Is It Too Late To Work In Santa's Workshop?
Article Written By Liv Benedetto Coro
March 1st in the brand new year of 2017 which was also the busiest day of my school life. One of the most effective for all pupils as well. Not one single person had an excuse to say that they just had nothing to do.
Following up the collection of the gluten-free food products for Syrian refugee camps , this was the day where we'd round up all the food together and be shipping it off to charity. The day started off with us coming in, proudly wearing our school house shirts. We were all asked to bring in gluten-free food so in Year 9. us being a lot meant there was also a lot of food. The next task was to bring all of the food down to the office, which many students helped to haul down. Including me, whilst hauling down two bags of products, thought that this was a good way to spend a school day. Getting them down to the office wasn't enough, we had to fetch the products again and bring them out to the patio steps by the kids park. We knew at this point that the day wasn't over.
All students were assigned to a certain workshop based on a subject- but these workshops were all being based from some nice projects for the students to work on (as if our schedule isn't already packed). Such workshops being music, poetry, arts and crafts, (radio) drama, robotics, and more. My schedule wasn't as packed- I didn't have a workshop, so I had a great opportunity to get some pictures of the elves working in their workshops and write this article.
I make my way to the underground classrooms first, knocked on the ICT room and opened the door. Students, sat wherever they pleased, whilst working on... digital designs.
I asked Javier Rocamora, technology teacher and in charge of the 3D design program, what the students were up to.
"I'm introducing 3D print to them. I'm giving them free time which equals free design. We're focusing on sketching houses. It's great fun."
Leaving the classroom, I made my way down the long corridor, iPad in hand. I stopped at the final class being the drama room and opened the door. Jim stands grasping Patricia Valverde by the shoulders, the two stand together in front of the board, quarrelling it seems... I recall it being about... rain? Is it raining today? Or is it not? Students sat on chairs circled around them, watching. Luckily, Samantha Murray, English teacher, and co-"in charge" told me about what seemed to be the radio soap opera club.
"We are exploring radio drama and soap operas. We will be exploring the process of script, types of characters, the stories, the broadcasting and special effects, the music and drama skills, and voice acting. We might even use this in school- with the radio perhaps, that would be nice."
She went on further by telling me that the students were going to be writing their own stories with their own characters. Then they would record themselves reading it out loud, adding the drama to it with character and volume to their voice. For the time being, they would only be looking at the different types of radio drama in modern times. They go on by the motto, Imagination creates the world.
I left the classroom then, feeling quite pleased and excited in my gut. All these creative things, working within young students and young minds was exactly what I had expected from Newton College. Young students, working together or perhaps individually, were experiencing new things, going beyond boundaries and most importantly- having fun. If you're feeling the same, then with the next workshop you'd be feeling something even bigger.
Jose Manuel, was in charge of the robotics competition. This was an American competition for programming live, working robots who could perform tasks such as moving (being the most basic) and lifting, dropping things, etc. They also had to prepare a scientific project and talk about what they've learned and what their robots can do. The minimum of tasks is 6 and the maximum is 14.
As students were tucked in their assigned workshops, other students busily worked out in the sun and shade, hauling gluten free foods back and forth. As these students prepared so did another group of talented students.
Students from Year 8 up to Year 9 took part in the fun run set up outside on the football pitch. The fun run included timed obstacle races which students took part in organised into their houses.
Milovan Jelic was preparing along with a group of young artists in order to perform to the school that afternoon. They performed three songs: Someone Like You, Dynamite, Rolling In The Deep.
I watched them practice before the big show and I was impressed. Many of these students (and teachers!) which I have never heard them sing before, had completely taken me by surprise. Mr Jelic also though the same,
"They have amazing voices and everything runs smoothly because we have focused practices and a cheerful ambience as well."
Flor Garcia from Year 8 Alpha also thought the same,
"It's very fun and its amazing how we all get along and that we're all singing together. The hard part is hitting those high notes but we're getting there. There's nothing to worry about because everyone in this room can sing."
Rosa Tortosa, headmistress of LAUDE Newton College told me the most important thing: the true meaning as to why these workshops were running.
"We can discover our abilities with our workshops. This is an opportunity for many students to show what they can do, because you wouldn't even believe what you can do."
I asked Javier Rocamora, technology teacher and in charge of the 3D design program, what the students were up to.
"I'm introducing 3D print to them. I'm giving them free time which equals free design. We're focusing on sketching houses. It's great fun."
Leaving the classroom, I made my way down the long corridor, iPad in hand. I stopped at the final class being the drama room and opened the door. Jim stands grasping Patricia Valverde by the shoulders, the two stand together in front of the board, quarrelling it seems... I recall it being about... rain? Is it raining today? Or is it not? Students sat on chairs circled around them, watching. Luckily, Samantha Murray, English teacher, and co-"in charge" told me about what seemed to be the radio soap opera club.
"We are exploring radio drama and soap operas. We will be exploring the process of script, types of characters, the stories, the broadcasting and special effects, the music and drama skills, and voice acting. We might even use this in school- with the radio perhaps, that would be nice."
She went on further by telling me that the students were going to be writing their own stories with their own characters. Then they would record themselves reading it out loud, adding the drama to it with character and volume to their voice. For the time being, they would only be looking at the different types of radio drama in modern times. They go on by the motto, Imagination creates the world.
I left the classroom then, feeling quite pleased and excited in my gut. All these creative things, working within young students and young minds was exactly what I had expected from Newton College. Young students, working together or perhaps individually, were experiencing new things, going beyond boundaries and most importantly- having fun. If you're feeling the same, then with the next workshop you'd be feeling something even bigger.
Jose Manuel, was in charge of the robotics competition. This was an American competition for programming live, working robots who could perform tasks such as moving (being the most basic) and lifting, dropping things, etc. They also had to prepare a scientific project and talk about what they've learned and what their robots can do. The minimum of tasks is 6 and the maximum is 14.
As students were tucked in their assigned workshops, other students busily worked out in the sun and shade, hauling gluten free foods back and forth. As these students prepared so did another group of talented students.
Students from Year 8 up to Year 9 took part in the fun run set up outside on the football pitch. The fun run included timed obstacle races which students took part in organised into their houses.
Milovan Jelic was preparing along with a group of young artists in order to perform to the school that afternoon. They performed three songs: Someone Like You, Dynamite, Rolling In The Deep.
I watched them practice before the big show and I was impressed. Many of these students (and teachers!) which I have never heard them sing before, had completely taken me by surprise. Mr Jelic also though the same,
"They have amazing voices and everything runs smoothly because we have focused practices and a cheerful ambience as well."
Flor Garcia from Year 8 Alpha also thought the same,
"It's very fun and its amazing how we all get along and that we're all singing together. The hard part is hitting those high notes but we're getting there. There's nothing to worry about because everyone in this room can sing."
They were right, performing gorgeously later on for the school.
Rosa Tortosa, headmistress of LAUDE Newton College told me the most important thing: the true meaning as to why these workshops were running.
"We can discover our abilities with our workshops. This is an opportunity for many students to show what they can do, because you wouldn't even believe what you can do."
LAUDE Newton College
Newton College Press Team
Newton College Press Office
Newton College Press
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