Quarter 1 Newsletter 2021

4 Although our piano and guitar departments have a waiting list, we welcome those interested in bass guitar, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, cello, double bass and voice to apply for quarter 2. PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATING Public Speaking roared into action this quarter with the creation of a World Read Aloud Day video, and submissions for the 2021 SALA Public Speaking Competition. We honed our skills in class and decided on topics for those who are participating in SALA. We nominated our 2021 chairperson, Imrah Salie and celebrated with one of our members making it into the 2021 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Competition, Imani Tshiamala. We look forward to a fruitful second quarter as we start planning for the Inter-House Public Speaking Competition! The Debating Club has had a quiet, but productive quarter. Due to the delay in the start of the Rotary Debating League, our debaters have not yet faced external teams in debate. We have instead had entertaining sessions as a club, with the new members learning the foundations of World School Debating Style debates and our seniors preparing ideas for a series of workshops for the club in Quarter 2. When C19 is filled with debaters, it is definitely a space for fun and feisty battles of the mind! It also helps that Ms Barnard's candy jar motivates participation and engagement, even when we feel a bit shy. SPORT The realisation that we had to face the prospect of no inter-school matches this summer brought “thinking caps” out, which resulted in us providing our learners with a well balanced sports programme. Although sport under COVID restrictions did not allow us to play matches, it did not deter our learners from turning up for practices throughout the season. We had record numbers in most of our sports, which is pleasing to see MUSIC 10 weeks, 1 lunchtime concert featuring 31 performers, 10 crew members, 9 assembly performances and a collaborative music video featuring our choir, orchestra, jazz band, drama and dance department, flash mob club and staff, in a nutshell! That has been our quarter 1 experience in the music department! This quarter has been incredibly rewarding, not only for our educators but for our musicians as well. Whether it was taking to the stage for the first time, learning to enjoy and not fear the stage, getting to play together with others for the first time or receiving the invitation to play in the jazz band and a highlight for many was recording in the studio without a doubt there were many exciting opportunities for our musicians this quarter. We are continuously finding ways in which our musicians can showcase their hard work with the support and guidance of their industry specialist educators and performing musicians. And they have risen to the challenge each time. Quarter 2 brings with it new opportunities and many of our musicians will be participating in various Trinity Guildhall and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music theory and practical exams as well as preparing for the recording submissions to the Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod. Congratulations to the following dancers for participating in the Ballet and Stage branch sections of the Cape Town Eisteddfod and Medal Tests, we are very proud of your excellent achievements. Isabella Louw, Nokukhanya Khumalo, Isabella Paino, Kayla Fundira, Clara-Mari Vosloo, Viraya Pillay, Prunelle Kipuya, Lara Smith, Isabela Manickum, Jenna Simpson, Mikateko Msibi, Alexa-Rose Schreuder, Ella Frielinghaus, Leigh Pjoos, Carla Bochnig, Michaela de Pinto, Chloe Sing, Isabella Fourie, Kristin Jennings, Amy-Kate Wood, Alexandra Bester, Andria Mannix, Julia Fourie, Khazimla Maguga, Julia Ligthelm, Morgan Santo, Hannah Vachaudez, Alexandra Bester, Caitlin Szalay, Paige De Araujo, Keira Shelton, Nicola Henderson, Daniel Maclagan, Talia Papadakos, Katelyn Pienaar, Uminathi May, Imān Botes, Sienna Schenk, Jean-Michelle De Blanche, Chantel Myburgh, Amy Ligthelm, Milena Fieggen, Anika Van Der Walt, Marion Minkoulou, Tiara Cantika, Jemma Daries, Jessica Howes, Lize Murray, Amber Stein, Mikayla Van Der Merwe, Lauren Williams, Tamlyn Greyvensteyn, Michaela Greyvensteyn, Sabrina Davids, Jemma Boswell, Sibabalwe Bebelele, Loriane Minkoulou, Talia Papadakos, Tamara Koch, Sonia Atwaru, Tameryn Edmondson and Taya Pather. Currently the dancers are working with energy and determination towards the RAD Awards and ISTD examinations that will be held online. DRAMA This quarter has seen the rise of a new and enthusiastic generation of young performers here at the College. We are immensely proud of last year’s Matrics who performed incredibly well in their final Drama exams and we welcomed a new energy in the department with our Gr10 Drama learners and our Trinity sign ups, all of whom we hope to see on stage soon. The Gr12s performed Jabberwocky as a slick physical theatre piece at Assembly and the Gr11s performed a Readers Theatre Script about the perils of no frills travel at the Culture Assembly. Preparations are underway for the Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod. Next quarter rehearsals begin in earnest for an FET production to be staged later in the year. We are planning to include some Gr9 Drama learners in this production, details will be shared in the blog. The show, as they say, must go on and we certainly have the talent and passion in the department to make anything happen. Recoding in studio Medal tests Lunchtime concert Jazz album launch Assembly performance Orchestra rehearsal