Virtual Learning Network

Dramanet Summary to 8th March

Kia ora koutou,

‘To do lists’... I suppose they are what keep us all moving at this time of the year: appraisal meetings and set-up for the year; inquiry goals and PLD foci; data analysis; board reports; teaching and learning programme (aka. schemes) up-dates; department manuals; PLD applications and bookings; invoicing follow ups; EOTC bookings and subsequent forms, and forms, and forms to complete…then we all manage to still fit that ‘little thing’ we call teaching in as well; that precious time we actually spend with our students doing what we love before returning to each of our “administration nightmares”. Actually, I think there’s a reality show title and concept in that I'm sure?! Think “Hoarders” meets “Hell’s Kitchen” meets “Under Cover Boss". Anyway, all jokes aside, I hope this week’s summary does find you well as you work through your own list of “to do” tasks… 

This has been on my own ‘to do’ list for a few days now, so I apologies for the delay. Let’s crack on…

Note Worthy:

• There was recently a call to action regarding Ministry of Education published resources available at the Down the Back of the Chair website:

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

• “Tutakina mai ahau kit e Awa | Meet me at the River” the Drama New Zealand subject associations national conference for 2016 is probably, hands-down, the best form of dedicated The Arts-Drama professional learning and development primary teachers will be offered this year by anyone. My thanks to Robert Dil for his on-going information-sharing with the Primary sector subscribers of this community. More details here. I firmly encourage and back this conference and the range of primarydrama workshop opportunities on offer and urge you all to get registered for three of the best PLD days you’ll ever have!  [You heard it here first…]

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

• Lucy Duffield asked for “a bit of advice” regarding designing a individual plan for a student she has in her level two class who already completed several of the level twodrama standards last year.
• Scott Chalmers sought out thoughts/information regarding The Crucible.
• Our thanks for Rachel Steele who offered up a range of play texts, free to new schooldrama department homes.
• Gail Denver shared details of Laura Officer’s The Blame Game as a possible text for use in drama programmes.
• Andrea Hanson asked, regarding 1.4/90999 whether a monologue was an acceptable vehicle to achievement within the conditions of assessment for this standard. Would be good to have some shared discussion around this on the list…
• Emily McRae posed some questions about the specifications for level three external 91518 which this year includes the provision/stipulation for candidates to discuss live performance work they have been involved in as an actor as well as viewer.
• Emily also put out a call to action to get Dunedin and surrounding areas teachers toregister their interest in attending a workshop with MASSIVE Company artistic director Sam Scott in November.
• Bridget Crooks shared some concise advice regarding staging, working at height and OSH regulations.
• Emma Bishop sought play advice for selecting her college (non-musical) dramaproduction for this year.
• Amy Edwards was looking for buddies to team up for a professional inquiry looking at external examination in Drama. There was LOTS of interest in this.
• Lyndee Hurley asked about transport from the airport when attending our dramaconference in April.
• Gemma Carter asked for support with internal moderation as a sole charge teacher/department. Thanks for the great ideas and offers Angela and Christine. Gemma also asked if anyone had held workshops in schools with Philip Christian Claassen previously.
• Stacey Harrison asked if anyone was willing to share tasks/handouts/workbooks they have used successfully for 2.9 Direct a scene…
• Katy van Deventer was on the hunt for Alice in Wonderland themed costumes.
• Sarah Higginson asked whether it was acceptable to use Dave Armstrong as a playwright on his own, rather than paired with Oscar Kightley for Scholarship Dramapurposes.
• Luke Walton shared the male drama statistics for 2015 which he compiled with the help of submissions from our community.
• Our thanks for Ken Hudson who is willing to share his play script Pounamu Cut, a ‘bicultural Epic’, with the community.
• Emma Bishop shared a message from our own Paul Willis (past Executive Member ofDrama NZ and Drama NZ Auckland) who is currently part of the troupe performing at the Pop-Up Globe
• Tamsin Dashfield-Speight asked if anyone was willing to share video footage of students’ directing work for level two or level three.
• Susan Battye shared details of the postponement of the IDEA world congress.
• I asked if people would share and compile the various Māori and Pasifika contextsbeing explored through their drama teaching and learning programmes via a Google Doc. I will give this some more time before uploading it to the TRE later next week.
• Karla Haronga modestly advertised the FAHS War Years Production which she has written for the school and community to perform/view. Congratulations and all the best with the show Karla!
• Vivien Smith revitalised the call to action asking for teachers to check with school accounts managers and executive officers regarding the arts coordinator funding. Thanks for Kim for your concise feedback on the matter.
• Jaclyn Druitt asked for a link to or clarification around the rules for the SGCNZ UOSWSF around music/dance.

EOTC & Live Performance Opportunities:

• Marama Tracey Lloydd has been doing an amazing job at keeping us all up to speed with happenings and opportunities at the Auckland Arts Festival which is now open. Her messages to the community recently have included: 2 Outstanding Theatre Shows NOW! AND James 1 reviews hot off the press
• Julie Zhu shared information regarding the schools matinee of White/Other coming up at the Basement Theatre in Auckland on April 13^th, 11am.
• Bhavisha Singh shared Indian Ink’s national tour for 2016.
• Jenny McArthur shared a range of teacher feed-back regarding the Echolalia national schools tour happening May 2-20 next term. Student feed-back here.
• Sara Shirazi shared details of Voices in my Head coming to the Basement Theatre in May.

Events and Workshops:

• Junior Theatre NZ in association with MTI Australasia have put together an opportunity for you, your colleagues and students to be part of a day of Musical Theatre with Cindy Ripley from iTheatrics New York, the company that create the Broadway Junior Musical Series right here in NZ, in association with Music Theater International and Disney. Details here.
• Louise Tourelle is facilitating a Stanislavski, Brecht and Artaud workshop this Saturday 12^th March, at Toi Whakaari in Wellington, 10am -4pm.
• There will be a screening of the hilarious new film Three Wise Cousins followed by a Q&A session with its director at the Hawkins Theatre in Papakura on 18^th March at 7.30pm.

In the [social] media:

• Theatrefolk Blog- Working with a Chorus: thoughts on working with vary large chorus ensembles in schools productions. Great for middle years/junior secondary in particular!

Professional Learning and Development Opportunities:

• “Tutakina mai ahau kit e Awa” | “Meet me at the River” Drama New Zealand National Conference 2016; 21^st-23^rd April, St Patrick’s College Silverstream, Upper Hutt, Wellington. LINKS: Information; Registration; Workshop Details; Accommodation; Getting There
• Melanie Ashby-Klaassen, our new Drama/Dance Facilitator at Team Solutions in Auckland shared details of the Regional Arts Partnerships (RAPs) workshops for arts middle leaders on behalf of Di Smallfield, the National Co-ordinator/Facilitator (Arts). North and Central areas’ details and enrollment links are available on the attachment, here. Later, Kim Bonnington also shared details for the Southern leg of these workshops with details, here.  Southern venues include Invercargill, Dunedin, Hokitika, Christchurch, Blenheim, Wellington and New Plymouth.

Professional Reading & Viewing:

• The February edition of the drama moderators’ newsletter from NZQA was shared, and then given a thumbs-up by Bianca Till who affirmed in particular, the clarity of information around balancing written and verbal evidence. Essential reading for all in the secondary sector! 
• You can ready the Secondary Arts Newsletter for Term 1, here. See above for information regarding the RAPs workshops.
• I also suggest members of this community subscribe to continue receiving the Arts Online Newsletter, published each term. Details here.

As always, 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