St. Jude's Academy Dramatic Achievements and Experiences

Parents, please be sure to read the side bar as it will contain important information about costumes, props, and theatre etiquiette.

There are also age appropriate poems that you could ask your child to learn to say aloud. This helps with reading fluency, memory enhancement, elocution, and comprehension.

TO DATE:

October 6th, - Twelfth Night performance in Stratford, Ontario (long, but worth it - the entire production was musical, upbeat, brilliantly performed, and had twists from all eras and epochs)

November 10th, - Remembrance Day skit: In Flander's Fields performed and directed by the Grade 6, 7, and 8 class.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

December 15th, - The Christmas Concert: Songs that moved the world

End of January, 2012 - Twelfth Night

February 2012 - SJA Gala Dinner and "show"

March/April 2012 - Speeches and Poetry Recitation

June 2012 - Arts Night

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Third Week of Classes #4 and #5 - September 19 & 21, 2011

Dear ALL Concerned: The stage can be a wonderful place of self-discovery. Human emotions, plights, experiences are discovered, better understood through movement, facial expression, vocalization, and projection of character. We, as the audience are in turn moved to laugh, to cry, to FEEL.............

Please be aware that in order to have your children experience drama fully, they must be in a place of trust, where each child can depend on the other. We will try to cultivate this, but children must also be willing to be dependable. This means they MUST be respectful of EVERYONE!

We are, for now, wasting much time trying to make sure that some children are a) QUIET and LISTENING; b) keep their hands and legs and other body parts to themselves; c) follow instructions given in class.

I will not tolerate any inappropriate behaviour, as it is unfair to those who are listening and following. Your child, if they will continue to be disruptive after 2 warnings, will be asked to LEAVE the class. If they miss more than 4 rehearsals for this reason, they WILL NOT BE allowed on stage for performances.

My reasoning for this is as follows: on the stage, and behind the curtains there are many wires, electrical devices, musical instruments, props, chairs, etc. There are also stairs. Although we take every precaution to keep your children safe, some are very VERY little, and if pushed, or not paying attention, or not listening can be hurt.

In order to avoid accidents, children must be obedient and respectful. We need them to climb on stage in single file, and without pushing for instance, for reasons obvious to us. Please encourage your children to listen and follow instructions, and understand why we practise OVER and OVER many of the things we learn. Yes, this is boring to those who understand and follow instructions right away. It's also unfair that some feel they don't have to do what they are told, while most are waiting for them to stop being silly.

Thank you for your understanding,
Mrs. Deras
Dramatic Arts Teacher

PS We are using the small stage for grades SK to 8, for our classes. The JK A & B's are no longer in this room, but in the classroom, for their safety. They must be respectful first, to earn the privilege of "being on stage".

Grade 3

This week we warmed up with mime stories on the small stage. The stories of Jane Bingham's, Emotion series were acted out to develop the use of facial expressions and actions. The stories deal with social skills and emotions in line with the Grade 3, Unit 1 - Who We Are.

We also practised walking in and out, sitting, standing, and bowing on cue. Way to go Grade 3's you're the best out of all my classes so far!!!!!

We finished our 2 stories for the Christmas pageant, and have voted on which we would like to narrate.

Grades 6,7 and  8

We are independently beginning to enter the class as we would the stage. Keep going, you may be better than the grade three's soon. :-)

Some students were able to read their passages outloud with corrections in elocution and fluency. We'll get to the rest.

Twelfth Night: We reviewed the cast of characters, discussed the audition process, explained the importance of "value-added input", and the script was read out loud (half way).

AUDITION SHEETS ARE POSTED: THIS GROUP MUST AUDITION!!!! PICK A CHARACTER.

ATTENTION: Students must have a binder or 3-pronged duo-tang, a pencil, an eraser, and water in class.

Grade 1 and 2

We walked in line MANY TIMES, in order to practise walking on stage appropriately. 

We reviewed stage directions and practised a stage game. Good job everyone! It's coming along.

After reviewing Jane Bingham's books on Emotions, we are practising walking on stage, introducing ourselves, saying a few sentences, following up with facial expressions, bowing, and exiting. Good work here too!

Grade 4 and 5

HOMEWORK: Mrs. Deras collected the list of 20 emotions from MOST students. Two students recieve a bonus for handing this in ON TIME on Monday. The rest receive their grade as is. Those who are late (yes, next Monday is LATE) will receive a deduction.

We needed to walk into class many, MANY, MANY, times due to a complete disregard of instructions. Again - this applies only to some students and is totally unfair to others who are patiently doing what they are told. The grade 3's are MUCH better, if that is any incentive.

Twelfth Night: We discussed the audtion process, the cast of characters, and read some of the script.

AUDITION NOTICES HAVE BEEN POSTED: This group MAY audition (you don't have to). Keep in mind that EVERYONE will have a speaking part in the play. Keep in mind also that the roles will be assigned based on merit, ability, dependability (arriving on cue), projection of voice, elocution, etc. You do not get the role you want just because you want it. You must "wow" the audition panel first.

ATTENTION: Students must have a binder or three-pronged duo-tang, a pencil, and an eraser for ALL classes. I will NOT be reprinting anything if it becomes LOST!

JK B

We played "Follow the Leader" and "Simon Says" in order to have the children learn to follow instructions.

We discussed what we do and how we look when we are happy. We sang the song: "If You're Happy and You Know It". Then, most children introduced themselves independently and told everyone what makes them happy.

We sang "Twinkle Twinkle" with actions in order to begin coordinating singing and movement.

We almost finished the story "Something From Nothing" - but there are many disruptions in this class, caused by a few (2) affecting many. Please note, you will be removed from the class if you misbehave. Parents, please see me if you have any problems with this.

JK A

We played "Follow the Leader" and "Simon Says" in order to have the children learn to follow instructions.

We sang "Twinkle Twinkle" with actions in order to begin coordinating singing and movement.

We discussed what we do and how we look when we are happy. We sang the song: "If You're Happy and You Know It". Then most children introduced themselves independently and told everyone what makes them happy.

Since we don't quite understand what facial features are, we sang "Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes" several times and became very quick at it.

This class was able to hear the story "Something from Nothing" and included actions. Very good JK A's.

JK B/SK Both Classes

We have been introduced to stage directions and followed this up with a game.
We are also practising walking into class like we would onto a stage. We then focus on standing, sitting, bowing.

The children are on stage one at a time to introduce themselves and to state an emotion and then follow it up with a facial expression and body movement.  Well done!

Ms. Genco's class was well behaved enough to be able to walk across the big stage TWICE and to see what is behind those black curtains known as "back stage".

Ms. Mischuk's class reviewed sitting appropriately and following instructions. Maybe next week we too will see the stage.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Deras

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