FromtheDirectorMollyRice
What a fun and productive semester! I had the honor of teaching 48 Beginning Theatre Arts students 9-12 grades. We had an amazing time getting to know each other and learning about theatre through a personal and social lens. My B1 Beginning Theatre Arts class had a lovely chill vibe which started off my mornings beautifully. They really loved learning lights and sound and performing onstage. My B2 Beginning Theatre Arts class was a beehive of energy. They loved sharing through their personal bellringers. Mrs. Burns joined us with six Adaptive Curriculum EC students. They loved to dance and sing! This group really bonded and love raised the roof of the Tractor Shed Theatre. Eighteen auditioned actors and designers in Fall Play Production built some creative and cool productions and projects that aimed to entertain or educate our community. I was highly impressed with their work in our Students Against Violence Everywhere Promise Club’s StartWithHelloWeekwhere we were able to reach out to our entire student body with its important message to recognize loneliness and social isolation in their peers. Their student-designed and student-led activities were created to help their peers who may be lonely and/or socially isolated and to grow an empathetic and inclusive community. We were even able to grow partnerships with other clubs and organizations including for the first time, a sports team! Our video series gained much notoriety. These interview videos asked some serious questions and helped to unify our student community. Our second annual Halloween show - Deadly Drive-in - was bigger and better! We even added a “Slash Zone” where those who love a close-up scare could sit outside their cars. A tremendous amount of work goes into preparing for the evening and students learn so many skills! This reflection includes their design and production booklets so you can see the BTS (behind-the-scenes) work. Mounting this production was a challenge when sickness struck. However, TST alumni stepped in! Evan Petty joined us again as Pennywise and Taylor Day as Annabelle. Ardnt Middle School student Micah Rice played Georgie again but with a twist! TST Alumni Isaiah Covington photographed our character shots, actors’ headshots, and photos of the evening to help build his photography portfolio Principal Mrs Chiles joined us again to help with admissions Parents, Beginning Theatre Arts students, and past students came on board to help! A true community effort Play Production ended their semester with the You Matter movement and a civic engagement project to help raise awareness for Men’s Mental Health for the month of November Such a fantastic semester!
BeginningTheatreArts
Fall Semester 2022
Creative, diverse, thoughtful, curious, loving, encouraging, resilient, accepting, sharing, and fun! Beginning Theatre Arts started with personality tests; getting to know yourself and others; team-building activities; personal and social skills training; storytelling; body language; pantomime; light and sound design; light and sound board operation; playwriting; daily bellringer writing activities; scene building; character development; music and movement; fundraising opportunities building business and communication skills; Poetry Out Loud contest focusing on voice and diction,script analysis,and performance; and improvisation.
SpiritWeek
Homecoming Week 2022
This year the TST had some fun in rocking spirit week!
No backpacks allowed? No problem theatre kids put their books and personal belongings in all sorts of creative carriers!
Theatre kids always love a good costume. We enjoyed listening to music from the decades that were represented and talking about films/movies from that era.
A personal favorite spirit day being a breast cancer survivor! My students all wanted to show their support of my journey.
FallPlayProduction
An auditioned troupe of designers, musicians,actors,artists,& technicians
St. Stephens High School Start With Hello Week 2022 Brainstorming Ideas Weekly Activities & Involvement SAVE Promise Club Design & Production ● Take What You Need Station ● Adore Board ● Compatipals ● Make a New Friend TST Coffeehouse ● Farewell Friday ● Campus Interviews Photo Slideshow of SWH Week On the Hal Rowe “First Talk” Radio Show
On the news with Fentress Fountain SWH Video Series: Interviews Around Campus
1 Monday SWH What Motivates You to Come to School Every Day
2 Tuesday SWH How Has Your Experience Been at St Stephens High School
3 Wednesday SWH What's The Best Compliment You Have Ever Received
4 Thursday SWH Have You Ever Felt Alone
5 Friday Positive or Negative What Was Something That Stuck With You This Week
6 Saturday SWH What is One Class That Has Stuck With You The Most 7 Sunday SWH Reflection
No YouTube access? Check out our Google Folder here
Start With Hello Week 2022 was a welcoming way to start off our new school year. The project also garnered the coveted grant money to help replace our spendages from our theatre program
Dear Molly, We are very pleased to inform you the SAVE Club at Saint Stephens High - Hickory, NC has been chosen to receive the Sandy Hook Promise SAVE Promise Club Sustainability Management Supports including $500! We received many applications and our judges had tough decisions in deciding who should receive these important materials and funds. We know that you and your club will be dedicated to implementing and sustaining the Start With Hello and Say Something programs, and seeing safer schools and communities as a result of your club’s efforts.
