SHINE Speech Arts & Drama

07/09/2025

This summer, please read aloud to your kids! Make it a special ritual! (share a snack?) But please read a book or few this summer!

I often found that if I read the first couple chapters of a book aloud to my kids, it would "hook" them or make clear we should explore another one... Many classics use more complex sentence structure than current books, and are good for their vocabulary. Don't forget to use voices! :) So much fun!!

06/13/2025

All classes full.
Be ready to SHINE!

06/03/2025

Congratulations, Michaela, on earning “runner-up“ at speech arts and drama Junior provincials today! I hear your performances were absolutely lovely and coming in second place in provincial competition among students 11 to 13, some of whom are already 14, is an outstanding accomplishment. You worked hard for this and it’s so nice to have your work recognized on such a large stage.

05/21/2025

Come join those who are ready to SHINE! I still have a few spaces left! See below! Who do you know that would benefit from Speech Arts & Drama?

Teens - I have 3 spaces left

Grades 5-7 - I have 5 spaces left

Grade 1-5 class - I have 1 space left (Fridays 3:30 - 4:30)

If you're interested please let me know as soon as possible; I'm happy to get you details as to day, time, and place.

05/15/2025

Many of you saw Shile perform at the recent festival. She's a gifted artist and I'd love to see her get an electric wheelchair so she can more easily continue her goal of working in the medical field. This is an invitation to help if you can! (The sponsor organizing this is reliable! The High School Vice Principal at Cedars...)

Sihle van Dijk, a grade 11 student at Cedars Christian School, has Cerebral Pal… Terence Wall needs your support for Funding an Electric Wheelchair for Sihle!

05/07/2025

Thank you, SHINE! families, for a great year! Don’t forget to return your clean costumes! I’m already looking ahead to next year and one of the features will be a focus on CANADIAN poetry! 🇨🇦

05/04/2025

Here’s a start on some of the pictures that represents just some of the fun and great performances we had in this year’s SHINE! Festival. Looking forward to a citywide festival again next year!

05/03/2025

We had a great acting workshop with Sydney P. at the recent SHINE! Speech Arts ad Drama Festival!

04/26/2025

So proud of the fine acting on display by these students at the SHINE! Speech Arts & Drama Festival at UNBC tonight! And this was only half of them! I forgot to grab a picture of the younger set. Some fantastic costumes and performances though! Can't wait for and evening of Shakespeare on Saturday at 6:30 at the Weldwood Theatre at UNBC.

04/22/2025

Come discover Speech Arts & Drama! So proud of my students and eager to see them SHINE! this weekend! The public is welcome to UNBC's Weldwood Theatre! Just know that silence is required during performances (except for laughter, as indicated!) and there are regular "lulls" while adjudicators write comments so any young visitors may want to bring drawing paper or a book to read, during those breaks. Thank you to UNBC for sponsoring this opportunity for young students.

04/12/2025

It is with a full heart that I welcome all my students (and speech arts fans!) to a “stand-in” festival for the usual city-wide Speech Arts & Drama Festival. While I’m sure the city-wide experience will be back next year, and I appreciated the Northern Voices virtual festival, I’m so grateful to be able to offer my students an experience that resembles the usual one, with a few personal “touches”! 175 performances! The action begins at 1 pm Friday afternoon, April 25th with Lyric Poetry 9 -11 years, and Humorous Poetry 9 - 16 years, followed by Sonnets at 3 pm and "I like this poem". The schedule runs morning to night until Sunday at 5 pm at the Weldwood Theatre at UNBC. I'll post an abbreviated schedule (sans student names) and drop-ins are welcome. Come check out speech arts!
Highlights are
** DRAMATIC SCENES from 9 - 17 years that happen all Friday night, 4/25, starting at 6:30 pm.
** SHAKESPEARE SCENES (solos, duos, and "regular" duo scenes) from 9 to 17 years that happen all Saturday night, 4/26, starting at 6:30.
Whether your kids did it in the past, or you're not sure what it is, you're welcome to drop by!

03/30/2025

THANK YOU, PARENTS! The SHINE! Festival at UNBC is fully-staffed with on-site volunteers, a month out. So grateful...

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