The Arts

Head of Department – Dramatic Arts & Performance

Alyssa Kelly

Drama staff have been very busy creating interesting practical tasks for students in Years 7-9. This week, Ms Maguire and Ms Hudson put together a Zoom tutorial for Year 7 students to create their own shield and sword props, showcasing a family crest. Tutorials will be uploaded in preparation for lessons in weeks 4 and 5. This activity will support Year 7 research into ‘The Sword in the Stone’ and Medieval lifestyles. 

Photography Club 

Photography Club students have been keeping very busy submitting to a number of exciting challenges. The girls have been working with the ‘Rule of Thirds’ and various compositions and subject matter including using ‘found’ frames within a photograph. The two most popular challenges this week have been ‘Pets and Family’ and ‘What do you see from your window #StayAtHome’ challenge. The girls have been very creative in their home surroundings and have submitted some truly engaging and thoughtful photographs. 

Head of Department – Visual Arts & Exhibitions 

Harriet Geater-Johnson

The weekly art challenge is having one last hurrah. This time the challenge will run through until May 25, so everyone has time to enter! Ideas and information can be found via the NEWS Section of the Learning Hub.

For this last challenge we would like you to produce an appropriation of a famous artwork (this means that you recreate the work). Everyone can get involved – such as parents, guardians, siblings and your pets.

Submissions should be photos and you may use props, people, animals – be creative and above all have fun!!

Here are some great sites to ‘borrow’ your artwork from – You can look up the collections of MOMA, TATE, Met Museum and the Louvre or follow the suggested link on the HUB for the most celebrated paintings.

Head of Department – Music & Performance

Johnathon Goulter

Virtual Classrooms

All of our Year 7 to 10 classes have been taking part in musicianship exercises via video and learning new pieces on virtual instruments at home. The Year 9 students have been investigating dance music and in particular polyrhythmic dance rhythms of some African Cultures. This has resulted in some students recording themselves juggling egg shakers with their parents/guardians to show their understanding of rhythms. It’s great stuff! The Year 11 students and Mr Goulter have been pushing Zoom meetings to their limit with some three part chord singing as part of their compositional studies.

Virtual Bands

It is safe to say that we miss making music and to alleviate this we have started working hard on virtual bands. Our Year 9 and 11 classes have both decided to make  virtual bands showing the repertoire that they are learning. Year 9 students will be recording Daft Punk’s – Around the World and Year 11 students recording The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand. The School Concert Band is also preparing a virtual performance of Eine Kleine Rock Music – A rocked up Mozart version. We will have the videos out in the near future so stay tuned for more information.

Virtual Choir

We have also started mixing and arranging the whole school choir entries for Jesus Lover of My Soul. We have had a phenomenal response from staff members being involved so look out for who is doing what in the video at upcoming assemblies.