Day School & Sixth Form Newsletter - 14 May 2021

Day School & Sixth Form Newsletter 14 May 2021

Sixth Form Update Thank you to all teachers and tutors who are working so hard to keep this crazy term afloat. Time at ArtsEd seems to literally zoom by and even at the busiest of times the staff all pull together to deliver the very best pastoral, vocational and academic support to our young people.

Thank you too to our brilliant students who continue to impress us with their commitment, focus and talent. Well done to Ella Guyer who did an amazing job hosting the first session of FemPower this week, our Sixth Form feminist club. Ella spoke eloquently about society’s expectations of women and how werespond to it. She opened up the discussion to the floor and we heard some great points. There was a huge turnout, and we had a great conversation. Next week we look forward to hearing from Ava Fitzhugh & Jacqueline Beaumont who will host the session.

On Thursday, some of our year 13 students had the opportunity to attend an in-house production of Cats in the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre. I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly emotional it was being back in a theatre and watching a live performance! Needless to say, the show was fantastic.

Next week, Brook, the leading sexual health and wellbeing organisation for young people, will be talking to Year 12 about consent during PSHE. Looking even further ahead, the Induction Course for our new Year 12 students will be taking place on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th July and I will be asking some of our current students if they would like to help out. The alternative activity for Monday 7th is a trip to Thorpe Park and plans are in place for an ArtsEd Sixth Form Pride Day to take place on Thursday 8th.

There are at least 17 performance opportunities next term for our Sixth Form, meaning the last six weeks are going to be extremely busy, so please do be mindful to keep fit and healthy and finish this year off with vivaciousness!

Have a great weekend.

Mark Ferrington

Year 8 Art Homework In Art, our Year 8 students have recently begun a new project called Distorted Portraiture. We began by discussing what a portrait actually is and analysing some key examples from the history of art.

For their homework, the students were challenged to recreate a portrait of their choice. They had to think carefully about emulating the same body language and facial expressions, including appropriate backgrounds and lighting, as well as inventively utilising clothing, make-up and props.

As you can see the students have worked incredibly hard on this homework and the results are very impressive. Well done Year 8 - I am blown away by your ambition and attention to detail! You all look FABULOUS! Ms Markbreiter

Wellbeing Wednesday Dear Students, Parents and Carers, After the huge success of our Wellbeing Wednesday during the Easter break, we are once again going online to offer a full day of wellbeing treats during the next half term holiday. Our next Wellbeing Wednesday will be held on the 2nd of June 2021.

Time

Event

Link

Meeting ID

Password

10:00AM 11:00AM

Contemporary Dance with Chris Reynolds

942 8016 0821

662192

11:30AM 12:30PM

Club Chi with external company – hosted by M. Ferrington

977 3721 6444

Club

1:00PM 2:00PM

Pilates with Karen Edwards Head of First Year and Senior Jazz Tutor for the School of Musical Theatre Mindfulness with Mara Leah

https://artsed.zoom.us/ j/94280160821?pwd=ZENKQjU1c3VjbGdabS81MFoyS0M1dz09 https://artsed.zoom.us/ j/97737216444?pwd=aWdKaEVTcGxCRk1SVXJDUFpMMmN0UT09 https://artsed.zoom.us/ j/7821639995?pwd=SVUvN3QxL1lrMTZzQTYvSXBDVTNKZz09 https://artsed.zoom.us/ j/92672997655?pwd=ZExSaklEMEtzWDRkb0M2Yyt3enR6dz09

782 163 9995

ArtsEd

926 7299 7655

Mindful

2:30PM 3:30PM

Contemporary dance with Chris Reynolds A release base technique class focusing on the use of breath and a chance to get moving – open to all abilities.

Club Chi with Ian Snowball During the session Ian will take the students through some easy to learn and follow breathing techniques and Tai Chi movements, that are designed to help with relaxation and calmness.

Pilates with Karen Edwards Pilates aims to strengthen the body in an even way, with particular emphasis on core strength to improve general fitness and wellbeing.

