At least I expect it to be a very good year, drama wise anyway. Just a quick update for anyone who’s wondering…
Term starts back next week from Wednesday 12th January and runs for 16 weeks. I’ll be texting everyone when my on-line text service is renewed tomorrow (6th) so you’ll be fully informed then. The big news is that the new Youth Theatre Group begins on Thursday evenings for teenagers. This replaces the regular senior drama classes with a much stronger emphasis on performance and related areas. More updates on this soon.
I know the website is a little out of date - will get onto that this week and write a more informative blog in the next day or so. I might even get a photo up if I can figure out how to do it.
So, looking forward to seeing everyone next week - and I wish you all a very happy new year!
Classes this term :
Wednesday 12th Jan, Taney Parish Centre, 3.30 - 5.00pm (no senior group)
Thursday 13th Jan, St. Laurence’s Parish Centre, 3.30 - 4.30pm & 3.30 - 5.00pm (Juniors) / 3.30 - 5.00pm (intermediates) / 5.15 - 7.15pm (Youth Theatre Group)
Saturday 15th Jan, St. Laurence’s Parish Centre, 10- 11.30am (Juniors) / 10 - 11.30am (intermediates & seniors) / 12 - 1.00pm (junior sp needs) 1.00 - 2.30pm (Teen & Adult Sp needs)
It’s not easy, having to make the call. One minute there’s a blizzard and cars are getting stuck on the road outside your house. The next, there is a great thawing, and you look like a fool for cancelling class. Apart from today (Saturday 4th Dec) I think it was the only thing to do. Last night I arrived home from Galway, yes Galway - Headford County Galway actually - where I had battled with the elements, sat on a train for hours while kind workmen cleared the track, queued for ages for a Luas from Heuston station, sloshed through the slush and ice in Dublin’s city centre to another Luas station, queued, got home, cried, noticed things much worse in Suburbia, checked the forecast, made the call: no class on Saturday. Hope eager students will forgive me. Oh yes, and my phone, my wonderful iPhone was stolen from me in Supermacs in Heuston Station. I hope I managed to get in touch with everyone, but without my full list of contacts I can’t be sure.
Why was I in Headford Co Galway? Well I am fortunate enough to have a great job. Well alright then, two great jobs. As well as having the pleasure of teaching drama to many different personalities, I also have the honour of being an AIMS Adjudicator. AIMS is the Association of Irish Musical Societies and well over 100 societies are affiliated to it, all around Ireland. Between myself and another adjudicator, we attend all the shows and review them. Later in the year, we nominate people in every category you can imagine and the winners are announced at the hoolie of all hoolies in Killarney each year. It’s fun, I won’t deny it; I get to see some great shows, meet lovely people and end up in parts of the country I might otherwise never have visited. Sometimes I take a guest. Many times I don’t have to travel far. Normally, the journey is straightforward. But ah, the snow…deceiving us with its beauty, makes things so darn difficult. But if I didn’t at least try to get to Headford, the group wouldn’t have received a review and their chance to be nomitated never considered. Like all great jobs, it carries great responsibility. I’m glad I went. The cast of Calamity Jane were happy and very appreciative. It made me thankful for the simpler things in life, like snuggling up with my family in front of a fire and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here…hot chocolate and popcorn and perhaps a glass of red wine…it doesn’t get much better than that.
If you’re wondering when I’m going to stop waffling and mention the update on Amy’s Day, here it is: Though I mentioned we might try to have it tomorrow (Sun 5th) I think its not likely to suit, especially as we haven’t had class all week. Classes should finish this week (Sat 4th through to Thurs 9th), but Saturday people will have class on 11th Dec. Amy’s Day will hopefully go ahead on Sunday 12th and all other classes will finish as planned, though possibly they may be double classes. I will confirm all of this as soon as possible but just wanted to keep you in the loop.
So, the term’s end looks something like this :
Tues 7th - Last class & Party - 3.00 - 6.00
Wed 8th - Last class & Party - 3.30 - 6.00 (intermediates)
Wed 8th - Last class - 5.00 - 6.30 (seniors) Note: seniors class time will be made up next term or refunded.
Thur 9th - Last class & Party - 3.00 - 6.00 (juniors & intermediates)
Thurs 9th - Last class - 5.00 - 6.30 (seniors) Note: seniors class time will be made up next term or refunded.
