Seventh Class - Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

On Wednesday, October 27th, the grades 3,4,5,6, and 7 attended a field trip to see Romeo and Juliet by the group Shakespeare in Action. The classes truly enjoyed the play, and did ask very many questions during the Q&A session. Everyone was VERY well behaved. I believe our group had the youngest audience. We discussed the play afterwards during our rehearsal and many admitted they were moved to tears during some parts. The actors were all professionals and that was truly evident as the St. Jude's audience was swept away, finding the performances very believable. Well done St. Jude's; we're very proud of you.

JK
There was no drama class today due to the field trip for the middle and upper schools, but the children did practise their song with Mme. Stella.

Costume alert for the Christmas production: Please have the children dressed as for the summer: summer dresses, shorts, T-shirts, capris, sunglasses, sandals, etc. They may change at school if they arrive early enough, or they may have something warmer on underneath. For instance: a turtle neck and tights, with a sundress over top. This will only be required on the night of the performance and NOT for class.

We are also looking for a big straw hat to borrow.

Parents and Guardians: If you would like to volunteer your time on Wednesdays at 11:30 for half an hour, we would be delighted to have you.

SK
There was no drama class today due to the field trip for the middle and upper schools, but the children did practise their song with Mrs. Mischuk.

Costume alert for the Christmas production: Please start thinking about a Christmasy outfit for your child for the Christmas concert. Nothing too fancy, just warm and snuggly, and perhaps with some red and/or green.

We are also looking for ONE Santa hat, and one child, a boy will need to wear all red with a black belt and black boots. More on that later, but if you have something like that, we may ask you to borrow it later. We would like this to be a surprise.

Also: if every child could bring in one, small, wrapped, EMPTY box in Christmas type wrapping paper, that would help the production immensely. We also need four Christmas stockings - larger, but looking very much like an ordinary SOCK, with colour.

All of this will be required ONE WEEK BEFORE the production, and your support in this matter will be more than appreciated.

Parents and Guardians: If you would like to volunteer your time on Wednesdays at 11:30 for half an hour, we would be delighted to have you.

GRADES 1 & 2
The grade ones and twos had their regular class and things are coming along well  for our Christmas production. The children will soon be bringing home their required items for memorizing.

We will be needing ONE SANTA OUTFIT. If someone has one and would be willing to share, it would be very much appreciated. Please let me know.

All the children will need to wear pajamas and robes for their production, except for Santa and the mouse.

We are also looking for the following props: plastic purple fruit; a small sleigh WITH reindeer; Christmas stockings; a small to medium sized Christmas tree; and eight antler headbands.

GRADES 3 & 4
To both grades - you are studying Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare in your combined class. It is a shortened version and will only be performed for Mrs. Haag and Mr. Sawatsky.

Grade 4's - you are ALSO studying and putting on the production of The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet by Peter Bloedel. This one MUST BE MEMORIZED, it will have full costumes and props! You now have extra rehearsals on Fridays from 2 pm to 3 pm. Come prepared. Always read the blog in PINK at the bottom of this posting, as it applies to you too.

To both grades - The tests are marked and will be returned this week. Please have them signed. A make-up test will be given on Wedesday, November 10th.

To both grades - We will finish the study of the play Romeo and Juliet this coming week and will perform it one week after our make-up test. Please know what you are reading - you will not have to memorize but may do so if you wish. You may also wear any type of costume you feel is appropriate. It is NOT a modern day version and you do not have to have a costume if you don't want to.

GRADE 5,6, & 7
We will finish blocking after this upcoming class. You will start learning your dance in Ms. Land's gym class. Please start memorizing and learn your blocking. If you have to write it down on your script then please do so. We have now added extra rehearsals on Fridays from 2 pm to 3 pm.

CAST MEMBERS (Grade 4, 5, 6, & 7)
You must memorize your lines and your blocking. Remember, when you perform, it is up to you to know where to go and what to do - even if that means standing still backstage and listening for your cue, or if that means helping a fellow cast member with a costume change. Your performance in this play will be indicative of your role in the Spring Production of Julius Caesar.

