Manshead School Summer Newsletter 2012 Learning Partnership Page 2 Acvity Week Page 11 Carnegie Medal Page 13 Media Showcase Page 12 D0fE Update Page 3 Sister Act Review Page 18 D & T SPECIAL Page 4-10 Olympic Medals Page 4 Whipsnade Zoo Page 8 GCSE Art Exhibion Page 16 A-Level Exhibions Page 17 Arts Insert Web: www.mansheadschool.co.uk Tel: 01582 679400 Email: [email protected]Fax: 01582 679411 Welcome to our Summer Term Newsletter As we come to the end of the school year we can reflect back on another successful year. There have been some fantastic sporting achievements (as highlighted in the last edition of the Newsletter), some wonderful school events in music, dance and drama and really exciting projects in school such at the Whipsnade technology project and the Year Eleven finance/enterprise day. There has also been a noticeable increase in the effort levels of our students as they respond to the higher level of expectation that we demand from them; there are more students with an average attitude to learning grade of good or better than ever before. We are also expecting improvements in exam results from all year groups in the summer. Well done to all the students. Many parents will be aware of the changes that are happening to the school system in Dunstable. We are aware that this causes anxiety and concern but we would like to reassure you that Manshead is in a great position to continue to provide the best Upper School education in the area. As I mentioned in the last Newsletter the Learning Partnership of ten local schools has been established. I have been really pleased with what we have achieved in a short time. We see our links with Ashton Middle School, Caddington Village School and Streetfield Middle Schoo,l as our three main feeder schools, as becoming even more important as the education system changes around us. In turn the Lower Schools in the Partnership of Ashton St Peter’s, Downside Lower, Kensworth Lower, Slip End Lower, St Mary’s Lower and Studham Lower have been working very closely with the middle schools to achieve the same aim. There are lots of exciting projects and programmes being developed to make sure that we become even better at supporting local children as they move from one school to the next. The Learning Partnership believes in the notion of ten schools, one journey. Manshead is the end point of that journey and we hope that in the coming year we can make even more progress in improving the quality of education for children in our area who attend our family of schools. In the course of the school year we often have to say goodbye to members of staff as they develop their careers, have breaks to bring up children or take retirement etc. This year we are saying goodbye to two long serving teachers who deserve a special mention. Roger Seldon is retiring from his role of teacher of Physics after 31 years of teaching at Manshead. Terri Clayton is also retiring from her role as Assistant Headteacher having been with us for 28 years. Both Roger and Terri have made huge contributions to the development of the school and in their time have influenced the lives of thousands of young people. We really appreciate their contributions to the school and wish them well for a happy retirement. Thank you for your continued support of Manshead School. The partnership between home and the school is stronger than it ever has been and the success of your children depends upon it. I hope that everyone enjoys the summer break and that students return ready for the challenges that the new school year will present. Jim Parker Headteacher Manshead Pay Day Page 3 DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL
As we come to the end of the school year we can reflect back on another successful year. There have been some fantastic sporting achievements (as highlighted in the last edition of the Newsletter), some wonderful school events in music, dance and drama and really exciting projects in school such at the Whipsnade technology project and the Year Eleven finance/enterprise day. There has also been a noticeable increase in the effort levels of our students as they respond to the higher level of expectation that we demand from them; there are more students with an average attitude to learning grade of good or better than ever before. We are also expecting improvements in exam results from all year groups in the summer. Well done to all the students.
Many parents will be aware of the changes that are happening to the school system in Dunstable. We are aware that this causes anxiety and concern but we would like to reassure you that Manshead is in a great position to continue to provide the best Upper School education in the area. As I mentioned in the last Newsletter the Learning Partnership of ten local schools has been established. I have been really pleased with what we have achieved in a short time. We see our links with Ashton Middle School, Caddington Village School and Streetfield Middle Schoo,l as our three main feeder schools, as becoming even more important as the education system changes around us. In turn the Lower Schools in the Partnership of Ashton St Peter’s, Downside Lower, Kensworth Lower, Slip End Lower, St Mary’s Lower and Studham Lower have been working very closely with the middle schools to achieve the same aim. There are lots of exciting projects and programmes being developed to make sure that we become even better at supporting local children as they move from one school to the next. The Learning Partnership believes in the notion of ten schools, one journey. Manshead is the end point of that journey and we hope that in the coming year we can make even more progress in improving the quality of education for children in our area who attend our family of schools.
