Creative Arts

Arts

Our primary goal is for every boy at WPPS to develop a lifelong passion for and interest in art. Boys are encouraged to explore and develop their interests and artistic ideas, favouring ‘idea and process’ over ‘technique and product’. For this reason, the boys’ work is unique, diverse and a true reflection of themselves.

Both traditional and contemporary forms of art are explored and, where applicable, technology is used as a tool to enhance and assist the process of making art.

We expose our boys to a number of exhibitions and art outings and invite a diverse range of artists and designers into our department every year, in order to make our curriculum more relevant and meaningful.

Voluntary art clubs and junior pottery are incredibly popular, and are also offered to boys throughout the year.

Dance

Dance is offered as an extramural activity. Through the medium of dance, boys are enabled to discover their own innate capacity for the communication of ideas, thoughts and feelings. They get the opportunity to express freedom of movement and interaction with music. Various dance forms are introduced, and the boys choreograph their own dances, which are showcased during assemblies and special cultural events.

Drama

The school produces house plays and school plays every alternate year. The school production is usually a musical, and our next musical will be staged in 2020. Our Grade 7 boys rehearse enthusiastically for their house plays. The inter-house competition takes place at the end of September. The focus of our house plays is to involve every Grade 7 boy in a Drama production, as a member of the cast, as backstage crew, or as part of the sound and lighting team. This is a wonderful opportunity for boys and staff to collaborate creatively. Sports coaches, subject specialists and student teachers all work at the productions, showing boys that the dramatic arts can be enjoyed by all. Grades 3 to 7 boys have weekly drama lessons, during which they explore various topics, using improvisation and dramatisation as tools. Once a week, a keen group of Grades 6 and 7 boys meet on Monday afternoons for Drama Club; Thursday afternoons have been scheduled for Grades 4 and 5.

Music

Class music is taught weekly from Grades N to 5 as part of the curriculum. Boys from Grades 1 to 7 have the opportunity to take individual and group lessons in any of the orchestral instruments, piano, singing and African marimbas. Boys may also audition to sing in one of our two choirs, and the more advanced musicians try out for our Junior and Senior String Orchestras, Junior and Senior Wind Bands, Guitar Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble or African Marimba Bands. Our choirs and ensembles are currently working towards our Evening of Music and the ABRSM practical exams, which are held in the third term. The Trinity College London practical exams and ABRSM theory exams take place in the fourth term.

Ensemble Music Concerts – 13 & 21 September

General Knowledge

Our senior boys in the General Knowledge team have a lot of fun at their meetings, and learn much from each other. They thrive on challenges. Next term they will be preparing questions for a Grades 6 and 7 Inter-class GK Quiz.

Lectern Club

The focus of Lectern Club is to create a space for Grade 7 boys to sharpen their speech-making skills. We work through the following basics: writing a good speech, powerful introductions and conclusions, and practical presenting skills. The boys present a short speech to their peers in the final week of term.

Chess

Grades 3 to 7 boys attend chess coaching every Monday and Thursday with chess coach, Tasnim Amra, and Ms Heyn. Tasnim has been the South African Chess Champion 7 times and the African Chess Champion twice. With Tasnim’s professional guidance and passion for the game, the boys get ready for their chess matches on a Friday. Between the two groups, they have a very capable team and have much enjoyment learning from one another. Well done to all the chess boys!

Societies

Our Grades 4 to 7 boys and staff delight in ending their week with the Societies slot. They rotate every term to experience a new and different society. The staff offer a wide range of activities: Alternative Sports – Birding – Card Games – Charades – Dance – Drama – Draw, Design, Print – Drone Flying – Genius Hour – Golf – Lego – Minecraft – Outdoor Cooking – 2D & 3D Puzzles – Photography – Soap Box – Song Writing – Underwater hockey – Where in the world?