Please check the bottom of this blog for a list of required PROPS. You must first ask your parents' or guardians' permission before you bring something to school. We will need to start using props at every rehearsal. The director decides which prop will be used, so please don't be saddened if I send you back home with your prop. I will be VERY pleased that you tried so hard. It will count.

I will also start sending you home with a list of your costume outline. If you don't have something, please tell me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, so that I can ask the rest of the group if they have whatever you need, and would be willing to lend it to you.

Whatever you bring in, you must have a) parental permission and b) it labelled.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Deras

Sixth Class - Wednesday, October 20, 2010

JK
Heard you had a great time picking apples at Chudleigh's!!

Parents, if you would like to volunteer on Wednesdays at 1:00 for half an hour, that would be wonderful.

SK
Heard you had a great time picking apples at Chudleigh's!!

Parents, if you would like to volunteer on Wendnesday at 11:30 for half an hour, that would be wonderful.

Grades 1 and 2
We continued practising our Christmas carol and our special poem. Things are moving along well.

Parents, I am thinking that pajamas and robes will be the costume for this group, except for one who will need a Santa Claus outfit, and one mouse. I'll keep you posted.

Grades 3 and 4
Today the children had their drama TEST!!! It was quite dramatic!!! Some had so much to say, and knew what to do. Others - well it seems you must remember to read and study your drama notes, as well as pay more attention in class. Graded tests will be going home next class.

NEXT WEEK: Field trip to see Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare inAction. Please make sure your forms and payment have been handed in.

Grades 5, 6, and 7
We have started blocking for the play. Let me remind this group of the rules:
1. We DO NOT TALK except to say our lines.
2. We pay attention all the time and follow along in our scripts. Just because we are not speaking doesn't mean we won't be on stage doing some actions, or behind the scenes helping to make the production work.
3. We bring our scripts and a pencil to every class. You may also bring water bottles.

It is also important to start memorizing our lines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Next week we have a field trip. This leaves you with two weeks in which to memorize your lines.

We are going to see a performance for Romeo and Juliet, by the group Shakespeare in Action. Please make sure your permission forms and payment have been handed in.

TSOR&J Cast Members
We have finally started blocking (moving to where we are supposed to go). Some know their parts very well and your efforts truly shine. Others - LEARN YOUR LINES!!!!

We will now have more rehearsals during school. I will let you and your parents know ahead of time whether there will be any need for after school rehearsals.
A letter will be going home shortly to parents indicating that students will need to be present in the evening for the performances. Your child must be available on those two evenings towards the end of November. STUDENTS:  YOU WILL HAVE TO CANCEL ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES YOU HAVE ON THESE TWO PERFORMANCE DAYS. This is a team effort and we cannot have anyone missing; and this is a compulsory component at St. Jude's.

Parents, if you would like to volunteer your time with us on Wednesdays at 1:30 for an hour, to help students go over their lines it would be very dearly appreciated. Any parent volunteers are welcome. The more the merrier - really! Line reading takes place on Wednesdays at 1:30.

Best Regards,
Mrs. M. Deras

Fifth Class - Wednesday, October 13, 2010

JK
The children will be learning two songs and artistic movement to another for the Christmas concert. They are attempting to enter and exist the stage and learning how to follow cues (silent directions) in order to sing in unison and to incorporate their actions at the proper moments.

PARENTS - please check this blog for postings of required items (props) and costumes. Your assistance will be imperative and enormously appreciated.

SK
On this day the children practised their song for the Christmas concert. They attempted to make their stage formations and add some actions while singing.

PARENTS - please check this blog for postings of required items (props) and costumes. Your assistance will be imperative and enormously appreciated.

Grades 1 and 2
The grade ones and twos are ambitiously learning their Christmas poem and their carol. They truly enjoy the idea of surprising parents with a good production, follow dirctions, take their cues, offer good ideas, and are a joy to work with. We are also learning a little bit of an ancient language..............

PARENTS - please check this blog for postings of required items (props) and costumes. Your assistance will be imperative and enormously appreciated.

