What a week, Mustangs! The school year is officially in full swing with students having completed their second full week of school. Accompanying the year’s first tests and quizzes were school guests, bake sales, and much more!
On Monday, September 18, Shannon Taylor, a Stratford Festival actor visited MSS to give acting workshops to various classes. During these workshops students had to work with scripts from plays being performed at the festival. One class, using character’s lines from the show Les Belles-Soeurs, created new conversations that they later acted out. The students who participated in the Stratford trip later that week got to see Shannon perform live in Les Belles-Soeurs as Marie-Ange Brouillette.
On Tuesday, September 19 there was a bake sale to raise money for the Stratford trip. Students on the trip brought in baking and volunteered over lunch to sell it. The bake sale was a win-win for everyone because students had access to homemade baked goods and those going to Stratford were able to mitigate the trip’s cost.
On the same day, there was applesauce being served in the lobby. This treat was brought to the school by the SHARE/Go Green Club. The applesauce was free of charge and made with apples grown at MSS. SHARE/Go Green has meetings every Wednesday at lunch for anyone interested in environmental and social justice.
On Thursday, September 21 some students and staff took off on the annual Stratford Festival trip. The journey started off with a ride on the Chi-Cheemaun to Tobermory and finished with a four hour bus ride to Stratford. Shortly after students got dressed up to see ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’ Stratford is known for their Shakespeare performances and the play had students laughing throughout the show. After the show students had the opportunity to talk to one of the actors, Akosua Amo-Adem, who answered their questions about what it is like being an actor in live theater. The next day students attended two workshops hosted by two other actors. The first workshop was on comedy and hosted by Liam Tobin who played Sir Dennis Galahad in Stratford’s production of ‘Spamalot.’ Liam led the students in an icebreaker game where they acted out how they would walk in different situations, for example: aliens late for business meeting. Then, using the script from ‘Spamalot,’ students put their own spin on scenes with advice from Liam. The second workshop was hosted by Christine Desjardins, the dance captain for Stratford’s production of the musical ‘Rent.’ She walked students through a dance routine from the musical and taught them how to do it. Later that day students saw the play ‘Les Belles-Soeurs’ and ‘Rent.’ On their last day in Stratford students explored the downtown. There was an opportunity to look at unique shops and boutiques as well as try new foods. After students went to see ‘Spamalot,’ a hilarious show that everyone enjoyed. After a seven-hour journey back students are home with a renewed passion for theatre.
On Monday, September 25 was picture day! The photos taken will be sent out as samples to parents and guardians for them to order. The photos will also be used as student IDs.
A reminder for everyone that there will be a PA day on Friday, September 29.
That is all for this week! Until next time, go, Mustangs, go!