In the course of the school year we often have to say goodbye to members of staff as they develop their careers, have breaks to bring up children or take retirement etc. This year we are saying goodbye to two long serving teachers who deserve a special mention. Roger Seldon is retiring from his role of teacher of Physics after 31 years of teaching at Manshead. Terri Clayton is also retiring from her role as Assistant Headteacher having been with us for 28 years. Both Roger and Terri have made huge contributions to the development of the school and in their time have influenced the lives of thousands of young people. We really appreciate their contributions to the school and wish them well for a happy retirement.
Thank you for your continued support of Manshead School. The partnership between home and the school is stronger than it ever has been and the success of your children depends upon it. I hope that everyone enjoys the summer break and that students return ready for the challenges that the new school year will present.
Jim Parker
Headteacher
Manshead Pay Day
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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL
The Learning Partnership
Ten Schools, One Journey
Ashton Middle School - Ashton St Peter’s Lower School - Caddington Village School - Downside Lower School - Kensworth Lower School
Manshead Upper School - Slip End Lower School - St Mary’s Lower School - Streetfield Middle School - Studham Lower School
Summer Term Newsletter 2012
As the Learning Partnership is now one year old, we thought you
would like to hear what we have been doing to develop our idea
of ten schools, one journey.
The ten schools in our Learning Partnership work closely
together to provide a journey through the school system that
really works for children. We are determined to provide the best
possible education for children in our community and by working
together we have already introduced new practice that helps
children to make even better progress. We are also developing
a much better understanding of each child’s abilities and we use
this information to help make the transition from one school to
another run much more smoothly. We know that moving
between schools can be a worrying time for children and their
parents. The schools in the Learning Partnership work together
to make the journey from one to the next work well.
The Learning Partnership also helps make sure that the
teaching and learning is the most up-to-date and of the highest
quality. To do this we work together by reviewing each others
schools with the help of an external consultant. In this way we
can make sure that the very best teaching and learning spreads
across all ten schools.
We are also improving the quality of the information about how
much progress children have made as they move from one
school to the next. In this way schools in the Learning
Partnership can make sure that children don’t fall behind.
The Learning Partnership Music Festival
After a great deal of planning and liaising between
Learning Partnership schools we held our first
Learning Partnership music festival at the end of
March. Over 150 children from across the schools
performed brilliantly at the event held at Streetfield
Middle School.
It was a wonderful afternoon with a lovely, warm
atmosphere. The children from all schools thoroughly
enjoyed the performance. We are very grateful to all
those staff who contributed to the event but particular
thanks go to Mrs. Sue Leadbeater, Governor at
Ashton St. Peter’s for leading such a successful
event. It was a truly memorable event which we all
hope will be repeated in the future.
Learning Partnership in action
Sue Smith, Headteacher of Slip End Lower School, is
retiring at the end of this term. Sue has made a huge
contribution to the Learning Partnership and we wish
her well. We are pleased that Jamie Brown from
Caddington Village School will be taking on the
interim Headship for the next year; a good example of
Partnership in action.
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
Manshead Pay Day
On 25th April 2012 60 Year 11’s received their first
pay packet, and with the help of Barclays Bank,
Harpenden Building Society and Sainsbury’s they
were given the chance to investigate how to use
their money.
After understanding the payslip details, and the
reality of the difference between Gross Pay and
Net Pay, they were introduced to the concepts of
planning, budgeting and saving as well as the
pitfalls of earning money.
As in real life, the students had plans on how to
spend their money but something unexpected
happened! As you can imagine – a bit of a surprise
for them – a taste of real life. So the students had
to rethink their plan.