Grades 3 and 4
We have been studying the play Romeo & Juliet by W. Shakespeare and are learning our roles in order to put on a 10 minute play for Mrs. Haag and Mr. Sawatsky. The boys and girls are to study ALL handouts, as the information and discussions we have had will be part of a test.

It is important to remember that every part in a play or production is VERY important. If we only had the leads, and that would be one or two people, the plays would be very boring indeed.

We must also remember to listen to our cast members so that we take our cues from their last word or action and this way know exactly when it is our turn to speak without the need for prompting.

Grades 5, 6, and 7
We once again reviewed the stage directions so that we know where to go when the director says to move UP STAGE RIGHT!!! We have reviewed several vocabulary words related to theatre and these will be posted somewhere on this blog eventually.

We have compared and contrasted the characters and will continue to do so until everyone is able to understand the roles the characters play in both Shakespeare's version as well as Mr. Bloedel's.

Finally we have defined the words MONOTONE and CAPITULATE!

TSOR&J - Cast Members
All the roles have now been allocated! Cast members have attempted a read through.
It is extremely important to start reading your lines properly - which means to start adding emotions. Remember we read in phrases and take PAUSES and follow punctuation marks to know when to stop, stop longer, and continue. We are trying to read for fluency and meaning and emotion. We are trying very hard to read ahead and prepare for classes so that when it's our turn to speak during class, we will not sound choppy. And we have agreed that we will all bring a pencil and our scripts to EACH AND EVERY CLASS!!!

Parents - your assistance in providing props for the play will be crucial and appreciated beyond belief. Please, please, please, either check the blog in order to be updated as to costumes, properties required, and attendance at rehearsals. For now, we are wondering if any of you have swimming/water noodles that you could lend us, that would be great. We need 6-8 any colours; please label them. They will be safely stored away after every rehearsal and will be returned after the production. Thank you.

Kindest Regards,
Mrs. M. Deras

Fourth Class - Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

JKs
The boys and girls were all amused at the different emotions I tried to convey to them, but showed they were able to understand that our faces can show what we're feeling when asked. We had some very sad, happy, angry, and surprised JK's. The children are beginning to understand that we can show these emotions with just our faces and no words, no noises, and more importantly without jumping around. We continued with the Jessie's story in the book Everybody Feels Angry, by Jane Bingham and learned that saying sorry with words and gestures is also very important. We then practised walking into the auditorium, lining up in our stage positions so that everyone can be seen by their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends in the audience. We discussed the AUDIENCE and how we present for them. We also practised our bows and curtsies on cue.

SKs
The boys and girls practised lining up in their stage positions, as well as walking on and off stage. They are just gaining an understanding of what the Christmas concert is about. We practised our bowing on cue. In the second half of class we focused on emotions and how our faces can show happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and surprise. We finished Stacie's story in the book Everybody Feels Angry, by Jane Bigham. We are also learning that our actions can speak lounder than words and this includes facial expression.

Grades 1 and 2
The students listened to the Christmas poem which they will be reciting for the concert. In the auditorium, we then worked on the actions which will be added to the poem. The boys and girls are very excited, enthusiastic, and good listeners who are eager to put their best effort into the show. GREAT JOB GRADE ONEs AND TWOs!!!!

Grades 3 and 4
We studied more of the plot for Romeo and Juilet. The boys and girls worked together in groups to familiarized themselves with the different roles and the lines to be said by the characters. Some of the grade fours needed to audition or re-audition for the play.

HOMEWORK: as there will be a TEST on the materials covered in two weeks, the boys & girls are to
1) study the biography of William Shakespeare (given last week on a handout)
2) study the short version play of Romeo and Juliet (given this week on a four-page handout).

Grades 5, 6, and 7
We continued with our fluency exercises based on phrasing. We compared and contrasted the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare versus the Seussification of Romeo and Juiet by Peter Bloedel. Those boys and girls who were already given their parts were practising their lines while the rest of the students were re-auditioned.

THE SofR&J PLAY
Auditions have now closed and roles have been assigned. Students are expected to have read the play at least three times by the next class on Wednesday, October 13th. We will be going over stage directions, blocking ideas, costume ideas, and characterization at the next class and we will also read through as much of the play as possible. As we get closer to opening night, there will be a need for more rehearsals. Please keep that in mind.
HOMEWORK: define Monotone and Capitulate! NO ONE DID THIS PROPERLY; YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THESE WORDS.

