10
4 Oktober 2013
Bulletin
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Science Expo showcase talented kids The recent science Expo held by Eskom at the Foskor Community Hall in Namakgale, outside Phalaborwa, has seen many pupils from different schools in the Mopani district showcase their talents in various projects. The 261 pupils that attended the Expo used their projects to demonstrate how various challenges in their communities could be solved using new technology, ranging from energy saving projects to environmental science and many others. The award for Best Energy Efficiency project went to Matimba Ndala and Anga Mamfanya, Gr 11 pupils from the Kings Court College in Modjadjiskloof, for creating a biodigester that traps methane gas from cow dung, which is then burnt to create heat energy that can be used in households and in other areas. They focused on using materials that could be found in and around people’s homes, so that the poor could afford it too. The award for Matimba Ndala and Anga Mamfanya from the Best Development Kings Court College, who won the award for poject was awarded Best Energy Efficiency project. to Miquel Lewele, a
Eskom Expo Gold medals winners of Mopani region are seen here after they received their awards
Gr 12 pupil from Seagotle Senior Secondary for developing a micro fuel cell that helps convert chemical energy to electrical energy. Meanwhile the Best Female project was awarded to Mosibudi Sebopetsa from Lepato M High School, who investigated how animal fat, when heated and distilled, could be used as biofuel. Females were strong contenders in this year’s Expo, with 167 of the 193 projects being done by girls. Orlando Chauke orlando@bulletin.us.com
Israel Blackburn (Gr 10) of Stanford Lake College was selected as a finalist to represent Limpopo Province in the “Mini Miss RSA” Pageant — held at the Buffelspoort ATKV in Magaliesberg. This was a huge national pageant spanning four days at the end of September, ending in a gala evening.
?@mhs.com a cyber success! No less than 120 pupils from Merensky High School committed themselves to perform in this year’s revue — ?@mhs.com — a facebook romance, towards the end of September. With popular foot tapping songs, excellent choreography, super vocalists and actors, vibrant costumes and the added bonus of the lively Merensky choir on stage, this was most definitely a “feel good” show. The
complementary real-time electronic boards displayed the facebook posts, funny youtube clips and BBM’s, enhancing the feeling of reality. The storyline portrayed the quest for love via cyber space, with John Deere (Gideon Joubert) and Tulip (Caro-Lee Kotze) meeting up through the mhs. com chatroom. Tulip being a nom de plume for the current MHS headmasters’ daughter, and John Deere an old Plasie, currently studying agriculture in Potch. The backdrop was the Lifestyle Center, with the choir performing on the Market Café Veranda. Flash mobs danced in the parking lot, with Mugg & Bean bearing witness of poor Tulip being let down by John Deere. The final scene during the super Plasie-awards, wowed the audience, with a special cameo appearance by Deputy Headmaster, Mr Willie Stevens.
Schools’ art competition launched
The seven finalists for Unicorn’s Hein Kruger Afrikaans speech competition, were Donavan van Tonder, Reinhardt Scholtemeyer, Dee-Anne Preece, Gregor Andrew, Nikita Espach, Ashley McIntosh and Nsuku Muyimane. This prestigious event is a noteworthy entrance on the yearly calendar — and is responsible for its fair share of stress and worry as the date draws nearer and the children enter into frenzied preparations and a lot more Afrikaans conversation. This year’s winner was Gregor Andrew — who also reigned supreme during the earlier Robert Moss English speech competition.
Pictured are Messrs M EChavalala, Principal of Muyexe Primary School, R S Nghonyama, Principal of Hasani Mniniginisi Secondary School, Mss P Shibambu, Head of Department of Pfunani Primary School, B M Nkuna, Principal of Mniniginisi Primary School, Mr Rodgers G Shivambu, teacher at Hatlana Muyexe School, Mss Violet N Khomani, Principal of Nghatsani Primary School, Kondy Machumele, Circuit Manager for the Klein Letaba Circuit of the Department of Education, Messrs X S Maswanganyi, IDP Coordinator at the Greater Giyani Municipality, and James Ndhlovu, STRISA Director.
STRISA, The Sustainable Tourism Research Institute of Southern Africa and based in Haenertsburg, recently headed a team of professional consultants to undertake a pre-feasibility study into the possible opening of a new visitor gate into the Kruger Park at Shangoni, northeast of Giyani. This gate would make it much quicker and easier for visitors heading for Shingwedzi Camp which, at present, can only be accessed through either the Phalaborwa or the Punda Maria gates. The study was funded jointly by the Industrial Development Corporation, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism and SANParks. As part of the process of integrating local Tsonga ethnic designs and ‘patterns’ into the new entrance gate and the proposed Shangoni Hub, or Growth Centre, it was suggested that children at local schools should become involved in an
art competition. The winning designs could then be used in appropriate places in order to strengthen the branding and promotion of the new gate and other tourism facilities. STRISA agreed to sponsor the first phase of this competition by purchasing water colour paint boxes and paper for 140 learners and offering over R4 000 in prize money for the winning artists and runners-up at both primary and secondary school level. Cash prizes have also been allocated to the best overall senior and secondary schools. With the cooperation of the Department of Education’s Klein Letaba Circuit Office, a total of seven schools have been identified in the villages around Mininginisi and Muyexe, both being within the immediate vicinity of the site for the new gate. A small function was held in Giyani on Tuesday 30 July to hand over the paint boxes and the paper and to give the educators a final briefing on the competition and the vari-
ous themes that should guide the young artists. These themes cover almost any person, thing or activity that forms part of daily village life and an emphasis will be placed on subjects that portray the local ethnic customs and lifestyles. Entries close on 15 October and the prize-winners will be announced at the end of year functions at the seven schools. Commenting on this initiative, the STRISA Project Director, Mr Mike Gardner, said that most people are aware of the lack of resources that plague local Limpopo rural schools and that corporate business operators should consider assisting in this type of project in order to stimulate the young learners and to help expose those with special artistic talents. He said, ‘STRISA’s NGO partner the Village Tourism Trust, has been involved in recording local legends and folklore and then using these stories to create appropriate play-scripts for schools. These have helped considerably to enhance latent creative writing skills as well as acting abilities and the many backstage activities that are required to create a successful drama production. Assistance has also been given to young poets and an anthology of the works of four young men from the Modjadji area has been published. We are now looking at art development and this opens up opportunities for many support initiatives by the private sector.’ Mr James Ndhlovu, a resident of Nkowankowa, is a Partner in STRISA and also Chairman of the Village Tourism Trust.