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Arts Mark Gold Award


The team, pictured, from left to right:

Calder High has been informed that the Arts Council is presenting their prestigious Arts Mark Gold Award to the school in a high-profile ceremony at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on July 1st.

Schools with the top award need to demonstrate their commitment to the Arts and provide their students with outstanding teaching and extra-curricular provision.

Jill Leicester, Head of Expressive Arts and leader of the bid application said: "We are thrilled. We believe the Expressive Arts Faculty at Calder High School is one of the best in the area, and it's a real accolade for the Arts Council to recognise what we offer to our students and the community. Putting the bid together was a long and arduous process, but it really brought us all together. I am very grateful to the administrative support we received in collating the bid, but more than anything else, our success is due to the fantastic students we have at our school and their commitment to and enthusiasm for the Arts."

Representing the school at the Award Ceremony will be Mrs Leicester and three students - one from each Key Stage who has shown exceptional effort within Expressive Arts.

If you wish to buy tickets for this sparkling event, please contact the box office at Square Chapel.

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Dance and Drama (programme of extra-curricular activities)

Year 11 GCSE Drama Exam
On 15 May the Year 11 GCSE Drama group performed four thought-provoking and stunning pieces for the Edexcel examiner. The performances were the result of a term's hard work and the culmination of two years studying GCSE.

Mrs McAleese and Mrs Leicester are very proud of all the students and will miss them very much. 

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Year 12 & 13 Performances

Year 12 & 13 presented their interpretation of Jim Cartwright’s ‘Road’ and Berkoff’s ‘Metamorphosis’ to a live audience and an external examiner last week in the Ted Hughes theatre. Both groups did exceptionally well and produced 2 challenging pieces that were comic, thought provoking and moving. Mrs McAleese and Mrs Leicester are very proud of all the students and would especially like to say a thank you and farewell to the year 13 students as this was their last drama performance at Calder High School. Year 13 performance pictured left and Year 12 below

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'Say Goodbye to Satchwell Road' (Poster)
The public performance of this play took place on Tuesday 11 March in the Ted Hughes Theatre at Calder High School. The Director of the Calderdale Theatre School was in the audience and was so impressed that she gave her review to Mr Gregg on the evening. Photos were taken at the evening performance and will appear here soon. The photos below were taken during a performance to Year 7 students on Monday 10 March.

Year 9 Drama students gave the performance as part of their BTEC First in performance, performing a scripted play. They have been working on it for about 8 weeks.
Throughout the rehearsals there has been a fantastic display of 'Ensemble', all the pupils have worked for one another, helping each others and I am unbelievably proud of them!!

(Pictured left: on the train to the 'North' and below: arriving at their destination)

The play was written by Peter Nixon and is set in 1939 England. It starts in London with a group of school children being evacuated from their school 'Satchwell Road'. They pack their bags with the necessary items; two jumpers, two pairs of trousers/skirts, a couple of pairs of socks and two pairs of knickers, a Gas Mask and a teddy! They journey up north to West Yorkshire where they meet their new family and hosts. There is friction between the Northerners and the Vaccies. Does it have a happy ending?

(Pictured above: Cups of tea on arrival and a radio announcement)

There are some fantastic individual performances, and an awesome sense of Ensemble when the whole group are working on stage at the same time! There are also some fantastic performances on the piano from a couple of the students.

Mr J Gregg

Cast list for 'Say Goodbye to Satchwell Road':

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Northern School of Contemporary Dance workshop: 6 March

On Thursday 6 March, 60 students from Year 8 had a fantastic opportunity. They worked with students from 'The Northern School of Contemporary Dance' in Leeds. The NSC students performed their dance piece (with a live musician) and then led a creative dance workshop.

The Year 8 students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were impressed with the talented dancers they worked with, including two ex Calder High students, Katie Allcott and Michael Kitchin.
Report by Miss E Starkey, Curriculum Leader (Dance)



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Guys and Dolls

Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson played by Dario Coates and Michael Burnip	Miss Adelaide played by Georgina Hudson

This year's school show was Guys and Dolls which was performed on 5, 6 and 7 February with a matinee performance to local primary schools on Tuesday, 5 February. It was a great first public performance in the new theatre, dedicated to Ted Hughes.

Harry the Horse explains the situation to Big Julie played by Joe Ferguson and Jack Knight

Guys and Dolls was a vibrant music and dance extravaganza with over 90 students from every year group taking part plus some extraordinary staff performances.

Many thanks from the producers, Mrs J Leicester and Miss S McAleese, for all the hard work from students and staff.



One of the many exciting dance routines in the show.

