Arts News

Welcome back to all students, parents and staff at Western Springs College – Ngā Puna o Waiōrea.

Congratulations to the following 2018 Arts L3 NZQA Scholarship Award recipients:

Georgia Menhennett
Outstanding Scholarship Dance

Kanako Hara, Rahiri Maihi, Eleanor Tubman
Scholarship Dance 

Toby Mangelsdorf and Marco Scott
Scholarship Drama 

Vinny Canning, Sabrina Ibrahim
Outstanding Scholarship Photography, Visual Arts 

Pearl Beesley, Iggy Macdonald and Lucia Nicolson
Scholarship Design, Visual Arts

Congratulations also to recently appointed 2019 Arts Leaders – Amy Morrin, Niamh Maher, Sienna Davidson and Jenson Rahiri. This fabulous team will actively promote the Arts across campus with internal and external activity over the course of the year. Applications for the Arts Committee will soon be offered to assist with the running of events at school. Students with a passion to develop leadership skills will be asked to put their names forward to represent curriculum areas: Dance, Drama, Media, Music and Visual Arts. The group meets regularly and this year will support events such as SGCNZ Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in March/April at Hobsonville Point Secondary School, Dance, Drama, Music and Media shows and more.

The annual SGCNZ Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival is held at the end of Term 1 at Kristin School on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd April in the Dove Memorial Theatre. Arts Leaders will mentor any junior/senior students wanting to get involved. We have a history of achieving great results in the competition and over the years we have been lucky enough to have had students and teachers get to Wellington, the South Island and The Globe Theatre, London to partake internationally in Shakespearean productions.

Thanks to Freya Kemp – 13Art Design – for the ArtsNews Heading in this issue.

arts@wsc.school.nz                   Kirsty Britton – Arts Coordinator

Four Dance Scholarships!

Congratulations Kanako Hara, Georgia Menhennet, Rahiri Maihi and Eleanor Tubman on their Scholarship Dance success! All four submissions from Western Springs College achieved scholarship. Kanako has achieved this as a Year 12 student, and Georgia is one of just three Outstanding Dance Scholars in the country. Excellent work dancer students!

Scholarship Dance students submit a portfolio explaining their own choreography – their concept, inspiration, choice of movement and structure, and choices of music, costume and lighting. They also explain their own performance practises in the learning, rehearsing and performance of another choreographer’s work.  Below are photos of their choreography and performance.

Two Dance trips this term

Senior Dance students are invited to attend two professional dance performances in The Auckland Arts Festival. They are:

As It Stands
Choreographed by Ross McCormack (NZ)
Waterfront Theatre
Friday 8 March, 12.30
$20

Grand Finale
Hofesh Shechter Company (UK)
Aotea Centre, ASB Theatre
Thursday 21 March, 7.30pm

Dance students will receive a letter with more information this week.

A reminder: all Dance students need to bring a change of clothing to dance lessons. A pair of trackpants or leggings and a t-shirt is great.

HOD Dance – Chloe Davison

Drama News

The term has begun and students hard at work. The year 13 students are rehearsing for the production, Remote by Stef Smith, which they will perform for the public in weeks one and two of term two. The year 12 students are exploring New Zealand Theatre, while the year 11 students delve into the wonderful world of Shakespeare and Elizabethan Theatre.

Hearty congratulations to Toby Mangelsdorf and Marco Scott who were both awarded scholarship in Drama for 2018.

The Shakespeare’s Globe Centre New Zealand regional festivals are on again this term and we are hoping for a bumper number of entries for the West Auckland Festival. This year it will take place on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd April, in the Dove Memorial Theatre, Kristin School, 360 Albany Highway. We hope to build on the successes we have had in recent years and have even more students selected for the National Festival at Queen’s Birthday weekend.

We also have a number of trips planned. These include: The Dreamer at the Civic as part of The Auckland Arts Festival. Astroman by Albert Belz at Q Theatre, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead produced by ATC at The Waterfront Theatre, and Massive Theatre Company’s new show, Like a River, I Disagree, at The Basement. Congratulations to Jasper Putt, Year 11, on being cast in Massive’s latest Emerging Artists show.

HOD Drama – Robert Pollock

Welcome Daniel Barrett!

We are very pleased to welcome Daniel Barrett to the music department team this year. Kim Tait has taken a year’s leave to be a full time parent and Daniel has picked up his role.

Instrument lessons are underway. Students taking yr 10 music have first priority for these lessons but that does not mean other students should not get their names on the waiting list. To do this students must come in person to the music department and see Margaret or Daniel.

There are certainly lessons still available for flute, clarinet and cello. Others such as saxophone, guitar, singing and drums will be wait listed.

Several of our WSC students are members of the Aotea Youth Symphony (AYS). This orchestra is working hard to raise funds for a tour to America next year. AYS would love members of our community to support them at this Garden Party fundraising concert on March 17.

Bring your picnic rug and relax in the grounds of Alberton House as the musicians from AYS entertain you. As it is St Patrick’s Day, you can be sure some Irish melodies will be played. Your ticket also gives you entry to this historic home.  Refreshments will be available to purchase and there are a limited number of High Tea’s for sale. AYS is fundraising for a tour to perform with several Youth Orchestra’s in America next April, along with an exciting workshop at Universal Studios. Ticket prices are Adult $20, Child $10 (10-18yrs), under 10 free, Family Concessions $50. High Tea (inclusive of entry) $45 per person. Purchase details on the poster. Extended Greetings for 2019.

HOD Music – Margaret Robertson

Scholarship Success

Welcome to another year of challenging your practical and critical thinking in the Visual Arts. The department would like to acknowledge the outstanding external results from 2018, which reflect the tireless commitment of the teaching staff and the highly motivated and engaged individual efforts of the seniors.  Special mention to our successful Art Design Scholarship students Pearl Beesley, Lucia Nicolson and Iggy Macdonald, and congratulations to our Outstanding Scholarship students – Sabrina Ibrahim and Vincent Canning (both from Art Photography).

At the time of writing, we are in the process of having the student work by Pearl Beesley framed, as part of the annual Library commission for the schools permanent Art collection.  We hope to include a photograph of the presentation and explanation of the work in the next newsletter.

As our third and final year in the temporary school – its business as usual in the Visual Art department – with a number of innovative ideas to extend and challenge our students this year through our programmes, EOTC and visiting artists.

A reminder to parents and guardians about the course fees – most starter equipment has been handed out to students however the fees also cover specialist resources and any subsequent trips/artist talks.

Ia Manuia  –   HOD Art – Lily Laita