Page 44 - Herioter 2021

The show goes Singers send

on – inspired by carols to care
lockdown home residents

The brief to devise a drama on the Normally at Christmas time a group of S6
theme of ‘The New Normal’ extended pupils would go and sing some carols in The
from the content to the process of House Elms care home to give the elderly residents a
Drama this year. pleasant Christmas concert. This year, due to
The directors and cast rehearsed Covid-19, that obviously couldn’t happen, so
‘masked up’, the performances were I decided to come up with a way to still bring
filmed and shared via a video link, and the residents a Christmas carol concert even
the judgement delayed until after the if it wasn’t live or in person.
New Year. Therefore, I decided to get a group of
Just to add to the challenge, the around 30 S6s to sing in a Christmas video.
whole of S5 were remote learning on the The making of it included several freezing
week before the performance and some rehearsals outside – because singing inside
houses found themselves with a depleted was not allowed – and with the use of
cast of three – at least they had plenty of speakers to give us the backing tracks (which
room to socially distance during their last were kindly recorded by Mr Maclagan).
rehearsals! After a few weeks we recorded the video
In spite of all of this ‘new normal’, in a festive way with a lovely Christmas tree
the performances were varied, energetic and some festive clothing. I hope that it
and engaging. The eventual victors brought a lot of happiness to the care home
were Raeburn, who took the audience residents and everyone who sung in the choir
on a journey of the highs and lows in did a great job of making an excellent carol
lockdown. concert.
Ms Madeleine Berry Harry Garden (S6)

A Day at George Mix in a bit of writing, art, science and P.E.
Stir in some languages and lovely teachers.
Heriot’s School Turn the heat up and sprinkle in a lot of fun.
After school, find chess club, netball club, maths
Take a nervous P1 on their first day of school. club or art club,
In the morning, add a smiling teacher, some Add them all, plus computing club and lots more.
books, pencils and pens. Invite in some happy parents waiting for their
Take a short break and add some friends. child.
Stir in some laughing, chatting, playing and And let the child spread out before them their
smiling. day’s menu of delights.
At lunch, mix delicious food, a warm refectory and Then for dessert, tempt with a suggestion of
cutlery. adventure trips to come.
Blend some chatting, eating, lovely smells and These will be rich memories of a first day of
drinking. school:
Add some running, playing, giggling, and the Work hard, be happy and be kind
beaming sun in the sky. And distribute leftovers chearfullie.
Hear the loud ringing bell and form an orderly line.
Katya Gunn (S2)
Straight after lunch, take maths, English and Inspired by Benjamin Zephaniah’s The British
reading. (serves 60 million)

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