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Drama workshops with Tara Brodin

The Drama department were pleased to welcome Tara Brodin, workshop leader with the International Schools Theatre Association. She gave workshops at Calder High over two days for all year groups. The workshops covered improvisation in acting and the art of clowning. Pictured below are some of the workshops held in the studio and the theatre. More information about Tara is available on her website: www.tarabrodin.com.

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Phoenix Dance workshops: 4 December

Students from year 9 to 13 were fortunate enough to experience a day in the life of a professional dancer again!  Tracey Witney from Phoenix Dance company came into school to work with students for the full day. She talked to them about how demanding training is for a dancer. Students then participated in a technique class before learning some repertoire from a piece called Nopalitos choreographed by Javier de Frutos. This was particularly interesting for students as then went to the Lawrence Batley theatre on Thursday evening to watch how the company performed the piece. A great time was had by all and Tracey from Phoenix commented that we had extremely talented students!
Miss E Starkey

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Year 13 Drama students are to perform for prisoners!
As part of their A level Drama examination, 6 brave Year 13 students are to devise and perform a piece to a group of 26 inmates from New Hall Prison Wakefield.

The students have already been for a visit and were shown around the facility, spoke to prisoners and wardens and even got to experience a cell.

The students will perform in the Chapel at the prison early in December and will follow this with a workshop with the prisoners.

Mrs McAleese said:”It will be a great experience for the students and something quiet groundbreaking as they are the youngest students ever to work with prisoners. We are really lucky and grateful that the prison has allowed us this opportunity."

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BTEC and Performing Arts Qualification performances
Following last summer’s hugely successful production of Grease, BTec students at Calder High School are now rehearsing for The Lion King. Auditions have already taken place. A second group will produce another show, whose title has yet to be announced. Both are examination pieces for a Performing Arts qualification, and both performances will be open to parents and friends of CHS next summer term.

Rambert Dance Workshop: 2 October
Students from Years 9 to 13 were fortunate enough to experience a day in the life of a professional dancer! Laura Davies from Rambert Dance company came into school to work with students for the full day. She talked to them about how demanding training is for a dancer.
Students then participated in a challenging technique class before learning some repertoire from a piece called Stand and Stare by Darshan Singh Bhuller commissioned to mark the 30th anniversary of LS Lowry's death last year. This was particularly interesting for students as they had been to watch Rambert perform the piece last week at The Lowry Theatre. Everyone worked really hard and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

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Hebden Bridge Arts Festival


Calder High musicians and poets were at the heart of major events at the start of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival.

On Saturday, June 30, there was a concert featuring Calder High music students and the African musicians group, Grand Union at the Hebden Bridge Picture House.

Reading by renowned author, Malorie Blackman

On the same evening Malorie Blackman read from her slavery anthology, Unheard Voices and the school provided a themed backdrop. Students in different classes have been studying aspects of slavery, and a Year 8 soundscape was played as the audience entered the Picture House where the event was being staged. Work by Year 9 English students who have written their own “slave poetry” is on display in the foyer, and a slave ship montage is also be on show during the Festival.

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Music

Instrument and Voice lessons
A letter has gone out to Parents with information about the lessons being offered in school from the start of the Autumn term. Enrolment is taking place now. Please return the completed form or contact Miss S Peers for more information.

Swing Band are swinging...
Calder High's Swing Band performed two gigs on the weekend of 7/8 June.

Friday night's gig was at the Trades Club supporting the well known band 'Souled Out'...much dancing and fun was had by all.

On Sunday we entertained shoppers and sunbathers at the Piece Hall on the main stage. There was fantastic support from parents.

We were actually invited to do both gigs based on our previous performances and growing reputation as a good band!


Link with Hebden Bridge Arts Festival
Choral artist Emily Levy is coming into school as 'artist in residence' for three days (20/26/27th June) to work with a group of musicians to prepare a piece for the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. Dave Nelson facilitated this fantastic collaboration which we are really looking forward to after a fantastic event last year at the Hebden Bridge Picture house with the Grand Union Orchestra.

Date for your diary
On 16 July there will be an informal evening of music/concert in which students who have been having lessons will be given the opportunity to perform and we can wish all our musical leavers well.

Miss S Peers (Curriculum Leader, Music)

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"Live and Unsigned"

Congratulations to Alice Harrison in Year 11 who has got through to the Regional Semi-final of "Live and Unsigned". This is a national music competition which attracted over 10,000 registrations in 2007. Performers are encouraged to do their own thing, be individual, original, and to perform their own genre and style live.

Alice, who performs as 'Alice Jane', is now preparing for the Semi-final where she will compete amongst fifteen other hopefuls in the Live show on Saturday 1st March, 2pm at Montgomery Theatre, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 2LG for a place in the Regional Final. Please come along and support Alice at the Semi-finals event in Sheffield. Tickets are just £6.00 and are available by contacting Miss S Peers.

