Can you believe next week we will be closing down the month of January? I feel like I just put my Christmas decorations away! Enjoy some of these wonderful happenings from both campuses this week and have a wonderful weekend.
Can you believe next week we will be closing down the month of January? I feel like I just put my Christmas decorations away! Enjoy some of these wonderful happenings from both campuses this week and have a wonderful weekend.
What a privilege! The Ensworth high school students had a special assembly today when the Nashville Symphony came to perform in the theater. This is the first time that the Nashville Symphony has performed at an independent school. What a tremendous honor to be the first they have visited. Stayed tuned to the blog, facebook and instagram for some more posts this Friday when the Belmont University Chamber Orchestra comes to visit both the Lower/Middle school campus and the high school.
Civil rights and equality have been on the front page of the newspapers this last year and the forefront of our city streets. Today, Ensworth middle school students celebrated the Civil Rights Movement with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Assembly. Students introduced us to the life of Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall and there was a wonderful stage interview where students simulated a discussion with the Little Rock Nine and Daisy Bates, a civil rights pioneer who along with these nine teenagers fought racial barriers to become the first African-American students to attend Central High School. It was a real eye opening assembly to see how far we have come as a nation and how much further we still have to go. Enjoy your long weekend and take the time Monday to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King with your families and reflect on his many accomplishments.
There is a toga party happening in the sixth grade history classes today as Mr. Scott starts his study on Greece. The minute students walk in the door they will become immersed in all things unique to ancient Greece by dressing daily in chitons, sandals and other accessories. The students become Greeks for a month by experiencing Greek history, politics, philosophy, art, drama and architecture.
The unit includes political and social debates, the reading of The Odyssey (a children’s version) and a Peloponnesian War, as they battle for Hellas points. Along with the Greek’s science and mathematical contributions, performing theater and assuming the role of famous Hellenes to discuss their squabbles there is no doubt the students will come away from their study Greek culture experts. “The ancient Greeks themselves displayed a special zest for life. They boldly faced intellectual, spiritual, and physical challenges. That particular zeal for civic and cultural participation is what we hope to duplicate here. To paraphrase the ancient Greeks, One who does not participate in and relish public life, has no life at all,” said J.K. Scott.
Keep on the look-out for some pictures from the Olympic Games that will take place at the end of the month to close out the study.
Grab your calendars so you don’t miss a thing happening around Ensworth this January!
Monday, Jan. 12:
High School Used Uniform Swap and Sale, Theater Lobby 3p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13:
Geography Bee, Frist Hall, 11:30a.m.
Friday, Jan. 16:
Martin Luther King Assembly, Frist Hall 9:05a.m
Saturday, Jan. 17:
Middle School Swimming Finals
Thursday, Jan. 22:
Grade 2 Smith Puppet Show, Robinson Hall, 8:30a.m.
Friday, Jan. 23:
Patchwork Guest Jackson Wells, Frist Hall, 9:05a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27:
Tech Night for Middle School Parents, Frist Hall, 6:30p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 28:
Legal Realties Parent Association Education Night, Theater, 6:30p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 30:
Grade 2 Moeller Puppet Show, Robinson Hall, 8:30a.m.
Friday, Jan. 31:
Patchwork Guest Allan Wolf, Frist Hall, 8:20a.m.
Japanese Chopsticks, Arabic Writing and Mexican Tortillas were all the buzz in the first grade classes today as the students began their Children Around the World unit. During this study students will explore the similarities and difference between themselves and children of other countries by focusing on school, home life, activities, food and holidays.
Kicking things off was a special presentation of different pictures of school children and what their life is like in their country. Then students were able to experience different countries activities and even dress the part, there was even a special station to press corn tortillas. For more pictures visit www.facebook.com and check out our instagram feed: ensworthschool.
January and February can be a pretty gloomy time of year for many with flu viruses spreading like wildfire and polar vortexes in full swing. It can also be an exciting time at Ensworth to celebrate some indoor activities. Puppet shows taking the stage and Patchwork guests filling assemblies inspire many to curl up in one of the library nooks and enjoy a good book. The high school has it’s own excitement with basketball season getting started and students starting rehearsals for the winter musical Ring of Fire (featuring music from Johnny Cash).