Furthermore, given that 2012 is a special year -
Diamond Jubilee, Olympics and their final year of
compulsory education - they were asked to plan a special event using all the skills they had acquired during the
day. They were required to show Innovation, Community Spirit, Sensible Budgeting, Creativity and Team Effort.
DofE Update
Congratulations to Daniel Croxford for becoming our first male student to collect his Bronze Award. Well done Dan.
By the time this newsletter comes out we should have finished our Bronze Assessed Expedition for this year. Will we have stayed dry? Somehow it doesn’t seem very likely!
Also we should just be back
from our three day Silver
Assessed Expedition with
Queensbury in The Peak
District. Here is a photo
from the Silver Practice
Expedition, and yes those
packs were as heavy as
they look! It was so cold on
that expedition that the tents
were thick with ice each
morning and one leader’s
sleeping bag froze!
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
Design and Technology Special
Design and Technology make Olympic Bronze, Silver
and Gold!
Article by Jeff Kleinman
When Design and Technology were asked whether they could make the medals for this years
sports day we were only too pleased to step up to the mark. But how? We could cast them, we
could cut them, we could paint them, we could print them. We could make them out of metal,
plastic, wood, card, paper, ceramic or we could make them out of real gold which seemed an
excellent idea until we worked out that the school budget stretched to one quarter of one medal or
the winner of the first 25 metres of the 100 metres.
So, reasonably priced medals that could be made in quantity within a
three week time frame. Thinking caps on everyone - and it really was a
team effort with contributions from staff in textiles, food technology,
graphics and product design.
Here’s how we did it...
Step 1
An Olymp
ic theme
was cho
sen for
this
years Sp
orts Day
from a
number o
f
designs.
The win
ning des
ign was
then
printed
onto A4
paper to
be cut
into
discs us
ing the
laser cu
tter.
Step 2
Gold, si
lver or
white (f
or bronz
e)
medal bo
dies wer
e cut on
the las
er
cutter a
nd assem
bled usi
ng acryl
ic
adhesive
.
Step 3
Clear acrylic protective discs were
snapped over the paper design to
complete the product.
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So that’s how it was done, which leaves us just enough time to say good luck to everyone competing on the 16th. Gotta’ go now, the department’s got a meeting with someone called Seb Coe who’s interested in medals for another sports day coming up in August.
Sixth Form Logo
We are looking hard at how we develop communication
with students, parents and the wider public, and we are making as much use as we can of the creative
energies of our own students. You will already have seen Leah Groom’s drawing of the school in our Easter
newsletter and Josh Wheatcroft has put together a wonderful new site plan to help new students find their
way around the school. We are just finishing off the key for Josh’s plan and we hope to be able to show it off
in our next newsletter and around the school. Also we redesigned the website earlier this year and in
Reception we run a rolling presentation of photos and messages about school life and forthcoming events.
We also have a new prospectus out now which you can find on our website at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
and we are finishing off a video version of it which will include a music track written and
performed by Manshead students. We have a couple of Sixth Form prospectus videos in
production too – watch the website, they are going to be wonderful.
Alongside this we have been working to refresh all our Curriculum and Options booklets to
make sure that they are as easy to follow as possible. We are starting with the Sixth Form
Options Booklet (Sixth Form Prospectus), and as part of that work we invited Sixth Form
students to submit ideas for a Manshead Sixth Form logo. The brief was that it should reflect
that the Sixth Form is an integral part of Manshead, but that nonetheless the Sixth Form has a
fell that is different to Years 9-11. In the end
we had two winners; James Frith’s design
will be used on internal notices, posters etc,
and Danny Kearney’s will be adapted into a
formal Manshead Sixth Form
letterhead. Congratulations to both of them.
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Vauxhall Event
Students had a chance to ‘drive’ their own vision of what the car of the future might look like this term as Vauxhall visited Manshead to deliver a workshop based around Design, Manufacture and Marketing. High achieving Design technology students faced the challenge of creating a unique but commercially viable new product launch for Vauxhall, and had to face a tough panel in ‘The Griffin’s Den’ to present their innovative pitch.
