Aesthetics

Objective

Arts as a tool

Crest Aesthetics Programme explores possibilities and experiments with a mixture of traditional and contemporary art forms through 3 domains of Aesthetics: Art, Dance, and Music. We engage our students in our customised Aesthetics curriculum to help our students to use the Arts as a tool, to foster a sense of identity, to better understand oneself and others, and to discover the multicultural elements of the intangible cultural heritage that exists in Singapore, thereby helping them better appreciate and understand the diverse cultures that make up Singapore.

We aim to develop the Crestan as a confident person who is able to:

• Creatively express ideas, feelings & thoughts through selected media.

• Work with his/her team members to produce a piece of work taking into consideration the purpose, audience and context.

• Appreciate the different arts forms and their applications

Programme Overview

The design of the programme is aimed at empowering students’ transformation through the arts via a two pronged approach:

(i) Broad-based programme - Conducted through the curriculum which consists of the following art forms, namely, music, arts and dance.

(ii) Depth--Conducted through the CCAs, e.g.: Pop Band, Dance and Circus Arts.

This two pronged approach is designed with four components as emphasis (EPIC) in the Crest Arts:

(E) Expression of Self: An important aspect of Crest Arts programme is to encourage students to express their ideas and feelings thoughtfully through the creation of a performance or art piece.

(P) Processes & Skills: Through the arts, we hope to facilitate development of students’ ability to understand and put in place work processes and skills, such as organizing, prioritizing and planning.

(I) Inventive thinking: The design of the Crest Arts programme includes inculcating creative thinking in students to think of out of the box solutions.

(C) Connecting with others:  The programme is also crafted in such a way to instill a sense of awareness and sensitivity to their audience in the process of developing an end product. Moreover, given many of the students’ art works are publicized to the community through events, the Crest art department has fostered a relationship with members of the public through the artworks.

Our signature programmes are (i) Body Movement and Dance Programme, (ii) Sec One Level-wide Art Programme, (iii) Masterclass for various arts CCAs and (iv) Learning journeys to arts venues and / or arts institution. All these are conducted to enrich the students’ experience of the arts

Strengthening 3R through Engagement in Art and Aesthetics

• Lower Secondary Crest Art (Secondary 1 and 2)

Crest Art experiments with a mixture of conventional and unconventional mediums (coasters, paper bags, caps, canvas and masks) to engage the students in colours and design concepts. The purpose is to let the students find art making meaningful, discover and have a deeper understanding of their own cultural heritage, and provide them with an authentic learning experience so that they can use or wear the art that they have created and at the same time, contribute back to the school.

The personalisation of art pieces motivate students to do well when all completed artworks are exhibited around the school. Incorporating such authentic tasks leads to meaningful outcomes as it boosts students’ self-worth and gives them an added motivation to ensure that their works are well done. One good example is the Imagine! Series, which are modules that culminate into collective art pieces being exhibited around the school compound, making the school campus an art gallery.

Another example is the Artists’ Expression where the ‘Show and Tell’ component provides an oral presentation platform for every student to articulate why they like their own creation or their friend’s artwork. These provide a composite learning experience for the students to grow in character, interpersonal relationships and art techniques.

•   Shake It Up (Sec 1 Performing Arts Showcase)

The Performing Arts Programme provides an opportunity for every Sec 1 class to put up a showcase (Cajon, dance performance and competition) during school assembly. Besides bonding the class, it also creates an opportunity for all students to have an appreciation of musical instruments, movement and dance, including understanding rhythm, types of body movement, work on their motor coordination and skills. This brings about creativity, imagination and visualisation, and builds on the school values of Resilience, Excellence and Teamwork.

Sec One Level-wide Art Programme

The level-wide programme provides the Sec One students the opportunity to have a collective theme-based learning in a group setting. They will be exposed to a wide range of art mediums. This shared learning experience of making art for the school to spruce up the school learning environment helps to create a sense of belonging for them. The completed artwork will give them a sense of pride and a shared learning experience.

The Secondary 2 Artist-in-School Scheme(AISS)

The AISS scheme provides students with a platform to interact and work alongside artists and the community. Through this customized program, students foster social-emotional learning, self-confidence and community contribution as they engage with community residents, understanding community needs and relating to the larger community. Extending learning beyond classrooms, students participate in photo-walks at Yuhua estate, interacting with residents and exploring blended learning through traditional and digital art mediums.

Unlocking Student Potential through Performing Arts

Our comprehensive Performing Arts curriculum harnesses Music, Movement, Performance Production and fun to foster learning in a safe and nurturing environment. Through the curated programs - I AM A Rapper, I AM A Singer and I AM A Dancer - students embody the role of entertainers, mastering:

• Rapping techniques

• Vocal pitch and rhythm

• Expressive dance movements

This innovative curriculum shapes students' cognitive, social, emotional and affective growth, empowering holistic development.