Eaton School has featured several bands over the past 30 years: a Senior Band which used to consist of students in Grades 8-12, but which now also includes Gr. 7, and a Junior Band, which was traditionally Gr. 6-7, but is now Gr. 5-6. For several years now, the Grade 4 class has been introduced to musical instruments in a recorder class. Also, in past years, numerous students have formed Jazz Bands which have entertained at various school and community functions. Each year, the community is entertained by the Concert Band and the Junior Band at the Winter Band Concert in December and again at the Strawberry Social in June. Many students have participated in and received awards at the annual Kindersley Music Festival. Music has remained an important part in the lives of many graduates who got a real taste for it here at Eaton School.
Under the direction of former staff member, Mr. Steve Mealey, Eaton School Bands have established a Local, Provincial, National and International reputation for excellence. This reputation continues under the direction of Miss Karen Luptak. The retirement of Mr. Mealey occurred in 2006, after a 30 year career at Eaton. His shoes have since been filled by Mr. Scott Yemen and Ms. Amy Devries, and now, by our current director, Miss Karen Luptak.
The Eaton School Band Parents' Association is very active and it is through their fundraising efforts and hours of volunteerism that the Concert Band has been able to perform on tours to various destinations. While the Eaton School Band has toured extensively in Western Canada, it has also traveled to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Rapid City, ND; Seattle, WA; Vancouver; Banff; Chicago; Ottawa; and Montreal.
The Concert Band's latest "big trip" was to Vancouver to participate in the 2010 Heritage Music Festival on May 26th-30th, 2010. Students did very well at the performance. They had a great time on the trip and many enjoyable, educational experiences.
Eaton Concert Band @ 2010 Heritage Music Festival in Vancouver
The Drama Club has been a part of the extra curricular activities at Eaton School for more than 25 years. They have presented over 10 Dinner and Dessert Theatres, numerous Christmas plays, school musicals involving students in K-12, and community shows for Can-AM and Saskatchewan’s birthday celebration. The Eaton School Drama Club began entering regional competitions in 1984. Since 1984, the school has produced 29 plays for the Saskatchewan Drama Association Festivals. In 2005 they performed an original collective called The End Of The Line?, a play that was written by the students in honor of the pioneers of Eatonia. Eaton School Drama Club has received numerous awards at Regional Festival each year. Many students have been recognized for individual contributions with acting and technical awards and certificates of merit. Some of the highlights include:
1984 Angela Hammerlindl Best Characterization
1986 Honorable Mention for Best Visual Production “ The Saga of Katy”
1988 Conrad Sigurdson Best Characterization
1989 Honorable Mention for Best Play “The Ghost Of The Show”
1991 Cindy Busby Best Characterization
1992 Dawn Wagner Mary Ellen Burgess Award for Best Actor (performed a monologue at Provincial Festival in Prince Albert)
1993 Laura Hayes Best Characterization
1998 Courtney Douglas Best Stage Manager
1999 Runner-up to the Best Technical Crew Award “Turning Points”
2000 Best Technical Crew “This Is a Test”
Runner-up to the Best Technical Production “The First Time Club”
Runner-up to the Best Overall Production “This Is A Test”
Warren Humeny Merit Award for Acting
Merit Award for Technical
Ryan Walper Mary Ellen Burgess Award for Best Actor
David Francis Bob Hinnit Award for Outstanding
Technical Excellence
2001 Best Overall Production "The Wall: A Pilgrimage"
Steven Kanasevich Runner-up to Mary Ellen Burgess Award
2007 Best Technical Production "The Waiting Room"
PROVINCIAL AWARDS
2001 Runner-up to the Best Technical Production “The Wall: A Pilgrimage”
Megan Bailey Merit Award for Acting
Debbie Baker Cheer Award
2002 Best Visual Production “Where Have All The Lightning Bugs Gone?”
Chris Peters Runner-up to Bob Hinnit Award
2004 Best Visual Production “Of Poems Youth And Spring”
Chris Peters Runner-up to Bob Hinnit Award
Allan Bailey Merit Award for Acting
Merit Award for Technical
Since the retirement of Mrs. Lenore Bailey in 2007, the Eaton School Drama Club fell under the direction of Mrs. Ashley Kosior (nee Miller), who moved from Eaton in 2009. Sitting in the directors' chairs since the 2009-2010 school year are Mrs. Marla Frison and Mrs. Patti Filyk. This year's cast and crew are rehearsing to perform the play "Skid Marks 2: Are We There Yet?" which they will present at Regional Drama Festival in Maple Creek on April 15 & 16.
Cast & Crew of "15 Reasons NOT To Be In a Play", Spring 2010
