The Arts

Performing Arts

Term 3 - August Newsletter 2024

Foundation

The Foundation classes have enthusiastically begun their learning in Performing Arts. Our students have discovered what performing arts is all about - from dancing and acting to singing and storytelling, performing arts is a magical way to express ourselves. Over the past few weeks, our talented students have been learning how to use their emotions and facial expressions to enhance their performances. They’ve practised showing joy, surprise, sadness, and excitement through their faces, helping them convey feelings. It’s been wonderful to see them understand how their expressions can tell a story and make their performances more engaging. Our performers have also been working on how to start and stop their bodies with precision. They’ve learned how to move gracefully, control their movements, and use their bodies to express different characters and emotions. 

Year 1 and 2

Over the past few weeks, our learners have been exploring the dynamic world of emotions and expressions, and they’ve been having a blast while doing it! Our students have been diving deep into understanding and expressing their feelings using facial expressions and body language. Through a variety of engaging activities, they’ve learned how different emotions can be conveyed without the use of words. Here’s what they’ve been up to. Students took turns acting out different emotions such as happiness, sadness, surprise, and anger, while their classmates guessed what they were feeling. This helped them recognize and interpret emotional cues. The children learned how a simple smile or frown can communicate a lot about how we feel inside. By using their whole bodies, students explored how posture and movement can express emotions. For example, they learned that slumped shoulders might show sadness, while jumping with excitement can convey joy.

Year 3 and 4

Our Grade 3 and 4 students have explored various aspects of performance, developing their skills in storytelling, mime, and improvisation.  Our students have learned the ability to use articulate and deliberate body movements to convey a story. Through teacher-led scenarios, they have learned the importance of slowing down their actions to ensure that each movement helps to narrate the tale. This practice not only enhances their ability to communicate a story through performance but also helps them build confidence in their expressive abilities.

Year 5 and 6

Our students have delved into the fascinating world of mime acting, exploring how they can use their voices and bodies to convey stories in unique and expressive ways. Mime acting has been a central focus in our recent lessons. Students have learned to use their bodies to express emotions and tell stories without spoken words. By slowing down their movements and paying close attention to their body language, they've discovered how powerful and nuanced non-verbal communication can be. Performing living pictures has been another exciting aspect of our lessons. Students have created frozen scenes or "pictures" using their bodies to represent different moments, and even artworks. 

The Wizard of Oz! 

Dear Gilgai Plains Primary School Community,

We are delighted to announce that this year's highly anticipated end-of-year performance at Gilgai Plains Primary School will be…

Our talented students and dedicated staff have been hard at work preparing for what promises to be a spectacular showcase of creativity and talent.

About the Production

'The Wizard of Oz' is a timeless classic that follows the adventures of Dorothy Gale as she journeys through the magical land of Oz. From meeting the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion to confronting the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy's journey is one of friendship, courage, and self-discovery.

Our students have been diligently rehearsing under the guidance of our teachers, to bring this beloved story to life on stage. ‘The Wizard of Oz' promises to be a production that will leave a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.

All students at GPPS will participate in a performance piece.

Ms. O’Dowd will be hosting an information session for main cast members and their parents/guardians with a date and time to be confirmed. More details to follow. 

Community Support

We encourage all members of the Gilgai Plains community—parents, guardians, family members, and friends—to join us in celebrating the hard work and dedication of our students. Your support plays a crucial role in making these events successful and memorable for our young performers. 

I am looking for volunteers who can assist with:

1. Making Sets: Help create the enchanting landscapes of Oz, from the Emerald City to the Poppy fields of Oz and the famous ‘Yellow Brick Road’. If you have any carpentry, painting, or creative skills, we would love your expertise!
2. Costume Design: Bring the beloved characters of Oz to life by designing and creating costumes for Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and all of the other magical inhabitants of Oz. Sewing and crafting skills are greatly appreciated!
3. Props Creation: Help us gather or create props that will transport our audience to the Land of Oz. Whether it's Glinda's magic wand, the Wicked Witch's broomstick, or the Wizard's hot air balloon, every detail counts!

As we delve into the rehearsal process we are reminded that, 'The Wizard of Oz' serves as a fitting tribute to the creativity, teamwork, and ZESTY spirit that define Gilgai Plains Primary School. We are immensely proud of our students and cannot wait to share their talents with you.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at 'The Wizard of Oz'!

Ms. O’Dowd.