Now we have your attention read on. 🙂
On August 31st our school Choir performed at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre in the WA Government Schools Music Society concert.
We traveled up to Mandurah on Thursday morning in time to rehearse in a big, empty auditorium, doing sound checks and lighting and getting accustomed to staring into very large, bright lights.
We ate afterward near the foreshore. The weather was sunny and glorious, and the children played on the (burning hot!) steel drums, much to the delight of the people at the movies next door.
After lunch, we headed off to AMAZE, the miniature park. It was a fantastic stop with heaps to do, quizzes to complete, objects to find, mazes to lose teachers and supervisors in, badminton to play
(Mr. Stannard was the champ), and go-kart rides. Chaplain Sam was squealing with joy at the miniature village – it was just delightful.
It’s a really great place everyone, well worth the stop if you’re passing through Mandurah.
Ok, on to our hotel, yummy pizzas for dinner, into our performance shirts, and off to the Performing Arts Centre. We were close enough to walk there from our hotel and our kids looked such a happy team, en masse in their uniforms. They asked all the drivers going past for a horn honk and got SO MANY!!
It was a very happy noise – all the neighbours said so.
Upon arrival we were directed to our VIP waiting room, to wait to be called to the stage. It was excruciatingly difficult to stay quiet for the duration. Excruciating !!!
Then…the reason for the whole trip…our performance … and it was just BEAUTIFUL. Our children really were their BEST and sang superbly. We have received three separate comments from the public about how lovely our kids looked and sounded – I was so, so proud of them all.
Marika Lewis played a piano solo “front of curtain” and Laycee Chandler sang “This is Me” on her own as well – they were incredible. It really was an awe-filled evening.
This is where the shark comes in…Our group saw lots of fish in the estuary, a couple of crabs and a huge shark! (Well, the crab clicking past thought it was huge!) Very exciting, especially as our kids had just asked if people were allowed to swim in the water there.
We headed out of Mandurah safely, thanks to Colin, our very flexible 5-point-turn-around-the-tiny-Mandurah-roundabout bus driver – sorry about that Colin… then headed off to Crooked Carrot and had one of their famous pies and cakes plus a play in that fabulous playground.
Big grey clouds were scudding towards us, so we decided to hop back on the bus and head for school – perfect timing as the rain BUCKETED down as soon as we took off. Great timing.
Arrived back at school pretty tired but still buzzing with happy Vasse Bees being all our “Be…” words.
We made some special connections at camp, between existing friends, new friends, supervisors, staff members and children. Some new friendships were made and definitely some new things learnt about each other as we spent time together. We had brave children persevering, quiet children meeting new people and building confidence and exuberant ones remembering to be respectful and responsible in different environments.
Thanks to our staff members and my right hand people, Chaplain-Sam-of-the-perpetually-cheerful-smile and Dave-Stannard-of-the-perpetually-cool-calm-and-kind-smile.
Thank you so much to the parent helpers who gave up two days with the other members of their family, and a sleep over, to help out. Your patience, kindness and reliability was greatly appreciated. Thanks for initiative – like this little aerobic stop on our way back to school, (thanks Sarah.) And Amee for getting a little game started while we were waited soooooo looooong to go on stage 🙂
We had such a great time. Congratulations to the children for your beautiful singing and behaviour. It was a new and potentially overwhelming experience for many of you and you conducted yourselves with grace and respect. We were a sensational team, thank you – I felt extremely proud.
Mrs. Karen Bigwood – Music Specialist
Below are two of the comments received from members of the general public about our performance…
“Good morning, I just wanted to send my congratulations to everyone involved with your school choir. I was at the Mandurah performing arts centre to see my grandaughter in the Falcon PS choir on Thursday night.
I really enjoyed your school’s performance, it was beautiful and they looked great. So well done to all of you.”
And this from the CEO of the WA Government Schools Music Society …
“From Falcon PS’s 80’s medley … to the incredible efforts of Vasse who learned the second part of their harmony ….. and travelled an enormous distance to perform so professionally.”
