WAP challenges English

Zoë Karsten
WAP might be seen as a quintessential Afrikaans school, but it certainly does not stand back when speaking English. On Monday the 15th of August WAP hosted its annual Speech Evening where Grade 8 to 11 learners participated. Learners had to deliver an argumentative speech on a topic of their choice.
The evening was divided into different categories where Grades 8 to 9 competed in the junior category and Grade 10 to 11 in the senior category. This year no Grade 12 learners participated due to their preparation for the preliminary exams.
In the junior category the two judges were Mr Petri van Wyk, Head of Department at Windhoek Afrikaans Private School and Bishop Charmaine Morgan, the Bishop of Methodist Church in Namibia. The senior category judges included Mrs Annika van der Linde, lecturer at the University of Namibia and involved in drama training for many years and Mr MC Engelbrecht, Candidate Legal practitioner at Weder, Kauta & Hoveka who is also a drama and public speaking enthusiast.
There were eleven junior participants, and the results are: 3rd place, Louise Cloete (Grade 8), 2nd place, Dieter Setzkorn (Grade 9) and the 1st place winner is Denese Tromp (Grade 8). The senior category consisted of nine participants of which Kayla de Wee (Grade 11) was 3rd, Nolene Steyn (Grade 11) was 2nd and Keelin Celento (Grade 10) the senior winner.
Learners further displayed their public speaking abilities on the 6th and 7th of September at the Inter-schools public speaking event. Three of our WAP learners competed against several schools which included Curro Windhoek Gymnasium, Windhoek High School, St. Paul’s College, St. George’s College and Ella du Plessis High School.
The event was hosted at in the Windhoek Gymnasium Clubhouse and was also divided into a junior and senior category. In the junior category Denese Tromp (Grade 8) took the 2nd place and Louise Cloete (Grade 8) was the junior winner.
Ada Kahl (Grade 11) also participated in the senior category and mentioned to the Waprant: “This one an experience unlike anything else! It was an honor to represent WAP at this event and give my best.”