Arts News Term 4, Week 6

ARTS AWARDS

Numerous students were awarded Arts badges and Colours at this year’s Middle School Arts Awards Assembly. Congratulations to everyone. Two of the recipients responded:

Divya Pereira (Yr 9) - Arts Badge 

What made you apply for an Arts Badge?
I heard about it at assembly and I thought it was a good opportunity. I looked at the criteria and saw I’d be eligible, so I thought I would give it a try. It also looks good for the future.

What excites you about the arts?
I especially enjoy drama and have also enjoyed music. I’ve been lucky to have opportunities to participate in piano lessons outside of school, speech and drama lessons at school and I belong to the photography club, middle school drama club after school and I’ve been doing debating, which wasn’t an option at my previous school. Through drama, I’ve gained new and valuable skills such as presenting and public speaking. I was involved in a weekend debating about politics at the UN Nations conference and I’ve enjoyed having the chance to compete against other schools.

What did you have to do to gain a badge?
I had to gain a certain number of participation points, which came from attending groups and contributing ideas. I had to show service to the arts and the main thing I did was setting up a drama club for the Junior school. There have been various opportunities throughout the year and recently I helped for two nights at the Music Festival. I was moving stands and chairs, getting equipment ready between songs and helping backstage.

Tell me more about your drama club.
Ellise Zhang and I talked about setting up a drama club for the Junior school and we needed to find a time and place. We finally got this up and running in term 3. We appreciated having the opportunity to work with the younger students from Yr 4-6, teaching them skills such as gesturing, posture and coordination. We did a play at the end of the term, which incorporated different personalities, putting them into character roles, and we showcased it to others.

What does the badge mean to you?
It shows that I’ve put myself out there and I’ve now had the experience of applying for something. It’s exciting. 

How did it feel receiving the award in the awards assembly?
I received a Badge, and initially, I thought that this would feel just like a procedure - go up, get the award, sit down; however, when I was up there, it felt really exciting, and I couldn't help but feel a warm buzz inside. Everyone was so supportive and happy for me, as shown by smiling faces and waves from friends in the audience, as well as high fives when I sat back down. It was really heartwarming to feel part of the encouraging, energetic SMC arts community. 

I also received a 'Most Promising Debater' award, which I had not been notified about before, so it was a complete surprise to see my school photo staring down at me from the screen and hear my friend say, 'Divya, that's you!' However, despite the surprise, I felt thrilled, because I've loved debating this year, taken every opportunity and always given it my all, so it was really cool to be recognised for that, and the surprise element definitely added to that exuberant feeling. 

Lastly was the 'Dedication to Middle School Visual Arts' award, which was also a surprise. I had thought the debating award was the end - a nice cherry on top, but no, there was one more! I had heard the award title called and then just caught the end of my name, -ya, making me think of the possible recipients with names similar to my own. I was guessing who it would be, but then, after a while, no one went up, causing confusion in my head. Maybe it was me? But I worried how awkward it would be if I went up but a different name had actually been read out. I think Mrs Mayne could see my confusion and worry, because she assured me 'yes that's you', so I went up. I stood there a bit flustered and bewildered, but as I saw everyone smiling and clapping, I started to grin because, wow, this was pretty awesome! At that moment, I felt really content and proud of what I've worked towards and achieved this year, and that maybe letting everyone know wasn't such a bad thing after all. 

What will you do next?
I’m going to continue with the same activities next year, make progress with piano and speech and drama. We just missed out on the semi’s for debating as we won 5 out of 6 rounds. Next year I’ll be Yr 10 so I am looking to improve on that. I will also continue the drama club for Juniors.

Lucy Penney (Yr 10) - Arts Colours 

How are you involved in the arts?
I play the drums in multiple groups, percussion in the orchestra, I sing in the Chamber choir and also do productions in and outside of school. I take drums and singing lessons and I like drawing too.

