ANNUAL MAGAZINE - Dominican Convent School

progressive education
JSE Investment
Challenge
This year the Grade 10 and 11 commerce learners got the
opportunity to be one step closer to learning about the exciting
world of finance and investment, and one giant leap closer
to understanding the dynamics of the Johannesburg Stock
Exchange. Teams enjoyed discovering their potential through
participation in the JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge, which
allowed them to interact live online with the Johannesburg
Stock Exchange.
Commerce learners got a chance to test their share trading skills
through an on going annual simulated virtual programme.
Each team is given an imaginary sum of R1 000 000 to invest
in JSE-listed shares. The teams met in the Computer room to
discuss their portfolios and compare notes on what equities to
buy and sell. Their performance is tracked and measured in a
competition against other teams taking part in the Challenge.
The top performers win fantastic prizes. The Challenge has been
creating interest in the dynamic environment of the stock market
for more than four years at Dominican Convent School.
Weekly trading required much preparation. Leaders studied
Finance Week magazine to help make better decisions on new
trends and read The Star newspaper to see if it the market was
bullish or bearish.
Investing in shares in an educated way gives learners a great start
on their path to financial literacy.
Maths Peer
Empowerment
The Primary School Mathematics Peer Empowerment and
Oral Presentation Afternoon allowed Grade 7 learners from
DCS, Sacred Heart College and St James School to share and
learn about “Maths in a Globalised World”. Keen interaction
took place on a variety of topics ranging from Vedic maths to
the mathematics of climate change, production and extraction
industries, marketing, computer science and sport. Participants
also learned about accomplished mathematicians and their
influence. Investigative and evaluative skills were honed.
Diverse viewpoints were expressed. New friendships were
forged. Afterward, some of the DCS participants voiced their
mathematical acumen:
“Geometry and angles are to be found all around us. They control our
body movements as well.”
SIYABONGA NDABA, GR 7R
“Maths and fashion are so deeply related – the cutting, designing and
incorporating of shapes and objects improves our creativity.”
KHanya Kaya MOYO, GR 7B
Maths Camp
Sixteen Grade 10 and 11 learners in the M&E programme headed
off to Thaba Morula for a four-day maths camp. Forty-nine
learners from five schools participated. The students participated
in Physical Science and Mathematics lessons every day, then
enjoyed recreational activities including an obstacle course,
raft- building, archery, and a game drive.
Celiwe Mtshali, GR 11k
Science Scuffle
Learners participated in the Jo’burg Libraries Science Scuffle.
This interaction honed their scientific research and dictionary
skills as they experienced keen competition from four
other schools.
Time management skills and team delegation were essential for
success. Our DCS team were placed second in the contest.
Tshegofatso Matseba, GR 7
Potatoes,
Patellas,
Prayers, and Pi
F. SOBREIRA | DEPUTY HeaD, HIGH SCHOOL
Once a term, Block Day offers students and teachers a chance
to investigate a topic or teach critical life skills in large blocks
of time. Each grade had a separate area of focus:
Grade 8 learners attended a mathematics interventions
programme and attended a movie scriptwriting workshop.
Grade 9 students prepared for the Science Expo and completed
a psycho-educational assessment that will help guide their
career choices.
Grade 10 learners attended a Religious retreat, which offered them
time to reflect on their spirituality and relationship with God.
Grade 11 learners conducted Life Science and Physical Science
laboratory experiments. Students not involved in the sciences had
opportunities for intervention.
Grade 12 students completed First Aid, Level 1 certification after
an intense day of theory and training.
Students offered positive feedback at the end of the day:
“We learned how to handle serious injuries, and treat people with
epilepsy or hyperglycaemia. We live among people who suffer from these
illnesses and it was good to learn more about them.”
MmamatsHWane Sefoka, Gr 12V
The Advanced
English
Programme
The Advanced English Programme is a supplementary
examination that allows students to discuss diverse
texts on a comparative basis. This is a preparation for
university courses where knowledge of and the ability
to write on topics that combine and contrast several
source texts, in a manner that is both more informed
and more independent, is required.
Throughout the year our task has been to introduce
critical and literary techniques gain a different
perspective on literature.
In June the students of the Advanced English
Programme met Shaun Johnson, author of the matric
set work, “The Native Commissioner”. The talk was
dynamic and concerned the writing process, themes
and motifs in the book, and included a question session in which
our students participated actively with mature and
insightful questions.
In September the students of the Advanced English Programme
went to the Home Movie Factory – an initiative sponsored by
the National Film Association and by the film director Michel
Gondry – to brainstorm, plan and shoot their very own film. The
results when they were behind the camera demonstrated the
work they’d invested on film analysis and extra reading.
Connections
With Meaning
DCS educators recently had the
opportunity to attend the
Connections with Meaning:
Educational Engagement in
Language and Mathematics
Conference at Saheti School,
at which numerous guest
speakers addressed us. Anne
Oberholzer spoke on how
important it is in education
that “the higher the structure is to
be, the deeper your foundation”. English
Language and Mathematics are very important, because without
these two areas, no other discipline can be built.
Progressive education
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