SPORT & EXTRA MURAL ACTIVITIES
Hope School offers a wide variety of sports for our learners to participate in, according to their talents and interests.
PARA ATHLETICS
We offer both field and track events that include:
discus
javelin
shotput
long jump and
running
Learners have the opportunity to practice twice a week to prepare for trials and the National games that rotates amongst the provinces yearly.
The athletes who show an interest in any of the above events get classified by a trained and qualified classifier Ms Pretty Mathebula. Learners are then placed in their relevant classes based on their disability and functional level, as is done in the Paralympics. Learners then have the opportunity to compete against other athletes from other schools within their same class, these competitions take place 3 times a year at the provincial trials. Once a provincial team is selected learners have the opportunity to participate the in Paralympics.
BOCCHIA
The word ‘Boccia’ is derived from the Italian word meaning to bowl. Boccia is a target ball sport that belongs to the same family as Petanque and Bowls.
This sport requires accuracy and muscle control, and high amount of focus and concentration. It is developed for people suffering from cerebral palsy and was introduced at the New York 1984 Paralympic Games as a competitive sport. It is practiced in more than 50 countries by those with cerebral palsy or related neurological conditions involving a wheelchair. Outside the tournament, the program may be applied to other lesser disabilities (Grade 1 to 8), the elderly, and people with intellectual disabilities. All events are mixed gender and feature individual, pair and team competitions.
Hope School has been playing Boccia on a social and competitive level since 2010 and have excelled at the National Championships on many occasions. Boccia is coordinated by Kathija Khan. Here are some highlights of one of our learners’ performances:
Liakath Aziz – Ex matriculant, was chosen to represent our South African Team as the Captain at the Boccia African Regional Championships against Egypt and Morocco in May 2022, held at the Birchwoods Conference Centre, Gauteng. He achieved a Gold medal and qualified to represent Africa at the Rio Championships.
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
Hope school offers wheelchair basketball as one of the extracurricular activities to all qualifying learners.
There are 2 teams – a junior team from the ages of 12 to 15 and the senior team from the ages of 15 to 21 (matric). We practice at least twice a week after school.
The learners thoroughly enjoy the sport and, in the process, learn about teamwork and discipline. In the past we have had learners that have went to provincials, national, and international level in terms of competing.
Hope school competes at a provincial and national level at least once a year, for various ages, and this is organised and funded by the department sports and recreation and department of education. Wheelchair basketball at the school is affiliated with Wheelchair Basketball South Africa, which is a subsidiary of International Wheelchair Basketball Federation.
The wheelchair management team is made up of Louise Tervit, Katlego Mogapi, Craig Greybe, and Nico Mmitlwe.
Wheelchair basketball is considered one of the gateway sports in the disability community and Hope School thrives to use this to enable learners to progress in their lives.
SWIMMING
We are very fortunate for our learners to be coached by non-other than Tadgh Slattery, who himself is physically disabled and also an ex Paralympic swimming champion. He has years of experience in training our swimmers to meet their athletic goals. Learners who show swimming potential are trained under our Elite Swimming Squad, with rigorous training schedules and perseverance many of our previous learners have had the opportunity to attend International Swimming Gala’s and even the paralypics. Tadgh Slattery is also passionate about local swimming competitions and encourages learners to participate in these as well, for instance learners have been known to swim the Midmar Mile year after year. All Elite Swimming
Squad activities are coordinated by Kerri Ann Ramessar and Salmah Kola.
Before attaining an Elite Swimming Squad membership, learners have to start at the beginning namely the learn to swim program. This program is also coordinated by Salmah Kola and Kerri Ann Ramessar and is offered to the learners of the foundation and intermediate phases. Tadgh Slattery assists our precious young learners with water safety and confidence in the swimming pool, this is done in the schools heated in door swimming pool. Learners love the opportunity to feel the freedom of being in water and even for the extremely weak learner, this is an opportunity to partake in a fun and educational sport. This is where learners are afforded the opportunity to determine if swimming is an extra mural they can compete in, with the hoped of joining the Elite Swimming Squad.
TENNIS
At Hope school we offer learners the opportunity to participate in wheelchair tennis. Wheelchair tennis is one of the forms of tennis adapted for wheelchair users. It is coordinated by Marilette Jansen Van Vuuren.
The size of the court, net height, rackets, are the same, but there are two major differences from pedestrian tennis: athletes use specially designed wheelchairs, and the ball may bounce up to two times, where the second bounce may also occur outside the court.
Tennis practice takes place twice a week: on a Monday and Wednesday from 14:45 to 16:30. Thanks to an organisation called Wheelchair Tennis, we are able to have trained coaches that help our learners reach new heights in their tennis careers.
WHEELCHAIR DANCING
Zumba, Cha-cha and Tango. At Hope School, dancing is one of the children’s favourite activities. The children flock to dancing after a long day stuck behind their books. Under the talented guidance of Mr Kallie Adams, they learn what they are really capable of. Dancing is coordinated by Nika Du Toit
Before lockdown we went to the Arnold’s Classic where they performed and competed against each other. Sometimes we do group dances, other days they dance in pairs and learn a bit of ballroom.
This is where they can come to have fun and spend time with their friends, while still being disciplined to learn new skills.
At Hope School there isn’t a “So you think you can dance.” There is only “Everyone can dance.”
