Performing Arts

  Communicating with the Specialist Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2024, and welcome your input:

Penelope Lang (Performing Arts) penelope.lang@education.vic.gov.au 

Wominjeka!

Ausmusic T-shirt Day  - THURSDAY 28th November

It is that time of the year again!!! Time to dust off your Ausmusic T-shirt from last year and wear it to school again on Thursday 28th November. All the funds raised by Ausmusic T-Shirt Day go towards crisis relief, mental health and wellbeing support to musicians, managers, crew, music workers and organisations, along with support for First Nations music workers. It is a very important fundraising initiative that raised a record-breaking $904,656 for charity last year. We were one of the ONLY schools in Victoria to contribute to this amount. Well done us!

On this day, students are invited to bring a gold coin donation and wear an 'Ausmusic T-shirt'. It can be an Australian band t-shirt or an Australian solo singer or even a t-shirt from a musical theatre show you have been to in Australia. I know BigW have some amazing 'Wicked - the musical' t-shirts and Kmart have some band t-shirts as well.  This will be a great conversation starter about the Australian music industry and the importance of social and emotional well-being and helping people in need. All of the money we raise will be sent directly to the registered charity Support Act  - https://supportact.org.au/. 

Please note this is not a free dress day and there is no obligation to participate. School pants, shorts, skirts or dresses need to be worn WITH the Ausmusic T-shirt.

Find out more about Ausmusic T-Shirt Day by visiting ausmusictshirtday.org.au.

Community Christmas Concert  - Thursday 5th December

Just another reminder that our end of year Christmas concert will be held on Thursday the 5th December (weather permitting). Please note the following information:

Zooper Doopers will be available for sale for $1. (Cash sales only) Thank you to our wonderful Parent Association for organising this.

Dinner: 5.00pm to 6.00pm - opportunity to come along and bring a picnic dinner. 

Concert: 6.00pm to 7.00pm (approximately). I know your children are very excited about performing for you and celebrating their 2024 achievements. 

There will be various seating areas reserved for the students so we ask that you sit in the other 'unreserved' areas. If you choose to bring a chair, you will be asked to sit at the back so you do not block people's views. We encourage picnic blankets and cushions. Once again, please let me know if you have no intention of attending on the night as many class dances require a partner and I have allocated the pairs in each grade.

Concert Costume Requirements

As in previous years, it would be great if the students could come dressed up in their Christmas colours (red, green, white, silver, gold etc) or something they feel comfortable in. Some classes have extra costume requirements as follows:

Foundation: The classes have been split into different groups, namely, Reindeers (reindeer ears required), Elves (elf ears/hat required), Santa/Mrs Claus (Santa hat required) and Toys (toy dress up required). Some students have told me they have 'an entire Elf costume' or 'the whole Santa dress up'. They are certainly welcomed to wear this if they already have it. There is no expectation to buy entire dress ups. Most of these hats/head pieces can be purchased at Arthur Daleys for $2. Your child's teacher has a list of what character each child is performing as. 

Year One: Are going to be rap dancing Reindeers. They will need a set of Reindeer ears and then can add on anything they like to complete the look ie caps (worn backwards of course), chunky chains, groovy sunglasses etc.

Year Two: They will be heading to the beach for their song and dance so they can watch Santa on his surfboard. It would be great if they could wear a Santa hat and then anything 'beachy'. Boardshorts, summer dresses etc sunglasses, coloured zinc on their nose. They might even want to wear their wetsuit (I have been asked by a student!). 

Year Three/Four: No extra costume requirements (just Christmas colours as noted above) but they will require a CARROT (all will be revealed). This is needed for a prop but will also make a nice healthy snack during the show. Maybe bring some humous as well!

Year Five/Six: No extra costume requirements (just Christmas colours as noted above) although quite a few props are required and I have now confirm this with the individual students. Please check in with your child to see what they need to bring.

Victorian State Schools Spectacular - 2025

I am delighted to announce that we have been offered a place in the 2025 VSSS for both mass dance (16 places) and mass choir (25 places). Information sessions will be held very early in Term One 2025 at which time I will also be able to provide details of rehearsal dates and costs to participate. If your child is interested in applying (and has not previously been involved) I recommend you tune in to watch the VSSS 2024 broadcast on TV (see below) so they can get a feel for what is involved. Expressions of interest will be gathered next year with rehearsals starting at the end of Term One. I would be very interested in hearing from any parents who have experience of running a choir and who might like to assist us in running VSSS choir next year. Please send me an email.

