Creativity Sparks a Spectacular MADDD Week for Year 7–9 Learners

What a sensational few days it has been for our Years 7, 8, and 9 learners who completely immersed themselves in MADDD (Music, Art, Dance, Design and Drama) Sparks, unleashing their creativity, collaborating across year groups, and showcasing some truly spectacular house spirit.

The excitement kicked off on Tuesday as learners took part in a wide range of creative MADDD Sparks workshops. Designed to light up imaginations, these sessions were run by all learning areas, blending subjects into the Arts in unexpected ways. Learners explored artistic maths, experimented with traditional techniques in a hands-on art cyanotype workshop, and explored the natural world through mapping the volcano spark. Meanwhile, others were moving to the rhythm in energetic “Waka Waka” dance workshops, exploring the wonders of science, or working hard as journalists to document a special Spark magazine. We also welcomed some external experts, including the fantastic Box House Theatre company, who brought professional drama expertise directly to our learners. Beyond the incredible projects, one of the greatest highlights of the day was seeing learners collaborate in their chosen options with peers from different year groups, expanding their social circles and making wonderful new connections in the process.

DSC09213-scaled.jpg
IMG_8020-scaled.jpg
DSC09215-scaled.jpg

Wednesday raised the stakes even further with the highly anticipated MADDD Sparks House Competition. Learners were given the opportunity to represent their houses in an area they felt passionate about, choosing between music, art, dance, drama, and design. Within an intensely creative and two-and-a-half-hour time limit, the pressure was on to follow a brief and create! The learners absolutely delivered.

In that short window, each house managed to produce unique outcomes. The design teams engineered vibrant, house-themed fashion and accessories, while the art rooms bustled with students creating massive, collaborative pointillism masterpieces. Simultaneously, the rehearsal spaces came alive with high-energy rock bands, expressive contemporary dance choreography, and theatrical delights.

Screenshot-2026-06-19-at-9.49.09-AM.png
IMG_8030-scaled.jpg
DSC09103-scaled.jpg

The entire event culminated in a spectacular grand finale in the auditorium, where these incredible creations and performances were shared. The atmosphere was absolutely electric as an audience of supportive peers cheered on every single participant, showcasing a powerful display of true house spirit. Because the standard of work was so exceptionally high, our judges faced an incredibly tough challenge as they deliberated over awarding points and announcing the ultimate winners in each category.

A huge congratulations to all of our learners for the courage, creativity, and collaboration they displayed this week. You truly brought “Sparks” to MADDD Week!

Find out more about the Arts at Nexus.