Sacred Heart uses performing arts to teach curriculum

- Photo supplied Students from Sacred Heart School, a Catholic school of the arts, in Wetaskiwin prepare for their performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Special to the WCR
Wetaskiwin

For over 100 years, Sacred Heart School has been providing Catholic Education for students in Wetaskiwin. This year, the school and the community are abuzz with something new.

Sacred Heart School has adopted a performing arts model of instruction.

"We are still in a learning stage," explains Ken Mastel, school principal. "But one thing that no one can argue against is the validity that arts based instruction is good for all students."

Mastel explains the new approach as using the fine arts of music, drama, dance, art and media to teach the core subjects like math and language arts.

"It's why we sing the alphabet," says Mastel. "When you combine music with the letters, more parts of the brain are firing. It makes learning more interesting. It's great to see kids pantomiming the chain in a Grade 8 science class."

To launch the performing arts model, Mastel went looking for a show that the whole school could participate in, and still remain close to their Catholic identity.

"We chose the musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat because it fit those criteria. It's a biblical story and we have 110 kids in the show from kindergarten to grade nine. Almost everyone else in the school is taking part in one way or another."

The school is doing two shows at the Citadel Theatre on June 4, at 2:30 and 6 p.m. Tickets are available from the school at (780) 352-5533.

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