Ensworth’s biggest fundraising event also takes place in February and gives everyone a fun evening out to connect with the whole community while giving back to the school. See the link here to get a small taste of some packages you can bid for online and the night of. https://bidcoz.com/e2015 Here is to making it through the bitter cold of winter!
There has been so much activity around here that what better way to share all the excitement then through pictures. We hope everyone has a wonderful winter break and good time with friends and family. See you next year!
David Berry has been a part of the Ensworth community for many years. Not only is he an English and theatre teacher at the high school, he has also been an Ensworth student. He learned to tie his shoes in Mrs. Hempel’s pre-1st class and took on some important acting roles in Mrs. Roberts’ fourth grade play. See what happened when we caught up with him for a little coffee talk.
Tell me a little bit about your passion for theater and the arts, how did that come about?
Well, I first found my way into the theater as an injured athlete. After tearing a ligament in my ankle, I went to my first high school audition on crutches. I was lucky that my school had just finished building a wonderful new theater and was investing in making the arts a central part of school life. That ended up making a big difference for me, as it did for a lot of my classmates. We had an unusually talented group, and several of us went on to have careers in the professional theater.
Do you remember the first play you ever acted in and what your part was? How was that experience for you?
Rudolph in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks. In the fourth grade, Mrs. Roberts let us create our own shows and these were two of the skits we came up with. Looking back, two things really strike me as important. First, is the fact that she allowed us to really participate in creating the show, rather than just telling us what to do; second is the fact that, in addition to our peers and parents, we also had the chance to play in front of a “real” audience when we performed for the students at the Harris-Hillman school. I think that those two decisions really made all of the difference in the experience. While it wasn’t until high school that I realized I had a serious interest in the theatre, when I look back, I see that the seed was planted in fertile ground at Ensworth. So, thank you Mrs. Roberts!
Do you have a formula or way of choosing your plays every year?
There is not a set formula, but there are a lot of factors taken into consideration. First, we are a teaching theatre and a school, so it is important that our shows do more than just entertain; the theatre should be a safe place to have real—sometimes very serious–conversations. With that in mind, I look for shows that are going to challenge our students both as performers and as thinkers. That said, as a Pre-1st through 12th grade school, we have very diverse audiences to consider. We have performed an adaptation of the classic French children’s story, The Little Prince, which gave us a chance to offer something that was geared towards the younger students in our community. On the flip side of the coin, the production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible offered an experience tailored towards our high school audiences. Perhaps the most important consideration is the individual students in the program. Over the course of a student’s time at the high school, I try to make sure that they have the opportunity to experience a variety of genres, periods and playwrights—including Shakespeare. Ultimately, I try to pick shows that will push my current students, while also giving them the best chance to succeed.
What is the biggest challenge you face when dealing with high school students and the stage?
The biggest challenge is keeping up with my students. I have worked with talented professional actors across the country and the world, but the thing that you have to remember about student actors is that, while they may have less experience, they have the same tremendous potential. The greatest challenge about working with Ensworth students on stage is also the greatest joy, and that is that they often prove to be every bit as dedicated, inspiring and instructive as talented professionals.
If you could be a fly on the wall in any Ensworth Classroom which one would it be?
Celebrate the season with art.
Meet Byron Jorjorian at our closing artist reception this evening from 5 – 7 p.m. Prior to the choral concert, Mr. Jorjorian will be on hand with copies of his new book featuring the art on our gallery walls. He will be signing copies of his book and answering questions about his work.
Also, the evening choirs from both campuses come together to celebrate with beautiful choral music. There are a few surprises in the elegant program this evening. New faces, new songs, great music. 7 p.m. in the theater.
Take a moment and stroll the halls in the arts wings and view some amazing student art. You will see work from Photography, Ceramics, and Studio Art lining the halls of the first and second floors. Lots of new family heirlooms will be going home in the next few days.