Dear NAPA Families,

We hope you have had a fantastic week and have been able to find time in your busy schedules to enjoy the sunshine in this wonderful part of the world!

Our newsletter is to keep you all informed and up to date with all what is happening at our awesome studio. So please take the time to read it or at least locate the information that directly applies to your child. In this way, your child will get the very best experience during their time with us.

Uniforms Ready for Collection

We still have lots of people who have not picked up their uniform orders yet. Please collect them from the reception ASAP so we can focus on outfitting students who missed out on ordering. This week, any child in the Performance Teams who need uniforms, can purchase these from reception if we have the required size in stock. From Saturday 22nd May all students can purchase uniforms.

I have been informed by our suppliers that the winter uniforms should be ready by the end of this week. I will keep you posted regarding this.

Dance for Sick Kids

Congratulations to all of our students who are Dancing for Sick Kids this week. Already they have reached their targets and beyond. Thank you to everyone who are sponsoring them for such a wonderful cause.

PractiSing

A highlight for me this week was going into our first read-through with the leads of Lion King. I was blown away by the improvement of every child from their audition. They had found the ‘voice’ of their characters and the results were outstanding. Most of them also knew their lines after only gaining their role last week. When I asked them what they had been doing to get to this point in just a week, they explained that they had formed a group chat so they can practise together during the week. I could not have been prouder of these young performers!

Practising is the best way to improve skills and create a better performer. It boosts confidence and provides opportunities to work on weaknesses. It brings out the best of your capability. We cannot stress enough how important it is to practise at home a few times each week. Our dance teachers are constantly putting on Facebook and Instagram routines to practise. We also have our online resources for certain classes that include backing and vocal tracks to practise singing. We can see a distinct difference in the ones that practise and the ones that don’t. So….. practise, practise, practise.

Responding to Feedback

It has been great to see so many children have taken the advice provided in last week’s newsletter and have asked for feedback (in a very positive and polite way) after their auditions. Feedback is well regarded as an excellent strategy to improve in all facets of learning. It is worthwhile writing the feedback down and then working on the techniques required – this will require practise in the areas identified and may even require private or extra lessons.

Passion

This is the driving force that makes a performer want to practise, be at every lesson, be resilient, work at having a positive attitude and be the best they can be.

Congratulations to Miss Kim and the Cast and Crew of Beautiful.

The College kids, Laurie and I, had a great night out this week seeing Beautiful directed by our very own Miss Kim and also performing in the show were teachers Hollie Andrews and Nadine Chia, NAPA Ensemble performer Todd Jesson, as well as college student Zeke Whitecross. Great job everyone!

Vegetarian Options at our Canteen

As mentioned in previous newsletters, we are catering for vegetarians in our food selection at the canteen. We are now having vegetarian sausages at our sausage sizzle on Saturdays. These are $3.50 due to the higher cost for these sausages and need to be pre-ordered. If you let Kristie know when you drop your child off that you wish to purchase a vegetarian sausage, we will have it prepared for your child for the time required.

Barbecue Helpers Needed

The demand is so high for our sausage sizzle, it is hard to cook and serve at the pace required when only one person is manning the barbecue. If anyone can help out from 10am – 11am on a Saturday morning it will be greatly appreciated. Laurie has to leave the front desk to do this so it will be great if we have someone cook or to serve. Just pop over at any time you can.

Performance Team Parent Catchup

It was so wonderful catching up with many new and familiar faces yesterday at the Performance Team Parent Catchup. It was such a great way to meet other parents from your child’s Performance Team, and those in the other age groups. We have missed being able to gather like this and build connections due to so many restrictions over the last year, and we can’t wait for many more opportunities to connect and help each other out at upcoming performances and competitions.

Congratulations Courtney and D’arcy

Congratulations NAPA Cherubs, Courtney Sutherland and D’arcy Taylor on your brilliant performances in All Saints’ Anglican School production of ‘Crazy for You’.

Happy Birthday David!

Our fabulous singing teacher David Willis enjoyed celebrating his birthday with the kids this week. Please note that all student birthdays are put on the Birthday Notice Board in the foyer so we can recognise their birthdays. Remind your child to look out for their name in the month of their birthday