​The exciting move into high school is an extraordinary rite of passage for young people today. They make new friends, meet new teachers and broaden their learning through a range of subjects. Their social, belonging and emotional wellbeing during this time is also of increased importance in today’s society. The Young Company's Theatre  Headstart Program aims to build a sense of belonging for young people in this time of transition through developing a sense of community belonging and determination for the year ahead. ​

THE WORKSHOP > Your students can participate in a 2hr Social & Emotional Wellbeing workshop at your school and explore the concepts of belonging as well as their fears, anxiety and excitement about junior secondary school. During this workshop students will participate in various team building drama games based upon Thoreau’s concept, ‘Live the life you have imagined’ whilst exploring self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, social decision making skills. They will also develop a range of life-skills while engaging with topic based improvisational activities and stimulus material from the play Wishfly by Dr Jane Modric.

THE PLAY  > Your students can experience the SEL 50minute play Wishfly by Dr Jane Modric where Wishing is Serious Business! A magical tale about friendship, love and the power of believing.  Lys and her Dad have moved to a new town, her mum’s gone AWOL, she has no friends and to top it all off, she’s about to start high school. Then she meets the very unusual boy next door and goes on a quest to save a tree. She soon discovers that things aren’t always as they seem, and that it’s how you look at things that makes all the difference. With a good friend and the power of imagination, the world is full of possibilities and you can make your own map to anywhere. 

The play explores the often untold journey from primary school to high school. It is based upon the true experiences of FNQs young people’s transition and reflects a sense of place, history and society while also building a sense of belonging for young people 10yrs – 12yrs living across the Cairns region.

CURRICULUM LINKS The  Arts, English, HPE Social & Emotional Learning
CURRICULUM DESCRIPTORS ACPPS070, ACPPS071, ACADRR045, ACELY1804, ACHCS058
CROSS-CURRICULUM PRIORITY Sustainability
GENERAL CAPABILITIES Critical & Creative thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding Intercultural Awareness
THEMES Friendship, Environment, Rites of Passage, Regional Location, Family Relationships

Check out The Making of Wishfly here
Download our Information Flier here
Download our Teacher Education Notes here

​For more information contact our General Manager here


ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Dr Jane Modric is TYCs Playwright in Residence and holds a PhD in Creative Arts (JCU) and a Master of Letters (CQU). Her first play ‘Soph and the Real World’ was produced by JUTE Theatre Company in 2013, and was written as part of JUTE’s Enter Stage Write program. She has a background in music and song writing with two solo albums and a number of collaborations to her credit. Her research examines the creative process, and her interests lie in finding practical ways to enhance creativity in her own life and the lives of others. Jane has a long history with TYC, and worked on their most recent community cultural development project, Headstart, which transpired into a production called Wishfly and first staged in 2015 by both professional as well as young and emerging performers. She has also most recently had her work published.

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"The brilliant team behind the Headstart to High School Program provided valuable insight for our students with their innovative workshop sessions guaranteed to engage. The Play Wishfly was a tremendously sculptured, thought provoking  performance  that  had  our  year  7  students  in  fits of laughter one moment and profound contemplation the next. The students enjoyed being able to put their own wishes for their High School journey on the Wishfly tree. The whole program is a wonderful tool for the Social and Emotional Wellbeing of our students about to embark on the next stage of their education".
Vanessa Johnson, Year 7  Level Coordinator, CAIRNS STATE HIGH SCHOOL

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