Cultural Activities

The Cultural Programme

Friday is Cultural Day at Sycamore Academy and the pupils have an extensive selection of activities to choose from.

Music

We are blessed to have wonderful guitar and drumming studio facilities, and our pupils thoroughly enjoy participating in these enjoyable sessions. Ably led by Roland Fisher and his talented group of instructors, it is not surprising that Sycamore produces so many talented musicians.

Piano and violin lessons are also available and the experienced and talented Mrs Friedeborg Deppe is at the helm of these disciplines. Mrs Deppe has expressed her desire to develop a String Ensemble at Sycamore Academy, a clear indication of the passion and positiveness that is exhibited in this aspect of the Cultural Programme.

Public Speaking and Debating

This important skill was launched in 2021 and is we believe, critical to enhance confidence and the ability to converse and function effectively, both in school and life, thereafter.

Chess

The school timetable includes an hour for each class per week, to play Chess, with a further weekly lesson taking place on Tuesdays, after school, for the chess team squads. Sycamore academy recognises the advantages that Chess offers primary school pupils and thus includes this strategic game within the mathematics subject discipline. The development of logical and strategic thinking skills, improving memory and abstract thinking, stimulating creative thinking abilities and the ability to improve problem identification and solving, are just some of the many benefits that Chess brings to the individual. Dr. Anna van Zyl (UNISA) in her doctorate on the influence of Chess on 80 chess-playing pupils, established that Chess improves the capacity of the memory, mathematics and science marks, as well as reasoning abilities. Sycamore’s chess programme is led by Mrs Lu Wilson, while Nobuhle Ndunakazi the school’s teacher/coach, has represented the South African National Chess team and was honoured at the July 2022 National Chess Championships, for being the Top Lady Chess Player in South Africa.

Speech and Drama

Speech and Drama promotes confidence and self expression and is actively enjoyed by all from grade 1 to grade 7. This discipline is taken by the highly talented Head of Department, Ms Shadene Hayden.