Mindfulness with Mara Leah An afternoon meditation followed by a series of mindfulness activities to help us all de-stress during this difficult time.

Don’t Hesitate If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed.

Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

by Mary Oliver

Violin & Viola Lessons Violin and Viola Taster Lessons Orpheus Papafilippou, our string teacher, is offering complimentary taster lessons on Wednesday 9th June for anyone who would like to have a go. There will be a violin provided for the tasters, and if a student wishes to pursue they would need their own instrument.

If you would like to sign up, please email Tom Cayley by Friday 21 May at tcayley@artsed.co.uk

Homework Club Homework Club is being reinstated for Day School and Sixth Form students to run at the following times: Monday 16:00 – 17:00, Room 130 Wednesday 16:00 – 17:00, Room 124

Mindful Wake-Up Start your day with a purpose. This practice is best done first thing in the morning, before checking phones or email.

1. On waking, sit in your bed or a chair in a relaxed posture. Close your eyes and connect with the sensations of your seated body. Make sure your spine is straight, but not rigid.

2. Take three long, deep, nourishing breaths—breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Then let your breath settle into its own rhythm, as you simply follow it in and out, noticing the rise and fall of your chest and belly as you breathe.

3. Ask yourself: “What is my intention for today?”

Use these prompts to help answer that question, as you think about the people and activities you will face. Ask yourself: • • • • •

How might I show up today to have the best impact?

What quality of mind do I want to strengthen and develop?

What do I need to take better care of myself?

During difficult moments, how might I be more compassionate to others and myself?

How might I feel more connected and fulfilled?

4. Set your intention for the day. For example, “Today, I will be kind to myself; be patient with others; give generously; stay grounded; persevere; have fun; eat well,” or anything else you feel is important.

5. Throughout the day, check in with yourself. Pause, take a breath, and revisit your intention. Notice, as you become more and more conscious of your intentions for each day, how the quality of your communications, relationships, and mood shifts.

HPL Words of the fortnight.

• Self-regulation - the ability to monitor, evaluate and self-correct.

• Big Picture Thinking - the ability to work with big ideas and holistic concepts.

• Critical or Logical Thinking - the ability to deduct, hypothesise, reason, seek supporting evidence.

• Flexible Thinking - the ability to one idea for a superior one and generate ideas.

• Automaticity - the ability to use some skills with such ease as they no longer require active thinking.

KS3 students are invited to write a short story about the ArtsEd HPL Superhero who tackled exam stress through the use of this fortnights HPL words/phrases.

Sweetie prizes will be awarded!

Mara Leah

Pupils of the Week Year 8 Art For collectively creating fantastic responses to their recent portraiture homework (see below!) as well as showing great resilience and determination in class when drawing facial features for the first time. Well done everyone!

Year 12 Physical Theatre I please nominate my WHOLE Physical Theatre Enrichment class, who created some of the most amazing pieces of physical theatre I have seen in a very long time! – Daniel Kedge The students are: Emilie Staal, Holly Hinchcliffe, Giles Carden, Caitlin Risebrow, Georgina Andrews, Louis Cheriton, Erin Thwaites, Josie Allan, Jason Warman and Madison Carey.

Ruby Adams For her constantly being organised, professional and prepared in rehearsals.

Jessie Sumroy For her brave work inside the singing studio and diligent practice outside. She is an exemplary student who is sincere and has a most uplifting personality. Well done!

Face coverings In line with the latest government guidelines, our rules around wearing masks whilst in the building will change as follows:From Monday 17th May:Students, pupils and staffs must continue to wear masks in all communal spaces and whilst moving around the building.

Students, pupils and staffs are not required to wear masks in any learning environment, this includes classrooms, studios, rehearsals and 1:1 sessions. If you prefer to wear a mask in these settings, you may.

We reserve the right to change these rules should the need arise, for example a localised Covid 19 outbreak.

These rules will be reviewed again in line with the next round of government guidance prior to 21st June.

Best wishes, Chris Hocking