2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2005
In 2011, 5 groups of around 250 Grade 4-6 learners worked together in fortnightly workshops from mid term 2 to term 4. Yandiswa Mazwana was promoted to eMzantsi schools coordinator and we were also pleased to welcome Fish Hoek Primary and Synergy School to the programme.
In the first week in May, the children were given a performance of Jungle Theatre’s “River of Life” to introduce them to their featured focus for the Carnival theme “eMzantsi Goes BOS”: the importance of water and its conservation.
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| The musical drama “River of Life” by Jungle Theatre was so imaginative, musical and funny! | ||
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As well as learning the usual drumming, drama and recycled costume-building skills with Red Zebra, Jungle Theatre and Junkanew respectively, each twinned group also had the opportunity to take a nature walk and, at the end of term 3, they visited Intaka Island, a wetland environmental education centre at Century City (see www.intaka.co.za).
The groups embraced the theme with eagerness, showing particular enthusiasm for the “Green Haka” that they were each challenged to create! In the parade they followed their champion, the giant mermaid puppet Princess Mamlambo and sang their water-wise carnival chants to drum rhythms: “Drip Drop, switch it off, Drip Drop, don’t waste a drop! With every splash you’re wasting cash!”<
Group 1 Green Apples: LSEN School (Learners with Special Educational Needs)
Group 2 Green Beans: Synergy School, Imhoff Waldorf and Ukhanyo Primary
Group 3 Green Chillies: Marine Primary and Ukhanyo Primary
Group 4 Green Olives: Simonstown School and Fish Hoek Primary
Group 5 Green Peppers: Kommetjie Primary and Kleinberg Primary
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In the initial phases, in response to previous experience and requests from the school, in the first phase LSEN formed their own separate group to accommodate their learning capacity for the more challenging messages of green theme. |
| Group 1: LSEN More pics… | |
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| Group 2: Synergy, Imhoff & Ukhanyo More pics… | Group 3: Marine and Ukhanyo More pics… |
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| Group 4: Simonstown & Fish Hoek More pics… | Group 5: Kommetjie & Kleinberg More pics… |
Thanks to our teachers: Charmaine Koopman (LSEN), Annie Middleton (Imhoff Waldorf), Sue Raath, Melissa Hill-Erikson and Vuyo Madlingozi (Synergy), Mr. Gobozi and Mrs. Ncphayi (Ukhanyo Primary), Debbie Mazwi (Marine Primary), Tanya Laubscher and Tanya Chetty (Simonstown School), Bukiwe Mbano (Fish Hoek Primary), Jane Teixeira (Kommetjie Primary) and Margaret Kindo (Kleinberg Primary).
Intaka educational outings
In the last week of term 3, all schools involved were taken on a free excursion to Intaka Island at Century City Ð a wetlands and bird sanctuary (see www.intaka.co.za). – except for Group 1 LSEN who chose the less intensive option of a day out at Rondevlei Nature Reserve.
Group 3 Excursion to Intaka Island wetlands and bird sanctuary.
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| Learners were transported by coach from the south peninsula to Intaka Island | ||
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| and took a tour of the wetlands and looked at the birds | ||
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| they were challenged to do water purification experiments | ||
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The programme progressed well into term 4, with final rehearsals happening in the week of 21st November, when group prizes and individual treat bags were given to all learners courtesy of local community paper the False Bay Echo.
Group 2 final rehearsal
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Teachers and learners from Synergy and Imhoff Schools display their False Bay Echo certificates and Scenic South website poetry competition winner Sisipho Landingwe from Ukhanyo Primary reads her winning poem to the group. On the day of the Carnival she got to read it onstage into the microphone for everyone to hear!
Scenic South/eMzantsi Carnival poetry competition – Primary schools winner
I love you eMzantsi when I’m
With you I just feel special
You give me hope and I stop
Feeling negative you make
Me feel positive that I can
Make change in where I stay
And the song that says
Climate change the whole world
Take responsibility is the one
That make me
Positive and gives me hope
I really love you eMzantsi
You inspire people and even
When I am there I feel
Happy and that I can do more
For where I stay, the people around me
And for myself
And I enjoy when we play games
Like brothers and sister
And friends. Oh! eMzantsi
By Sisipho Landingwe, Grade 5, Ukhanyo Primary School
eMzantsi Journal Project
In addition to all this fun, researcher Emma Arogundade from the Intercultural and Diversity Studies Unit of SA (iNCUDISA) at UCT developed the eMzantsi Journal Project, a child-led research pilot. Three children each from Fish Hoek Primary, Marine Primary, Ocean View and Ukhanyo Primary, Masiphumelele came together to learn how to document the schools programme from the point of view of the children themselves. The self proclaimed “Amazing Creativity Kids” took photos and interviewed their peers, and the results will be exhibited in schools and libraries across the peninsula.
“eMzantsi was a wonderful opetunety for me… It has changed a lot in me by becoming a jernalist, learning rythem, and learning others culture …We mixed with other school and lerned a lot and the fun I had is unforgetible. “
Alexis Hanekom, G4 Fish Hoek Primary.
“eMzantsi is awesome. You learn a lot of stuff… We are mixing with other schools, …about like our environment and drama, art and recycle. We also make rythms and showing how we beat sticks. I love eMzantsi. IT IS FUN!!!!”
Fiona Persent, G6 Marine Primary.
“The important thing on eMzantsi is to learn about to keep care of environment and how to keep Our World Green.”
Alive Somaguda, G5 Ukhanyo Primary.
“First of all eMzantsi teach us – everything. We learn a lot … We learn how to keep our environment clean. How to recycle. We also learn that you must not throw papers. You can make something from that paper.”
Constanza Harvey, G6 Marine Primary.
“I thought eMzantsi was brilliant… I learned how to beat a drum in different rithums, I learned how to sing and dance, but most of all I made new friends… I would like to thank you eMzantsi for everything … eMzantsi is making me more like I ort to be!”
Ruby Sampson, G4 Fish Hoek Primary.
“And my favourite thing about eMzantsi is that help us with many things that we don’t know and when we are in eMzantsi WE GET KNOWLEDGE… It learning you a lot to tell your Mom, Dad, and the Children. It is learning for yourself what you can do at eMzantsi. I love it, it is the best think I have.”
Jodie Kevier, G6 Marine Primary.
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| Thanks to Red Zebra, Jungle Theatre and Junkanew – and to the teachers who made it happen! | |