18-22 AUGUST 2025
"CHICAGO" PRODUCTION
July 2025
Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,
The ‘Chicago’ Production Camp will be based at Woodleigh for Activities Week.
This week our rehearsals will focus on finalising the performance. This will include pulling all the different parts of the production together (tech, music, and scene transitions etc.).
Students will be required at school from 8:45am to 3:45pm on Monday 18 August to Friday 22 August 2025. Buses will run normally this week.
Usual school rules apply (relating to appropriate behaviour, leaving the school etc.). It is advised that students wear warm, comfy clothing.
Please Note: as the rehearsals will run differently each day, there is no set recess or lunchtime. Students will not be permitted to go to the shop and are advised to bring their own lunches, morning tea and drinks for the week. The canteen will be open in a limited capacity. There will also be days where the staff will provide snacks.
If students are unable to attend on any day (e.g., due to illness) the school needs to be contacted before 9am that day.
Note for Year 12’s: Year 12’s will do their English exam on Monday morning as scheduled. All other exams will be completed at home.
Additional Rehearsals:
• Sunday 10th August: 10am - 4pm Full day rehearsal for all cast and crew
• Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th August: 4pm - 8pm Technical and Dress rehearsals. Students will need to bring dinner and snacks.
• Wednesday 27th August may also be a final rehearsal. This is to be confirmed.
Please ensure you are familiar with all the arrangements for Activities Week, and the Production. Parents/Guardians, please respond to the Operoo eForm and ensure that your child’s medical information is up to date.
In this booklet you will find further information regarding the camp so please read through this carefully.
If there are any further queries you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to a productive and rewarding week!
Yours sincerely,
Carey Saunders Production Camp Coordinator
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Our camp is being held on the lands of the Bunurong and Boonwurrung people and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We are grateful to be visiting their land and we recognise their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this land.
POLICY RELATING TO STUDENTS WITHDRAWING FROM ACTIVITIES WEEK CAMP/ABSENTEE CHARGEBACK POST CAMP
Activities Week Camp is a compulsory part of the school curriculum and all students are expected to participate. Bookings and arrangements are made on this expectation.
In the event that a student withdraws from the camp due to medical reasons, the school requires prior written notice accompanied by a valid medical certificate. In such cases, families will be responsible for all non-refundable costs incurred, including but not limited to flights, accommodation, and other pre-paid expenses.
For cancellations due to a change of mind or any non-medical reasons, families will be charged the full camp fee.
SUNSMART POLICY
In keeping with the school’s “SunSmart” approach to outdoor activities, students are required to bring sunscreen, a protective hat (with a wide brim) and to wear tops which adequately cover the skin of the shoulders and back. In the event of swimming activities, students will need “rashies” or t-shirts. Sunscreen is an additional protection - it does not take the place of clothing or shade.
NO NUTS POLICY
Important: NO NUTS or NUT PRODUCTS are to be brought on camp, due to the risk of allergic reactions. Check packaging ingredient labels for evidence of nuts.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CONTACT
In the event of an emergency, or if you need to urgently contact your child, please do not ring the camp (or your child) directly but rather contact the school during office hours on (03) 5971 6100 or contact after hours only on mobile 0482 888 022.
RESPOND TO OPEROO EFORM
To enable staff to fulfil their duty of care to students, we need accurate and up-to-date information about medical and personal issues for all students. Please respond to the Operoo eForm and ensure that your child's medical information is up to date. Any last-minute changes should be communicated directly to the leader of the camp as well as updated on Operoo. We do rely on this information, and parents do have a duty of disclosure, to ensure all relevant information is known.
INFORMATION COLLECTION POLICY
Confidential medical and other sensitive information collected and used for the running of these camps will be handled in line with the School’s Privacy Policy.
POLICY RELATING TO STUDENTS SENT HOME FROM CAMP
Where a student does need to be sent home, for medical, personal, or discipline reasons, they will need to be collected from the camp by their parent/guardian - they cannot travel unaccompanied. In all cases, arrangements must be made with school and special arrangements may need to be in place for remote camps, i.e. 3 or more hours from school.
