FAQS for participating Teachers and schools

• General Questions
• Safety & Risk Management Questions
• Judging Questions
• Story-Dance Questions
• Security Pass Questions
• Show Day Questions
• Outback Wakakirri Questions
• Story-Writing Questions
• Story-Arts Questions
• Ticket, School office and Money Questions
• T-Shirts, DVD & Photo Questions

When are the shows on?
View all the dates and venues

Is our school eligible for Country Wakakirri?
Country Wakakirri is for schools more than 3 hours drive from a live venue.

When is the Wakakirri office open?
The Wakakirri office is open Monday-Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm (Sydney time). You can contact Wakakirri staff all year - (except for 3 weeks over Christmas when we close for annual holidays) – with any question at all. Your State Coordinators can also be contacted year round. Find all contact details here.

What does my State Coordinator do?
Your state coordinator is any experienced teacher and has produced Wakakirri items of their own. They are there for you to talk to throughout the year about your Wakakirri item or anything specifically to do with your state, show or competition. Your State Coordinator also runs Teacher Workshops and is the person in charge on the day of your show.

I am new to Wakakirri, is there a checklist for new teachers to ensure I include everything?
Yes we’ve put together a production schedule for you to follow.

How can I get the monthly Wakakirri e-newsletter?
All entered schools are emailed the newsletter each month.
To change your email address or add additional addresses contact Wakakirri at wakakirri@wakakirri.com

What happens if I have to withdraw my item from the festival?
All schools participating in live performances are asked to sign a ‘Principal’s Confirmation of Entry’ (Find it at FORMS). Your school cannot participate if this form has not been returned. On this form your Principal agrees that if your school should withdraw after signing this form they agree to pay a $550.00 (Story-Dance) or $55.00 (Story-Telling and Story-Singing) admin fee.

We need to change our performance date or rehearsal time. Is this possible?
If this is the case you need to contact the Wakakirri office IMMEDIATELY. We try to accommodate every schools needs and preferences.

I need to contact Wakakirri after office hours, who should I call?
Mobile numbers for the State Coordinators can be found under Contact Us

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Safety and Risk Management Questions

What kind of safety measures does Wakakirri put in place at the shows?
Wakakirri holds safety as its number one priority.
Read more at Safety and Risk Management

Do all staff members working for Wakakirri on the shows have a ‘Working with Children Check’?
All staff employed to work on a Wakakirri show have completed a ‘Working with Children Check’ (read more about these at the NSW Commission for Children & Young people website: www.kids.nsw.gov.au/check/). Wakakirri crew members are veted by the national office and have experience as teachers and/or theatre professionals.

Does every adult helper backstage in QLD need a Blue Card?
Under new regulations, some adults helping in schools, in QLD, will need a ‘Blue Card’, which shows they are suitable to work with young people. Read more at the QLD Commission for Children and Young People Website: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/

Do all staff and students need to complete a Publicity and consent form?
Yes. Even teachers need to give their permission to be photographed or filmed at the shows – afterall, we want to make teachers TV stars too! Find this form at FORMS

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Judging Questions

Who are the judges?
Judges for Story-Dance, Story-Telling and Story-Singing are appointed from the education and arts sectors and are selected for their relevant experience. At shows there is a judging panel and a Head Judge. The Head Judge is there all day and the judging panel comes in at night. Judges in Story-Film, Story-Writing and Story-Arts are specialized experts in their field.

What do the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards mean?
The gold, silver and bronze stickers found on certificates are an assessment by the Head Judge of your school’s performance in relation to the judging criteria, not in relation to other schools. Eg: Gold in ‘Costumes’ means that in relation to the ‘Costumes’ section of the criteria your school achieved what was expected of you to a very high standard.

Do the Head Judge results (gold, silver and bronze stickers) given out at the heats relate to who will get into the Final?
No. See explanation at Awards and Judging

If my school is awarded lots of Gold stickers on our certificate for our Story-Dance at our heat, does that mean we are automatically into the Final?
The gold, silver and bronze awards are assessments by the Head Judge and are separate to the marks given by the whole judging panel. See explanation of the Story-Dance process at Awards and Judging

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Story-Dance Questions

Do I need to have every piece of music approved by APRA?
Yes. All Story-Dance items need to have music approved. There are slightly different process for primary and secondary schools. Read more about APRA Music Approval

Which Story-Dance division are we in?
See info on Story-Dance Divisions

What do I do if my sets are larger than the stated requirements in the rules?
The rules about size of set items are very strict. We have to keep it fair to all schools and we have to make sure the show is safe.

