The School Corridor Tatler

I visited Prince George Primary School in Lavender Hill this morning to perform routine administrative work and as a bonus, I met one of the children actors who will be starring in the film, Shushh. Petite Tashanay looked like a seasoned actress as Meg Rickards, the director of Boondogle Films, congratulated her for being selected as one of the actors in the f ilm, Shushh . "She is a natural", said Meg. "She knew all her lines at the audition and she immediately got into character.  There were many other hopefuls from the school and other local school, but she shone." Tashanay is congratulated by Alyxia. The film, Shushh, is based on the book, Whiplash, written by Tracey Farren. The film will be shot in Muizenberg that is about five kilometers from Lavender Hill. Tashanay Daniels, the Prince George Primary School learner, will play the role as the daughter of Bonita, a prostitute. Our young star is the perfect match for this role. According to Lame...

Schools must seriously consider designing and implementing a systems-wide creative arts curriculum at their schools, especially those schools serving poor communities . A structured, sustainable creative arts curriculum must complement our rigid academic curriculum if we are serious about excellent learner performance. Creative arts are a critical lever to fast track learning and learner performance. The reality of our schools serving the poor   I know we do have extra and co-curricular programmes at our schools and our learners are getting exposure to sport codes and a smattering of creative arts at our schools.   I also know how difficult it is on our poorer schools to keep extra-mural programmes alive at the schools. The very teachers who are teaching non-stop and who are battling to mediate a new, challenging curriculum with are already struggling to feed our learners and doing their utmost to retain the learners at the schools. There is no broad-based parent structur...

Two of the youth leaders proudly showcasing one of the huge collages made during the holiday programme New World Foundation hosts a School holiday programme at Crestway Let’s face it: the June 3-week school holidays can be a nightmare for parents and school children on the Cape Flats. Once the euphoria is over that there is finally a break from the classrooms, reality sets in. There is far too much free time and way too few wholesome recreational facilities and activities to keep our children occupied. This is what makes bridge builders like Zain and his volunteer Youth leader team from the Lavender Hill-based NGO, New World Foundation, such a critical social lever. Zain, a youth worker is dynamite. I met Zain when he organized the first art exhibition in Lavender Hill last year.   Here at Crestway High school, Zain and his 25-strong youth leaders from Crestway, Sibelius and Lavender Hill High school and German Student volunteers, hosted a 2-week holiday programme for learners in t...

South Africa The head and tail of Africa, salutes the aerial realm Our Great Escarpment smiles with you To welcome you to our African soil. Turn us upside down, why, we are the head, With a hat perched in Afrocentric style Showing deep respect and rainbow pride Our roots hugged snuggly by Mama Africa.