Our second year of slasher jump scare fun was even bigger and better. We included a “slash zone” where you could sit outside your car for an upfront view. Check out these links to see the super creative work poured into this unique event.
Deadly Drive-in 2022 Cast Crews TST Alumni Isaiah Covington Photos Zee’s Photos Mrs. Rice’s Photos Character Slashers Reflection Flip Books for Design & Production: Lights Crew Nik & Nathan
Costumes/Props/Masks/Hair/Wig Caitlyn, Lela, & Hailey Playwriting, Stations, Traffic Caleb, Abby, Christian Set Crew Cory, Venecia, & Jules Sound/Music Crew Gio & Amelia PR by Zee Film Morgan,Aaliyah & Joe Flip Vlog Reflections Stage Manager Reflection Lights Crew Playwright/Traffic/Haunting Crew Costumes: https://flip.com/s/d95GF7XH4yMR https://flip com/s/hZ4A2Zj-XdaJ Set Crew Deadly Drive-in 2021 (First year)
Halloween was so much fun! Great memories made.
CivicEngagement
November brought our civic engagement work. Since Start with Hello Week was one of our best ever,the troupe wanted to continue their SAVE Promise Club work! Their creativity and planning were outstanding. The ripple effect of kindness spread throughout our school and community. The troupe picked two other national movements to add to our essential club workYou Matter Marathon & National Men’s Health Month.
This is the Tractor Shed Theatre seventh year as an Ambassador Organization. This world-wide phenomenon of sharing You Matter cards can really share kindness. This year the cards were given to men specifically. The students chose male role-models in our school and wrote a message on the back.
Included in the long list from their website…
SAVE Promise Club November Civic Engagement Project Men’s Mental Health Awareness Matters S A VE Promise Club/Tractor Shed Theatre/Fall Play Production TikToks ne …..starring Jill Chiles Two Interviews Part 1 …….starring SSHS students & Mr. Everett Watch on YouTube Part 2 …….starring SSHS students & Mr. Logan, Mr. Boorman, & Mr. Mann Watch on YouTube Short Film MENtal
Bookmarks Mustache Photo Booth/Station Photos
Brainstorming ideas Tik Tok Campus Interviews Transcripts for CC Short Film MENtal Script/Storyboard for MENtal Cafeteria Upper Lobby Station/Booth Encouragment from a faculty member:
Safe Station
Planning
Art work by Hailey W.
ForeverEighty-Eights
Mrs. Rice published her second book of poetry. Her first poetry chapbook was published ten years ago - MillHill- by Finishing Line Press, Kentucky. ForeverEighty-Eightswas published this semester in October by Press 53, Winston-Salem. Mrs. Rice’s book tour started in Decemeber and will continue through the spring semester. Follow her author’s journey at www.mollyrice.com
ClassroomTechnology
Mrs Rice led a workshop on Teacher Tuesday about our classroom app - Classkick We love using Classkick along with Student Square and Google Suite
Dewey’sFundraiser
We had a successful semester raising funds for our program. We love Dewey’s Cookies!
Top Five Sellers: Khloe R (72 boxes), Caitlyn C (43), Priscilla R (33), Spencer N (30), Venecia L (24)
Top classroom sellers - B1: Priscilla, Lena, Harper, Jasper, and Liam; B2: Khloe, Spencer, Alec, Landon, & Jaylin; B4: Caitlyn, Venecia, Abby, Zee, & Amelia.
We ended our semester with all theatre students competing in the classroom level of the National Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest. These students were chosen to compete in the next level of the competition - district-level - where one St. Stephens High School student will go to the semi-finals in Greensboro in the spring semester. Congratulations to these students.