Alice launched her first EP at the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge last December and will also be playing at a Benefit Gig there on 3rd May.

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Paris Swing!


This half term 35 students had the unique and exciting opportunity to perform at Disneyland, see the sights in Paris, spend an afternoon at ‘Aqua Boulevard’, and, for 6th formers go on an evening excursion into Paris.

There were two performances at Disney; a half hour piece by Calder High’s swing band and a 20 minute dance piece by dancers from the A-Level and GCSE dance groups.

A huge amount of time and effort went into rehearsing from both students and staff since the beginning of term. This definitely paid off and could be seen by the incredible standard of the work which was produced and the reception from the audience at Disney. The chance to perform at such a world renowned venue was an unforgettable experience and it is safe to say that all involved would jump at the chance to do it again! As well as the outstanding performances, spending a day at the fun-filled, colourful and exciting world of Disney was not to be missed and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

The evening excursion gave the students the opportunity to see the heart of Paris and even meet one of its local residents, an eccentric bohemian poet – ‘Johnny Guitar’, as well as visit some of the local shops and bars near the Sacre Coeur.

Of course, a trip to Paris would not be complete without seeing the amazing sights. From a boat trip along the river we were able to see the Notre Dame, The Louvre, The Obelisk and much more. We were then able to go to the very top of the Eiffel tower – breathtaking and perhaps a little scary for certain elder members of the group (Mr Gregg!). This was followed by an entertaining and energetic afternoon at Aqua Boulevard with water slides, Jacuzzis and a wave machine which provided endless fun for everyone.

The trip was finished off with an evening of fun and games and a quiz which brought everyone together, was an excellent way to include the whole group and was great entertainment for the final night.

The students involved, along with the nine members of staff, had a fantastic four days. The positive atmosphere and energy was outstanding (especially during the 14 hour coach journeys!), and the trip could not have run more smoothly. It was brilliantly organised by Ms Peers and was made successful by the enthusiasm from all the staff and students.

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Guitar Lessons


The weekly guitar lessons offered by school at the bargain price of £2.50 for an hour's session have got off to a flying start. 

"So many people, especially adults, tell me that one of the things they wish they could do, is play an instrument," says Head of Expressive Arts, Jill Leicester.  "In response to this, we have invited Kevin Rivett, a fantastic guitar teacher, to run guitar lessons after school on a Thursday, open to all ages, staff, students and parents and of all abilities (absolute beginners, through to experienced guitarists)."

Nearly 30 people have signed up for the lessons, some of whom are Year 7 students who benefited from Kevin's teaching in Primary schools under the Government's Wider Opportunities initiative. The lessons take place on Thursdays after school from 3:00 to 4:00pm

We are looking forward to their first public performance!

Kevin Rivett also runs the Hebden Bridge Guitar Circle once a month.

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Future Heroes
Pictured here: David Burnip and Kate Salter are pictured with Mr John Pryce Jones of NOEL, and Mr Steve Duncan, the chief executive of the Community Foundation for Calderdale.

Two students from Calder High School have won awards as Future Heroes in the world of music. Kate Salter and David Burnip, who are both in Year 10, will receive bursaries to pay for intensive tuition after being chosen with five others from more than 50 young hopefuls across Calderdale.

Kate, who plays trombone and hopes to travel the world in a musical career, will have lessons from Brett Baker, principal trombone with the Black Dyke Brass Band. A member of Hebden Bridge Band and adult band, her ambition is to play eventually with the Black Dyke Band.

David, who aims for a career in musical theatre, is a member of the Calder Valley Youth Theatre and last year played the title role in Bugsy Malone. He is currently rehearsing for Fame, to be staged at the Halifax Playhouse in November. David won a series of singing lessons from acclaimed teacher and former Opera North member, William Hill.

The Future Heroes project is run by Northern Orchestral Enterprises Ltd and the bursaries come from funds donated via the Community Foundation for Calderdale from the Gartland Family Trust.

At the award ceremony at Dean Clough in Halifax,  the artistic director Mr John Pryce Jones said that the aim of the scheme was to encourage and develop musical talent. He paid tribute to the commitment of the heads of department at the schools which put forward candidates’ names.

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Guitarists on top


A classical guitar ensemble from Calder High School won through to the regional finals of a youth music festival in Birmingham. The three musicians, pictured above: Seamus Barnett, Harry Collett and Fingal Plumpton play as the 'Calderdale Youth Guitar Ensemble'. They won a place at Birmingham after success in an event in Halifax.
They also play as 'Highly Strung' accompanying the Calderdale Youth Singers.

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Art

Showcase of Students' work: Check out the Wiki created by Mr Khan

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