Orewa College students attended ballet, visited Auckland Art Gallery, and completed whitewater rafting as part of curriculum trips across Auckland.

Performing arts, art and outdoor education students connect classroom learning with real world experiences

Orewa College students have recently taken part in several learning trips across Auckland, giving them the opportunity to connect their classroom studies with real world environments.

Forty nine Performing Arts students attended the Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Macbeth during the Auckland Arts Festival. The trip provided senior Dance and Drama students with the chance to experience professional theatre and observe how performance, staging, lighting, and movement combine in a live production. Students Sofiya Feneva and Shanaye Everleigh described the performance as powerful, calling the final moments “jaw-dropping”.

The following day, Level 2 and Level 3 Visual Art students visited Auckland Art Gallery to explore both contemporary and classical exhibitions. One group viewed the Pop to Present exhibition, which includes works linked to Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, and contemporary pieces exploring identity and representation. Another group focused on traditional oil paintings and sculpture. Reflecting on the visit, student Kailyn Erasmus said she felt “entranced by the stories behind the artworks and the way they were made into physical masterpieces.”

Earlier in the term, 109 Level 2 Outdoor Education students travelled to Wero Whitewater Park in Manukau for their first adventure activity of the year. Students experienced whitewater rafting on the artificial course, including whitewater surfing and the park’s 4.5 metre waterfall, and also completed the Wero Climb multi level obstacle course.

These trips allowed students to see their learning in action while developing practical skills and new perspectives beyond the classroom.

Content Credit: Becky Hilliar, Jenny White, Sam Lowe, Olivia Cechova, Harlow Hodge