St Peter's College: From the Cultural desk
From the Cultural Desk
What an exciting Term One it has been! Despite the various regulations fluctuating non-stop, our Culture Vultures Teachers have succeeded in providing a non-stop service throughout the term. I would like to honour the following events:
- Art, Design and Media Team (AD@M) completing the Piano Mural, running the QuaranTEEN event and making great progress with the Menzi Courtyard, Wooden Thinker and Webpage design projects. Our Matric students also had a most successful exhibition of their work for moderation by other art teachers and they garnered many compliments!
- Mr Alex Trapani’s work has been selected and represented in the IEB Gr 12 Final Practical Examination as an artist worthy of study!
- The ever-busy Music Department has blown us away, in fact this is becoming a regular feature of my workday! Not only did they run a full programme each day with activities such as Marimbas, Guitar, Barbershop, Piano, Brass, Drumline and Choir, but also managed a great Summer Soiree Season featuring all the matriculants.
- A special mention must go to the exquisitely produced video of all our instrumentalist reMAXing “Mamela”. Have a peek on our Facebook Page if you missed it!
- The stunning Mrs. Miles and the Drama Department have not been lax either. The recording of our Virtual The Little Mermaid is nearing completion and the Great Speech recording under Mr. Doneda will be finalised in this last week of term.
- I want to salute our thespians who are persevering without audiences, well done!
- The Dance Department has grown considerably this term: The Contemporary Dancers have been rehearsing weekly on Thursdays, while the Street Dance Crew under new Coach Aislynn and alumnus Kat have grown this activity to record numbers. I look forward to their performance at the end of term. Well done to Ms Gaydon and Mrs Maneli.
- The St Petrian Newspaper has completed its transformation into a purely digital edition, and under the leadership of Ms Ismail, has made their presence known. The regular weekly meetings are filled with editorial advice and wisdom. The QR code is still up on the walls to have a readthrough.
- Both Senior and Junior Debating teams have had great competition and will continue to compete online.
- The Public Speaking teams are finally getting over the hiatus from SACEE and are preparing furiously to compete at the start of the Second Term.
- Sound and Lighting Team (SALT) have welcomed a much-needed upgrade and spring-clean of the lighting rigs in the Madditorium. As the need arises, new members have been receiving training. Thanks to Mr Hammond and his team led by Blake Imbert and Taryn Nitch for always stepping in when there is a crisis.
- Mr Du Toit and the Eco-Pets have been preparing the ground and will launch their bid to make St Peter’s a recognised ECO SCHOOL in the Second Term.
- The Photography Club has restarted under the new facilitator, Dee Kraaijk and their attempts have been featured electronically.
- Our Tour de Math team is currently in 10th position after two rounds of online competition. Thanks to Mrs Lindsay for making sure our mathematicians get great exposure.
- Finally, I want to honour Ms Mangena and the First Aid Team. They have been at all the practices as well as the three weekend intra-school sport programme that culminated this past weekend. The team also completed training under Netcare 911 during half-term and I look forward to announcing their results soon.
I am sure you have been made aware of the latest Government Gazette Vol 669 published on 27 March. Although audiences and spectators are still not allowed, we have received the go-ahead to compete in inter-school competitions. I have missed visiting our teams and cheering them on indeed.
A final word from a brief visit to the Field Band Foundation that took place this weekend in Kimberley. The foundation has an extensive and sustained programme that focuses on musical training as well as skills development in those communities that have been overlooked in the past. St Peter’s is investigating how our musicians, dancers, choreographers, and composers can link hands with the foundation. Hopefully, we will have more news about this in the Second Term.
Remember without culture we are barren, wasted and loose our joy for life!
See you in the next term,
Mr Botha