DRAMA
Directed by Joel Bootsma. This year’s production is “1837: The Farmer’s Revolt” -- a lively, humorous and ultimately tragic look at Canada's ill-starred revolution for national independence. It's an ensemble show, with a bit of everything (tragedy and comedy, tense situations, and times to sing). A good theatre workout.
ENGLISH / CURRENT ISSUES
Erin Goheen is a third year PhD candidate at McMaster University, writing her thesis on refugee literature in Canada and church activism with refugees. She has also been a part-time faculty member for two years at Redeemer University where she taught two introductory courses in English literature. Postcolonial literature was the area that she wrote her comprehensive exams in. This area of study excites her because of the overlaps between the Biblical call for justice and the aim of postcolonial fiction to promote justice. When she was in high school, her family homeschooled, and so she was part of the Lighthouse Academy in Ancaster about fifteen years ago!
Postcolonial Literature: reading to discover the world and to become good neighbours
“Love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8)
You move with your parents to a new house and discover your neighbours to the right are from India and those to the left are from Kenya. In such an interconnected world, how do we overcome the fear, disdain, or even fascination with the exotic that we feel in such situations? Knowing their stories and histories isn’t a bad start to becoming good neighbours, both those close by and those we are only indirectly connected to. In these ten co-op classes, we will read postcolonial fiction (or poco lit, as we affectionately call it), the newest wave of literature, as a way of discovering how God calls us to live in such an interconnected world.
Poco lit is fiction that comes from nations and cultures around the world that have only recently gained freedom from British and other European political colonization. Generally the style of writing is straightforward (easy to read) and engaging (because authors are writing in their unique cultural styles). Poco lit authors aren’t “just” storytellers. They use stories to address important political, social, and historical issues in their own countries and in their countries’ relationship with colonizing nations. Poco lit is never just fiction, it is always fiction that uses certain themes to make social commentary. Some of these authors tell stories about their interactions with Canadians, Christians, and white people; so we’ll be reading about our own history too!
This set of workshops will involve reading five short stories and three poems by authors from Africa, the Caribbean, and South America as well as a novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe about one Nigerian tribe’s experience of Western missionaries. We’ll learn about colonial history and how certain countries gained their independence as background to the stories and ask questions about the role Christians have played historically. But we will spend most of our time discussing what each author is trying to do with their writing and then evaluating them. What do we disagree with? What can be learned from these various interpretations of the world? Midway through, we will take one class to learn essay-writing skills. Students will be given the option of writing a short essay on one of the stories we read.
ART STUDIO
This art course will be instructed by Lisa Smouter (Vanderwoude) (B.A. Redeemer University College). The main goals for this course are to continue to encourage creativity, technical proficiency, and thoughtful art-making, with a special focus on developing these skills in preparation for post-secondary education. The twelve weeks will include the use of a variety of mediums (pencil, charcoal, chalk pastel, and acrylic/oil paints), of which the students will gain increased experience. Among the activities and exercises are learning proportion (esp. regarding human figure), a brief review of perspective drawing, and various other exercises depending on the needs of the class. As has become a standard, there will be a main project; this term students will be given the opportunity to exercise their creativity and create a meaningful work of art (based on their own worldview, experience, etc.) in response to a particular piece of music. This course involves some homework and students will be graded based on participation, completion of work, progress made, and quality of their work.
And if you are interested….
TRIATHLON
Mr. Pypker takes part in triathlons and led students in training for the Try-a-Tri a few years ago. The race took place in June at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area. The Try-A-Tri consists of: Swim 375m, Bike 10km, Run 2.5km.
No comments:
Post a Comment