During the first week of Term 2 students at Maitland Area School investigated aspects of the ANZAC tradition and the Gallipoli campaign. Each class from Reception to Year Seven produced written work, projects and art related to their learning.
This work was displayed in the Maitland Town Hall in recognition of ANZAC Day. This is where community members gathered for the traditional ANZAC breakfast. Prior to this the school concert band performed at the Dawn Service.
The Reception Cockburn class project was chosen by the Progress Association as the most outstanding exhibited piece. They were presented with a book and cash award in recognition of this.
Maitland Area School values community participation and encourages students to become actively involved.

MAS was well represented at this year's Maitland ANZAC Dawn Service, held at the War Memorial on Robert Street.

The Concert Band led the service with several students making their Dawn Service 'debut'. A number of adults joined the band for the performance including Tim Schwartz (cornet), Di Morgan (Flute) and Margaret Francis (bass drum).

Head Prefect Jessica Nankivell presented a book on behalf of the SRC while principal Andrew Gravestocks presented one on behalf of the school.

Thanks as always to the parents who transported their children to the service and to the staff members who supported and played with the band.

The MAS Cross Country try outs were held this week on Thusrday and Friday.

Students walked the course, a new one that started on the secondary oval, then competed in heats by age.

There were several outstanding individual efforts and it was wonderful to see the support that slower runner received from their class mates.

Heat winners were notified by letter and will represent the school at the SYP Cross Country event in week 3.

The Year 5s drama unit on shadow puppets started with looking at Balinese puppets. They then created shadows using their hands. From there they designed and made their own shadow puppets using card, wooden rods and split pins.

Click the link for photos of the puppets and the puppeteers.

On Tuesday the 23rd of March the Festival of Music Choir was visited by David Jackson, the Deputy Choir Conductor for the South Australian  Primary Schools Music Festival.
The choir were asked to prepare two set songs from memory, Monster Mash and Extraordinary Things, both which included difficult two part harmony and detailed articulation.  The rest of the two hour session was spent workshopping vocal skills and learning ‘ TB’s’, the ‘tricky bits’ from the remaining pieces of the Festival Program.

Mr Jackson was very impressed with the outstanding behaviour of our students and their marked enthusiasm. His assessments for each section of the criteria ranged between an A and a B.   His comments included acknowledging how well prepared and rehearsed the students were for the assessment.

Congratulations to the thirty year 5, 6 and 7 students who are participating in this years Festival of Music Program and many thanks to Lee Polkinghorne  for accompanying us on the day.

The Festival Choir Performing at the Maitland Show

Our concert band numbers have continued to remain strong and we have also been blessed with the support of Miss Joanne Shephard, Miss Kelly Whittaker and Mrs Dianne Morgan. We have also welcomed Deanne Parsons – a flute student from Minlaton District School. The students and staff have been working productively every Wednesday from 3.15 – 4.30pm in the Music Room and were able to perform a half hour program to an appreciative crowd at the Maitland Show. Congratulations to our ‘Rookies’ on their first performance in the MAS concert band – Bill Edwards, Jackson Moloney, Anna Falco  and Brianna Schwartz .

The band is looking forward to performing our Michael Jackson Medley ‘King of Pop’ to the school community at this week’s assembly and is continuing rehearsals for the Anzac Dawn Service (April 25th)  early term two. A reminder to band parents that students need to arrive at the Maitland War Memorial in our Black and Red band uniform by 6.15am.
Once again thank you to the following Staff – Tim Tuck, Sarah Townsend, Star Derrington, Vanessa Secomb and  Belinda Wundersitz for your continued support and many thanks to all the students for their time and involvement in the concert band program.

On the 17th of March our school participated in the Maitland Show.  The R-6 students thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the back of the truck for the parade through the main street, holding up signs displaying our school values and cheering and waving to the crowd.  

A big thankyou must go to Tim Davey for the use of his truck and for driving us.  The combined Junior and Festival school choirs (over 60 children), sang Advance Australia Fair for the official opening then separately presented a song each for the crowd’s enjoyment.  The band entertained everyone during the afternoon, with a variety of songs including those from well known movies and a Michael Jackson medley.  Well done to all performers for sharing their talents, and congratulations to all students who participated in the parade with such enthusiasm.

Congratulations also to the Year 10s; their lambs won 2nd prize in the Trade Lamb competition.