HSH Cultural Activities

HSH Music

HSH offers music as a subject or additional subject, in collaboration with the West Coast Music Academy. Hopefield High School offers the facilities, and the music tutors offer classes at school in piano, wind instruments, string instruments and percussion. Learners are able to do accredited theoretical and practical exams under their expert tuition.

Quite a number of HSH learners also form part of the highly reputable West Coast Youth Orchestra (as well as trios and ensembles) each year - promoting our musical ability in the West Coast!

2025 highlights: Marianda Prinsloo, Theo Noble, Wikus Redelinghuys and Jancke Smit participated in the "Show Your Talent" singing competition in Cape Town where they won gold medals. Jancke Smit participated in "Stars of the Universe" as part of the South African team, amidst 43 countries, where she won two 1st places and a second place in different categories in the 15-17 age group. She was also declared the overall winner of "Show your Talent Overall". Both Jancke's songs qualify her for the SA 2026 team that will participate in "Talent America"! Caitla Eksteen and Lianel Burger both received high merit awards from the "Royal Academy of Dance" for ballet.

HSH Art

Visual Art is offered as a subject by High School Hopefield, in collaborations with the Lientjie Blok Art Centre.

Grade R-9 learners may enter in the Schools Art category of the annual West Boland Eisteddfod, under the dedicated direction of the foundation phase personnel and the Creative Arts teacher.

Gr 10-12 learners are entered into the Advanced Art & Design categories of the annual West Boland Eisteddfod by Lientjie Blok.

2025 highlights: art and design students, Carla Conradie and Janke Henrico, had their work selected to be exhibited at the Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town. Carli Basson's work was also chosen for the 2026 Santam online exhibition.

Eisteddfod Excellence

HSH's annual participation in the West Boland Eisteddfod is a highlight our learners enjoy tremendously, borne out by our substantial number of category winners.

Our learners are encouraged to participate in the creative writing, poetry, prose, monologues, unprepared reading and drama categories, in both English and Afrikaans. Learners with experience in dancing or singing are encouraged to enter in these Eisteddfod categories, while the West Coast Music Academy enters our music students according to their instrument choices and abilities. Since HSH is affiliated with Wes-Boland Eisteddfod, we apply their policy.

2025 highlights: 660 awards including 135 Cum Laude, 235 Gold, 205 Silver & 85 Bronze, with 47 Category Winners. Eisteddfod participants increased from 517 in 2024 to 660 in 2025. Jana Olivier has won the trophy for the girl winning most categories at the West Boland Eisteddfod, for three years running!

Varia Revue

Our school offers music, dance and theatre on a weekly basis under the Varia banner. Primary & High school learners work hard on the Production that takes the stage in August. A lot of fun is had by all, while talent is developed and exhibited!

Auditions for Primary and High School teams are held in the fourth term each year. Several of our students have participated at Provincial or National level in song, dance and theatre.

2025 highlights: "Opi Kassie" was an excellent production by ordinary HSH learners and teachers who worked extraordinarily hard. They deserve the repeated standing ovations received!

HSH Chess Club

HSH learners are introduced to Chess from the Foundation Phase. Chess has been found to improve debating skills and this early exposure also helps create a foundation should they join the school's Chess Club later on.

The avid Chess Club members meet weekly at school premises during school hours to learn and practise, using chess sets provided by the school. The enormous chess set in the school quad (donated by a generous parent) also helps to create awareness of the game while providing entertainment to students of all ages.

2025 highlights: 3 learners were included in the West Coast chess team and participated in the Western Cape Individuals Tournament: Shaundré Lewaks, Dale Diergaardt and Mischke Schoeman. Shaundré Lewaks was invited to participate in a National Chess Tournament.

HSH School Papers

The 'Snuffels' is the quarterly newspaper prepared by high school learners. The Editorial Team can sniff out interesting news snippets (and gossip!) and then try their hand at journalism.

Our busy social media team also share news snippets to Instagram.

The 'Bokkie' also provides primary school learners the opportunity to be part of a school newspaper which contains social news, achievements and stimulating activities.

This team's creativity, good reporting and technical care ensure that readers eagerly await the new edition at the end of each term.

Reading

Our library: the heart of knowledge, creativity, and curiosity. Here we offer a safe and inspiring space where learners have access to books, digital resources, and learning support.

The library is not only a place to read, but also a center for research, collaboration, and discovery.

HSH Public Speaking

Gr 4-12 learners can develop their oratorical skills annually at competitions in one of three age groups: Primary Phase (Gr 4-7), Senior Phase (Gr 8-9), or the FET phase (Gr 10-12).

When the opportunity presents, HSH learners can also participate in external competitions as offered by our local Museum or the ATKV public speaking competition.

An annual public speaking workshop helps High School learners to polish their skills.

Primary School learners are also occasionally presented with the opportunity to compete against other schools.

Olympiads & Competitions

Grades 1-7 participate in the Conquesta Olympiads and Grades 10-12 are encouraged to participate in the National Olympiads, especially Language, Mathematics and Accounting.

Learners can feel overwhelmed by all the information they have to deal with and their knowledge of current affairs is not always sufficient to aid them in the world of work. Our school puts more emphasis on broadening our learners' general knowledge, also by providing daily newspapers.

As part of the Interhouse competition between the Blue and Gold teams, Grade 4 to 12 learners take part in a formal General Knowledge Quiz during the third term.

Social Events

The Mr & Ms HSH Pageant, the Valentines' "Sokkie" and the Winter Ball are the highlights on the school's social calendar.

The Pageant offers a glamourous affair where the winners are chosen from 10 finalists by an external panel. Miss HSH then acts as Champagne Sweetheart during Interschools.

The Winter Ball is organised by the student council, further developing their organisational and social skills. They toil for months to make this evening special for those who will participate in Interschool Winter sport.

Like the High School, the Gr 6-7 learners also get to enjoy a quarterly "Sokkie" with an exciting theme!

Once a term the Primary School learners are treated to either a movie or games evening.

Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is encouraged in a variety of ways. The Primary and High School Learners combine efforts on a quarterly basis to collect non-perishable food products in an outreach for the Feeding Scheme of a West Coast Primary School (in conjunction with the "Omgeemense van SA").

The Primary School head girl and boy usually represent HSH at the handing over of the products.

2025 highlights: Janco Britz, Chloë Henning, Heinrich Koegelenberg, Jaylin Peters and Alex Alberts were elected as junior council members of the Saldanha Bay Municipality.

HSH Excursions

Excursions to visit shows at theatres like ArtsCape, Mynhardtville (where Shakespeare's work is showcased) and the Baxter Theatre enrich our learners. This exposure helps learners enjoy literature and the world of art. Any production of prescribed works, especially on Gr 12 level (Afrikaans or English works), are attended if possible. Gr 10 learners with Afrikaans Home Language are invited to do the Knysna forest tour to experience the world of "Fiela se Kind".

Foundation Phase learners attend the annual "Vlooi" show at Artscape – a long bus ride, lunch boxes and entertaining theatre! Gr R learners are occasionally treated to nearby daytrips (exposure to a farm, or the Fire Brigade).

Grade 4-7 learners are invited to a 2-3 day outdoor camp, organised by teachers, to better appreciate nature and our planet.