Virtual Learning Network

Dramanet Summary to 21st February

Kia ora koutou,

I hope you’re all finding your feet in the classroom once again as timetables and rolls finally settle [or have they?], major annual events like Athletics/House Day, Swimming Sports and scholars/leaders assemblies get out of the way and attention turns, once relationships are firmly established, on really sinking our teeth into these rich contexts that shape and drive our work in the classroom for Term 1.

Here’s your summary of activity for Week 3 on Dramanet…

Note-Worthy:

• Our esteemed colleague Kerry Lynch shared the exciting news that his play Dream Seer is now published and available for purchase from Playmarket. “A stunning story from one of New Zealand's most skilled advocates for the arts in education. This play is a real gift for young people with its themes, tone, and authenticity.” Oscar Kightley. Congratulations Kerry!
• Also, I shared this list of ‘quick-clicks’ for easily navigating the NZQA and TKI sitesand particularly those areas which are high traffic areas for drama teachers. Initialexternal assessment specifications for the 2016 Drama examinations are available now as well. I will keep the community posted if changes occur.

A Primary Focus – for teachers of learners in Years 1-8:

Robert Dil is facilitating a great workshop for primary teachers in puppetry with no previous experience needed, read on:

“Puppet Play” in Wellington; Saturday 5th March from 9am -12pm. 

Location: St. Mark's Church School, 13 Dufferin Street, Basin Reserve, Wellington. Cost: $60 per participant. 

“This interactive workshop will explore how puppets can be used in the classroom and other theatre contexts to engage young people, create a fun environment, and promote literacy and the performing arts.”

Full details and registration info, here.

He Reo Āwhina, He Reo Tautoko – A voice of help and support:

• Shakespeare: Discussion continued on from Luke’s previous thread re: suggested scenes for Shakespearean theatre form internal assessments. Click the link for the full thread from the beginning again. Later, Luke also shared this compiled list of features of Elizabethan Theatre for others to use. Patrice O’Brien also shared the TES link to a wealth of resources for teaching Shakespeare.
• Rosie Moxey was after some suggestions for scripts for assessing techniques at level two.
• Bronwyn Fenwick asked about plays for Scholarship Drama and about sticking to the prescribed plays and playwrights. Thanks for the many responses and discussion on this.
• Gail Denver from Maverick Musicals shared their range of senior school plays available for purchase and performance.
• Kate Moetaua asked about flooring for new school drama and dance studios.
• Katie Howes asked whether anyone knows about the health and safety requirements and rules regarding staging height. A timely question with an answer we all need to be familiar with…
• Tabitha Kaiser is looking for ideas for teaching and exploring drunk driving through drama with Year 10 students.

EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:

• Marama Tracey Lloydd reminded our community of the school matinees available at the Auckland Arts Festival.
• Peter Rees shared details for Unitec’s graduating third year actors’ Shakespeare season, with school matinees available for both As You Like It and A Winter’s Tale.Student and teacher tickets are only $5 each!
• Jenny McArthur shared details for teachers to have Echolalia performed at your school as it tours secondary schools from March 30^th –April 15^th and May 2^nd – May 20^th.
• Julia Campbell shared details of The Lord Lackbeards tour of both Hamlet and Ophelia Thinks Harder to schools throughout May.
• Bianca Till shared details for the New Zealand Land and Home youth performance.Performances times still available in Hamilton.
• There are Q&As available for The Tempest performances at the Pop-Up Globe for the Auckland Summer Shakespeare season. Details here.

Events and Workshops:

• Jane Cotty shared this great opportunity in May for students from Auckland and Wellington to see free screenings of international documentaries.
• Emma Bishop reminded us that Junior Theatre NZ presents Cindy Ripley from America– a professional development opportunity for teachers and students with a passion for musical theatre.
• There is a “big dreams gathering” in Wellington on March 3^rd for all performing arts practitioners making work by, with and for young people in Aotearoa.
• The Auckland Shakespeare Company shared yet more opportunities for school workshops at the Pop-Up Globe in Auckland to support the productions being performed there.
• Emma Bishop reminded subscribers about the Improvisation and Mask workshops with Steve Jarand for students, teachers and practitioners happening on March 2^nd and 3^rdat Westpoint Performing Arts Centre in Point Chev, Auckland.
• Jackie James advertised a screen acting workshop with Miranda Harcourt aimed at young teens at Scots College in Wellington.

In the [social] media:

• Robert Dil shared this Facebook page dedicated to promoting the arts for young people in the Wellington region. Head over and give it a ‘like’!

Professional Learning and Development Opportunities:

• There are two Drama New Zealand scholarships available which enable [1] a beginning teacher and [2] a rural teacher to access and attend the forth coming national conference in Wellington.
• I shared the link to NZQA’s new range of Assessor Support Options for 2016. The one most closely connected to former BPWs is the Making Assessor Judgements (MAJ) workshops which you must register your interest in attending before NZQA will make arrangements for these to operate. I urge you all to do this early for both Drama and Performing Arts Technologies workshops!

Professional Reading & Viewing:

I was interested to read this article from the Huffington Post education website this week, about mental-health strategies in the classroom:

• How These Educators Approach Mental Health In The Classroom

Although it focussed on primary-aged students, with well-being and mindfulness becoming increasingly important considerations within our sector I wondered what thoughts this conjures up for drama teachers about how we too ‘deal with’ or ‘address’ mental health and related issues in the drama classroom? We would all agree, I am sure, that for many students Drama is that ‘safe place’ but building that safe place takes considerable work and conscious effort too. Perhaps some of you might share how you actively tie activity related to mindfulness, well-being or mental health into your drama programmes? Anyway, food for thought...

This summary will be uploaded to the Dramanet VLN group and our Twitter feed @ArtsOnline1. To access any of the threads on the Arts Online website archive simply type the username“artsonline” and the password “mailinglist” to do this.

Kia pai tō wiki,

Ryan