ICH Drama in Primary Schools – Transition from Primary to Secondary School! 

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) through the Theatre Arts desk spearheaded an initiative in primary schools, to cater to the Class 4 students as they prepared to transition from primary to secondary school.

The Good Shepherd Primary School and West Terrace Primary School were invited to participate in this venture to enhance the social, dramatic and psychomotor skills of their students via the transformative medium of theatre. The programme provided tools to encourage each participant to build their expressive skills through conflict resolution and skills building techniques, while having fun and tackling social issues through the art form of drama.

This short five-to-six-week programme began after the Common Entrance Examination in late May and culminated with a dramatic presentation during each school’s graduation ceremony in July. The sessions were led by experienced Theatre tutors Tiffani Williams and Carolyn Brathwaite who were thrilled to share in this experience.

Good Shepherd Primary School participants in their graduation presentation.

Parents and students were amazed by the creativity on stage by many students deemed to be shy, especially the content explored by these pre-teens, namely bullying and other social issues.

West Terrace Primary School participants in their drama presentation.

The NCF’s Cultural Officer – Theatre Arts, Janelle Mitchell hopes that this exchange has inspired further creative development for these students at their new schools. The ICH Drama in Primary Schools programme will roll-out programming in other primary schools in the new academic school year. (PR)