You gained a badge previously, so how does it differ from applying for Colours?
I think it’s more difficult than achieving a badge as you need a lot more service hours. I’ve acted for the gruffalo walk, which was really fun, and have done various things with the Middle School arts committee and arts teachers. You also need a regional or national award.

Tell us about your regional or national achievement.
I auditioned and was accepted for the Music Festival Concert band in Y8 as a percussionist. It was fun and I met lots of new people.

What does receiving Colours mean to you?
It’s a way of showing that I am passionate about the arts and shows my commitment. It shows that you’re willing to offer service and participate in groups to a reasonably high standard. It’s a way of making others aware that this is what you enjoy.

How did it feel receiving the award?
I ended up receiving my colours, an award for dedication to drama and a red rose, as my team won the Battle of the Bibliophiles National competition. I was really excited upon hearing my name called (especially because I was only expecting the colours!). It feels really rewarding to receive these awards, especially when I know I've been working hard towards them since year 7 and have finally achieved the goal. I am so grateful for the recognition and encourage others to strive towards goals that may seem ambitious now, but are achievable, because it is so worth it.

What will you do next in the arts?
I’m really looking forward to the Senior school production next year and would love to go for a red blazer as it will be fun to work towards. I’m going to continue what I’ve been doing this year.

MUSIC

The annual Lions Christchurch Music Festival took place last week. It was a momentous occasion as girls from Yr 5, 6 and 7 joined many other schools from around Christchurch to perform onstage at the Town Hall. There was a cacophony of 1000 students, all well rehearsed and in fine voice. 

There was a variety of songs performed throughout the evening, all different styles, interspersed with items from the concert band and orchestra. 6 girls were successfully selected to represent SMC in the specialist choir, orchestra and concert band. The orchestra showcased music from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, which were rousing works enjoyed by the audience. We were also proud of Rachel Wilford, who is the first woman to hold the position of Festival Director for over 80 years. Bravo girls!

Come and support our girls performing in their next Itinerant Music Showcase on Monday 24 November. This is always a special occasion celebrating the girls' musical talents across the school. 

We were delighted to hear that some of our SMC girls and their bands have been selected to perform at the prestigious NOSTALGIA festival early next year. 

The Spoons, Purely Pink and Jess Erasmus all feature on the lineup. What an amazing opportunity for these talented girls. Please go and support them at the festival.

Saturday 7 February 2026 | Ferrymead Heritage Park, Christchurch.

Set in the 1900s replica township of Ferrymead Heritage Park, NOSTALGIA is a feel-good summer festival celebrating music, food, and community. At its heart, NOSTALGIA brings people together through creativity, collaboration, and sustainability.

Wander vintage streets filled with live music, local eats, craft drinks, markets, and roving performers. Please note that this event is all ages supervised: ages 6-17 must have their own youth ticket and be supervised by a Parent or Legal Guardian.

DRAMA

We were delighted to receive photographs from the recent Middle School Production A Story of Rona of both casts. Here’s a selection…

The Junior School will be performing The Missing Scrolls – Search for the Kiwi REDs next week. Audiences can look forward to spotting penguins, native birds, national heroes, and plenty of classic Kiwi ingenuity!

One show only …Tuesday 18 November at 5pm in the CLA. Free entry. 

VISUAL ART

We are delighted to honour some of our Alumni with their artwork, which now hangs proudly in the reception area. When you are next visiting, please have a look at the talent on display - Amy Jones, Harley McVicar, Annabelle Goodwin and Ruby McCallum.

Amy and Harley’s artwork were also selected and exhibited at the ArtStart exhibition at the Crossing earlier this year. Come and support these future creatives when you’re next visiting reception.

Sculptures were created by the Year 4 students, symbolising various aspects of SMC culture, reflecting our diverse mix of backgrounds. Each sculpture incorporates at least 2 distinct patterns: Asian, European pop culture, and Maori, which the students have interpreted in their own unique and creative ways. 

DANCE

Senior student Mya Kingi has been taking some time out of her exam studies to work with some of her younger Sisters in Yr 7 and Yr 8. The girls have been learning the can can dance, which was featured earlier in the year at the Dance Showcase. They have been having a lot of fun with their high kicks, timing and routine moves.