Third Class - Wednesday, September 29, 2010

VOCABULARY FOR ALL
stage
audience
theatre
musical
play
movie
songs
costumes
set and set design
props
actor
enter
exit
bow
curtsey

JK
- We read Tom's story in the book Everybody Feels Angry, by Jane Bingham; and then studied how our faces are different when we're happy and when we're angry. We studied body movement, but had to do so quietly without words or noises. We all made some really good angry faces, but they all made us giggle.

- We discussed some of the vocabulary words posted above.

- We discussed shapes and will be trying to form good circles and good lines, all in preparation for getting on and off stage for the Christmas production.

- The JK's are having some difficulties with understanding that your position (or shape) on stage cannot be based on where your friend stands. It is based on height, voice projection, voice (tenor, alto, soprano), the role, the need to be here and not there, and in this age group - the behaviour.

SK
- We discussed shapes and then tried to make those shapes as a group of children standing in a circle, line, semi-circle, square, and triangle. We discussed the importance of standing where we are told to stand because that is what will make us most visible to an audience.

- We read Tom's story in the book Everybody Feels Angry, by  Jane Bingham; and then studied how our faces are different when we're happy and when we're angry. We studied body movement, but had to do so quietly without words or noises.

- The boys and girls enjoyed the poem Planning, by Thomas Hood. Next Wednesday we will trying acting out some of the "plans that have been made" when grown up.

Grades 1 and 2
- We have started preparing for Christmas and the children really took off with a little bit of Latin.
- We read the poem Brother and Sister, by Lewis Carroll, and discussed issues with sibings by way of acting out how it makes us feel, using our facial expression, and some noises and descriptive words.
- We read Tom's story in the book Everybody Feels Angry, by Jane Bingham; and then studied how our faces are different when we're happy and when we're angry.
- With this group, we also discussed some of the vocabulary words posted above.

Grades 3 and 4
The children discovered that, unfortunately, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is in fact a tragedy as half the cast dies. We discussed the players and their significance in the Bard's work.

The class has received a handout that was reviewed about the life of W. Shakespeare. This needs to be studied and placed in a folder/binder/duo-tang.

THERE WILL BE A TEST ON BOTH THE LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AS WELL AS THE PLAY ROMEO AND JULIET.

Grades 5, 6, and 7
By these grades children should be developing fluency in reading. In order to do so, in preparation for the play, speeches, and the future we have started exercises in fluency and phrasing. Emotions, punctuation, and the interpretation of meaning must be understood as materials are read, whether outloud or silently. This comes with practise, vocabulary expansion, and proper phrasing versus phoneticising.
We discussed stage directions and reviewed the different parts of the theatre (the building).

We also discussed William Shakespeare's life in brevity, the types of works he wrote, as well as the synopsis of Romeo and Juliet, the characters and their significance (and demise in many cases).

TSoRaJ (aka The Play)
Scripts were handed out today!!!!!
We discussed the following "concepts" also known as rules: we must work together; we must accept the roles we are given since there cannot be two people playing the same part; our parts require us to be comfortable doing what is required of that role, and we must ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION because even though it may not be our role to speak, we may still be required to stand in a certain spot on cue.

CUE - when someone says something, or does something, in the play that gives a signal to me to be prepared to go, or do, or say, or look at, what it is that I am supposed to do, or say, or to go there, etc.

Please check the blog for posting of all roles.
Romeo, Juliet, and one the narrators have been decided but not yet announced.
All the rest of the roles will be assigned AFTER next Wednesday's class.

HOMEWORK: We have discussed most of the characters. We read through a few parts of the script together. PLEASE FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE ENTIRE SCRIPT BY NEXT CLASS AS WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH IT TOGETHER AND MAKING A FEW CHANGES AND DISCUSSING IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE COSTUMES, PROPS, AND BLOCKING.

Define: MONOTONE and CAPITULATE