Exams and all that jazz

Well, with Art students creating portfolios, it is a timely reminder of the serious side of the Arts.  This week has been all about the academic side of the Performing Arts.

Miss Pratt revises with the Year 11 Dance class

Drama students sitting their Level 2 examination

The Performing Arts have a great deal of academic content, and exams are an integral part of the course.  It is not necessarily something people think of when they choose their subjects.

We have also been getting ready for the production in a BIG way.  Mr Thompsons set looks amazing.  It will be awesome to see Dorothy's house rolling around in the cyclone.... and the spooky trees.... and things on wheels.  Great fun. 

I am lucky to have a terrifically talented sister who has taken on the challenge of the costumes for the Lion and the Tinman this week.  Juggling 2 small children and 2 large costumes has been tough, but she has done a great job.  Thanks Katrina, you rock.

Arjun gets measured for his costume on Monday afternoon

Arjuns completed Lion outfit on Tuesday evening!

Business as usual.... and some exams

With a strike day today, there has not been a better time for students to get into their revision.  School will still be open for students, and the library and a skeleton teaching crew will be in place.  If you need a quiet place to think and revise, head in to school.  Drama, Dance and Music students will all have an exam.

Other than that, it is business as usual.  The dancers are in reflection and evaluation mode after working so hard on their performances last week.  Music students are gearing up for their last performance assessment opportunity of the term next week.  Art and Photography students are working on portfolios.  And in Drama.... well..... here are some images from this week so far:

Wai, Zemira and Katie in their devised Drama

Lydia, Civic, Carline and Annalise investigate puppetry

Phoenix and Aaron work on their stage combat fight routine

Preparing for the external exams.

Now is the time to really get thinking about revision and being sensible about what you have to do.

Harrang and harrass your teachers for information and advice. And seek advice elsewhere. You all know about studyit.... the website with information about English, Maths and Sciences.

Finding help for the Arts can be more challenging. However, we will try to steer you in the right direction with some advice. Today is a shameless plug, and a financial outlay. But it is worth it. Not all of us have great notes from the year..... let's be honest people! Buy some! You have options- ask for the notes of people who were in the class last year. Shamelessly beg for them. Look for revision guides in bookshops and online...

Shameless plug... check out the author..... ;)

 ESA is a New Zealand company who specialise in revision books.  They have ones for course outlines, and ones focussed on examinations.  You can buy them from their website- or bookshops.

The ESA Website- all of their books.

These range between $20-$30 for each title.  You can always re-sell your book next year to the following class and get back some of the cash.  Or check out Trademe, which always has a range of secondhand titles listed.  They have a full range of Drama books, and a visual Art book is due out soon.

The main thing you should be doing is making sure you have your notes in order, that you know what the exam will be about, and making sure your internal assessment work is up to date.  Soon we will follow this blog with another spouting about what you should be studying.

Term 3 begins!

With half the year gone, it is time to herald in the start of Term 3.

This term brings new classes to the junior Arts subjects, as all Year 9 students and the vast majority of Year 10 students change their options.  So have a good semester people, and enjoy the change.  The term also brings a new teacher to the department, and we would like to welcome Ms Beecroft, who will be teaching Visual Art with Mr Thompson.

Upcoming shortly is both the inter-coll theatresports competition and Rockquest.  We have been successful in both competitions in the past, and look forward to having another go this year.

With half the year gone, senior students now have to look towards the exams at the end of the year.  Yes, even the performing Arts have a major examination component!  So get studying people, make sure you know what it is you have to do.  And prepare.

Subject selections for 2011 will be happening soon.  Remember Year 9's, you get to pick 1 or 2 Arts options for the year.  Year 10's, you will get 3 subjects to pick for NCEA in 2011, and you may take up to 3 Arts lines if you wish.  Remember that you need to have taken the chosen Art line in the junior school to participate, and Music requires that you play an instrument.  Year 11 students will get a chance to branch out, remembering that entry requirements for Year 12 subjects are usually 12 credits in Level 1.  Year 12 students need to think about the possibility of Scholarship subjects in Year 13.  Talk with your teachers about it.  I would encourage all of you to try at least 1 scholarship subject, as you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.