DSP Jahrbuch 2017/ DSP Yearbook 2017

ENGLISH
Pretoria Inter-High School Public Speaking
Competition
Several of our Grade 11 and 12 students took part in the annual
Pretoria Inter-High School Public Speaking Competition held at
Lyttelton Manor High School in Centurion.
This year, four of our Grade 12 students participated in the Best
Individual Speaker section of the competition. This involved the
challenging task of having to present not only a prepared speech,
but also an unprepared one. The standard at the competition was
extremely high, but our speakers are to be commended on the high
level of their performance:
• Chimwemwe Mangani (Gold Award)
• Khanyi Masilela (Silver Award))
• Ntsako Moshidi (Silver Award)
• Mekayla van Huyssteen (Bronze Award)
Also last week, twelve of our students participated in the Team
Section of the same public speaking competition. Each team consis
ted of four members and spoke on a particular theme of their
own choice, based on a quotation from a poem by the well known
English poet, Ted Hughes.
All three teams performed commendably, and the experience will
undoubtedly boost their confidence and performance skills for any
public speaking they will need to do in the future.
Grade 12 (Awarded B+)
• Ntsako Moshidi
• Koketso Selekana
• Kgaogelo Kgodane
• Vunene Sephula
Grade 11
Team 1 (Awarded B+)
• Kai Weber
• Taboka Vundule
• Ezile Dumzela
• Dineo Mamabolo
Team 2 (Awarded: A)
• Luyanda Hadebe
• Tashriq Moerat
• Zandile Tabata
• Maereg Terefe
Barbara Wesolinski
“Public speaking is a very important area of our lives that we have
to – at least – be exposed to at some point before we are launched
into the adult world. As most adults would say “you may not be
good at public speaking but there will come a time in your career
that it is a part of your job description”. It is for this reason that DSP
learners are grateful to Ms. Wesolinski, Ms. Paul and Ms. Sebright
for introducing us to the public speaking event at Littleton Manor
and guiding us in preparation for it. I have been a part of the Group
speeches for the past two years and got the privilege to be a part
of the Best Speaker category this year. The three teachers really try
their best to ensure that we are well prepared for our speeches and
less nervous than we would be without them.
We were all saddened to learn that Littleton Manor will not be
hosting the Public Speaking event any more – although they have
been doing so for the past 30 years, approximately. Hopefully some
school will be brave enough to attempt to fill in their shoes in order
to keep this event going. Perhaps that brave school will be our
school.”
Ntsako Moshidi, 12D
English Olympiad 2017
When I first signed up for the 2017 “Staying Alive” English Olympiad
I didn’t know what to expect. There were only four of us who opted
to participate this year and we met up each week in the big break
with Mrs Wesolinski to discuss different types of literature. Being
a relatively small group enabled more individual participation
in each discussion and it was so interesting to hear the others’
interpretation of a piece. This year we discussed a collection of
literature which was created by young South Africans from different
years and I quickly became absorbed in the different works. It was
very interesting, for example, to receive an insight to past events
through the eyes of a teenager.
The Olympiad is a wonderful opportunity to experience a variety
of poems, prose, plays, etc and to express your view on past or
current (sometimes even foreseeable) issues or events. If you enjoy
reading, creating or interpreting different forms of literature, I
would definitely recommend taking part in the English Olympiad.
Hannah Schulz, 11c
Excerpts of three superb creative writing essays
written by Grade 11 learners
My remarkably beautiful friend
Beep Beep Beeeeeep
I sigh and slam my fist onto the alarm clock. Just another day in
Paradise. Mondays have been the bane of my existence since high
school started three years ago. Everyone always tells you that
high school was the best time of their lives. They are all obviously
ignoring the stress, pressure and sheer ‘crappiness’ that is teenage
life. Ignore all that and sure, high school years rock. Hypocrites, the
lot of them.
“Honey, are you up yet?”
My mother could compete with a banshee if she wanted to.
“Of course!”
Another sigh as I curl up into my blanket. At least the year is
almost over. One year closer to freed-…
“Get up right now! You lazy, lying, ungratef-…“
I don’t hear the rest as I quickly jump into the shower. Just another
day in Paradise.
Breakfast has always been a lively affair in this household. Mom
making breakfast, dad and Johnny discussing irrelevant topics like
rugby and getting louder and louder with each minute that passes,
Sam sitting in front of the laptop pretending to study, while actually
checking out the newest motorbike models, all in all utter chaos
and ulcer inducing. At least that’s what my mother calls it.
The school day starts off like any normal, tedious morning. First
period Mathematics, we get our Tests back – 94% – not too shabby.
Then I have a free period. Usually I spend it with my two best
friends, but they’re off sick today. Whilst sitting there, I notice her.
The queen bee, most popular of the populars, Alison.
DSP Jahrbuch 2017 – Aus den Fachschaften
107