Putting the wonder in winter performances: At QMS, everyone’s in on the Act!
A big tradition at Queensborough Middle School…
Dec.14, 2018 – Students from kindergarten to grade 12 across the district are putting their hearts into winter performances of song, dance, music and drama.
At Queensborough Middle School, the collaboration, learning, passion and excitement was on display this week – as students put the ‘wonder’ in Disney’s Alice In Wonderland musical performance.
And at QMS, everyone was in on the act.
From behind-the-scenes sound support to makeup artistry, and from costumes and stunning sets to scene changes and choirs – every student in the school had a part to play.
“Our annual winter production is a big tradition,” said Principal Lisa Nasato.
Each year, the play that will be performed is announced at the school’s first assembly of the school year.
“Pretty quickly after that, everyone gets involved to make it happen,” she said.
Students in this year’s performance included a range of actors for the Queen of Hearts, the Dodo Bird, the caterpillar, a doorknob, and Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.
Eye-popping scenery is a highlight of Queensborough Middle School’s annual productions.
Student-inspired learning…
Students, with the guidance and longstanding dedication of teacher Sukh Rai, are the artistic geniuses behind the eye-popping stage sets.
And this year, sets clearly captured the local scenery. One depicted Ryall Park near the school. Another incorporated a psychedelic, wildly colourful First Peoples’ canoe paddling through a river of tears shed by Alice as she shrinks to a height of three inches.
“These plays are part of our school culture,” said Nasato.
She noted that every staff member gets involved for a performance that is the culmination of learning that fits into the curriculum as well as the development of what’s known as students’ core competencies.
That means students are gaining skills in arts education, hands-on design skills (applied design skills and technology), and technology – as well as building their competencies in communication, in collaboration and more.
“The school performance also fits into our school’s ‘growth mindset’ goals,” said Nasato.
At Queensborough Middle School, this key approach supports the understanding that students can master skills – in mathematics or in acting for instance – through an understanding that effort, perseverance, and strategies can lead to success more than innate ability.
The school-wide dedication to the annual performance allows some students to shine in ways that they might not in the traditional classroom.
“It gives us an opportunity to see our students’ potential when we see them through a different window,” Nasato said
This year’s production involved parents who contributed items for costumes and Christmas Food Hampers as well as the QMS Parent Advisory Council, which organized a ‘Basket Fundraiser’ to support the students and the production.
Musicals and Drama productions are a longstanding annual tradition at Queensborough Middle School. The last time Alice in Wonderland was performed was in 2009.