Congratulations to Shannon Mortimer, Alysha Wilson, Charlotte Chase, Alex Stockwell and Sarah Taylor who put together an excellent portfolio and went on to win the competition. Thanks also to The Vauxhall Graduate Team and Mrs Cordt for the opportunity to host this event, and to all the students involved, they were a credit to the school.
Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
The winning team!
Design in progress
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Design and Technology Special
Top 5 GSCE
Catering
students -
International
Dishes
Brain Food!
Year 11 students enjoyed a hearty revision breakfast
before their GCSE Catering Exam. Thank you to the staff who cooked and served breakfast to 36
students.
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
Bushcraft Cookery Course
Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this!
Twelve year 10 and Year 11 Manshead Upper School Catering students attended a Cookery course in Oxford at the end of March. This was a cookery course with a difference, ‘Bush craft style’.
The students learnt how to forage and cook food from the woods and then spent the night under canvas. The students had to cut wood, to use for the fire and learnt how to light the fire before they could start cooking. Students also made their own utensils to eat with, out of wood.
Students took part in five cookery sessions over the weekend; these ranged from gutting and filleting trout and cooking over an open fire, making bread and cooking pizzas in a oven which took three hours to get to temperature, but only took 30 seconds to cook the pizza!
It was a memorable weekend away for all involved, where many new skills were learnt…. an experience we will never forget.
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Design and Technology Special
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Whipsnade Zoo KS3 Technology
Project 2012
Thank you to all the parents and students that attended the Whipsnade
Zoo year 9 open evening on the 31st of May 2012. This evening was a
celebration of success for all our students, and encouraged all ages to
view finished products and folders, completed by our year 9 technology
students. The project was inspired by our visit to Whipsnade zoo in
November 2011, and the class work and homework created reflected
the research carried out during the visit.
Many students were awarded rosettes and
certificates for outstanding work and all students
should be proud of what they were able to achieve.
Well done to everyone involved!
Textiles Gifted and
Talented Workshop
A handful of Textiles students experienced
the technique of ‘draping’ with the help of
one of our Year 13 students at the end of
this term. ‘Draping’ is a way of designing
garments in three dimensions, directly onto
a mannequin. Draping is an advanced skill
which we normally introduce to students when they reach Year 12, however
it helps to develop key modelling skills that will benefit the GCSE
experience, and potentially, GCSE grades. Emily Tickell, Emily Parrott,
Summer Collins, Ellie Broadstock, Chioma Lindholm, Jade Cooper and
Brittany Hiom produced an impressive portfolio of designs, and took to the
technique like naturals! Thank you to all of the students for their effort and
enthusiasm, and also to Bhavika Mistry who stepped in at the last minute to
team-teach the session.
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
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Manshad School Summer
Newsletter 2012
10
Design and Technology Special
Year
11
AS
Level
Some more examples of the fantastic work
produced in the Design and Technology
Department!...
A2
Level
Brief: to design a fair-
trade café for a chosen
space within Manshead
School.
GRAPHIC PRODUCTS
GRAPHIC PRODUCTS
GRAPHIC PRODUCTS
Brief: to design a
children's pop-up book.
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
Year
11
PRODUCT DESIGN
PRODUCT DESIGN
PRODUCT DESIGN
A2
Level
Brief: to design and
manufacture a scale model of a
chair inspired by the design
movement Bauhaus.
Brief: to design and manufacture a
battery powered MP3/phone docking
station that has been inspired by a
designer or artist of their choice.
AS
Level
Brett Roberts designed a
shelving system for young
children featuring an
integrated nightlight and rail
to hang their coats.
Jack Parker designed a solar
powered, multipurpose table for
use in the garden, featuring
LED lighting and a power point
for a stereo or laptop.
James Frith’s design is a
corporate business table that is
purpose built for collectors items
such as model trains and action
figures. It features a spotlight
display and can be flat packed.
