Musical involves school community

The Ettalong Public School community viewed a musical performance, Music through the Decades, at Brisbane Water Secondary College's Woy Woy Campus on Thursday, August 9.

The students danced and sang across the stage to such classics as, How Much Was That Doggie in the Window, The Beatles' Yellow Submarine, John Lennon's Imagine, Abba's Dancing Queen and Michael Jackson's Thriller.

"I am just a humble parent but from where I sat, I couldn't help but think this musical was going to change lives, turn things around," said Ettalong Public School P and C publicity officer Ms Rowena Newton.

"That being an active vibrant, positive part of such a loving, exuberant community has to make a difference to a child's life, and to their families as well.

"It has to. You can't experience something like this and remain unmoved, unchanged.

"As a parent we don't often see our children interacting with their teachers but it was great to see the teachers trooping across stage during the finale with the kids.

"They were also having a ball and you couldn't help but feel how much the teachers love our kids and how lucky we were.

"Last year, teacher Ms Katie Walker came up with the idea of a whole of school musical and, from there, it became a community project.

"Once you've seen it in action, it all seems so easy but getting something of this magnitude off the ground is a huge undertaking.

"To take it all the way from an idea and turn it into a reality and watch that dream grow into something solid, concrete and inspirational was amazing and took a lot of work from the kids, their class teachers and the school community.

"It all came together so seamlessly, a testimony to the power and spirit of community at the school," said Ms Newton.

Ms Walker said that over the years she had been involved with extracurricular dance and music groups.

"I found it very disheartening that there were times when we had to turn students away from these creative endeavours purely due to numbers.

"I thought, wouldn't it be great to provide an opportunity for every single child to be able to have a chance to perform or be involved in a performance on some level.

"Some children have a passion for the arts, but do not always get selected for these extra-curricular activities.

"Performance is a vital part of education, and it is our role as teachers to provide these opportunities for our students.

"Seeing the smile and excitement on the faces of the children, especially the ones who don't normally have the opportunity to shine was priceless," said Ms Walker.

Principal Mr Colin Wallis said: "The production was an opportunity for every student to perform on stage and came about through the collaboration of teachers, students and parents."

Email, 13 Aug 2012

Rowena Newton, Ettalong Public School

Photo: Rowena Newton