Is story more important than the dance?
In Story-Dance ‘Story’ is worth 30 marks. Story-Dance (the blending of creative movement and acting to tell that story) is worth 40 marks. ‘Story’ is at the heart of all Wakakirri competitions. See the Judging Critiera

What are the items judged upon?
See the Judging Critiera

Do we have to fill in the Judge's Information Sheet?
YES! This sheet is compulsory and contributes to your 'Sustainability Rating' and this information also makes all schools contenders for the major National Wakakirri Prizes: For Sustainability and Cultural Diversity. As our focus is on promoting sustainability through the arts, your Judges Information Sheet is a crucial part of being a part of Wakakirri. We want to know EVERYTHING about your story, why you chose to tell it and how you have had a positive impact on the world around you! The Environmental Merit Awards awarded at each Wakakirri heat and final are also based on the info you provide us with. So please, please, please bring your Judges Information Sheet along with you on performance day!

**The Wakakirri Environmental Judge will collect all of these sheets on the day.

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Security Pass Questions

How many security passes do we get?
Primary Story-Dance schools get 1 pass for every 10 students, or 5 passes total if there are less than 50 students. Secondary Story-Dance schools get 10 passes total. Story-Telling and Story-Singing schools get 2 passes total.

Can I have extra security passes because I have a student with special needs?
Yes, of course. You’ll need to contact the Wakakirri office prior to your show to make arrangements. Call 1800 650 979

Can I have extra security passes because I need more parents to help with makeup?
Unfortunately, no. Backstage areas are limited. You can, of course, swap passes between adults during the day and night. You’ll need to take into account the number of adults you are permitted backstage when planning make up, costumes etc.

Can I have extra security passes because I have many young students from early grades?
Sometimes this is possible. Please contact the Wakakirri office to make arrangements.

Do parents with a security pass get to see the show?
Anyone who wishes to sit in the audience to see the show will need a ticket.

Do we have the same ratio of security passes for the Finals as we do for the Heats?
Yes

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Show Day Questions

How does the whole day work?
Find out how the day runs in the Production Schedule

What questions do our three speakers have to answer?
Story-Dance: At heats and secondary school finals three students from the school will act as student speakers. The speakers will come back onto stage after their performance to be interviewed by the Host. They will be asked:
1. How has your story had a positive impact on the world around you? ie: Why did you tell this story?/ What is the moral of your story?

2. How has your school practised sustainability during the creation of your Wakakirri item? ie: Did you do anything in particular to reduce your footprint and minimise waste?

3. Who would you like to thank?

Story-Telling & Story-Singing: Schools can have up to two speakers to answer the questions:
1. How has your story had a positive impact on the world around you? ie: Why did you tell this story?/ What is the moral of your story?

2. Who would you like to thank?

Can we bring food for the students into the venue?
In some venues food can be taken inside and in others students will have to go outside to eat lunch. See the specific arrangements for your venue at venue details

Can I change the title of my item?
We’ll ask for your item title and description. These forms must be sent back by 5 May. If you need to change your title, description, coordinator names etc you need to let us know ASAP. Programs are printed very early (often a month or more before your show) so we’ll try an accommodate you where possible but please be aware that late info probably can’t be included.

How can I get extra participation certificates?
Contact the Wakakirri office on 1800 650 979

Do I need to advise the Wakakirri Head Office about children requiring Disability Access or with Special Needs?
Wakakirri endevours to make all venues accessible to all students. Sometimes this requires building ramps to the stage etc. Please let us know of any special needs well in advance

Where can I unload my sets?
Check the your specific venue details

What time can I arrive at the venue to unload my sets?
Check the your specific venue details

When will we know the results?
HEATS
- You will receive your Head Judge Assessment award on the night, although the gold, silver and bronze awards will not be read out
- The list of schools invited to perform at Finals will be faxed to all schools 2 working days after the last heat

REGIONAL
- You will receive your Head Judge Assessment award on the night, although the gold, silver and bronze awards will not be read out
- Winners will be announced on stage on the night or, if there are two shows, they will be announced via local radio the day after the second show

FINALS
- Winners will be announced on stage on the night

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Country Wakakirri questions

When are Country Wakakirri entries due?
Friday 13 June 2008

What format can we send Country entries in?
Country works must be received on DVD only.

