Strands

This strand aims to support and build on the already strong culture of Māori Performing Arts demonstrated through our Kapa Haka rōpū. However, this is an opportunity to further develop our leaders in this area and extend students who are particularly interested in this Māori Performing Art. 

Areas of focus will be development of Mau Rākau skills, taonga pūoro, and voice, in addition to haka, waiata etc. 

Students will have opportunity to work with specialists in these areas of their practice, along with their strand lead teacher. 

It is possible that rather than all sessions for this strand happening weekly, wānanga may be organised to support this work in the equivalent time. 

There is no formal assessment as part of this programme, but students will recieve regular feedback. 

It is expected that students will be members of Te Haeata Awatea and contribute to the cultural life of the school. 

Students must be enrolled in one of the following courses: 10MAO, 11MAO, 12MAO, 13MAO

The Drama strand will be an all-encompassing course. Not only will students have the opportunity to continue the development of their live performance skills from our curriculum program, but they will also extend their skills in screen acting, improvisation, directing, stage-combat and devising. In future, there may be scope to have separate strands dedicated to each of these different areas (i.e. a full year screen acting strand, directing and writing strand etc.)

As well as having weekly sessions with the lead teacher on the development of skills, students will also have masterclasses and extended sessions with professional performers in our community to develop their specific skills. 

The specific focus of masterclasses and the overall programme will depend on the performers enrolled but will aim to connect students with professionals in the industry and the high-level advancement of their craft.

The programme is largely practical and will require students to be ready to share, and perform for each other, as well as engage in critical feedback. There is no formal assessment as part of this programme, but students will receive regular feedback and have opportunities to perform and create their own work. 

It is expected that students will be members and contribute to the drama co-curricular groups.

This strand will have sessions on We dnesdays from 3.20pm - 4.20pm as well as Period 1 on Fridays

Students must be enrolled in one of the following courses: 10DRA, 11DRA, 11PER, 12DRA, 12PER, 13DRA, 13PER

Mr Nic Gorman (Term 1) and Ms Jessie Cooper (Terms 2, 3, 4) will be the lead teachers for the Drama Performing Arts Academy Strand in 2025. If you have questions about the specific details of this course then please contact her at j.cooper@wc.school.nz. For all other enquiries or queries please contact the Performing Arts Academy Director, Liam Boyle l.boyle@wc.school.nz

The Music strand supports those musicians in our co-curricular programmes. While we hope to offer a vocal music strand in the future, for 2026 we will only be offering instrumental music. 

Students will work with the lead teacher on a range of skills and areas of their musicianship. 

This will include technique, effective practice, ensemble awareness, critical listening, and musicianship. Students will also have masterclasses and extended sessions with professional musicians in our community to develop their specific skills. 

The specific focus of masterclasses and the overall programme will depend on the instrumentalists enrolled. However, as in previous years, the focus will be on Jazz concepts - improvisation, ensemble playing, listening, etc. If you are particularly interested in western art music rather than jazz, please discuss with Mr Boyle. 

It is expected that students will also have dedicated time to practice the material worked on the programme outside of the sessions each week. However, students should see this as supporting the music happening in their groups, not separate to this. 

There is opportunity to further performances - for example, if instrumental combinations are appropriate, it would be possible to enter chamber music festivals, jazz festivals with groups formed in this programme. 

The programme is largely practical and will require students to be ready to share, play for and with eachother, as well as discussing aspects of their playing. There is no formal assessment as part of this programme, but students will recieve regular feedback. 

It is expected that students will be members and contribute to the music co-curricular groups. 

This strand will have sessions on Thursdays from 3.20pm - 4.15pm as well as Period 1 on Fridays. 

Students must be enrolled in one of the following courses: 10MUG, 10MUB, 11MUS, 12MUC, 12MUS, 13MUC, 13MUS

Mr Liam Boyle will be the lead teacher for the Music Performing Arts Academy Strand in 2026. If you have questions about the specific details of this course or the overall programme,  please contact him - l.boyle@wc.school.nz