As we reach the end of the term, I’m excited to bring you the SPRING edition of the Arts Newsletter! Check out our highlights from this term, and if your family is keen to be creative over the Easter break, have a look at our suggestions for arts events and activities happening here in London! Happy holidays to all.

Ms Periton, HTSS Art and D&T Lead

DRAMA HIGHLIGHTS

Once again, we welcomed the PSC (Primary Shakespeare Company) to our school. The PSC is a charity led by our brilliant Mr Williams, with the aim of supporting teachers everywhere to use Shakespeare in the primary classroom. Over to Mr W:

“For the past 15 years, Holy Trinity has – through the Primary Shakespeare Company – been sharing its approach to learning through the arts with other schools.  Over two days this February, 65 teachers from schools all across London and Kent visited HTSS to see how engaging with the arts raises children’s achievement and attainment. Visiting teachers did an hour’s Shakespeare session working alongside some of HTSS’s drama experts – Years 4 and 5. They learned how to integrate drama into their classroom planning. Finally, teachers had an art session linked to Shakespeare with Miss Periton, learning about monochrome illustration. An excellent practical demonstration of integrated planning.”

To see more examples PSC website, just follow this link and scroll down: https://www.primaryshakespearecompany.org/signup

ART HIGHLIGHTS

Every class has continued with their weekly learning in Art and D&T, covering some brilliant projects and producing fabulous work. A highlight from the junior includes Year 5’s textile work for Arts Award – the children have been fascinated to learn about the damaging effects of Fast Fashion and are so excited to show off their upcycling skills in a fashion show next term. In the infants, Year 1 have been making pop-up book pages, while Year 2 have been designing and testing flying machines in D&T, making some fantastic aeroplanes, gliders, parachutes and kites!

On March 11th, we held our very first Art-A-Thon to fundraise for the arts in school. This was a day hugely enjoyed by all. Not only did children get to come to school in their own (creative) clothes – raising just over £400! – they also got to ‘Drop Everything and Draw’ every time the bell rang, contributed to a super-long ‘Wonderland’ drawing in the hall, and produced some beautiful postcard for our selling exhibition.

ARTS FUNDRAISING

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came and bought artwork at our amazing postcard art sale – the work looked so beautiful hanging in the church and we raised an incredible £730! A big thank you also to the parents who were brave enough to share their own creative talents at our first ever ‘Sip and Sketch’ evening, led by Ms Periton in the art room – this was super popular, so keep an eye out for future events!

SCULPTURE PROJECT

Last but not least, from March 17 – 20, we welcomed fantastic artist Darrell Wakelam to our school to create a huge sculpture with every single child. Darrell was based in the lower hall and we had a chaotic and creative four days of making with everyone very excited as the sculpture grew and progressed. Lots of children told Darrell, ‘this is the best thing I have ever made!’ which was so wonderful to hear. The artwork features a tree full of heart-shaped fruit, alongside three fantastical birds who represent our 3Cs values of Courage, Care and Cooperation – values that the children displayed magnificently throughout this project. Darrell sent us a lovely message afterwards:

“Just to say thanks for inviting me to Holy Trinity and for making me feel so welcome as part of your team. Everyone was very kind and supportive and I thought that the children did a fantastic job, with even your littlest ones trying their hardest and accepting me as a visitor who they wanted to listen to and work with. You’ve got a great team there, all of the staff were excited by the work and stopped to check what the kids had achieved each day. Thank you for organising everything and taking the time to make sure it all went smoothly and the kids got the most from the experience.”

We are absolutely delighted with the finished piece, which is on permanent display in the lower hall.

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

In Music, children continue to work hard in their individual lessons, improving their instrumental skills. Remember that from Y1 onwards, you can sign your child up to learn an instrument in school. For more information and to download the Camden Music Service application form, please click here.

Choir have also been preparing for their upcoming concert at none other than the Royal Albert Hall! This is part of the Camden Schools’ Music Festival and those of you who have attended will know that it is an amazing celebration of children’s music-making. The beautiful sound created by the massed choir sends a shiver down your spine! Over to Mr McIntyre:


“HTSS choir have been working hard on the songs for the Camden Schools Music Festival, which takes place at the end of this month at the Royal Albert Hall.  The songs range from the traditional spiritual Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie to the Bangladeshi song Shohag Chand.  We are really looking forward to the performance!”


Thank you, Mr McIntyre for working tirelessly to get everyone performance-ready, and good luck HTSS choir – we look forward to a report for the Summer arts newsletter!

FAMILY ARTS EVENTS : EASTER HOLIDAYS

For those keen to be creative over Easter, here are a few arts events happening in London in the coming weeks! Where possible, I’ve tried to only include FREE events, but do remember that most of London’s major galleries and museums are free for general admission!

• The Big Egg Hunt is SO much fun! Download the app and enjoy a totally free treasure hunt around London spotting the 2ft tall eggs designed by a variety of artists and designers! There is a mini trail in Covent Garden: https://www.coventgarden.london/experience/things-to-do/the-big-egg-hunt/

• The National Gallery has a range of FREE creative workshops for families during the holidays, including still life drawing: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/creative-sessions

• Lots of options for family trails at the V&A: https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/families

• Upcoming free family drop in days at the October Gallery in Camden: https://www.octobergalleryeducation.com/family-learning

• Tate Modern has a weekend drop-in session ‘Make Studio’: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/uniqlo-tate-play/make-studio-joy-of-togetherness

ARTY FUN AT HOME

• We love the Tate Gallery’s online page of creative projects you can do at home: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/create-artist

COMPETITIONS

This would make a great Easter project! Can you make an artwork inspired by Hampstead Heath? Enter by April 25th to have a chance of winning tickets to the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead in May! For more information see the images. The form to submit is here: https://eu.jotform.com/form/250612158198358

CALL OUT FOR CREATIVES

We often need volunteers to support our creative projects in music, art and drama. If any parents and carers are creative professionals in any field, have a creative skill or hobby, or just want to lend a hand on occasion, please let the office, Ms Periton or Mr Williams know. We will keep your details ready to help with future projects at HTSS!

NEWSLETTER ARTIST – Bogdan in Y6

Thank you to Bogdan in Y6 who was so inspired by working with Darrell that he created his own bird and shark sculptures at home – WOW! If your child would like the chance to be featured in our next Arts Newsletter, they should bring their work to the art room with their name and year group on the back.

That’s alll for our Spring ARTS EDITION of the newsletter! Thank you for your support. Have a lovely break, and see you in the summer term!

Ms Periton 🙂