Applications are still open for anyone who is interested in applying/auditioning for a place with the ensemble dance groups, Performing Arts professional choir, solo singers/dancers as well as backstage crew, lighting and sound. All information about registering your interest can be found on the page link below or by searching 'Victorian State Schools Spectacular 2025'. 

https://web.cvent.com/event/0b63c336-ebac-4683-81c4-cd63932da5a3/summary?RefId=SUMMARYPAGE

The Seven Network proudly supported the 2024 Victorian State Schools Spectacular. It was hosted by Home and Away's Ada Nicodemou and there will be a special broadcast with behind-the-scenes highlights on Saturday, December 14 at 7.00pm, on Channel 7 and 7plus. Watch closely and see if you can spot one of our 16 dancers! VSSS 2024 dancers can you please return your fluoro hats to me asap. There are still a few missing.

In the Performing Arts room

Foundation

The students in Foundation have been continuing to learn the two songs and dances for the Christmas concert. We are now rehearsing the musical items away from the mirrors which has required a higher level of concentration and recall. We have also added in a couple of props which has created the challenge of remembering to face the audience when performing rather than watch the moving prop. It has been a lot of fun! We took advantage of the beautiful weather and rehearsed on our outdoor stage. We talked about our developing stagecraft skills and the importance of safe dance practice and spatial awareness. Some students will be attending 3MDR radio station next week to create a backing track of their songs. They will then sing along to their own voices on the night. The students are still finding the 'Nutbush' dance a little tricky (not the steps, just the pace) so it would be great if you could have a little boogie with them at home. Although I have heard, 'My Dad hates the Nutbush' a few times. Sorry about that!

Year One and Year Two

The students in Years one and two have continued to work hard at learning their class items for our end of year Christmas concert. The Year one students have been given the extra challenge of working with a partner (so please let me know if your child will not be attending). This has required patience and cooperation. It has been wonderful to watch some great team work in action. Their dance taps in to their understanding of number bonds of EIGHT, namely four plus four, five plus three and six plus two. Ask them to show you. The Year two students have done an incredible job of learning the song lyrics and choreography for the song and I cannot wait to take them to 3MDR to record their booming voices. Both classes have been polishing their 'Nutbush' skills and learning the song lyrics and melody to the uplifting song, 'Everyone Belongs'. Please check the costume requirements above for your child's performance.

Year Three and Year Four

The students in Year three and four have been busy polishing the song lyrics and choreography for their class item for the end of year Christmas concert. Please note, that the 3/4 song is being performed with a partner so it would be great if you could let me know (email me) if your child will NOT be attending. I can then re-partner the students. We spent some time dancing outside on our stage (with our new speaker and mic) and fine tuning lines and spacing. The students have shown impressive levels of stamina whilst rehearsing their high energy dance, complete with orange pencils for carrots! Some students have found it rather challenging to sing and dance at the same time, but they have been very persistent and resilient. We will be visiting 3MDR radio station next week to pre-record some of their voices in preparation for our concert on 5th December. Don't forget to bring your carrots.

Year Five and Year Six

The year 5/6 students have been working enthusiastically to remember all of the song lyrics, melody and choreography for their performance in the end of year Christmas concert. Each group has now been notified if they are required to bring in some props. Please check in with your child to see if they need to remember something on the night. Our tricky rhythmic clap in the song will not defeat us and has highlighted the importance of listening to the beat and rhythm of songs we sing. We played looked down, look up and it was very entertaining listening to the students 'famous last words' when they exited the game. Some classes have continued to explore their improvisation skills through the game 'Word Drop'. I am looking forward to singing at 3MDR with the students next week.

Christmas Choir

As many students still do not have a choir folder, I have now started handing out song sheets (for our Christmas concert songs) in plastic page protectors. Can you please make sure these lyrics sheets are at school every WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY. Our choir will be singing three songs for you at our Christmas concert so it would be great if they can keep practising at home as much as possible.

Dress-up Costumes - Donations required

I am very keen to build up our collection of dress-up costumes in the Performing Arts room. I am especially searching for small dress-ups (sizes 3 to 6) that would fit our Foundation students. If you have any in your playroom at home that you no longer use, I would LOVE to take them off your hands. Thanking you in advance for your kind donations.

Instrumental Lessons

Please see below for information about our school's Instrumental Program that is run by Groove Foundations. We offer lessons on most instruments and have an outstanding team of musicians who deliver this program to over 100 students. The first 'trial' lesson is free of charge and your child will get the opportunity to perform in an end of year instrumental concert if they want to. Feel free to contact Jordan Scotney who would be happy to answer any of your questions. I am looking forward to watching the Instrumental Concert on Wednesday 27th November in our school gym. We will need to exit the gym promptly after the concert so it would be great if people could lend a hand helping us to pack up.