Thursday, December 29, 2011

Teenager Climbs All Tall Mountains


Jordan Romero is a teenager who has successfully climbed the highest mountains of seven continents.
He first climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa at the age of 10.
His final climb was the 4,897m (16,067ft) summit of Vinson Massif in Antarctica - completed last Saturday...
He is now just 15!


Photo: Jordan Romero in 2010 (Binod Joshi, +The Associated Press)
More details from the BBC HEREand Jordan's website is HERE!

2012 is close approaching:
1. What challenge would you like to experience in 2012? Describe details.
2. Draw up a plan for meeting this challenge.
3. What will you hope to achieve from this challenge? Will others benefit in some way?

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Touched by a Wild Mountain Gorilla


An amazing chance encounter with a troop of wild mountain gorillas near Bwindi National Park, Uganda.


As you wander the holiday season, record an amazing experience.
It could be:
1. Video of a trip
2. A story based on an experience
3. A song inspired by an experience


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Try a Little Dreaming for the New Year!



This video was created by a teacher in Canada.

Create a New Year video combining 2 or more elements
e.g.
1. Art and Music
2. A speech from a play and music


Saturday, October 1, 2011

First Steps in Nat Sy's New Journey


Nat Sy and Australian comedian Frank Woodley

(NOTE: Nat has just completed a very successful drama season in his first year post school.
I asked him to pen a few thoughts...1200 words later...)
“The riddle gets solved, and you push me up to this state of emergency. How beautiful to be?”

The last few months have been the most difficult times I’ve ever faced; so many transitions, so many changes, so many new challenges. Through these challenges however, I’ve been given opportunity, and within those opportunities, I’ve met some really great and genuine people.

My name is Nathaniel Sy, a Casey Grammar Graduate 2010. I’m currently studying Live Production, Theatre and Events at Swinburne University of Technology. Throughout the past few months, I’ve achieved so much more than I would have expected of myself; in the first 6 months, I set up and operated for 2 seasons of low budget student shows. During the mid year break; I was hired out by Mr. Frank Minniti, owner and founder of “After Dark Theatre Company” to operate sound for the entire season of “Limbo, a Circus Journey.”To be able to achieve this, and a few little things on the side, in my first half year of study left me astonished, and surprised at how far I have come, and how far I wish to go within the entertainment industry.

This last week however, I’ve exceeded my limits by pushing myself to the absolute edge mentally and physically. I volunteered to work for the National Institute of Circus Arts Australia in celebrating their 10th Birthday. To highlight this special occasion, NICAA honoured the Circus Arts by organising the first Melbourne Circus festival, which I was very privileged to be a part of.
Working with such people as:
The cast of: Circus Trick Tease

Picture from: http://www.circustricktease.com/images/ui/history-hero.jpg
Shannon McGurgan, Farhad Ahadi, and Malia Walsh were amazing people to work with, and just good people to have an all round good time. It was a great season lighting the trio, and drinks to the hilarious conversations on headsets with the brilliant Stage Manager - Bek Moore. Me Gusta!

Marko Respondeck in putting on NICA’s: Circus Cabaret:
Every day for the week, we would have an extremely quick tech rehearsal at 2pm and end at 4:30pm, as the show started every night at 7:30pm (and usually with a Circus Trick Tease show running at 5:30pm). The most challenging part of this was being able to plot different acts for every night, in such a short space of time. Marko Respondeck, being a world class Lighting Designer, was able to quickly liaise with performers and the Director, and plot lighting states in 15 minutes per performer, ready for the performance at night. To be able to witness this, and work alongside him was a huge privilege just to see what kind of level the professionals at. Marko really inspired me.
“...to be able to do this job, you first need a system your lights obey by; when you have the complicated maths out of the way, you can focus on vision. Not just the Artistic Vision, but using your mind to see what the lights must do to compliment the sound and music.” - Words of wisdom from the trusted Lighting Designer for Circus Oz.

The Circus Cabaret was mainly a display of Circus acts over candle lit tables, showing what NICA has produced of 10 years of Circus Art. The show was hosted by a different Ring Master every night from the best NICA entertainers, to Cath Jamison (Melbourne’s best Female Magician), to Australia’s very own Frank Woodley. It was a huge honour to be able to illuminate Mr. Woodley, and a defining moment when he thanked me onstage.

Meeting people from all years at NICA, and the crew behind the Circus Festival has inspired me to step up my game, and work harder towards what I dream to be. Even though throughout the festival, my schedule was working from Monday 26th of September, to Friday 30th of September – from 8:30am to 10:30pm every night, I did not complain. This was only a small taste of what the industry will be like, and I have realized there is soo much more to learn.

If this is what I have done in just my first year of study, who knows what opportunities lie out there in a full career? Just in one week, I’ve made a huge network of important people, but better yet, making friends and having a good time working with all of them. They have all inspired me and taught me what it is like to live a life making the stage work – to make the stage go from vision, to reality. I don’t think this is a dream anymore. By working hard, to the best of my ability, and using EVERYTHING I have learnt, and putting it into action, I have made this dream I have so whimsically dreamt, into the reality I want it to be.

To the kids at Casey Grammar reading this, I tell you now to not doubt the education the teachers there have to teach you. Their wisdom and guidance will shape you to the person you want to be. Even if you think they are wrong, it’s only a part of the learning process – to accept. The knowledge they pass onto you will never be left useless. When you leave school, you will meet people with a wide range of likes and interests – and everything the school has left with you comes into action.

Whatever field you wish to get into, be dedicated, passionate, and strengthen your resolve; do the research, put in the hours to learn – do this, and the dream melds with reality, because reality is whatever you want it to be.

