Message from the Editor

Hello everyone and welcome to the second issue of the Old Greenfeldians e-news! We want to keep you all informed as to what’s happening at the school and what news you have to share with your fellow Old Greenfeldians. In this issue we have a Baby Boom! And also a fantastic interview with Barbara Lanik that you won’t want to miss!

If you have an interesting story or any news to share, please let me know and we can include it in our next issue. Enjoy!

Editor

Baby Boom! No. 1 Carmen Bulger

Old-Greenfeldians Marlon and Delphine Bulger welcomed their daughter Carmen Renee Bulger on the 19th December 2008. She is now 11 months old and doing great!

No. 2 Liana Wolf Sproule

Liana Lily Wolf Sproule was born on the 1st January 2009. She was a wonderful start to the New Year for Old Greenfeldian Lisa Marie Wolfe Sproule and her husband Tom! “Liana is doing great and smiling all the time,” say the happy parents.

No. 3 Isabella Fear

Astra Fear (nee Croft) and her husband Ryan are ecstatic at the arrival of their daughter, Isabella Georgia Fear on 15th November 2009. Mum says “Isabella has a beautiful head of dark hair and big blue eyes. She is extremely happy to have arrived into the world with us and very much looks forward to starting at Greenfields as soon as she can!”

No. 4 Oakley Boyd Rawner

Oakley Boyd Rawner arrived on Saturday the 18th July 2009 to proud parents Assaff and Narayanee. He is loved, admired and warmly welcomed by the Parselle and Rawner families.

Where Are They Now? An Interview with Barbara Lanik

1) When did you graduate from Greenfields?
In 2004, from the Sixth Form.
2) What are your fondest memories from your time at GF?
 All the great friends that I made! Also the fun times between the hard studying in the Sixth Form, Tolkien Society for the die-hard Lord of the Rings fans like myself and the intensively creative three weeks of Greenfields Theatre Company.
3) What have you learnt at GF that is still of value to you today?
The most obvious would be Study Technology. I use it every day in life and in my profession and it is thanks to Greenfields that I am now highly proficient with this tool. However, this school teaches you so much more beyond the academic field. Responsibility, friendship, ethics and confidence are values that I have taken with me into the world.

Since leaving Greenfields

4)What have you been up to since you graduated from GF?
After graduating from GF, I took a gap year to fully concentrate on my dancing and singing and to audition for various dance colleges. I was accepted into Laine Theatre Arts, a prestigious college just outside of London, and did a three year diploma course in Musical Theatre. At my graduation in 2008 I was awarded the Girls' Progress Award which is hand-picked my our headmistress and given to who she thinks improved the most over the years. I was so honoured to receive this award as college really was tough and a lot of hard work!I was now truly on my own two feet in life. I got myself an agent and started various shows and projects, including productions in London, short films and musical performances.
Currently, I regularly perform with the well-known swing + jive band The Jive Aces and I am working on two films which are in pre-production and will start filming in 2010. And I have a few other things up my sleeve which are top secret! (Photo: Barbara Lanik at the Pigalle)

Performing on stage

5) What is it like to perform on stage?
Nothing can compare to performing on stage in front of a live audience and I really get a huge thrill from it! Acting, singing and dancing (in fact all of the arts) are about communication and the quality of communication. So I always strive to have a message in my performances and to reach my audience and make them experience emotions.
6) Do you have any performances coming up?
Yes. I will be dancing and singing at a Christmas Show on December 20th and I am being flown to Vienna, Austria to be the featured entertainment for a Christmas dinner on the 19th.
(Photo: Barbara dancing)

Goals for the future

7) What are your goals for the future?
My goal for the future is to perform in West End musicals in London and around Europe. I love shows like Wicked, CATS, Chicago and the Sound of Music. I am also working towards establishing myself as an actress in the film industry.
8) What advice can you give to any aspiring actors/dancers/singers?
Practice! Always work at your craft by going to lessons at which you progress and that take you forwards, never backwards.
Perform! Get as many opportunities as possible to perform in front of people.
Promote! Let everyone know what you do and especially pick out individuals who can help you get to your goals.
(Photo: Barbara as a Ghost)

Current hobbies

9) What are your current hobbies?
Baking, snowboarding, travelling, a bit of reading...
10) How can your fellow old Greenfeldians get in touch with you?
Via email which is barbara.lanik@gmail.com, and also via my website www.barbaralanik.com
11) What did you do last weekend?
I had a big birthday party! :) So I spent a lot of time preparing and baking and cleaning and the party turned out really well.
12) What do you have in your handbag right now?
My Blackberry phone, diary, notebook, wallet, pen, pencil, eraser, umbrella, ipod, business cards, book, dictionary, chewing gum, lipbalm, tissues, make-up. Loads! It's a very girly bag...
13) In the future, will you be enrolling your children at Greenfields?
Definitely.
(Photo: Barbara singing)
14) Anything else you want to say?
Nothing in particular, but if anyone is reading this who is currently still at Greenfields, really make use of everything that this school offers and you will certainly do well in life!