LEAP 3 started in January 2007 to serve the community of Alexandra.  Alexandra was one of the oldest South African townships and is now sandwiched between two major freeways on the edge of Sandton. All the learners of LEAP 3 attended the township schools of Alexandra before being selected to join LEAP.  The history of low achievement in Maths and Science in these township schools has meant that very few learners from Alexandra have been able to study tertiary courses which require maths and science.  LEAP 3 is an intervention to help change this pattern.

Learners at LEAP 3 work hard in an environment of shared values and commitment to change.  A strengthening of work ethic, improved self-esteem, more honest personal relationships and development of leadership qualities are some of the results.

LEAP 3 Newsletter for Term 1 2009

LEAP 3 Steering Committee Report - May 2009

Cultural Activities

Each Wednesday between 13h40 and 15h00 our learners take part in cultural activities. Activities include choir, marimba, debating, chess, drama, poetry and dance.

The teachers coordinating each activity are:-

2008 Highlights

Sport

A highlight of the sport this year has been the swim training slot donated at Wahoo Swimming Academy. This has meant that all the LEAP learners know how to swim and a number are having water-polo coaching.

Academic Opportunities

A visit to the Constitutional Court and the jail took place on the last day of the second term. This tied in with the study of Human Rights in the Life Orientation curriculum.

A visit to Sci-Bono Discovery Centre was a wonderful experience. There are numerous stations which allow learner interaction and which illustrate scientific lessons. Old Mutual also arranged for LEAP 3 to be involved in the centre’s Construction Week.

Eight of our learners took part in a fun competition as part of The Fluor Engineering Week. The competition is an annual test of ingenuity and team work where teams have to construct a device given a limited set of materials to perform a stipulated task. The competition was open to teams of Fluor employees as well as teams from schools.

Three very successful weekend camps were held at Camp Nelu in Hekpoort. The first camp focused on deepening the understanding of the LEAP Code of Conduct. Emphasis was placed on working as a group and sharing. The other two camps were selection camps where the current Grade 10s acted as leaders for the 120 Grade 9 learners from the Alexandra townships schools who had been involved in our Saturday programme.

Cultural activities

All our learners attended a performance of Umoja and a number went to watch the Lion King.

Seven learners from our Zulu class joined learners from 17 other schools at a cultural day at St John's School where each school presented a Zulu item. Our learners felt a strengthening of awareness and passion for the traditional cultural activities.

A drama presentation was staged at Redhill School focusing on LEAP’s response to Xenophobia in Alexandra township.

Holiday programmes have been established at the school and have involved music, drama, art and current affairs. It also included a week-long rocketry course, extra time on computers and extra Maths and Science lessons.

Career Exposure

- All the girls at LEAP 3 took part in Old Mutual’s Take a Girl Child to Work programme.

- LEAP learners visited the engineering company, Arup, and the Gautrain project.

- Wits University arranged a day in which our learners were exposed to life at a university and to the Engineering Faculty.

- We had a tour of the University of Johannesburg and a presentation by Bruce Cairncross on what geology is and how it impacts our lives.

Functions

A group of LEAP learners helped at the Third Thursday group's fund raising evening which was held to raise funds for LEAP Science and Maths School. The learners valued the opportunity of being able to make a contribution to the fundraising activities that go towards making LEAP possible.

The learners have also organised a number of functions at the school this year including number of parents functions, an opening celebration and a celebration at the end of the year for the school’s funders and supporters.