The quote above is from a song I have been listening to on repeat since I got home from my last night of work. It’s a song that has prompted me to reflect on everything that has passed, and the people who have defined my character.

Charlotte sometimes would tell me “Things happen for a reason,” and being cynical, would brush these words aside. But as History develops, and as the story progresses, I realise that if it were not for the things that happened, and if it wasn’t for the people I loved and hated, I wouldn’t be writing this very piece about the things I have achieved in my first year out of school. She will always be my greatest inspiration.

What you wish to be is never out of reach, all your dreams and aspirations – keep them close with you. There will be times when you will tell yourself you can’t do – and if you leave it be, those words will haunt you. But when you hold your aspirations close to your heart, the plans in your head and the will to just do it – then you’re unstoppable.


Friday, September 23, 2011

News Alert! Check Out Schools on Stage! UPDATE!


The vibrant city of Casey hosted this musical challenge for schools in the region!

Our judges certainly had a difficult task deciding on a winner, but
the performance of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and “Jitterbug” were hard to beat and Casey Grammar School was announced as the ultimate winner of Schools on Stage!
‘St John’s Regional College were the runners-up performing from The Wiz, The Best Song Award went to Cranbourne Secondary College for “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls Junior and Endeavour Hills Secondary College won the Teamwork Award’.
- Excerpt from Media Release
A fantastic effort Casey Grammar!
CONGRATULATIONS!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Got Some Shakespeare in Your Life?


So you thought that Shakespeare had some stuffy old language unconnected with your life today?
Think again!

A Tumblr blogger, a 20 year old girl named Becky from London - 12th September 2011 - said:
I still don’t know how something I scribbled in a hurry at 3am got so many notes in the space of a day? Shakespeare is clearly too awesome. I spelt “bated” wrong, awk :) Someone said this looks like a serial killer’s notebook, which made me laugh a lot. They’re not wrong, I’ve been a sleep deprived zombie lately.This has, as they say, gone viral and in less than a week is stirring waves across the internet ocean.

And over on the
Oxford Words Blog is a wonderful tool which lets you discover how Shakespearean you are! They say:Enter some English text in the box below and click the button. Your words will be compared with all the words used by Shakespeare in his plays and our verdict will be delivered on its Shakespearean content. Why not paste song lyrics or dialogue from your favourite television show into the box to see how much overlap there is with Shakespeare’s English?
TRY IT AND HAVE FUN!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

News Alert! Check Out Schools on Stage!


The vibrant city of Casey is hosting this musical challenge for schools in the region!

Each school has selected two songs from their 2011 school musical to perform for Schools on Stage. The song choice is up to each school – the only rule is that at least one song is a chorus number.

After each school has performed their songs it will be up to the judges to make the tough decision: who will be announced the winner of Schools on Stage?

Hosted by Tim Campbell

Best known for his role as Dan Baker on Home & Away, Tim Campbell will be the host for this special event. An all-round entertainer, Tim has performed at Carols In The Domain, The Good Friday Appeal and Carols By Candlelight.

His experience in the world of musical theatre includes performing in Rent, Shout! The Legend of the Wild One and Wicked. Tim also took part in Dancing with the Stars in 2007 and has hosted The Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune and The Celebrity Singing Bee.

Four awards will be presented on the night:

• First place ($2000 cash prize)
• Runner Up ($500 cash prize, sponsored by Hal Leonard Australia)
• Best Song
• Best Teamwork

In addition, all participating schools will receive a discount voucher from Hal Leonard Australia, which entitles them to either 20% off a Broadway Junior ShowKit or 20% off their material hire bill for any Hal Leonard show performance in 2012.


ALL THE VERY BEST OF LUCK CASEY GRAMMAR!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

News Alert! Check out The Archies!


“The Archies” is a drawing competition that The Art/Design Department at Casey Grammar will be running this year.
It is based on the existing Archibald Prize which runs annually.
This competition is aimed at encouraging the artistic talents of Casey Grammar and to provide an opportunity for students to show their skills to the community and their peers. Not only students can enter, but teachers and parents too!
For this to happen we need you to support this competition and submit photos of yourselves for the students to draw. The portrait must be drawn and must not be computer aided. In order to participate students will need to sign a form which gives acknowledgement to the rules and conditions of the competition which has been attached to this email. The Art Department will shortlist the entries and will screen all entries.
On the night of the Art Show the public will vote on their favourite portrait. The Art Department will also choose nominate the most successful entry. Prizes will be received by both successful entrants.

The competition begins on the 12/09/2011 - Monday next week.

The Art Show is on Friday 14th October

Saturday, April 9, 2011

News Alert! Check out WordWired!!!!



Great news for creative Aussie teenagers!

WordWired will be launching the aptly titled WordWired magazine in Term 4 this year.
This magazine will offer teenage writers and artists a real opportunity to see their work in print.
Young journalists and creative writers across Australia who post their work to the relevant section of the WordWired forum by the 30th of June 2011 will be considered for publication in the magazine.


Click on the image to go to the website!!!

Friday, April 8, 2011

History Waves #6 ~ A Special Moment


Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Today, my wonderful little History class farewelled Helmi, an exchange student from Finland.
We will all miss her beautiful smile and spirit!

Happy journeys Helmi!
Stay in touch with Teen Waves!


Pic by G.W. aka P.A.
~

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Just For Fun #1 ~ Rock Band + Album Cover


My Rock Band ~ Rosa Sericea ~ and First Album Cover
~

Just For Fun #1
ROCK BAND + FIRST ALBUM

The Rules

1. - Go to Wikipedia and hit random. The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. - Go to quotationspage.com and hit random. The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. - Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”. Third picture... no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop, picnik.com or picasa, etc. to put it all together.
~

Jessica Watson

Official Jessica Watson Blog

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