Head of Performance
Farewell to Mrs Deb Cohen
As the school community would be aware, Mrs Deb Cohen will be retiring at the end of this school year. Mrs Cohen has made an enormous contribution to the Music Program at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s and has been responsible for inspiring a love of music in many of our students. She has shown boundless energy and kindness in her interactions with all in the school community and will be greatly missed. We thank Mrs Cohen for her outstanding contribution to the school and wish her all the very best for the future!
Music Ensembles 2017
Lists for 2017 Choral and String Ensembles have been displayed in both the Sister Helen Orchestra Room and the Primary Music Room. 2017 Band Ensemble lists will made available at the start of the new school year. Music ensemble rehearsals will begin from Week 2 in 2017. Information will be sent out to students during the first week of school to advertise ensembles times, venues and other relevant information. We look forward to having many girls involved in the Music Program next year.
Racecourse Road Community Christmas
Congratulations to Encorah on their performance at the Racecourse Road Community Christmas held in the grounds of St Augustine’s last Friday evening. The event was a wonderful success with many in attendance. Many parts of the local community were represented and I know that it was a real thrill for our girls to be able to perform at the event. Thank you to all in Encorah who participated and thank you to Ms Brennan for putting together such a wonderful program of music.
Private Music Lessons 2017
If your daughter is currently undertaking private music tuition she will automatically be placed on her current teacher’s roll for 2017. Parents do not need to fill in a new application form. However, if your daughter does not wish to continue lessons in 2017 we ask that you email the Music Department as soon as possible at Music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au to enable rolls to be updated. (If your daughter has not previously undertaken private music lessons and is wishing to do so in 2017, please find attached an application form to be returned to the Music Department).
Process for Commencing Private Music Lessons in 2017
On Friday 27 January (Friday of Week 1, Term 1), a meeting will be held in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room for music students in Years 5 - 12 who will be undertaking private music lessons. At this meeting your daughter will be able to meet her teacher and arrange an initial lesson time. Private music lessons will start from Week 2. If your daughter is in Prep - Year 4, you will be contacted directly by the teacher during the first week of Term 1 to arrange a lesson time.
Music Support Group
The first Music Support Group meeting for 2017 will be held on Tuesday 7 February at 5:00pm in the Primary Music Room (Chaseley). All welcome to attend!
Thank You
A very big thank you to all in the 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Music Community for a wonderful year. It has been another busy year, but one in which we have achieved much. I know that the girls will end the school year with many wonderful memories from experiences had throughout 2016. I feel very blessed to be part of such an amazing community and am very grateful for the contributions made by so many. Thank you to all of the music staff for their continued hard work and professionalism, thank you to all of the parents for your continued support in encouraging your daughter’s music education, and of course thank you to all of the girls who show ongoing dedication and commitment to the 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Music Program. I wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas break and look forward to seeing everyone in 2017, refreshed and ready for another school year!
Brad King
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Speech and Drama Eisteddfods
Congratulations to the Speech and Drama students in Years 5 - 9 who entertained their parents, friends and teachers at the end-of-year Eisteddfods held during the last two weeks of term. Throughout the four days of performances, students demonstrated their developing skills in storytelling, mime, improvisation, poetry recital, prose reading, impromptu speaking and drama. External adjudicators provided invaluable feedback to performers and commented on the very high standard of presentation.
This year, the inaugural Jacqueline Noyes Encouragement Award was introduced to the Year 5 Eisteddfod to honour Jacqui who passed away earlier this year. Jacqui made a significant contribution to the life of Speech and Drama at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s. She taught Private Speech and Drama here for 21 years from 1980 to 2001. During that time, she inspired students with her love of literature and passion for performing. Jacqui later adjudicated our end-of-year Eisteddfods from 2009 to 2015, allowing many more students to benefit from her experience and expertise.
As a teacher and adjudicator at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s, Jacqui provided warm encouragement and inspiration to many Speech and Drama students. The Jacqueline Noyes Encouragement Award will be presented each year to a Year 5 student who the adjudicator believes demonstrates note-worthy potential through their Eisteddfod performances. Congratulations to Leah Webb who is the 2016 recipient of this Award.
Maria Chamberlain
Private Speech and Drama Coordinator
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Visual Art News
The Racecourse Road Community Christmas Festival was held last Friday and it was lovely to see a strong representation of the 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s community. The Primary girls looked ‘spectacular’ in their costumes and were very popular, given they were handing out lollies! The Christmas decorations made by Years 7 and 8 students are still hanging the large tree at the front of the St Augustine’s Church. Pictured are some of the smART Club girls with their creations.
smART Club in 2017 will begin with a free activity. We need a small, but dedicated, team to paint the sets for The Sound of Music. We will be creating the house and also some of the lovely alpine landscapes featured in the musical. smART Club is open to all Secondary students in Years 7-12. The Term 1 activity will run from Week 2 until the Musical in Week 8 of Term 1. Our new Visual Art Captains, Annabel Kennedy and Eliza McKendry, welcome volunteers.
Finally, thank you so much to all in the community who have supported our Art events in 2016. Wishing you all a lovely Christmas break from the 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Visual Art team.
Lisa Smith
Secondary Visual Art Coordinator
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