The Arts
ACDA Honors Chorus
By : Samanta Garcia
Some of our own students here in Hilton Head Island High School got accepted to the South Carolina ACDA Honor Choir. The choir is done every year and it's for the state not the school. The choir consists of students grades ninth through twelfth from all over the state. The students who got accepted are Jack Gatlin, Alexandra Bromage, Bobbie-Sue Morris, Julia Gudgeon, and Jeneal Stevens. Jeneal Stevens will discuss more about ACDA and explain what it is.
They had to audition in order to participate in the ACDA Honor Chorus, she said, “ We had to sing My Country Tis of Thee and send in a video of that song with your part and show them singing warm up scales.”
“ We will go in January 2024 and it will be in Columbia.” Since this is not for the school but for the state they will go to Columbia and perform from January 19-20.
“ It is not a competition. People from all over the state come and then you sing with them and the composer selects the songs. There could also be a solo you can audition for so maybe in a way it is a competition.”
These students will work hard on singing and will perform in January. It is a great accomplishment for these students from HHIHS with great talent to have an amazing opportunity.
Memory Project
By: Jada Green
Here at The Nest HHIHS art students are required to do a Memory Project. You might be wondering what is the Memory Project, well according to Ms. Dobbelaere “ The Memory Project is a national arts initiative where k-12 art students create works of art for children and young adults in challenging situations around the world. For 19 years, Beaufort County area schools, public and private, have participated in the project creating works of art delivered to over 20 countries.”
Not all art students are required to do the Memory Project. Ms. Dobbelaere states “ I am the coordinator for the Memory Project for Beaufort County. Teachers participate from many schools. At HHIHS the teachers who participate are me and Ms. Harrington. The classes that participate are Painting and Drawing. The countries and children we create artwork for changes every year. This year our artwork will go to India, Syria, Malaysia, and Columbia.” The Memory Project is a unit and the final artwork is a summative grade.
You still might be wondering what is the whole purpose of The Memory project. Ms. Dobbelaere states “The purpose of this project is to make a positive difference in the life of another through art.”
This project is very important because “ The Memory Project allows students to learn about art content while lifting others up in challenging situations. How would you feel if you were going through a hard time in your life and someone across the world, a complete stranger, took the time to make you something special and write you a note of support? Artistic skill fueled by goodwill can be powerful.” Ms.Dobbelaere stated.
The project is due in the fall or spring time depending on the country. The project's artwork is shipped to Ben Schumaker, founder and director of the Memory Project, then he delivers the artwork and makes a 'portrait delivery video' for the students to watch. These portraits can take a few months for the artwork to be delivered.
“And depending on the class the artwork can be drawn or painted. And with this assignment students are assigned a student at random” Ms.Dobbelaere stated .
Photography Smoke bomb tutorial
By: Maggie Simms
On November 27th, Hilton Head Island High School had a workshop involving Photography II and dance students. Jo Radcliff, a 2000 graduate of HHIHS and her assistant Nate Russo are professional local photographers. They came to the school to let students participate with their work. The students had the opportunity to photograph with smoke grenades, a tool that emits bright and colorful smoke. These create a blast of color that has a mystical effect on a subject. The dance students performed their signature moves to pose for the Photography II students. This was Jo and Nate’s second time at HHIHS. In 2022, students photographed the seahawk mascot. Those pictures are now the cover of this year's yearbook.
Before going outside to take photos, Jo and Nate went through a presentation showing their previous work with smoke grenades. They also went through the settings that the photography students would need for their cameras, and how to adjust for the smoke.
The students had a great time learning about how to work with clients, how to take pictures of the smoke, and how to adapt to a quick moving subject. These are useful skills for later careers in photography.
“It was fun because we got to experiment with the different colors and the different camera settings to create different effects with the photos. It was beneficial because we have experienced it and can use the skills later.” The students had lots of fun and were very thankful to Jo and Nate for showing them this amazing experience
HHIHS Haunted House
By: Jake Heitman
Peeling wallpaper, gaps in the floorboards, holes in the walls, and flickering lights all make up a haunted house, a place where fun and fright combine in order to give you the best and most horrifying experience possible. Here at HHIHS, we take haunted houses to the extreme with the Toxic Terror Haunted House. Ms. Guinn, the Theater Director here at HHIHS, explains exactly what the haunted house is.
“The haunted house is meant to scare you. We’ll have dark rooms with students here at HHIHS all dressed up as monsters and spirits who will jump out and give you the scare of a lifetime. There will be decorations and music playing to give the haunted house a better atmosphere.”
When asked what times the haunted house will be in action, she said, “The haunted house will be open on October 20th, 22nd, 27th, 29th, and 30th from 7:00pm-10:00pm, so make sure you’ll be there!”
“All tickets will be $10 dollars and the event is completely open to the public, so don’t think you can't bring your family and friends who don’t go to school here.”
When asked how a student could potentially participate in the haunted house, she responded, “We still need people to help out with the event. If you are a student and want to get involved please come see me in D hall.”
“You don’t need to bring anything to the haunted house, just yourself, money for admission, and an attitude that allows you to be scared!”
Halloween has always been a major holiday. But here at HHIHS we take it seriously, especially the haunted house. The Toxic Terror Haunted House opens in a few days and will be an event to remember.
HHIHS Students Win Art Awards
By: Maggie Simms
Hilton Head Island High School recently submitted multiple student artworks to the South Carolina State Art Fair. Many of the students won awards and honorable mentions. As a school, HHIHS has participated in the state fair for 14 years. It has benefited students greatly. Ms. Dobbelaere, an art teacher at HHIHS, elaborated on the topic. “Any artistic achievement is a great addition to a resume, and it provides the opportunity for students to showcase their artistic skills. Any artistic achievement is evidence of a student's creativity...and this world is in need of critical and creative thinkers in any field of study. The arts provide a place where students can exercise these skills.”
Twelve students at HHIHS won awards or honorable mentions. When asking Lucky, a second place winner, how this award felt they elaborated, “I made a self portrait with compressed charcoal and other tools. This was my first time doing a piece this large and maybe my fourth time actually using this medium. I chose this photo because I really loved the way I was able to depict the lighting using different shades of black and white. Winning second place felt crazy. I'm super proud of myself and I'm also so grateful to Ms. Dobbelaere for seeing the potential in this piece.”
Hilton Head Island is extremely proud of all their student submitted and winning students. The art department continues to produce amazing pieces that show the potential of all of their students.