Success with music! Congratulations to our rock-band Daffodils (Theo Salmon, Isaac Keating and
Louis Graham) on winning the Auckland Regional Final of RockQuest. A wonderful achievement for
these students who continue to collaborate and excel with their music.
We also wish Critical Mass the best of luck for their regional Pacifica Beats final coming up soon - 2nd
of July at Auckland Girls Grammar. Another recent musical highlight has been Music in the Quad.
Musicians have orchestrated great live contemporary performance - impressing their peers, getting
them grooving across two lunchtime sessions.
Following on from the huge success that was Seussical the Drama Department are proud to
announce their class productions for Y11, 12 and 13. The following productions are taking place at
the beginning of next term and you mustn’t miss the incredible Macbeth; the comedy (Y11), Too
Fast by Douglas Marshall (Y12) and finally Y13 will present The Wedding Party by Fiona Samuel.
Media students are excited to hear that the 48 Hour Film Challenge has been finalised and dates for
that are to follow.
Finally, whilst senior students have been busy with exams and finalising mid-year assessment it has
been great to work with prospective intermediate students in workshops across the Arts. Thank you to
students from Pasadena, Ponsonby and Kowhai Intermediates for taking part and participating so
well in our specialised workshops.
Thanks to Catalina Nunez-Elevancini – 13Art Design – for the ArtsNews Heading in this issue.
Kirsty Britton – Arts Coordinator
[email protected]
Music in the Quad!
Week 7 saw a new creative initiative at Springs; Music in the Quad! This was a super successful event
which took place on the Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes of Week 7. It provided various musical
acts with an opportunity to demonstrate their funky sounds and generate an awesome atmosphere
for every student going about their lunchtime activities.
On the Wednesday we were blessed with the angelic voices of GMG, a duo band consisting of two
year 10s Grace and Gracie-Mae. This was followed by a somewhat spontaneous DJ set from year 13
Leo Casey-Waby, which sparked a large dance crowd, despite the rain! On the Thursday we had an
impromptu year 12 band who came together with the sole intent of jamming! We saw the likes of
James MacEwan, Harry Scholes, Isaac Keating, all displaying their expansive musicality through
talented improvisation.
Arts Leader – Sebastian Rice-Walsh
Senior Drama Productions at TAPAC Theatre 2016
Weeks 1 and 2 - Year 11 Production
Term 3 kicks off with the year 11 production. Two classes present Macbeth; the comedy. This is a
Monty Python, Black Adder style romp through one of the bard's greatest plays. It follows the play
fairly accurately, but in modern text, and with a twist at the end. The characters are larger life, and
led by a hapless Macbeth who must rely on a Shakespearean stunt double to deliver his soliloquies.
The frisky witches are a treat and you'll meet the world's worst hired assassins.
Don't miss it; Thursdays and Fridays (28, 29 July & 4, 5 August)
Shows at 4pm ($2) and 6:30pm ($5)
Week 3 - Year 12 Production
Too Fast by Douglas Marshall
Sensation Nation is a vocal group founded and led by the unstoppable DD. Her grand plan is for the
group to storm next year’s New Zealand’s Got Talent. First they need a gig and more importantly a
heart-breaking backstory that will win votes later in the T.V series. So she’s booked them in to sing at a
funeral and not just any funeral- Sensation Nation is to sing at the funeral of Ali Monroe, an older girl
from their school who was killed in a car crash.
Too Fast is an ensemble comedy for young performers with a strong emotional heart. It was originally
produced as part of the U.K’s National Theatre Connections 2011.
There are three casts who will be performing in TAPAC Theatre on the following days:
Tuesday 9th August: 4.30 pm and 7 pm Cast 1
Wednesday 10th August: 4.30 pm and 7 pm Cast 2
Thursday 11th August: 4.30 pm and 7 pm Cast 3
Week 4 - Year 13 Production
The Wedding Party is a glorious piece of Kiwiana, by Fiona Samuel. We take you back to provincial
New Zealand in the 1980's. You, the audience, are guests at the wedding of Heather and Rob, with
the action happening in and around you. The cast is full of recognisable characters, and like any
wedding we share in their joy, their laughter and their tears. Interestingly the play was first performed
here at Western Springs College in the late 90's under the direction of one Ken Havill. This is a truly
delightful play, by one of New Zealand's top playwrights, and an excellent vehicle for show-casing
the very talented year 13 drama class so don't miss it. Four performances, Wednesday - Saturday
17th - 20th August at 7pm. See you there!
HOD Drama - Robert Pollock and Beth Kayes
48 Hour Film Challenge is back!
Big news coming from media this week as the official dates have been released for the 48 Hour Film
Challenge! If you don’t know about the 48 hours it’s an event where numerous teams across New
Zealand compete to see who can create the best short film within 48 hours. Participants receive a
random genre and multiple aspects such as characters, props and lines which they must incorporate
into their films. It’s been a yearly thrill for many New Zealand film makers and it’s a great way to put
your film making skills to the test. The competition this year has been delayed significantly and has
had many people anxiously waiting for a date, and now we have one! The 48 Hour Film Challenge
will now be on from the 16th of September to the 18th of September 2016. Likely there will be more
information about how you can get involved with the school closer to the date so make sure to stay
tuned.
On a slightly more local note the WSC Film Club is now in session and will now be on every Monday
lunchtime in D12. If you haven’t heard about Film Club it’s a place for students to actively pursue film
making. The purpose of Film Club is to learn new techniques and to analyse how they’re used to
create an effect on the audience. Film Club’s available to everyone even if you missed the initial
introduction or you think your skills might be lacking, it’s absolutely no problem and you can stop by
regardless.
Media Leader - Sharn-Konet Reitsma
Music News!
WSC Jazz Band and Chamber Group are well into rehearsal for the annual KBB schools' competition
which runs in term 3. Remember that it is not too late to join either group. Jazz Band
rehearses Friday lunchtime in the music room and Chamber Group is on Tuesday from the start of
interval. See Margaret or Kim if you, or someone you know, is interested.
Congratulations to Daffodils (including Theo Salmon, Isaac Keating and Louis Graham) on winning
the Auckland Regional Final of RockQuest! This is the second time for some members of this band. As
part of their campaign to get to the National Finals Daffodils really, really need you to like their
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/daffodilsnz/?notif_t=page_fan&notif_id=1466310389172391
Go on do it now!
Critical Damage (Loxmyn, Theo, Harry, Isaac K, Bickio, and James) made a great impression at the
recent Pacifica Beats heats and are now heading for the regional final. This will be July 2nd, 7pm at
the Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar. Tickets are $10 at the door. It would be so
good to have a big Springs’ presence in the audience.
HOD Music – Margaret Robertson
Daffodils performing live – Rockquest 2016