EXTREME WEATHER POLICY
We will modify our program based on weather forecasts - we will be in contact with Woodleigh School to review the week’s weather as it unfolds. In the event of a day being forecast to be Extreme (under the CFA Fire Danger Rating system) the program will be modified at the least, to ensure safety in the heat, and evacuation plans in readiness. In the event of a day being forecast to be Code Red (Catastrophic), the program will be cancelled in advance and students evacuated the day before. The School will use SMS and email to communicate with parents in such cases.
PRODUCTION CAMP INFORMATION
CAMP DATES
Monday 18 - Friday 22 August 2025.
MEDICATION ON CAMP
If you believe your child needs to take medication during the school day on camp, please contact the School Nurse before Monday 11 August.
COST
The cost of this Activities Week Camp is approximately $130, which will cover snacks, a pizza dinner and a production hoodie. This will be charged to student accounts.
TRANSPORT
Buses will run normally to and from Woodleigh this week during school hours.
LOCATION
The camp is located at Woodleigh and students will be required at school from 8:45am to 3:45pm during camp week.
If students are unable to attend on any day (e.g., due to illness) the school needs to be contacted before 9am that day.
MEALS
As the rehearsals will run differently each day, there is no set recess or lunchtime. Students will not be permitted to go to the shop and will need to bring their own lunches, a water bottle, morning tea and drinks for the week. The canteen will be open in a limited capacity. There will also be days where the staff will provide snacks.
ACTIVITIES
This week our rehearsals will focus on finalising our performance. This will include pulling all the different parts of the production together (tech, music, and scene transitions, etc.).
Note for Year 12’s
Year 12’s will do their English exam on Monday morning as scheduled. All other exams will be completed at home. This will be facilitated through the VCE Homestead Coordinators.
CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT
It is advised that students wear warm, comfy clothing and bring a water bottle.
DO NOT BRING
Valuables or any articles that you wouldn't want to lose or break.
MOBILE PHONES
A reminder that the Woodleigh School Mobile Phone policy will be in effect throughout the week. Mobile phones may be brought each day for the purposes of contacting parents regarding collection from school at the end of the day. They will not be required for any other purpose during the week.
BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS
• It is a courtesy to be respectful and positive at all events, even those you personally find less interesting. A good night’s sleep will be essential - being tired will not only affect you but also others on camp.
• Normal school rules apply. Involvement with drugs, alcohol, smoking/vaping is strictly prohibited, and any other forms of inappropriate behaviour is also unacceptable. Infringement of these policies may result in the student being sent home at your own expense.
• Never leave the school grounds without the permission of a staff member.
• Each student is responsible for the immediate environment and must keep it tidy and not damage any of the surroundings.
PRODUCTION CAMP PROGRAM
18-22 August CAMP PROGRAM
8:45am - 9:15am Cast and crew meet in the Hall and have name marked off the roll. Warm-ups. Plan for the day discussed
9:15am - 11:30am Rehearse scenes/begin full run-through
11:30am - 12pm Morning break
Rough Daily Plan
12pm - 1pm Continue rehearsing scenes/full run-through
1pm - 1:45pm Lunch
1:45pm - 3:30pm Continue rehearsing scenes/address issues that arise from the day’s rehearsal
3:30pm - 3:45pm Debrief
3:45pm End of day dismissal
DAY REHERSAL SCHEDULE
Monday 18 August 8.45am - 12pm Tech and backstage set up. 12pm - 3.45pm All cast, tech crew.
Tuesday 19 August
8.45am - 3.45pm All cast, tech crew.
Wednesday 20 August 8.45am - 3.45pm All cast, tech crew.
Thursday 21 August 8.45am - 3.45pm All cast, tech crew.
Friday 22 August 8.45am - 3.45pm All cast, tech crew.
Monday 25 August 3.45pm - 8pm Cast, band, crew Tech rehearsal.
Tuesday 26 August 3.45pm - 8pm Cast, band, crew Dress rehearsal
Wednesday 27 August TBC
Thursday 28 & Friday 29 August
Saturday 30 August
Performances 7pm - 9.30pm. (Note: Students can stay at school before the performance. They will need to bring dinner with them.)
Performance and Bump Out 2pm- 6pm. Note: The performance will be followed by a pizza dinner for cast and crew.
MY CAMP CHECKLIST
Things to purchase / Things to take
