The Wizard of Oz
Thank you….. from Jacquie Casey
Theatre is about connection, teamwork, resilience and support, and there has been so much of that shown in our Tintern Girls Junior School as we prepared for our production of The Wizard of Oz in Semester 1 this year. Last week we finally performed The Wizard of Oz on stage in CMWood. The girls shone so beautifully, demonstrating confidence and resilience on stage in both the Matinee and Evening shows.
The Girls in the Junior School have risen wonderfully and successfully to the challenges of this musical. To the staff of the Girls’ Junior School, LE support Staff, Parent Volunteers and our generous donors of costumes and props – thank you so very much for your generous time and efforts.
The performances last week was the product of hours and hours of hard work, commitment, love, generosity and sacrifice on the part of so many people in our Tintern community. It’s been quite a journey, and it’s always with a certain degree of sadness that we bring the curtain down on another show. I’m going to miss the healthy mix of laughter and anxiety that filled our rehearsals. I’m going to miss the creative energy of the cast, the enthusiasm of our youngest performers, and the collaborative spirit of the entire production team. Thank you everyone for your support, helping to cheer us all on, during our rehearsals both at home and at school.
Here are some reflections from our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 girls about our Wizard of Oz Production and some photos for you to enjoy.
Year 1A
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when the Doorman said “state your Business!” – Isabelle
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when The Ozians sang and when Glinda came to Munchkin Land. – Charlie, Quentin and Kyla
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when Dorothy met the Wizard of Oz
I loved seeing Professor Marval’s Crystal Ball.- Milani
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was the Tornado! – Ava
I loved seeing the Lion acting scared! – Julia
I loved seeing the characters all backstage – Sophie
I loved Dancing so much – Zoe
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was the Merry Old land of Oz, singing “Ha Ha Ha” – Ira
I loved coming out of the Flowerpot! – Ariel
My favorite part of the Wizard of Oz was when I was in the flowerpot! – Emily
I loved the Jitterbugs and all of Dorothys acting and singing! – Esther.
Prep
I laughed a lot when the Scarecrow fell down! – Evelyn
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when I was a Blue bird – Vikki, Ellie and Noah
I loved dressing in green and singing “The Merry Old Land of Oz” – Hannah
I loved the Finale because I liked the bows – Zoe
I loved it when I was on stage with my wonderful buddy, Sarah, who was the Scarecrow – Emerson.
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when we held the green balloons on stage and the Wizard collected them from us and pretended to float up in the air.
I loved seeing my Buddy dressed as Dorothy on the stage – Aubrey.
I loved the Tin Man scene because Indianna is my Buddy – Charlotte
I liked the Bows – Jasmine
I liked it when thew Wicked Witch sent the message to Dorothy – Leah
I loved being dressed as corn because I love to eat corn! – Arnika
I loved being an Ozian in my green tutu! – Eva
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was being the corn in the Scarecrow dance – Eleanor and Thea
I loved the show because Charlotte and I sang a duet in the Scarecrow Song – Vachi
I loved the Jitterbugs because my buddy Nina is such an amazing dancer – Ruby
I loved seeing my buddy Linna on stage because she was the Wizard!
I really loved the Jitterbug dance – Evelyn D
Year 2
I loved the Lions’ songs and the duet that Dorothy and Aunt Em sang. – Sarah
I loved the Wizard on the back screen and also the Lion – Stasia
I loved the Tinman song because I think Indianna has a beautiful voice – Hannah
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when the Wicked Witch was talking and acting so well.
I loved the end when Aunt Em sang with Dorothy – Jessie
I liked Dorothy’s hair so much! – Mackenzie
I loved the Jitterbug dance – Lily
I loved the Bows because I felt so proud – Helen
I loved it when Glinda came and sang and I really loved her dress. – Sana
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was the Tin man song – Abigail
My favourite character in the Wizard of Oz was the Lion – Olivia
My favourite part was when Glinda said “the wonderful Wizard of Oz “ – Milly
I really loved Dorothy’s red sparkly shoes – Lena
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when Dorothy sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Kira
My favourite parts of the Wizard of Oz was when the rabbits danced and the Bows. – Daisy
My favourite part of the Wizard of Oz was when the Lion said “I’d like to roar them down, but I think I lost my roarer!” – Beatrice
I really loved the Rainbow dancers – Luna
I loved all of Dorothy’s songs – Aleyah
I loved it when the Wizard bowed and took his hat off! – Zoe
Allison Prandolini | Head of Girls’ Junior School
Exploring ‘The Last Daughter’ in Year 6
Last week, our students had the opportunity to attend an on-campus screening of the film The Last Daughter, complementing their studies on Indigenous History. This powerful documentary follows Brenda, an Aboriginal woman, on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and resilience, offering a compelling insight into the experiences of Indigenous communities. Brenda’s story focuses particularly on the Stolen Generation and its enduring impact on that generations that follow.
After the screening, the class engaged in thought-provoking discussions where students shared their insights and reflections on the film’s themes. To promote our School’s value of developing a ‘Culture of Thinking’, we employed the ‘Circle of Viewpoints’ thinking routine.
This routine prompted the students to step into the shoes of different people in the film, including Brenda, her foster family ‘The Ockers,’ and her Aboriginal family. By encouraging them to see the world through these diverse viewpoints, it fostered empathy and open-mindedness and enabled the students to gain a deeper understanding of these complex issues.
The girls were reassured that we learn about these issues not to feel guilty, but to understand – and the best way to understand something is to listen to someone’s story. Watching and reflecting on the film was a great educational experience and broadened our students’ thinking and understanding, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities of cultural heritage and its influence on our identities.
Will Fogarty | Year 6 Teacher
