2019 comes to a close in diversity, unity and collaboration, with our Juniors’ Cultural Celebration showcasing music and dance from all over the world.

Junior School Cultural Celebration
Our youngest girls presented their Junior Cultural Celebration last week for our community on the Winchester lawn. This celebration of folk dance and music from around the world was a fitting way to round off a year that began with a We Are One concert following the Christchurch terror attacks. Once again we were reminded of the joy and delight to be had in celebrating diversity, and families enjoyed a picnic dinner afterwards: what a wonderful wrap up for our Junior School! Many thanks to our Junior School Performing Arts teachers Sam Bates, Rachel Wilford and Stacy Goldsworthy.
To purchase Petra’s stunning photos please follow this link: https://petramingneau.smugmug.com/JUNIOR-CULTURAL-CELEBRATION-AND-PICKNICK/n-Kfr5c7/

Speech & Drama excellence
Congratulations to everyone who recently had success in their Speech and Drama exams and a special mention to the following who received Distinction in their Trinity College exams or Honours Plus in their Speech NZ exams.

Initial Speech & Drama Distinction
Rose Griffiths
Grade 2 Devised Drama Distinction
Molly Walker 
Grade 3 Speech and Drama Distinction
Yoyo Fu 
Grade 3 Group Drama Distinction
Lexi Boon, Lola Roberts, Hannah Millar 
Grade 4 Individual Acting Skills Distinction
Anjali Selvarajah 
Grade 4 Group Drama Distinction
Avelynn Curley 
Grade 5 Acting in Pairs Distinction
Emily Gibb and Emily Pitts, Olivia Adams and Emma Richards, Nelly Bascik and Abi Croft, Isabella Shatford and Hellen Wang, Stella Foulds and Lucy Horton 
Grade 6 Acting in Pairs
Lucy Sawyer and Abby Houchen  
Grade 6 Speech and Drama
Jessica Becker, Julia Holmes, Anneliese Millard 
Grade 7 Speech and Drama
Sienna Mc Ewan 

Grade 3 Speech & Drama Honours Plus
Madison Ashworth
Grade 3 Honours Plus
Zara Gamble and Maia Stanbury
Theatre in Action Grade 3 Honours Plus
Emily Fradd, Gemma Sitjes 
Grade 4 Speech and Drama Honours Plus
Sophie Landis, Lilliana Murray-Orr, Iliana Sarri
Grade 5/2 Honours Plus
Petra Lewis
Grade 6/2 Honours Plus
Ava Beaumont, Bianca Yamamoto, Annabelle March and Emma Cawood 
Grade 6/3C Honours Plus
Scarlett Kirby 
SD 7/1 Honours Plus
Emma Chiang 

We also extend our congratulations and thanks to their teachers Dinnie Bevers, Trish Minns, Lucille Durkin, Ruth Agnew and Roz Spiers.

Musical Theatre Achievement
We congratulate Zelle Logan, from Year 12, who has passed her Grade 8 Trinity Musical Theatre exam.

Nat & Jono Music Video Constellations
Check out the latest music video from musical pair Natalie Hutton and Jono Stewart for their song Constellations. We will certainly miss Nat’s musical presence around campus next year and wish her and Jono all the best for their future projects.
https://youtu.be/QoKukd4arLo

Ngā Kete Debating
Over the weekend, SMC hosted the annual Ngā Kete debating competition for Year 9 and 10 girls. This year we were represented by Hannah Wylie, Anita Avia and Claudia Hundleby in Year 9. The competition is focused on current feminist issues and, this year, the girls debated ideas around male spokespeople in feminist groups, women in sport and Instagram influencers. Thanks to Rosie McTaggart for supporting our junior debaters.

Haere ra from Mary
After eight years, it’s time for me to move on. I would like to thank you all for your support, especially our wonderfully energetic and colourful Performing Arts staff with all the hubbub and fun they bring. I will be popping back to check up on the new office decorations. I have so enjoyed my time with the SMC whanau, amongst the girls and staff, and will carry lasting friendships with me. It’s time for a change in my life, and as my husband immerses himself in his new tapas bar (shameless plug for Pedro’s Kitchen at the Riverside Farmers’ Market for authentic Spanish food and wine-yum!) I am hoping to reconnect with my own creative practice in performance, as well as being home more for my girls. Thank you, Diana, for your clear leadership and joyful interest in the arts. Thank you to our incredible PFA and to the wider community out there and special thanks to Head of Faculty Ms Amanda Woods, for her outstanding leadership and care of the team. I wish my replacement all the best in continuing to foster our vibrant SMC Arts culture. I will miss you all!

Arohanui, Mary Davison.