SUBJECT: Theatre Guild eNews - July 28, 2024 Guild Newsletter
July 27, 2024
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Welcome!
Hello, everyone! I am thrilled and honored to serve as the Theatre Guild President for the upcoming school year. The Theatre Guild supports the Theatre Conservatory students and faculty through volunteering, financial support, and programming. Our mission is to help support the academic and artistic experience at BTWHSPVA. This special edition of the newsletter is intended to prepare you for Pegasus Pick Up next week. I hope you find the information helpful. If you’re a new family, be sure to mark your calendar for our Summer Bash (details below).
My updates in future editions will highlight news and important events in the Theatre Guild and Conservatory. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime with questions or concerns. On behalf of the entire Guild Board, thank you for the opportunity to serve our talented students and incomparable faculty. We look forward to seeing you at Pegasus Pick Up next week!
All NEW Theatre students & their parents/guardians are invited to the annual summer bash. Join us for dinner and hear from the Theatre Conservatory faculty about what they have planned for this school year. New students will get to meet their classmates and also talk to returning students about Booker T. Parents & guardians will get additional information about what to expect as their students join the Theatre Conservatory.
Dinner will included both vegetarian and gluten free options. Free parking will be available at the nearby Gilley's parking lot.
INFO ABOUT BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS
See Principal Williams' July 10 email and FAQ attachment for more details.
The Theatre Guild is providing answers to some common questions from our members but the PTSA is the best source to get up to date information about Pegasus Pick Up. You will find links to the PTSA website below. Please make sure to join the PTSA so you will be able to receive information from them directly.
Pardon the Dust
Everyone will enter Booker T Washington using the student entrance for Pegasus Pick Up / Flight School.
What is Pegasus Pick Up?
Pegasus Pick-up is Booker T.'s registration day! All students and their parents/guardians pick up schedules, pay for lockers and parking spaces, order yearbooks, take yearbook/ID photos and seniors take their Theatre Conservatory headshots. You can also join the PTSA and guilds, and purchase merchandise.
What is Flight School?
Flight School is an annual student orientation for new students. It is designed to introduce students to campus life, academic resources, and provide social opportunities. Flight school will begin after Pegasus pick-up on July 29 from 12 - 4:15 pm. (The PTSA will provide lunch for Flight School students from 12-1 pm)
During Flight School new students will:
Learn about the history of BTW with Head Counselor Caroline Jones
Get communication tips and tricks from Patrick McGhee, BTW's language and literature instructor
Learn about culture groups with Anna Gay, the director of BTW's Academic Conservatory
Learn the school song with faculty member Elizabeth Walker
Hear about the school's mission and vision with faculty member Gretchen Dawley
Hear more about Flex with our Student Success Coordinator Ben Stevens
Tour the school with our Student Council Flight Crew
Parents of 9th graders are invited to Parent University on July 29th from 12 - 1 pm. Parents do not stay on campus after 1 pm.
What is Parent University?
All Parents/Guardians are invited to attend the PTSA's Parent University held on the same day that their student is scheduled for Pegasus Pick Up. The times depend on what grade your student is in and the specific schedule can be found on the PTSA's website or by clicking this link. Parents are encouraged to attend Parent University even if their student is unavailable for Pegasus Pick Up.
What is the Theatre Guild Summer Bash?
NEW Theatre Conservatory students & their parents/guardians are invited to this annual end-of-summer bash. The Theatre Conservatory faculty will talk about what to expect during your first year at Booker T Washington HSPVA. Returning Theatre Conservatory students will be there to offer their perspective. This year the Bash will be held at Spark! on August 9th and there is an invitation with more details above.
What can I do before I go to Pegasus Pick Up/Flight School?
You can join the Theatre Guild or renew your membership online before arriving to save yourself a little bit of time. Click here to join the Theatre Guild.
Where can I get the latest information about Back to School?
All the information above about Pegasus Pick Up and Flight School was taken from the PTSA's recent newsletters. You should check the PTSA website to confirm you have the most up to date info. We are happy you are reading the Theatre Guild enews but please remember to also join the PTSA in order to get school wide information on a regular basis.
Theatre Conservatory Headshots
who: All Theatre Conservatory Seniors
what: Schedule your 10 minute headshot session with Jordan Fraker when: July 31st where: MAT Lobby at Booker T. Washington cost: $70 per person (to be paid in advance via Venmo)
The photo make up date will be August 12th during extended flex.
Theatre Seniors may have also received this link directly from the Theatre Conservatory via Remind.
How to pay for it
Each Senior will be expected to pay $70 before they are photographed. Additional optional photos will be available for $50 each.
If paying the $70 fee is a hardship, please reach out to Ms Price, Mr Gavitt or Ms Cotie. All seniors need to have their headshots for Showcase and the Theatre Conservatory does not want a financial hardship to keep any Theatre Seniors from participating on July 31st.
Advice from Jordan Fraker on what to wear
I recommend solid colors whenever possible. Some subtle patterns are acceptable, but please lean towards solids.
Your shoes and pants will not be in the shot, so no need to worry about that part! Just wear anything that is comfortable.
We are spending only 10 min per person, so please try to eliminate any wrinkles or dust from your clothes in advance, before walking into the room for your session.
If you bring a couple top options with you and want my opinion, I'm happy to give it. But you do not want that conversation to eat up too much of your session time. The more prepared you are, the better the outcome. Have confidence in the choice you make and just know that I'll make ya look good.
...and about your hair
I will have a hand mirror in the room that you can look at just prior to your session, but please run to the restroom before walking in so you can spend a minute on placing your hair where you'd most likely want it to lay.
If your hair goes past your shoulders, I find it photographs best to bring your hair toward the front, at least on one side. It adds volume and frames the face nicely. In a photo, if your hair is behind your shoulders, it can look great as a side profile, but not for a frontal headshot. However, if you typically put your hair up in a bun or in a ponytail, and this is your preferred look, I leave this decision completely up to you. If in doubt, ask one trusted friend what they think.
Please be thoughtful of how your hair will likely appear during the showcase in November, and style it that way. Recognizability.
During the Session
I will photograph probably about 30-50 frames per person, more or less, and will get straight on, turned to the left, and turned to the right angles. I will narrow it down to about 1/3 of the shots we got for your individual gallery.
We will be getting a variety of expressions. Depending on your goals, the expression may be a rather important factor. I will pose and direct you accordingly, so don't worry about any of that. Just buy into the process and have fun with it!
After the Shoot
Once everyone has been photographed, I will create individual galleries that will be emailed to you. You will have a certain window of time to select your favorite image.
If you have any questions for me, you can ask on the day of your shoot! I'm looking forward to meeting and working with all of you!
If you are the parent or guardian of a Theatre Conservatory student you are invited to join the individual class Facebook group for additional information & updates about everything that is going on at Booker T.
All Facebook groups are private and you will need to provide your BTW student's name and answer the questions in order for your request to join to be approved.
July 29 Pegasus Pick Up & Flight School 9th graders & New Students
July 30 Pegasus Pick Up 10th & 11th graders
July 31 Pegasus Pick Up 12th graders & ASM cast
August 9 Theatre Guild Summer Bash for New Students & parents
August 12 First Day of Classes
Check out the Theatre Guild website for more information. For the most up to date & comprehensive Booker T calendar entries, you can check the BTW All School Calendar and the BTWHSPVA Instructional Calendar.
