Genazzano College students recognised in VCE Season of Excellence 2021

Genazzano students, Tulipa Rodriguez-Quin, Mary Ryan, Prue Spencer and Alumna (2020), Elle Vanden Boom, have been recognised for their talents and creativity as part of the 2021 VCE Season of Excellence.

The VCE Season of Excellence (the Season) is a five-month annual festival showcasing outstanding senior secondary student work from Victorian schools. The Season presents work created by VCE students in design, technology, research, multimedia and the cinematic, visual and performing arts through exhibitions, screenings and performances.

Tulipa Rodriguez-Quin (VCE) performed her solo at the Arts Centre on Tuesday 9 March as part of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) Season of Excellence Top Class performances.

Since then Tulipa has been asked by Drama Victoria to participate in an interview regarding her creative process and to then perform her drama solo, as one of three students across Victoria.

“My Drama Unit 3/4 Solo was a 7-minute performance piece based on the life and work of Frida Kahlo”, shared Tulipa.

“This performance was created in the style of Surrealism, meaning it was quite strange and dream-like in quality. As part of the drama process, I developed and wrote the entire piece myself, including the soundscape utilised and the aspects of Frida’s life I chose to focus on”.

A participant in the Top Design exhibition, Mary Ryan created destigmatising clothing options for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Kids with SPD can get severe anxiety wearing normally constructed clothes but the limited market available to them with sensory friendly counterparts offer little stylistic appeal. The product included a reversible weighted vest, and two outfits for both the Hypersensitive and Hyposensitive child.

Also part of Top Design, Prue Spencer made an outfit to help vision impaired teenagers (aged 15-25) navigate their world whilst expressing their style. The outfit includes a top, pants and bag.

The top focuses on bringing traditional printed patterns to life by making them 3D with different fabrics and applique. The top is a baby pink colour as people with vision impairments such as Cataracts, Nystagmus and Stargardt’s disease are sensitive to glare. Each piece of the outfit has a QR code that when scanned opens a website that tells the wearer the description of the items, the care instructions and items that match with the item.

Alumna (2020), Elle Vanden Boom was also part of the Season with her short film shown at Top Screens on Tuesday 23 March. The opening was attended by Adam Elliot, an Academy Award winner who shared his advice to the budding filmmakers.

Elle’s film, titled ‘In My Dreams’ is about Ash, a teenage girl who struggles with her life during the Melbourne lockdown period and instead relies on her dreams to fulfil her desires.

“I was forced to reconsider my idea and ultimately created a project that can be considered a lot more relevant”, shared Elle.

Presented as part of the VCE Season of Excellence 2021, Top Screen gives visitors a unique opportunity to view the work and creative processes of Victoria’s next generation of filmmakers.

Principal, Mrs Loretta Wholley, shared her excitement for our students with the Genazzano community.

“This is a great achievement for all the students involved”, she said.

“We are so proud of these girls and that they have been able to pursue their creative and performing arts interests at this top level, against their peers”.

Visit this website for more information about the VCE Season of Excellence.

Genazzano FCJ College is a Catholic Day and Boarding School in Kew offering a co-educational Early Learning Centre and all-girls’ environment from Prep to Year 12. It offers students a rounded education that prepares them to become resilient, adaptable and confident women.