September - October 2024 Newsletter

Dear Bloom Families,

We’ve had a wonderful term with your students at Bloom! It’s been so lovely to see familiar faces returning and to meet our new students, who have already brought so much energy and joy to our sessions. Here’s what we’ve been up to over the last few weeks:

Primary School Curriculum Focus: Exploring Self-Esteem and Characterisation

This term, we’ve dedicated our sessions to understanding and building self-esteem—a crucial aspect of both personal and academic growth. Here’s a look at the key topics we’ve explored:

• What self-esteem is: Understanding the concept and its role in shaping how we see ourselves and interact with the world.

• Why it is important: Recognising the value of self-esteem in fostering a positive mindset, resilience, and emotional well-being.

• How to boost our self-esteem: Learning practical strategies like setting personal goals and celebrating achievements.

• How to boost other people’s self-esteem: Emphasising the importance of kindness and encouragement to uplift those around us.

• Giving compliments: Practising the art of giving sincere compliments and understanding how small words can make a big difference.

• Positive thinking: Developing techniques to maintain a positive outlook, even in challenging situations.

• Considering how our self-perception influences our behaviour: Reflecting on how our self-image influences our actions, and the importance of a healthy self-view.

Additionally, our students have been working on characterisation, diving into the use of facial expression, body language, and voice to bring characters to life. These skills have enhanced their acting abilities and helped them better understand how to convey emotions and stories on stage. (See example of some very convincing sad faces.)

For those who would like to know more about what we’ve been working on, you can find a detailed overview of our curriculum plan here.

High School Curriculum Focus: GCSE English Texts and Drama AO's

Our Youth Theatre Academy has reached an exciting stage as they have been pulling together their texts and characters for this year’s exam performance. This term, they’ve been working with more focus and effectiveness than ever, and we’re excited for you to see the incredible work they’re producing!

The vision for the Youth Theatre Academy is clear: to equip our members with skills that will give them a head start in GCSE Drama, while performing texts and plays directly linked to the GCSE English curriculum. By engaging with these texts firsthand—embodying characters, telling the stories, and exploring the themes—our students gain a unique depth of understanding of the material. By the time they encounter these works in their GCSE English classes, they’re not only familiar but thoroughly grounded in the content, far ahead of the curve.

On the practical side, each project is designed around the GCSE Drama Assessment Objectives (AOs). This targeted focus means our students develop precise, performance-ready skills, setting them up as standout performers in their school Drama exams. We’re immensely proud of the dedication and hard work our members are showing this term, and we look forward to their continued growth and success!

Celebrating Our Stars of the Term

We’re thrilled to recognize some of our students who have stood out this term for their incredible contributions:

🌟 EM - Amelia: A new starter with us, Amelia has shown kindness and an impressive ability to listen attentively. She’s already become a cherished member of the class!

🌟 OLOR - Jess: Jess’s infectious laughter has brought so much joy to our sessions. Her fits of giggles have had the entire class joining in raucous laughter—creating such a fun atmosphere!

🌟 SA - Emilia: Emilia consistently upholds the Bloom values of being ready, respectful, and responsible. She sets a wonderful example for her peers every week.

🌟 SH - Olivia: Olivia, a new addition to the class, has quickly adapted to the Bloom culture. She’s been incredibly encouraging, follows instructions well, and performs with confidence.

🌟 V (Charlotte's Group) - Olivia: Olivia has been pushing herself out of her comfort zone and growing with each session. A special shoutout to her brother Alfie, who has been so supportive and encouraging!

🌟 V (Eleanor's Group) - Joe: Joe has been a delight to work with, showing a maturity and intelligence that is beyond his years. His thoughtfulness and insight add so much to every workshop.

🌟 PYTA - Sophie B: Sophie recently graduated from her primary school Bloom class and joined our Youth Theatre Academy for years 7-11. As part of our trailblazing Year 7 group, she’s setting an incredibly high standard for all those who will follow. Not only is her dedication and strong work ethic wildly impressive, but her kindness and willingness to support her peers make her a joy to have in the group. She truly embodies the welcoming spirit of Bloom, making everyone around her feel valued and encouraged!

A huge well done to each of these students for their hard work and positive attitudes—they truly embody the Bloom spirit!

Introducing the New Bloom Book for primary school students!

This term, we’re excited to introduce the Bloom Book, a new resource crafted by our team to support our students’ journey toward academic excellence and personal growth. By the end of the project, the Bloom Book will be packed with engaging exercises and activities that blend guidance and challenge, encouraging students to explore key concepts and build confidence.

Throughout the term, we’ve seen our students dive into creative projects, using the Bloom Book as a space to reflect on what they’ve learned during each session.

We’ve had students writing poems, news reports, and diary entries, each offering a unique perspective on their experiences and the themes we’ve covered. These activities have not only helped them process their learning in a creative way but have also allowed them to express themselves freely and with confidence.

We’ve been so impressed with the thoughtfulness and creativity that our students have brought to these pieces—some have even earned themselves an Official Bloom branded sticker for their outstanding work!

The Bloom Book will serve as a personal record of their growth, filled with memories, creative ideas, and a sense of pride in their accomplishments. We’re thrilled to see how this new addition has already become a cherished part of our sessions, and we can’t wait to see what else our students will create!

This term, we reached an exciting milestone: handing out parts for our upcoming performance in February! This moment always brings a buzz of anticipation as students get their first tangible step toward the show. It’s a special time, and we want to ensure that it’s a positive experience for every member of the group. Before handing out the parts, we take the time to remind our students of a few important points:

1. The Real Focus is Fun: We remind our students that the most important part of our sessions isn’t the role they receive but the 90 minutes we spend together each week, playing games, having fun and growing together. We care more about creating a supportive, joyful environment than the final performance. The play is just the icing on the cake!

2. Getting a Part is a Privilege: We ensure that everyone gets their moment to shine. Every role has been thoughtfully designed with our students in mind, as a reward for their hard work and dedication. No matter the size of the role, each part is special, and we encourage our students to be proud of what they’ve earned.

3. We Are a Team, Not Competitors: Our group isn’t about competing for the spotlight—it's about supporting and encouraging one another. As we hand out the parts, we celebrate each student’s role with applause and positivity. Importantly, the part you receive is not a reflection of your worth; if it’s not your turn this time, that doesn’t mean you’re not capable. It’s essential for us to share parts equally, fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

   
   

We hope your child is excited about their part! If they're feeling a little unsure, please trust us—there’s so much magic in a performance beyond the lines. Every role is special and contributes to creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved!

Funny Feedback!

One of our students recently (unprompted) shared, with us “Teddy’s 10 reasons to do Bloom”. Watch it here.

It’s feedback like this that reminds us why we do what we do. We hope all our students feel just as comfortable in our sessions. Please continue to share your thoughts with us—we love hearing how Bloom is making a difference at home!

Thank you for being a part of the Bloom community. We can’t wait to see what the next term brings as we continue to explore, learn, and grow together.

We’re incredibly proud of every student’s hard work and enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to see how they bring their characters to life! It’s going to be a fantastic journey leading up to our February performance.

Reminder: your child is taking part in an examined performance in February 2025 and is required to wear their Bloom T-Shirt for the exam. Please get in contact if you need to order a replacement. Timings and further details will be sent out after Christmas. 

Trafford exam performance date: 1st February 2025

Poynton exam performance date: 8th February 2025

Kindest regards and very best wishes,

The Bloom Team