Speech Arts & Drama at Sacred Heart School

If you visited Sacred Heart School in Prince George in the last week of April you might be forgiven for thinking something strange was going on! In Kindergarten and Grade One tiny munchkins in colourful skirts and fairy wings flittered about while elves were very much in evidence in their green tunics and polka-dot caps. In the Grade Two/Three classroom dignified kimono-clad Japanese ladies were graciously bowing to samurai warriors dressed in black and red. If you ventured upstairs, you would have witnessed dramatic scenes with Elizabethan ladies and gentlemen, friars and witches, and many sighs of “alas and alack!” Clearly, the drama bug had struck!

Each April for many years, students from Sacred Heart School have competed in the annual Prince George Speech Arts & Drama Festival. The Festival takes place at UNBC and is one of the biggest of its kind in North America. This year, for the first time ever, all students at Sacred Heart participated in the Festival. Primary and Intermediate students focused on two distinct areas of the competition. The younger students participated in Choric Drama. This involves dramatizing a literary selection with individual voices and a speech choir. Music, movement, props, sound effects, costumes and vocal colour are all positively encouraged in this category.

Kindergarten and Grade One children presented “A Goblinade” by Florence Paige Jacques. This selection is set in the fairy world and tells the story of a “green hobgoblin, small but quick” who really wanted to channel his inner elf! In complete contrast, the Grade Two/Three students performed “Three Little Maids from School” a well-known excerpt from “The Mikado” by W.S. Gilbert. Dressed in their finest kimonos, the three little maids evoked a traditional Japanese world of strict etiquette. Having escaped the “scholastic trammels” of a ladies’ seminary, they longed to embrace their “girlish glee”.

In the Intermediate grades, eight groups competed in Shakespearian Scenes. The students presented excerpts from “MacBeth”, “Romeo & Juliet” & "A Midsummer Night's Dream". This is challenging material and requires much memorization and acting ability. It was awesome to see the students rehearsing in the playground during recess! Lady MacBeth and the Three Witches were beyond scary while Puck worked his trickery in the summer forest. The students rose to the challenge and were rewarded with very positive comments from the adjudicator, Mr. Grant Paterson, who is part of the drama faculty at Mount Royal College in Calgary. Happily, Sacred Heart students were the recipients of two trophies at the annual Festival Honours Concert which took place at UNBC on May 7th.

When adults are asked about their strongest fears, many admit that public speaking is close to the top of the list. Participation in Speech Arts develops confidence at a young age and prepares students to be comfortable speaking publically. It is also a very important dimension of the oral language curriculum. When asked what her favourite aspect of Speech Arts might be, one Grade Three student replied: “Learning about Japanese culture.” Clearly, public speaking skills are not the only benefit of Speech Arts!

Relief for Haiti

The Grade 2/3 Class raised money for the Haiti relief fund by having several bake sales. With the huge amount of donations of baked goods, one sale turned into many, which resulted in a substantial donation. The funds we raised for Haiti amounted to $502.00. This was matched by the Federal Government so it came to a grand total of $1004.00. The deadline for matching was February 12th and Sacred Heart School has again proved itself to be a generous student community.

Johnathan at the Olympics [PICTURES]

Olympic Torch - January 29th, 2010

Click here to read Ms Ruddy's story!

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is proudly co-presented by RBC and Coca-Cola in partnership with the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay begins its journey to Vancouver with a traditional lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece. The Olympic Flame will then travel 45,000 kilometres across Canada, passing through every province and territory. Twelve thousand Canadians will have the privilege of carrying the Olympic Flame over the course of 100 days.

The relay will culminate at BC Place on February 12, 2010, with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, signaling the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Johnathan Botelho - Going to the Olympics!

Mayor's Letter to Jonathan, "I was delighted to hear you were chosen..." Read More

Read Hon. S. Bond's Statement to Legislature

Rob Chiasson V.P. McDonald's Western
Canada presenting to Johnathan Botelho

Johnathan Botelho has been chosen to be the BC representative for the McDonald's Champion Kids program.

He is one of eleven children from across Canada chosen to attend the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver as part of the McDonald’s Champion Kids program.

The program had teachers and coaches across the country nominate kids who they thought were all round students,  in athletics, the arts and academic achievement.   Ms. Nuala Power a teacher at Sacred Heart in Prince George, submitted his name and a glowing report on  Johnathan's activities.

Johnathan stared in disbelief as  the McDonald's icon,  Ronald the clown, interrupted  his  Soccer Academy practice at UNBC to make the announcement that Johnathan was selected to  head to the Olympics.

Johnathan's  only response?  "Awesome."

His father Gil says he is very proud "Its  overwhelming,  I am thrilled,  and very proud.  The is an opportunity of a lifetime for him, it's really hard to put into words  just how pleased I am."

As a winner, Johnathan now has a trip for two for four days and three nights at the Olympic Games. Winners will also have the opportunity to meet athletes and other children from around the world, tour the cultural sights of Vancouver and Whistler and share their stories about the games with their  home communities.

Front Row (left-right) McDonald's Prince George Franchise owner Val O'Connor, Matthew Botelho,
Ronald McDonald, Johnathan Botelho, Rob Chiasson V.P. McDonald's Western Canada
Back Row (left-right), McDonald's Prince George franchise owner Dean O'Connor,
Tasha Botelho, Gil Botelho

Vancouver Opera Performs Jack Pine

Performers (left to right), Rebecca Craster, Hiather Darnel-Kadonga,
Adam Fisher, Rose-Ellen Nichols, Michael MacKinnon, and Tina Chang.

The Vancouver Opera came to perform Jack Pine on September 17 , 2009 in the school auditorium. The story was about the uniqueness of the Jack Pine tree and how a botanist was able to teach the wonder of trees to a small group of children. It was a fantastic performance and the singing was first-class!

Early Learning Program (3 and 4 Year Old Program)

Sacred Heart School is providing a new initiative called the Early Learning Program. It is intended for children who have not yet entered kindergarten, specifically for children between the ages of 3 to 4. It is also designed for parents/caregivers to help support their child’s school readiness. In a positive and encouraging environment, this free program will address and promote various domains of the child’s development such as: logical reasoning, fine motor skills, eye/hand co-ordination, following instructions, building vocabulary, auditory discrimination, and visual discrimination.

Look in the latest School newsletter for the dates.

Movie Nights

Check back here for more details as each movie night approaches.