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| 31 Jan 2026 | |
| Newsletter Content for SMC |
An enriched life through the Arts
There are many Co-Curricular groups and activities on offer at SMC for all ages and abilities, catering for a wide range of interests. Many disciplines are covered: dance, music, drama, visual arts, technology, kapa haka, debating, theatresports, creative technology and creative writing. There are some NEW groups happening this year too!
WHY take a Co-Curricular activity?
There are many reasons why engaging in an arts activity outside the classroom is good for you. Evidence over the years has shown that the Arts has endless benefits socially, health and wellbeing, cognitive learning, educationally, mentally…the list goes on. Being part of a group or Arts activity:
How many times do we hear adults regretting that they never played an instrument or that they would like to join a dance class but don’t have time? Many people take up an art class in retirement or return to arts activities that they stopped when they were younger.
At the start of the week girls signed up for activities, wandering around the various stands in the Atrium to find out more information. Some of the groups are auditioned, but many aren’t and it’s not too late to join. You may even have FUN!
Here’s what’s on offer for 2026:
Dance:
Older dance students get the opportunity to direct some of the younger classes and dancers with experience are also encouraged to assist Yr 13 with their group choreography in Term 2 and 3.
Music:
Drama:
Debating
TheatreSports
Creative Writing
Visual Arts:
Technology:
Creative Technologies:
MUSIC
Nostalgia Festival
The Spoons, Purely Pink and Jess Erasmus all feature on the lineup at this year’s Nostalgia Festival. Please go and support them at the festival THIS SATURDAY. Please note that this event is all ages supervised: ages 6-17 must have their own youth ticket and be accompanied by a Parent or Legal Guardian.
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.
DRAMA
Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ
This is an opportunity to represent SMC on stage at the Regional Shakespeare Festival. There will be opportunities for Yr 9/10 students to join the Middle School Shakespeare team this year.
We need keen performers - actors of all abilities are welcome and no experience is necessary.
A 15 minute excerpt from Romeo and Juliet will be entered. The role of Juliet will be auditioned as well as ensemble. Please see the audition pack if you are interested, which provides information about rehearsal times and criteria. If you wish to audition, you need to access the pack and follow instructions given by Mrs Herd.
A showcase will take place next month to celebrate their efforts.
2026 Middle School Shakespeare Team - Audition Pack (1).pdf
DANCE
Auditions take place for some of the Senior and Middle School dance groups soon:
Senior Dance Company Audition (Year 11 - 13)
- Wednesday 11th Feb 2.30 - 4.00 in WN201
Middle School Dance Extension Audition (Year 7 - 10)
- Tuesday 17th Feb Lunch Time/12.55 - 1.45 in WN201
Middle School Dance Company Audition (Year 7 - 10)
- Wednesday 18th Feb 2.30 - 4.00 in WN201
VISUAL ART
The Art Club will start from next week, Week 2, for anyone interested or already signed up.
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
SMC continues to offer amazing opportunities to students through Tech Clubs. These clubs operate during lunch time or after school. This year, in addition to clubs from previous years:
EPRO8 Engineering (previously Construction Club)
Tech Terras
Minecraft
Code Club
We have two NEW groups on offer in 2026:
Creative Station - aimed toward middle and senior school students who are keen to work on a creative project
Tech Troubleshooter - new group to help students and staff providing Tech support
Fashion Lab is also NEW! Fashion Lab is a creative Tuesday lunchtime club meeting in CT101 for students who love fashion, design, and making. Students will experiment with materials, develop original wearable art concepts, and learn how to turn ideas into finished garments. Fashion Lab encourages bold thinking, collaboration, and hands-on making, with the goal of entering wearable arts and fashion competitions. Whether you’re an experienced maker or just curious to try something new, Fashion Lab is a space to design, create, and push creative boundaries.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ARTS COMMITTEE
Calling all singers, dancers, instrumentalists, actors, painters or anyone interested in being art and crafty.
The Committee will be starting up again soon. We are looking for students who would like to get involved in promoting the Arts. This will be a great opportunity to further your artistic and creative interests and develop some leadership opportunities. Come and share your ideas and create some student-led, fun activities, working alongside the Senior Arts Council.
The Committee meets each Tuesday interval in the Black Box.
If this sounds like you, please complete the form by FRIDAY 13 FEB. Students will then be selected for an interview.
https://forms.gle/GLdDmzyuaPozJoXG6
If you have any questions, please visit office WN206, opposite the black box and speak to Mrs Bealing.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Nova Gainsford Y13, Siena McGillivray Y13, Indie Symonds Y11 and Charli Forman Y10 had an amazing time competing at the Dance Showcase in Australia. After all their hard work, they came away with the highest scoring troupe in the finale.