Activity Week 2013
We hope that every Year 9 student will be able to take part in our brand
new exciting Activity Week which takes place in July next year. It will be
a great opportunity for your son or daughter to learn new skills, build
new relationships and enjoy a week of learning out of the classroom
environment. We have planned an exciting programme and we hope we
have something for everyone. The Activity Week is designed to be
challenging and will involve students being out of their comfort zone. We
hope they will develop teamwork and leadership skills and build their self
-confidence by trying something different. We also hope they will have
fun! If you have any questions about this new exciting week of activities
Manshead 3 - Eton Nil That isn’t a football score (although we hope that it would be the result in football too). It is actually the number of Gold Certificates awarded to Manshead and Eton students in this year’s Chemistry Olympiad, a very distinguished competition for absolutely the top sixth form Chemistry students in the country. (We actually got more Silvers than Eton too!) Very well done indeed to: Matthew JOHNSON Gold Josh HAMBLIN Gold Peter CLARK Gold Nathan KILLEN Silver Kelly GORE Silver Robert HORNBY Bronze The photo shows our Super Six showing off their certificates in front of proud Chemistry teacher Jim Maple.
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
Manshead Media Showcase
MOVE OVER Hollywood Oscars - this term saw the first ever ‘Media Showcase’ evening where students’ video production projects were screened to an audience including students, parents, staff and governors. Projects across years 11 – 13 were celebrated at the Manshead style ‘Oscars’ event, which presented to students awards in a number of categories. A variety of productions were made across the years from GCSE Media Music Videos and BTEC Creative Media Horror Film Trailers to year 12 AS Media Film Opening Sequences and year 13 A2 Media productions that included Film Trailers and Documentary Extracts. Awards presented on the night included Student of the Year, Best Year 13 Production, Best Planned Production, Most Ambitious Production, Best Use of Titles in a Production, Best Year 12 Production, Best Year 11 Music Video Production and Best Year 11 Horror Trailer Production. The Media Showcase recognises the hard work put in by all of the students over the year in their video productions, highlighting all elements of their projects from the organisation skills, planning and research, use of technical aspects and effects, creativity and team work. Sam Daniels, winner of Most Ambitious Production with his AS media opening sequence ‘Repressed Memories’ said: “I was extremely pleased about winning this award. I did choose quite a hard genre of film for my opening sequence and at times I found it a challenge to put my ideas into practice. I am delighted to have recognition for how hard I have worked”. Winners at the Showcase were: Student of the Year - Rogue, Adam Hussain Best Year 13 Production - Rogue, Adam Hussain Best Planned Production - Faceless: Who's following you? Emily Keens and Jasmine Robson Most Ambitious Production - Repressed Memories, Sam Daniels Best Use of Titles in a Production - Traitors, Amit Vadgama Best Year 12 Production - Have you seen?, Holly Fowler & Alice Hogan Best Year 11 Music Video Production - Friday I’m in Love, Georgia Tibbles, Rebecca Bench & Kirsty Steward Best Year 11 Horror Trailer production - Shadow Creek Woods, Shannon Doyle & Danielle Robinson Mr Parker attended the awards evening and congratulated the students for all of their hard work. He said: “Well done to all the media students for putting on an excellent showcase evening. It was great to see such amazing student work! I look forward to another fantastic event next year.” The Manshead Media Showcase will be back next year with more projects from years 11 – 13, including short films, music videos, film trailers and more.
Georgia Tibbles, Rebecca Bench and Kirsty Steward (above).
Adam Hussain (below).
Shannon Doyle (right).
The winners together (left).
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for
children.
Manshead Book Group takes part in the shadowing scheme, which involves reading,
discussing and reviewing the entries, and comparing opinions with the judges. This year
there were 8 books on the shortlist and here are some of our reviews.
Everybody Jam by Ali Lewis, reviewed by Holly
I had mixed feelings about this book, the blurb really pulled me in but after a
while the book got quite boring. I was very close to putting the book down
and quitting... but I didn't and I'm glad that I carried on reading because it
got better as it went along. What I like most about this is the author's
inspiration as she witnessed and took part in the activities she writes about.
