Junior School Culture
This learning area is constantly evolving at our school and builds upon a proud tradition. All the Arts – Drama, Dance, Music and Visual Arts – are included in the curriculum, and are also offered as co-curricular activities.
An annual Heritage Day celebration is held to celebrate the diverse cultures of our school and our country, with song and dance performances, exciting sport matches, music, enjoyment of traditional food and great participation from our school community.
Art is one of the universal languages that all human beings can learn to understand and use as a means of communication; be it in the form of drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, craft, photography, videography and filmmaking or architecture. Our learners are encouraged to express themselves through Visual Arts. This promotes and expands on their creativity, visual imagery understanding, imagination and helps develop confidence and competence. Their creative and inspiring artworks can be seen on display in and around the school.
Drama forms part of our English lessons and is met with great enthusiasm by our learners. In 2011, St Nicholas opened a Performing Arts Centre and this has allowed this subject to greatly flourish. A major production is performed every year by our Junior School.
Music is an integral part of our school. Our Junior and Senior Choirs are led by Mr Jumah and Mrs Byloo. Our children have a deep passion for singing and this is evident in their performances at various events. Both our Junior and Senior Choirs give spectacular performances at the annual Cordwalles Choir Evening.
Our Marimba and Steel Drum Bands are well known and have become very popular. Between our Junior School and High School Bands, they have had the honour of playing at a number of events, including: The Witness’s 170th Birthday Celebration, six Comrades Marathons, The Garden Show Prize-Giving, The Opening Eucharist of the Diocesan Synod, and Music Under the Stars at Liberty Midlands Mall.
St Nicholas also participates in the Education Africa International Marimba and Steelpan Festival which is the largest festival of its kind in the world. Our Steel Drum Band performed beautifully at the official opening of the Moses Mabhida Soccer Stadium in Durban in 2009 and were winners of the KZN Steel Drum Championships for five years in a row.