Sat 11th - Last class & Party - 10.00 - 11.30 (inters & juniors)
Sat 11th - Last class & Party - 12.00 - 1.00 (junior special needs)
Sat 11th - Last class & Party - 1.00 - 2.30 (senior special needs)
SUNDAY 12th DEC - AMY’S DAY - 2.00 - 3.30pm St Raphaela’s Secondary School.
For the moment, please contact me on the office number 01-2887887 or email me. Hope to have my mobile up and running again soon.
Emer
If you missed the great article about the school and our famous Saturday Special Needs class, you can read it via the newsletter on the website : www.emerhalpenny.com
It’s true I did intend to keep this very up to date, and I see it’s been a month since my last entry. That’s not good, I must apologise. Especially with so much going on.
Briefly so, because I find my writing muse has momentarily left me, and I would prefer to make this nice and interesting to read :
We are on midterm break next week, as I’m sure you’ve all gathered. However, there is class this Saturday 23rd - but no class on Saturday 30th. Why did I do that? This weekend is the bank holiday, surely it would make more sense to…Yes, I know, but it did seem like there were too many people going to be away next weekend too, what with Halloween and all. Hope this doesn’t put too many people out. Most likely we will need to add on some extra time to classes nearer to Amy’s Day (28th Nov).
Scare the Parents (for Junior classes - please check your note if you’re not sure, or text me) will take place in ST RAPHAELA’S PRIMARY SCHOOL HALL on SATURDAY 6th NOV, from 4.00pm. The performance itself will last about a half hour, and then we’ll be celebrating the school’s 20th birthday with a bit of a party.
I promise to come back and be more entertaining in the very near future. Ruth has been getting cross with me, so this might appease her for a while…
Has anyone actually read the blog, I wonder to myself when I’m lying in bed at night. That’s not true of course, I fall asleep immediately when my head hits the pillow because I am worn out planning a FANTASTIC term for my FABULOUS students who return next week…Welcoming a lot of new students too which is always good, and very excited about the new special needs class for younger children - you all know the teenage/young adult group that attend on Saturdays at 1pm (of course you do, they are famous, aren’t they?!) - now we have a class catering for children aged 7 to about 12, with varying special needs. Gonna dance, act and sing our way through the term, oh yes.
Mustn’t go on, just wanted to check in, say hi, remind everyone it’s going to be the BEST YEAR EVER, what with the 20 years in existance and all that…I was 12 when I started teaching you understand…
Oh joy! Ruth O’Gallagher has dragged me into the 21st century, and it’s so much fun! To keep you in the loop, you can now follow my blog which will tell you exactly what’s going on with the school. The downside is you may have to put up with me enjoying the sound of my own blog-voice! However it will be kept updated so check it out regularly.
So, down to business; it’s finally here, the SEPTEMBER TERM! Yippie! Woo hoo! Not that we didn’t have a good summer – we did five weeks of summer camp, met a lot of great kids and had a ball. Thanks Ruth, Sinead, Emer K, Tara, Liane, Billie, Stuart, Becky, Luke and Hugh for all the help and hard work! We might do it all again come Halloween and certainly Easter, so watch this space…
Drama school term starts back Sat 11th September with classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as weekends. If you’re already a student in the school you are automatically re-enrolled in the same class, otherwise, give me a call or drop me an email and I can talk to you about whatever class suits best.
20 YEARS! It’s a long time to be teaching drama - why yes! I am teaching that long, can you believe it? And I look so young…! Expect fun and frollicks this year as we celebrate 20 years here in the EH school. Some of my teachers had only just learned how to walk when I started out in my mother’s dining room with one nervous student. Today we have almost 200 students and many of the teachers and assistants started off as pupils; Ruth O’Gallagher was only four and terribly cute and Elaine McCann was a Von Trapp child in the first show I ever directed (sweet!). We’ve plans for parties and all sorts of surprises this year to mark the occasion.
We say goodbye to Angela Devine this year as she is so busy with her acting college course in Bull Abbey. Thanks for everything Golden Child, you will be missed! Mary Lowe, Elaine McCann and Ruth O’Gallagher are still with us thankfully and we also say welcome to Justin O’Gorman who joins us as dance teacher. Justin is Mary’s husband, so it will be a lovely family affair on Saturday mornings! Welcome back also to Emer Kelly, former student and teacher – I love when the flock returns!
Mustn’t go on, just wanted to say hello from cyber-space! Remember we’re back 11th / 14th / 15th / 16th September with a bang! I’ll be in touch with everyone and promise to blog consistently!
You can read this blog from the school facebook site and from the website (www.emerhalpenny.com)
