The Arts at Ross Park
At Ross Park The Arts are predominantly taught across the school by a specialist Arts teacher who engages students in four of the subjects in the ACARA curriculum as follows:
Semester 1 — Music and Dance
Semester 2 — Drama and Media Arts
The fifth discipline, Visual Arts, is taught and assessed by the classroom teacher. Elements of Music, Dance, Drama and Media Arts are represented in the classroom also but the carriage of curriculum delivery and assessment is taken by the Arts teachers.
There are two ‘opt-in’ choirs at Ross Park; a junior choir made up of Year 3 and 4 students, and a senior choir made up of Year 5 and 6 students. Rehearsals are held in class time once per week. The choirs regularly perform to the school community in the fortnightly assembly. They also perform to the wider community in events such as the Centralian Eisteddfod, Desert Song Festival and the Todd Mall Markets.
NT Music School
NT Music School is a government (public) school within the NT Department of Education. Our mission is to provide instrumental, ensemble and choral tuition, music education services, support, events and programs to government schools throughout the NT. Instrumental lessons are offered during school hours for students in Year 4- 9 on flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, trumpet, trombone and percussion. Lessons are free with a $100 contribution requested on placement in the program. Instrument hire from $100 available through NT Music School. Sports Vouchers accepted to assist with cost of hiring instruments. Choir is by audition only and rehearsals are held after school.
Ross Park Concert Band
Ross Park Concert Band was formed in 2023 and is growing before our eyes with some very talented musicians. Rehearsals are at Ross Park on Tuesday mornings at 7.30am and are run by Matthew Owen from the NT Music School. Students will be invited to participate when the music teachers feel they are ready to do so.
Eisteddfod
The Centralian Eisteddfod Council encourages talent within our community. The Eisteddfod is a platform where performers are nurtured to grow in confidence and are provides with informed, constructive feedback from experienced adjudicators. The Centralian Eisteddfod is designed to encourage participation, to inspire and to recognise excellence and to present new challenges each year. The Eisteddfod Council believes that this will promote the creative and performing arts, nurturing awareness and appreciation.
Each year Ross Park has numerous class, group and individual entries ranging from choral or prepared readings, scripted performances, choir performances or singing as a soloist. Students who participate grow immeasurably in confidence and enjoy the process of choosing, practising and committing to a performance with all that entails. Their faces glow with pride when they have achieved performing on a stage and seen the outcome of months of hard work and preparation.
NT Music School Performance – The Beat
The Alice Beat Festival is the NT Department of Education’s annual performing arts showcase held at Araluen Theatre. Performances feature primary and secondary students from schools across the Alice Springs and Barkly regions. Ross Park students can be involved in various ways, including being a part of the massed choir, as a host, a vocal soloist, or as an instrumentalist in one of the NT Music School’s ensembles.