Our Y13 IB Music girls shared their suburb talents with staff, students and guests at the IB Graduation last week. The girls sang “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman.

See Me returns to SMC
Late last year 25 Y9 girls were selected to take part in the “See Me” art project. 200 students from across the city took part in the project and were mentored by local artists and they explored and developed their design ideas and themes. The completed pieces were all created using wooden skateboard decks that the students turned into the most amazing works of art. The completed works were exhibited over the summer at the 013 art gallery. The pieces are now back at SMC handing in the Old Girls’ Atrium so we can all enjoy them.

'See Me' was an art project, with a well-being focus, for young people giving them a voice to express who they are. The project encourages students to see that they are magnificent just the way they are. To change the conversation of their identity and self-worth. To empower them to show the world who they are, removing negative labels and replacing them with positive words and images. To inspire young people that following an artistic career path is possible, by meeting and spending time with inspiring, independent local artists.

Speech and Drama Lessons
Lessons for Speech and Drama will start this week, the teachers will be in touch with parents and the girls directly to arrange a time for lessons. If your daughter would like to start lessons please download a Speech and Drama form from the SMC website, complete this and return it to the School Office by 15 February.

Co-curricular Groups
Most of the co-curricular groups have started rehearsals this week, the timetable is as follows:

Tech Clubs will start on the following dates:

Monday 15 Feb - Construction Club 1- 1:50pm

Tuesday 23 Feb - Gadget Girls 1-1:50pm

Tuesday 23 Feb - 3:40 - 5pm Robotics

Wednesday 24 Feb - MS Website Team 12:30 - 1pm

Thursday 25 Feb - Minecraft Club 1- 1:50pm

Thursday 25 Feb - 3:40 - 5pm Code Clubs / Maker Club

Friday 26 Feb - NO Robotics CLUB because school finishes early for goal setting but you need to be ready to start on Friday 5 March

The Performing Arts staff
Over the next few weeks, we will introduce you to all of the Performing Arts staff… this week we feature Mrs Wilford, Ms Harrison, Dr Hickford and Mr Tarbotton…

Rachel Wilford
This is Rachel’s 7th year of working at St Margaret’s College as Junior School music teacher and Middle School Performing Arts teacher. She is the Choir Director of the SMC Chamber Choir and assists with the Middle School Choir and takes the Junior School Choir. She also teaches singing at Burnside High school one day a week and is the Music Director of the Christchurch Schools Music Festival.

Rachel is the mother of three grown-up children and in her spare time enjoys singing, reading and walking and spending time with friends and family!

Sarena Harrison
This is Sarena’s 7th year working at St Margaret’s College as a Middle School/Senior drama and music teacher. She takes the Year 9/10 Choir, runs the Middle School Arts Committee and is our Year 10 Dean. In her spare time, Sarena loves long walks in the hills, yoga, gardening and all things family.

Sarah Hickford
Sarah is currently in her eleventh year of teaching at St Margaret's College. She loves variety, teaching IB Music, Year 9 Music, Violin to Year 4 - 6 students, and Year 11 Chemistry. She is also the Year 9 Dean, and the IB Extended Essay coordinator, conducts the SMC Orchestra, the SMC String Orchestra and the Combined Orchestra with Christ's College, and tutors Chamber Music Ensembles. Sarah has three children, Samantha (about to turn 21!!), and Blake and Bradley in Years 13 and 10, respectively. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening (especially growing veges), watching movies, reading, walking, singing, and playing the cello and the piano.

James Tarbotton
This is James’ 3rd year of working at St Margaret’s College as a Middle School performing arts teacher and Senior School drama teacher. He has directed the past two school productions and takes the school ukulele group. He also teaches singing at JASDA (National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art), and is actively involved in the theatre community of Christchurch by performing for different theatre groups and being one of the founding members of the new Moonlight Theatre community group.

James enjoys singing, reading, hiking and spends a lot of his time fixing computers and messing with car mechanics.