Arts and LOTE
Art-Beat
Thanks everyone for an absolute blast of a term. Had some great events, busy moments, and some strong team building opportunities.
QREP
Last edition, I spoke about the Queensland Regional Ensemble Program (QREP) hosted by CQUniversity. I had the pleasure of going along to support our students who attended, along with Ms Kitchener and Ms Sugars. It was an amazing experience for our students, who were placed into bands for an intensive 2 days of workshops and rehearsals with students from across the region, with mentorship from industry professionals (defence force’s 1RAR band, and CQUniversity’s lecturers). The culminating concert on the Sunday was absolutely top-notch. Feedback from the students involved has been that the experience has awakened a new love of music for them, with new perspectives on how it fits into their future. Check out some of these awesome photos!
Matilda Update
All the different components of the complex machine that is our musical are starting to come together. We have stage components, lighting, new audio equipment, costumes, and the set design is steaming along, and we now have fantastic banner and posters adorning our fence and community. I am extremely pleased to announce that tickets go on sale from the 1st of July! Stay tuned for our colouring contest if you want a chance to win a free ticket!
Arts Exhibition
Given the musical happening at much the same time, we will not be hosting the annual arts night this year. There will however be an exhibition hosted in the HSC during the lead-up, so that our students have an opportunity to display their hard work. I look forward to sharing more about this event.
Eisteddfod
Unfortunately, by the time you are reading this, Eisteddfod will have already happened, but I will have already written this article and won’t be able to report the outcome. Stay tuned for that next term, and for now, I will just wish our dancers and vocalists the best of luck, as I know how hard they have been practising.
Subject Selection
As we approach that time of year, I want to strongly encourage people to consider how the arts fit into their plans for the future. As they move into senior schooling, students and parents often consider arts something that has to get cut to “allow time for more important studies”. This is the wrong way to consider the arts. While not generally a prerequisite for any university course, the creativity and cultural development that the arts bring promotes brain development, and allows an opportunity for students to unleash some of their inner stresses and expression. Music in particular activates so many different regions of the brain, that practising music for 30 min a day is the cognitive equivalent of your brain going to the gym for a quick workout in the morning. If you enjoy the arts, don’t overlook its importance – make room for it in your future planning!
Mr Tyson Manley | Middle Leader Arts and LOTE