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Several venues in Newtown are joining the Matric Month march, with exhibitions, lectures, workshops and performances designed to help the learners.
Lectures and exhibitions at Sci-bono from 11 May to 21 June will focus on mathematics, science and technology
MAY is Matric Month in Newtown, with lectures, performances and exhibitions targeted at Grade 12s, who are approaching their exams. The preliminary matric exams - the practice run - are in August.
Taking place in Newtown from 11 to 31 May, there are events planned at the Market Theatre, the Dance Factory, the Sci-bono Discovery Centre, the Artist Proof Studio, the Market Photo Workshop, and Museum Africa.
For the English curriculum, two performances are on the cards - George Orwell's Animal Farm at the Dance Factory, performed by the Sibikwa Arts Centre; and Nothing But The Truth by John Kani at the Market.
Animal Farm will run from 11 to 31 May. A political analysis, the famous story is about the betrayal of idealism by power and corruption. The novel gave the world the sentiment, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."
It follows the journey of a group of oppressed animals who defeat the farmer, Mr Jones, and take over the farm. As they live as they please, the animals learn that one dictatorship can be easily replaced by another.
Understanding English
"The objective ... is to give students an understanding of the English language. The use of language, visuals and audio will make students understand how to use words in English," said Suzette le Seur, from BUZ Publicity, the event's publicists.
Nothing But The Truth will be at the Market Theatre from 11 May to 21 June. It is the story of a man separated from his family, who returns to force his brother, ageing librarian Sipho Makaya, his daughter and a niece he has never met, to confront political and personal betrayals, jealousies and past hostility.
It explores the destruction of a man's aspirations at the very moment when democracy is being realised, and exams family secrets, sibling rivalry, exile, memory and reconciliation. The drama was written by actor and playwright John Kani and directed by Janice Honeyman. Block bookings can be made on 011 832 1641; speak to Anthony on extension 121 or Tiny on extension 135.
Lectures and exhibitions at Sci-bono from 11 May to 21 June will focus on mathematics, science and technology. There will be an awesome lecture on how BMW, the car maker, really works; other topics include what is behind the light bulb, and sound and optical illusions. For more information, call 011 639 8400.
Commerce workshop
Commerce will be catered for with a workshop titled Managing my finances. The aim is to help prepare learners for the real world, and it covers insurances, mortgages, bonds, annuities and sinking funds.
Ohm's Laws, electricity, computer technology, and building parallel and series circuits will be covered in physics workshops. For more information on the commerce of physics offerings or bookings, call Siphokazi or Cynthia on 011 639 8491 or 011 639 8459. The workshops can cater for up to 60 learners each.
There will also be a presentation on choosing tertiary courses, what courses are offered where and what you need to study to start your career path. A workshop will look at finding bursaries, writing covering letters and filling out bursary forms. Again, the workshop can accommodate up to 60 learners a time.
All of these will take place at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, in association with BHP Billiton's Careers Centre. Those who are interested in the workshops can call Ellenor Bosch on 011 639 8452 for bookings.
Le Seur said schools were invited to the events through organisations working with the schools, but anyone was welcome to attend. "But any schools or any Grade 12 learners knowing about this are more than welcome to come and participate in this awesome event as entrance is free."
Art and politics
May is the month commemorating the xenophobic attacks of 2008, a fact acknowledged by Artist Proof Studios in its creative programme for groups of up to 30 learners. There will also be a walkabout of its premises, and learners will be able to talk to the members of the studios to discuss South African socio-political issues in their artwork.
Its Paper Prayer Programme will be based on the principle that art can be a powerful tool in transforming perceptions and initiating change. It will focus on empowering young people with knowledge about HIV/Aids and the importance of voluntary counselling and testing. Students will also learn about various techniques and applications of printmaking live in the studio.
An exhibition at the Market Photo Workshop, entitled Amelioration, by Tracy Edser, a graduate of the workshop, will take up to 30 students on a guided tour of the lives of recovering addicts and people suffering from mental illnesses. Edser believes in breaking the secrecy surrounding these illnesses through illustration. For bookings, call 011 833 5624.
Museum Africa will offer a photographic tour of Gandhi's Johannesburg and the birth of Satyagraha, his philosophy of peaceful resistance, to groups of up to 150 learners. The tour will be followed by a facilitated discussion on the philosophy of Satyagraha. Bookings can be made with Aubrey or Belinda on 011 833 5624.
Bookings must be made for all these events with the host organisation or venue. Entrance is all events is free, except the performances, Animal Farm and Nothing But The Truth, for which entrance is R40 per learner.
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