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Story-Writing questions

How do we submit our Story-Writing entries?
Story-Writing works must be submitted by email to wakakirri@wakakirri.com by Friday 13th June 2008.
The text of the story must be in the body of the email.

The email must also contain:
- School name
- Contact teacher name
- Student name
- Student age (jn years)
- Name of story
- Word count

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Story-Arts & Story-Film questions

How do we submit our Story-Arts & Story-Film entries?
Works must be submitted by post by Friday 13 June 2008.

Post to:
Wakakirri National Story Festival
PO Box 607
Newtown
NSW 2042

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Ticket, school office and money questions

When are all the tickets for the heats on sale?
Ticketing info (a School Order Form) will be sent to your school along with a confirmation of performance date and rehearsal time. You usually have about 3-4 weeks to collect money and send in your school’s order.

How many tickets should we order?
ONLY order the number of tickets that members of your school community have given you money for. Your order form will tell you the maximum number of tickets available to you. DO NOT order more tickets than you have payment for as refunds cannot be provided for unsold tickets.

How much are the Tickets?
HEATS/ REGIONAL: $23.00.
FINALS: Various.
See Show tickets for exact prices.
Tickets to Wakakirri shows have not gone up in price for three years, even though other costs such as insurance and venue hire have gone up quite a bit.

Do parents with a security pass get to see the show?
Anyone who wishes to sit in the audience to see the show will need a ticket. A security pass is not a ticket to see the show.

Do performers need a ticket?
No, performers don’t need a ticket.

Does our school Principal get free tickets?
Yes, two additional tickets are given to your school free for your school principal. You do not need to included this tickets in the number you order. (eg: if you purchase 100 tickets you will be sent 102 tickets).

Who do we make cheques out to?
Wakakirri accepts school cheques only.
- If your payment is for purchasing merchandise you need to have the cheque made out to ‘Wakakriri’.
- If your payment is for tickets you need to check the details on the bottom of your order form – ticket sales are handled differently for each venue.

Do you accept personal cheques?
No, Wakakirri accepts school cheques only. Payment can also be accepted by Money Order or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, BankCard).

Should we keep a list of who tickets have been allocated to?
Yes. This is an excellent idea. Parents sometimes misplace tickets and your list of who is sitting where helps the ushers at the show find seats for everyone.

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T-Shirts, DVD & Photo Questions

How can we order T-Shirts, caps and other merchandise?
Schools can make bulk orders of T-Shirts and other merch by completing Merchadise Order Form and returning it, with payment to Wakakirri. Forms will be also sent to schools.

What sizes are the t-shirts?
T-shirts come in child and adult sizes.
See T-shirts, caps and more for a t-shirt size chart

Is there a discount for pre-ordering T-shirts and other merchandise?
Yes. It’s cheaper to order shirts, caps etc than to buy them at shows (you also get to wear them sooner too!).

We need to exchange our t-shirts for different sizes, what do we do?
Keep the t-shirts – unworn – and contact the Wakakirri office. You will need to return the incorrect sizes to swap them for new ones. Please note that sometimes certain sizes are very popular and not available at the time of your request.

How can we order DVDs?
Info on ordering DVDs will be forwarded to your school before the shows and also posted on the website at Wakkairri DVDs

Where can I order photographs?
TBC. Arrangements for purchasing professional photos of the show and student will be sent to participating schools

Can I order photographs/DVDs from previous years?
Orders will not be taken but there si a chance we have left-over stock. Contact the Wakakirri office to find out.

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If you still can’t find your answer here or anywhere else on the website you can ask a team member in the Wakakirri office (just call 1800 650 979 – it’s a free call from a land line, anywhere in Australia) or CONTACT State Coordinator.

More Frequently Asked Questions Answered:
FAQS by Parents and Familes
FAQs by Students