Very well written: 7/10
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, reviewed by Charlotte
A tale of heartache, struggle and the war. This book follows Lina, her
brother, Jonas and their mother Elena as they get deported from Lithuania.
Ruta Sepetys has excellently written about the struggles of this family,
making you feel as though you're right there with them. A brilliant story, well
written and thought out. An unanticipated plot, leaving you wanting more. A
beautiful book, I thoroughly recommend it.:)
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, reviewed by Billie
A very moving and emotive piece. Conor, a misfit teen, wakes one night to find a monster. Not the monster, just
another monster, seeking the truth from him. He is there to help him, or is he? Conor doesn't know… It can be a
lesson to most, to accept what will be, but a hard one to learn. Not my type of story, but that’s not saying others
don't because they do. It's very well written and with nice pictures too.
All these books are available in the library. Book group is every Thursday at 1.40pm in D2. Please put your name
down in the library if you would like to come.
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
Book Group meets author Gemma Malley!
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Express Yourself
A selection of Manshead students are lucky enough to have had their poetry published in the Young Writers book, ‘Express Yourself’. Here’s just a few examples of some the inspiring and imaginative works of our young poets.
Well done to the other students featured in the book: Kim Fisher, Zoe Newell, Sophie Nicholson, Jessica Campbell, Charlie Bailey, Emily Ann McRae, Amy Bianchi and Will Griffiths.
A Memory
By Eloïse Lomax (13)
I am the memory
That memory of the war…
Of bombs dropping behind,
Of songs they sang to the dead…
I am the memory
That memory of the war…
For I will turn them mad,
The ones that survive,
I catch them in my net.
Then they will always be bereft…
I am the memory
That memory of the war…
Knowing I am not a dream…
Knowing I am real…
They would rather die…
Than remember me.
I am the memory
That memory of the war…
I scare them in their beds,
I’m inside their messed-up heads.
I am the memory
That memory of the war…
No one can forget me…
No one can hide…
I’m always by your side!
They can’t leave me behind!
But when they die, so do I...
The Dance of Life By Tyler Braddon (15)
Dance isn’t just a form of life,
Dance is life.
It’s the key to your emotions,
A way to express yourself.
You get lost in the music and the beat…
You are free.
Free from your worries and free from your cares.
When you dance, nothing else matters.
You’re in your own world.
Even when things get tough,
Defeat and failure is not an option,
You can’t give up.
Because when one door closes,
There’s always another that will open.
A dancer spends hours perfecting every turnout,
Every position,
But pain is perfection and perfection means success.
You have to chase the dream and forget the competition.
You have to dance like nobody is watching…
And when they are: you have to give it your all.
Dance isn’t just a form of life,
Dance is life.
Deep Blue
By Kirsten Lee (16)
The brush of a hand,
The beat of a heart,
Contact of eyes, deep blue,
Bat of an eyelid, flash of
Your smile, lights the room,
A tingle from your touch,
Your shallow breath, air to my
Rapidly moving chest, your lips…
So near yet so far,
A glance across the room,
A kiss sent as a message,
A wave to say hello.
Love changes, love waits, love finds other love,
Love makes impossible love, but love lasts forever.
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Manshead School
Summer Newsletter 2012
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Manshead School
Arts Newsletter
Issue 17 ARTs
Art Exhibitions
It’s that time of year again - a very
busy time for the Art department!
Throughout June the art rooms
were transformed into exhibition
spaces to showcase the students’
work. Parents and friends were
invited to the evening viewings.
The range of work this year was
vast and set the standard high.
There were even a number of
visitors expressing an interest in
purchasing student work!