BATTLE OF THE STARS @showcasedance
️ 1st Place Senior Large Group - ‘RIRI’
️ 1st Place Senior Small Group - ‘Another Love’
️ Most Entertaining Troupe - ‘RIRI’
️ Overall Highest Scoring Troupe - ‘RIRI’
Speech NZ Flexi Syllabus results:
Grade One:
Nari Yoon Honours
Amiria Baldwin-Smith Honours +
Greta O’Sullivan Honours
Chriselle Tok-Lee Honours +
Grade Three:
Kelsey Chang Merit +
Grade Four:
Millie Moffatt Honours +
Harriet Kristiansen-Benge Honours +
Inka Somerville-Smith Honours +
Penny O’Sullivan Honours +
Grade Five:
Caitlin Ching Honours
Julia Nguyen Honours
Olive Bascik Honours
Lucy Cortesi Merit +
Tara Strydom Merit
Caitlyn Ferguson Merit
Jody Ye Merit +
Olivia Fiddes Merit +
Ruby Ballantyne Honours
Peata Baldwin-Smith Merit +
Henrietta Williamson Merit +
Sasha Rusova Honours
Sophia Foley Honours
Grade Six:
Rose Martin Honours
Sienna O’Connell Merit +
Aaliyah Wu Honours
Kayla Liu Honours
Grade Seven:
Sophia Wu Merit+
Tracey Hsia Merit +
Briar Sharp Y11, once again, attended the Australian Tamworth Country Music Festival 15-25th January with glowing success.
She took part in a number of concerts, including performing in the Tamworth TownHall with Luke O’Shea and Adam Harvey (a sell out breast cancer fundraiser show), both prominent Australian Country Music artists. She was a feature artist of the NZ Showcase, performing an original song and 2 duets. She also was a finalist in the Tamworth Capital Country Music Academy audition and became the Junior (u18) CCMA winner of the National Jamboree with her performance of her rock song (Good Girl ). Briar was excited that both Australian and NZ performers took part.
Congratulations to Stella Lee, Y6, who competed at dance competitions in Australia during the school holidays.
At the Showcase National Dance Championships in the Gold Coast, Stella progressed through several rounds to the Dancer of the Year (Junior) finals and was selected to perform her solo in the Battle of the Stars at the Gold Coast Casino Theatre. She was awarded Top 2 overall in the Dancer of the Year (Junior) category.
She also achieved the following individual results at the same event:
1st Place – Classical Variation
1st Place – Musical Theatre
2nd Place – Jazz
Stella also competed at the Evolution Dance Competition Final in the Gold Coast, where she placed Top 3 in the Evolution Elite (8–9 years) category and qualified for the Evolution Grand Final. Her individual results at the Evolution Final included:
1st Place – Classical Variation
1st Place – Jazz
2nd Place – Musical Theatre
Zara Bristed, Yr 8 represented Visionary Dance Studio at the Showcase National Dance Championships, held on the Gold Coast, Australia, in January. Competing in the junior troupe section, Zara and her team achieved excellent results, placing 1st in Hip Hop, 2nd in Tap and Contemporary, and receiving High Gold awards in both Lyrical and Jazz. These impressive results were achieved in a very high standard of competition and reflect the team’s hard work, dedication, and excellence in dance.
Congratulations Zara.
OPPORTUNITIES
As part of The Piano’s core mission to support young people and emerging artists in Christchurch and Canterbury:
Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship for artists and groups 16-26 years of age, to deliver music-based projects at The Piano in 2026
Next Generation Fund providing subsidised venue hire for schools/organisations/individuals delivering arts projects at The Piano that involve young people
1. Bronwyn Bijl Scholarship
Applications are now open for promising young Ōtautahi and Canterbury artists or small groups aged 16-26 to deliver music based projects of up to $5000 at The Piano in 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for emerging artists to devise and deliver a project from end-to-end, with mentoring and support from The Piano staff and other industry professionals.
Full application info on our website, with an application pack (attached) and online form
Deadline to apply is 1 March 2026, for project delivery in 2026
All interested students should apply, even if they miss out on the scholarship they will also be considered for our other support opportunities eg. Emerging Artist Support - so well worth applying!
Check out this year's scholarship recipients for some inspiration: Kaitlyn Rodley (22) received $3000 towards producing a live concert at The Piano, showcasing her debut EP ‘What Grows Here’ and Myah Eve (20) received $2000 towards producing a multidisciplinary music video of her original song ‘Layers’ at The Piano
Read more about Kaitlyn and Myah in an article from The Press earlier this year
2. Next Generation Fund
Attached is our Next Generation Fund form for subsidised venue hire for projects that involve young people engaging with the arts at The Piano.
Girls Choir Ōtautahi (GCO) is an auditioned choir for girls across the Christchurch region aged from 10-17 years. Auditions for new members are being held this month.
See the poster and www for details www.girlschoirotautahi.nz
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Nostalgia Festival 7 Feb
Les Misérables production rehearsals begin 10 Feb
Shakespeare Showcase 28 Mar
Twilight Concert 31 Mar
