The Annual Report of the Board of Governors’ 2014-2015

GCSE PERFORMING ARTS

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  On Thursday 4 September 2014, GCSE Drama and Performing Arts students travelled to the Millennium Forum Theatre in Derry to see a production of Hairspray.
  

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  In late August 2014, rehearsals for the St. Mary’s production of Meet Me in St. Louis began. The Cast and Production Teams involved in the show worked tirelessly and enthusiastically throughout September, October and November to produce a highly polished piece of musical theatre. Throughout the musical experience, students and staff had the pleasure of working with a range of industry professionals, including a guest director, choreographer, musicians, set designer, costumier, sound designer, lighting designer and hair and make-up artist.
  

To ensure that they could produce a high quality show, students and staff took part in a wide range of fundraising and sponsorship activities, including a bag pack in Tesco, a Key Stage 3 Halloween disco and a Grand Quiz in The Elk, Toomebridge. A Breakfast Morning was held for the Principal Sponsors of the production: Heron Bros, Genesis Crafty, B.P McKeefry, A.D. Surveyors and Quinn’s Coach Hire. The production was also generously supported by many other local businesses.

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  On 6 November 2014, GCSE, AS and A2 students travelled to the Lyric Theatre in Belfast to see a production of Sive by John B. Keane.
  

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  On 2 December 2014, GCSE Drama and Performing Arts students attended a performance of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in St. Pius X College, Magherafelt.
  

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  In January, the Drama Department announced plans for a theatre trip to New York in early 2016.
  

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  Beginning in January and running throughout Term Two, the Key Stage 3 Drama Club gave students in Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 the opportunity to take part in after-school drama activities.
  

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  In February, GCSE Drama students attended a workshop in school with the Chief Examiner for CCEA GCSE Drama with a focus on Achieving the Grade in GCSE Drama.
  

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  On Wednesday 4 March 2015, GCSE, AS and A2 students travelled to the Abbey Theatre in Dublin to see a production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
  

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  On Thursday 5 March 2015, Year 13 students presented An Evening of Monologues and Duologues in the Drama Studio featuring extracts from plays such as An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde, Antigone by Jean Anouilh, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Educating Rita by Willy Russell, Sive by John B. Keane and Tea in a China Cup by Christina Reid.
  

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  On Wednesday 18 March 2015, Year 12 Drama students presented performances of Antigone by Jean Anouilh, Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel, Lay Up Your Ends by Martin Lynch, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling in the Drama Studio.
  

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  On Thursday 26 March 2015, Year 12 Drama students presented scenes from Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling as part of the St. Mary’s Spring Concert.
  

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  On Monday 30 March 2015, Year 14 Drama and Theatre Studies students presented devised pieces entitled Which Seed Will Grow? and Behind Closed Doors in the Drama Studio.
  

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  On Wednesday 6 May 2015, Year 12 Performing Arts students presented Up Above the World So High and The Power of Imagination in the Drama Studio as Showcase Performance work.
  

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  On Wednesday 13 May 2015, Year 13 students presented performances of Eclipsed by Patricia Burke-Brogan and Kindertransport by Diane Samuels in the Drama Studio.
  

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  In June, GCSE Drama and Performing Arts students travelled to the Lyric Theatre in Belfast to see a production of The Last Five Years starring Fra Fee.
  

4.6 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

GCSE English