Cultural Activities
Dramatic Art
We offer Dramatic Art as a subject from Grades 10 to 12. In addition, we also run interhouse competitions in Drama and Dance/Choreography where our girls consistently achieve. The Senior School produces a school play or musical every year as their major production. Previous plays have included Little Shop of Horrors, Godspell and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
At Grade 8 and 9 level, Drama is offered as a compulsory component of Arts and Culture. Private drama lessons are also available after school on certain afternoons in both the Senior and Junior schools. Group excursions to the theatre are arranged regularly.
The Junior School produces a musical in alternate years. These have included, Ali Baba, Jack, and Rewind, Press Play done in our centenary year. The girls from Grade 0 to Grade 3 stage a nativity play at the end of every year. Classical ballet lessons are available to girls in the Junior School in the afternoons.
Public Speaking
Public Speaking is open to everyone in the Senior School. In the first term focus is on interschool public speaking, organised by the Speech and Drama College of South Africa. Sections include prepared and unprepared speeches, which are team events, as well as a prestigious individual competition in which one Grade 12 student is entered. Needless to say, we always achieve outstanding results. In the second term, we host our own interschool friendly competition and the interhouse event. In the third term, the focus is on the Bedfordview Eisteddfod.
Chatterbox is a public-speaking league for primary schools. The grade 4 – 7 pupils participate in one competition a term. The competitions include both prepared and impromptu speeches.
Debating
Debating is an important skill that requires a deep understanding of current affairs and a willingness to spend hours conducting research. The focus is primarily on United Nations style debates that are organised by the South African Institute of International Affairs, which is situated on the University of the Witwatersrand campus.
Art
Art is a popular Grade 10 to Grade 12 subject choice and our girls produce outstanding work and are often invited to exhibit their work at special events. In the Senior School, girls may belong to the Art Club and the Photography Club . In the Junior School, Art is part of the curriculum and Art Clubs are run for the Junior Primary and Senior Primary girls once a week.
Music
The music department’s aim is to promote the love and appreciation of music, to provide a musically sound foundation for those who wish to study music further, and to delve deeper into the realms of the true art of Music. Music is offered as a National Senior Certificate subject and talented musicians may apply for the limited scholarships on offer. Girls may learn to play a variety of musical instruments and they are encouraged to take examinations, although this is not compulsory. Grade 2 girls are given the opportunity of participating in the Introductory Violin Course. The school provides assistance where necessary with the hiring of instruments.
In the Junior School class music covers a wide spectrum of music at the appropriate level for each grade. Singing, music appreciation, composition, Orff percussion, recorder playing, aural skills and music reading are included in these lessons.All girls taking music perform at the many functions hosted by the Junior and Senior Schools.
The annual interhouse music competition, held in both the Senior and Junior Schools, involves everyone in the house and is judged by an external adjudicator.
The Junior School offers three choirs, an orchestra and a marimba band. In the Senior School the girls may belong to the music club, marimba band, choir and orchestra. There is a wind ensemble in the Junior and Senior schools.
