
GALLERY: Eidsvold students show talent at Night of the Arts
EIDSVOLD State School students got out of their comfort zones on Wednesday to produce a talent show so entertaining it went some way towards taking attendees' minds away from the unseasonably cool weather.
A Night of the Arts featured an art exhibition, music, Wakka Wakka language, comedic poetry and dance, led by creative arts teacher Kelsie Munroe.
Ms Munroe said she thought events like A Night of the Arts were "extremely important” for primary school students' development.
"It builds self-confidence to get out of your comfort zone,” Ms Munroe said.
She noted she participated in similar shows when she was younger and it fostered in her a "passion to keep going with the arts”.
Ms Munroe said she was disappointed not to get more interest from the upper grades at Eidsvold, but believed the interest shown in the younger grades would "transition” as they got older and spread the creative arts message more evenly through the school.
"It takes so much skill and courage to put themselves out there,” she said.
The event also included the public debut of the student choir, which was formed earlier this year.
They performed three songs in three different indigenous languages: Wen'de Ya Ho, a Cherokee morning song; Olele Moliba Makasi, a Congolese lullaby which is also used to keep time for rowers in canoes; and Tutira Mai Nga Iwi, a Maori song of friendship and welcoming.
Ms Munroe said the performance was inspired by 2019 being the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
The creative arts teacher also added a special personal touch on the show - a highlight of the evening was the lights being dimmed for Year 3-6 students to 'make rain' with clapsticks, drums and rainsticks.
The idea came from a youth camp she attended when she was younger.
Campers performed Africa by Toto, and introduced the song by using similar techniques to imitate rain.
"I felt so cool doing it,” she remembered.
Ms Munroe also led the beginners ukulele class in You Are My Sunshine, Singing in the Rain and I Am Australian, while Year 5-6 teacher Lou Fielding led the advanced ukulele class in Sweet Home Alabama.
The evening concluded with a reprisal of I Am Australian with all students and teachers, which included a verse which had been translated into the Wakka Wakka language.
Art Show winners
Kindy and under school age
1st: Hand Prints by Remi Hastings.
2nd: Painting on Canvas by Shaya Dodd.
3rd: Painting on Canvas by Hunter Rose.
P-Year 2
1st: Sky, Land and Sea Flamingo by Mackenzie Roth.
2nd: Snail and Fish Drawing by Cora Newman.
Year 3-4
1st: Flowers on Orange Paper by Emma Hastings.
2nd: Horses in a Field with an Apple Tree by Josie Gitshman.
Year 5 - 6
1st: Black and White Fence Post by Pirie Newman.
2nd: Cat Stretching by Pear Jenkins.
Commended: Outback Drawing by Archie Gitsham.
Year 7 - 9
1st: Fish by Whitney Maslen.
2nd: Peacock by Lilly Hastings.
Student sculptures
1st: Faces by Charlie Vella.
2nd: Country in Clay by Pearl Jenkins.
Commended: Recycled Sculpture by Kate Lindenmayer (School of Distance Education) and Sewn Pillow by Hayley Oppermann.
Community
1st: 'Owl' by Jackie Lindenmayer.
2nd: 'Bee and Honeycomb' by Maddi Low.
Staff
1st: 'Sky, Sea and Land' by Ms Emily Graham.
2nd: 'Collage' by Ms Shardi Watts.
Commended: 'Collage' by Mr Lou Fielding.
Staff sculptures
1st: Ms Jeni Hansen.