Manshead School Arts
Newsletter Issue 17
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Manshead School Arts
Newsletter Issue 17
“I have learnt so many helpful things studying GCSE Art that will help me
later on in life, especially as I have chosen to continue to study art at Bedford College. I remember in Year
10 at the start of the course, the idea of having the 10 hour exam the following year was nerve-wracking,
my first thoughts being, I couldn't possibly do this! Yet with the help of my teachers I gained more
confident with my work and from this new confidence, my
dedication also improved. This led to a noticeable change
in my work which I was eventually credited for at my final
art exhibition where I sold my first piece of art (the
Cheshire Cat!)
Out of my two years studying GCSE Art, the most
memorable moment for me was the final exam. Although
I was completely prepared, I was still nervous, yet these
nerves helped me push myself further to create the best
possible final piece I could. For students in Year 9 who
are contemplating taking GCSE Art, I would personally
recommend it as it is a great opportunity to learn, and
with the support of all the teachers you really get the most
out of the course!”
By Georgia Tibbles, Year 11
Congratulations to Freya Steele
who’s work was chosen for the
exhibition poster.
“I’m so glad I chose Art at GCSE because it was
great seeing all of the work I’ve done over the past
two years on one display. My final piece was
inspired by a range of artists (such as Irving
Norman and Francis Bacon), with the theme of
‘Humanity’. I enjoyed this theme as I had so many
ideas I wanted to fit into the project and was very
happy that most of them were displayed.”
By Rachael Jones, Year 11
Here’s what our students had to
say about their GCSE Art course
and exhibition.
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Manshead School Arts
Newsletter Issue 17
A collection of photos from the
impressive A-Level Art and Photography
Exhibition. The standard of work gets
better each year! Well done!
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Manshead School Arts
Newsletter Issue 17
Sister Act Review
On Tuesday 26th June 2012, the Arts Award students travelled to Milton Keynes Theatre to watch the fantastic show, Sister Act! It was a fantastic occasion that I’m sure was enjoyed by all – as far as I’m aware! In this review I shall write about what I thought of this spectacular performance.
One of the criterias to pass the Bronze Art Award course was to go and see a professional performance, and our teachers decided to take all of us to watch Sister Act. We met for this show at Manshead before being registered and transported to the theatre by a coach. The coach journey on the way was relaxed and everyone on board was very friendly. There was only a coach-full of students attending so we already knew each other which caused the atmosphere to be very relaxed and cheerful. Most students were excited and apprehensive about the performance that awaited them. I was definitely anticipating an evening of brilliant entertainment…the performance certainly didn’t disappoint.
When we arrived at Milton Keynes theatre, the atmosphere was brilliant; the theatre in itself was very large and was full with people waiting to watch the show. There were even people dressed as nuns which is one of the things that amused us throughout the experience. When buying refreshments, the service was helpful and polite, although the prices were certainly not cheap!
Our group were seated in the middle of the theatre, on the first balcony; I thought we had a very good view although we were seated on the back row. When the show began, some of us didn’t quite know what to make of it, however, the story line soon became clear and from that moment on, I was hooked on the performance and attentive until the extravagant finale.
Sister Act is about a lady called Deloris Van Cartier. When this disco diva witnesses a murder by her boyfriend, she is put into protective custody in a convent! Disguised as a nun she makes the wrong impression on the convent’s strict Mother Superior. But when she transforms the convent’s choir into the most glorious musical act in town, Deloris forms a lasting bond with her newfound friends and the gang that’s chasing her finds itself up against an unstoppable team of soulful sisters!
It proved to be a hit, giving that most of us gave the performance a standing ovation at the end. The storyline, staging, props and lighting came together to showcase a fantastic show of which I would definitely consider watching again. The humour of the play made us laugh frequently and the play writers had obviously thought about the effects the language would have on the audiences that watched the play.
After the show, we all reported back to be registered in three different groups depending on our place in the register. I was in Mr Burt’s group. After being registered, we swiftly got back onto the waiting coach and travelled back to Manshead. On the way back to Manshead, tiredness struck among some, however most were talking about the show and how good it was! All in all, Sister Act is a brilliant comedy that was wonderfully put together and acted out by some extremely talented actors/actresses! 10 stars!