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

At the start of Term 4, the Creative Technology Exhibition was held in the CLA Atrium, showcasing an impressive selection of Year 13 Design and Visual Communication major projects, alongside pieces from Year 13 Textiles students. The exhibition highlighted the innovation, skill, and dedication of our senior students as they presented their final design outcomes. It was a celebration of creativity, reflecting the diverse talents and hard work of our design students.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ARTS COMMITTEE

The Middle School Arts Committee will be organising some fun, Christmas arts and craft sessions for the Junior School. This will wrap up (pardon the pun!) the year for the 18 students on the committee.

These sessions will take place in Week 7 and 8: Christmas card making Thursday 20 November 1pm, Tuesday 25 November 1pm and Thursday 27 November 1pm for a Christmas dance and singalong.

Please encourage your Junior schoolers to come and have some Christmas fun with their big Sisters.

CELEBRATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Red Roses were awarded at the Arts Assembly to the following students:

Naomi Zhang, who was a Futures Designers Champion with her Wellbeing App “Inner Glow.”

Juliet Young for gaining Honours Plus in Grade 6 Speech and Drama.

Grace Millar for gaining Honour Plus in Grade 6 Speech and Drama.

Briar Sharp who won an original song writing competition in Australia.

Grace Millar, Isla Pettit, Jessica Gearry, Juliet Young, Lucy Penney and Elise Sherratt who are the Bibliophile National Champions. The Battle of the Bibliophiles is a nationwide reading competition for Year 10s which begun in 2022. This year 40 teams from all over NZ took part, and our team came first with an impressive score of 80%.

Aside from the glory, a certificate and a medal, they each win a $100 book token. Congratulations!

Special awards were presented to:

Eva Crawford (Dance)

Lucy Penney, Matilda Abbott (Drama)

Juliet Young (Most Outstanding Year 10 Debater) 

Divya Pereira (Most Potential in Year 9 Debating) 

Annika Gale (Kapa Haka)              

Victoria Soh (Music) 

Alicia An, Charlie Halliday (Technology)                

Divya Pereira (Visual Arts)    

OPPORTUNITIES

Looking for a unique place to study theatre and launch your career in the performing arts? Hagley Theatre School offers world-class training in Ōtautahi Christchurch. 

Relaunched in 2025 with a revitalised curriculum, HTS provides immersive, embodied, and transformative training through two programmes: the One-Year Acting Training and the Six-Month Theatre Creation courses. 

Our teaching—on par with tertiary drama schools—develops actors and theatre makers through a laboratory-style approach, exploring Stanislavski’s method of physical actions, Jacques Lecoq’s poetic body, and popular theatre forms including mask technique, Commedia dell’Arte, clown, bouffon, melodrama, tragedy, street theatre, improvisation, dramatic acrobatics and kapa haka.

Experience the unique opportunity to study acting and theatre creation in a theatre school with a point of difference. 

Extended Audition Day for the 2026 intake: 6 December. 

Find out more: www.hagleytheatreschool.nz 

Apply Now: www.hagley.school.nz/senior-college-enrolment-26/ 

Luminaires Charitable Trust has another exciting performing arts opportunity to share with your tamariki and rangatahi. 

Luminaires Summer Theatre Camp (for ages 10-15)

Auditions Nov 29 &30 | Rehearsals Dec 7 & 14 | Camp Dates 12-17 January

Successful participants will stay at a local camp venue for a week in which they will sing, dance, act, make props, create costumes, design makeup and more. 

Culminating in public performances of ZOOM! By Craig Hawes

For more information and to sign up https://forms.gle/nx1BECRDswoWPSPM7 

general@luminairescharitabletrust.org

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

2026 Production Auditions - 13,16 November

Junior School Play - 18 November

Middle School Arts Committee events for Juniors - 20, 25, 27 November

Music Itinerant Showcase - 24 November

SMC Carol Services - 1 December