opportunity to express their ideas and play a significant role in the artistic process through the development of an arts festival management team and performance troupe.
The Artist:
Katherine Ellis is an experienced circus performer and trainer who has worked with a range of companies including Cirkidz, Circus Oz and the Rock’n’Roll Circus, and has performed as an aerialist and acrobat at events including the Paralympics Closing Ceremony, the Syndey Olympics and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Katherine has previously conducted workshops at Hamilton Secondary College as part of the school’s biennial XPOSE YA mini-festival run for, and by, Hamilton students. These workshops have always been booked out, which prompted the school to consider engaging Katherine as an artist in residence.
The Process:
Katherine met with Niccy Pallant - Project Coordinator, and with students from the XPOSE YA festival planning team. Together this team jointly pitched the project concept to staff through an oral presentation and demonstration. Katherine conducted circus workshops with every class from Years 7 to 11 and introduced basic circus skills, ideas and concepts.
Once the students had an opportunity to have a go at circus, all of the students were invited to join the Circus Troupe. 18 students with an interest in further developing their circus skills joined the performance troupe and honed their performances skills ready for presentation to the broader school community, as part of the XPOSE YA festival day.
Outcomes:
- Students worked with a professional artist to develop new skills and build self-confidence.
- The project promoted a message of inclusivity, being that “anyone can do circus”. Students in the performance troupe have embraced this attitude.
- The project provided successful outcomes for students with significant behavioral issues, resulting in a raised awareness of the importance of the arts within the school’s curriculum.
- The Circus troupe has expressed interest in continuing their work and performing at local Primary Schools.
- The project generated positive interest in activity, physical education and moving.
- The school now has circus equipment and the skills to continue to offer circus as part of other subject areas (ie. Dance, Drama &/or PE).
- Katherine Ellis was offered a position on staff at the school.
Highlights:
The school’s circus troupe learned a range of circus skills and gained the confidence to present their brief circus acts to every care group classroom, numbering over 40, at the launch the school’s bi-annual XPOSE YA festival. The troupe, comprising 18 students from a broad array of backgrounds, surpassed staff expectations with their level of skill.
The troupe gained experience performing at a range of venues and their skills were showcased at a 30 minute drill and performance that took place under the school’s “Big Top” as part of the school’s XPOSE YA festival day. Parents who visited the XPOSE YA festival day loved seeing the circus troupe and all agree that this was an extremely successful project.
“Katherine helped me build up my confidence by showing me what I can do… The best part was learning to do things that I didn’t think I’d ever learn… Katherine always made it easier, not harder to learn” Students
“I have discovered the benefits of circus in schools once again and have seen students develop confidence, joy, satisfaction, achievement and trust of others in their leaning process… The students gave a lot to the whole project and ended up with a wonderful performance in an amazing tent for the whole school to see… a huge success.” Artist
“Katherine is particularly skilled in her work with young people, she is approachable and interesting and interested…She is effective in her communication due to her strong commitment to establishing relationships with young people. The troupe REALLY enjoyed their work with her” Project Coordinator
500 students were involved in this project.
