Creativity
Quite a Week…
We have just come to the end of a stimulating week for both students and staff. The week began with a compelling tribute in our weekly assembly to the victims of the Montreal Massacre, which I wrote about in an earlier blog entry.
On Tuesday evening, the students who went to Kenya in the summer (twenty-five in all) shared their experience with invited guests (mostly parents and siblings). Each student read an entry from his or her journal which when put together provided a chronicle of the 25-day trip. They also shared some stunning visual images. One of our Grade 12 students is in the process of creating a documentary about the trip, which she hopes to enter in a documentary film festival later this year. Celine provided us with an excerpt of this documentary–it promises to be an exceptional piece of work.
On Wednesday morning, George Brady came to Greenwood to speak to students in Grades 8 and 10. George is a Holocaust survivor and the brother of Hana Brady, whose story has been immortalized in the narrative “Hana’s Suitcase.” George’s grandchildren attend our school. Through the use of plain language and visual images, George recounted for the students the devastating impact the Nazi occupation of Europe had on his family and friends. George’s visit provided students in these grades who have been learning how to conduct historical inquiry the valuable opportunity to understand history using primary sources. More importantly, they heard a moving account about the ravages of racism and intolerance.
Thursday evening was the first of our three Arts Showcase events. Students in our music and drama classes staged a show for parents and friends. Art work and fashion displays were located throughout the hallways on the second and third floors of the building. All in all, it was a terrific display of creativity and original thinking.
It seemed appropriate on Friday to start the day with that old M.C. Hammer classic “U Can’t Touch This.”
A Night at the Theatre
Watching “7 Stories” last night at the George Ignatieff Theatre, I couldn’t help but marvel at the wonderful journey our drama program has taken over the past seven years. This point became clear to me as I climbed the steps to the George Ignatieff Theatre and there in front of me in bright lights was the poster advertising “7 Stories.” Ellen Langille, one of our Grade 10 students, did a great job designing it. Everything else about the production of the play was first-rate, from the cast photos in the lobby and the impressive set, to the promotional campaign the students staged in an effort to drum up enthusiasm for “7 Stories.” I was blown away by Dan Blumberg’s video about the making of the production.
The play itself was superb. It always amazes me how some of our quieter students find their voices through participation in a dramatic production. To me, this is one of the key reasons for having a vital school drama program. Dramatic productions are also a great way to build community. The bond that the cast and crew (membership ranged from Grade 7 through 12) developed during the production was evident to all during the curtain call. I was really pleased to see the warm thank yous from the cast to the teachers who participated in the staging of “7 Stories.” We are fortunate at Greenwood to have a number of teachers with a strong background in the arts. It certainly was evident last night.