While in grade 3 or 4, I had a fascination with the cliffs of Acapulco, Mexico. I had seen diving competitions on television and thought it was the perfect scene to try and recreate in a painting in art class. I paired up with another keen young boy and we worked diligently on our painting for a couple of weeks. We each had pretty limited artistic talent. Although we received minimal direction, we were determined to depict a scene that was colourful, vibrant and alive in our minds.

In those days some teachers were a little less focused on encouragement and specific skill improvement than they are at today’s LCC. Unfortunately, my art teacher was also a real grouch. So to our shock, when our tableau was finished, she approached the painting, expressed immediate dissatisfaction and ripped it in half. Art trauma!

I remember that moment so well. In fact, it is more firmly embedded in my mind than the details of most of the classes I attended in primary and middle school. Why is this significant to me today? This story reinforces that the arts provide for active and meaningful experiences, which embed themselves in each person and are critical to building personal identity. Artistic activities tend to be more active learning experiences and draw on students’ creative juices. For good or ill, artistic ventures are particularly memorable. Do you remember the first time you performed in a play or performed music in public? In short, the arts allow for creativity, expression and meaningful personal growth—and studies have shown that the development of work habits in art, music and drama simply make people smarter. Over time, students become more able to see the complex connections between disparate information —what one writer, Daniel Pink calls the “symphony of life.”

I am proud of what I would like to call the renaissance of the arts at LCC. In recent years, we have placed a significant emphasis on the value of the arts in education. Through this, we are helping to educate more confident and capable students, ready for the complexity of modern life.

I commend LCC’s outstanding arts teachers for providing inspiration and creative skill development to so many students. The many arts and cultural opportunities available here are notable difference-makers in our students’ school experience.

What is your art?—Chris Shannon, Headmaster