Our Grade 6 learners have the chance to experience the Namibian desert up close.
Solar cookers, Water rations, "toktokkies", sleeping under the Namibian starry sky and looking for scorpions - these are the highlights of the Grade 6´s excursion to NaDEET, the Namibian Environmental Education Trust.

Learning objectives:

• In addition to the biology curriculum and accompanied by their biology teachers, the kids learn about the surprises the Namib desert has to offer and how remarkably flora and fauna have adapted to these arid conditions.
• Recycle, Reduce, Reuse – that´s the excursion´s main theme where it is all about producing fuel briquettes from old newspapers, preparing meals on solar cookers and why it is important to ration water.
• Of course learning should also be fun: Although the Grades 6 enjoy the educating projects with the NaDEET-nature conservationists to the fullest, they are absolutely thrilled with sandboarding and playing together.

Canoeing on the great Orange River in Southern Namibia is more than just a river trip! Our Grade 10 learners get to experience great exercise on the waters, the starlit African sky and the breath-taking Richtersveld National Park on the boarder to South Africa.
Under the guidance of experienced and qualified staff they enjoy an adventure not easily matched. In addition to campfires and great company it is once again all about team work, spirit and a great sense of community.

Within the exam preparations of the DIAP Biology course in Grade 11 our "almost graduates" visit the desert research foundation in Gobabeb.

Learning objectives:

• Biology up close: The students learn and elaborate in groups and with the help of nature conservationists and biology teachers about the eco systems in the Namibian desert.

Our experiences in Gobabeb 2016

The first project in the subject Textile Design is sewing a small bag by hand to learn basic skills such as cutting, ironing, threading a needle, tying knots, pre-sewing, sewing on a button and twisting a cord. Afterwards learners take a sewing machine driving test. For the next project “soft toy”, all skills are combined and applied.

In the metal workshop, learners are introduced to different kinds of soft metal, such as aluminium, brass, and galvanised steel. The learner fashion functional objects like keyrings, candle holders, and wind chimes, using only hand tools. Each project requires them to first explore a variety of design possibilities and then use techniques such as sawing, filing and drilling, to complete their metal object.

In the wood workshop, learners will first learn how to measure and mark correctly. Finally, skills such as (straight) sawing and filing are used to bring a key ring into the desired shape.
Each piece must be carefully sanded until it is nice and smooth. For this, learners use sand paper from coarse (60) to fine (220) grit.
Once they are acquainted with the basic skill, they can move on to more complex projects.
In grade 6, learners also obtain a drilling licence, to prove that they can operate the electrical drill safely.

During Ceramic Studies in grades 5 and 6, learners are taught the basics of preparing, working, decorating, and glazing pottery. By introducing primary hand forming techniques: pinching, coiling and slabbing, learners have the possibility to explore their creativity, and make clay projects that appeal to their imagination. In grade 7, if the learner chooses to pursue ceramics, they can apply the basic techniques they have learned to design and create their own dinner set, which is not only beautiful, but also functional.

"They are beautiful, aren’t they? The stars; we never just look anymore..."
(Quote from the movie “Men in Black”)

Since beginning of time, humanity is inspired by the stars. Mythological figures, animals and objects are represented in constellations since the Neolithic period, especially in the ancient world. Many cultures also use constellations for maritime navigation. In our southern hemisphere the Southern Cross points to the south, while in the northern hemisphere the North Star always indicates the exact north. There are however also planets that wander between the fixed stars. They circle around the Earth, like the sun and are particularly nice to look at through the telescope.

Our school’s own telescope is located on the Cuno Hoffmeister Memorial Observatory about 23km outside Windhoek. Here we, the astronomy group, watch stars, planets and galaxies.

But astronomy is also the quest for the origin of the universe. Scientists explore the universe - and thereby the past - with large telescopes. Starlight, that we see today, might have been emitted a million years ago already. In this way scientists seek to understand the origin of our sun and Earth, our cosmic home -the Milky Way- and even the entire universe. We want to take the opportunity to peer over the astronomers’ shoulders at the HESS telescope.

Highlights so far:

• "Südsternfreunde-Treffen": Stargazing weekend at Gross Barmen
• During an Internet conference with the German Centre for Aerospace, we have learned from the crew of the Rosetta Mission how they have steered a satellite towards a comet for landing.

We have a wide range of extra mural activates taking part in the afternoons at the DHPS, one of which is the famous Basketball. This is the fastest growing sport in the school as it not only teaches us about good team work but also demonstrates inclusive education as well as a broader social understanding of each other and our cultures.

Basketball helps our learners stay fit, make new friends while building up endurance, improving ones balance, coordination, developing concentration and self-discipline, which all leads to the schools goals of a holistic educational foundation. Besides being a fun and competitive sport it is one of the few sports that can be ideal for any age group or gender, from junior teams of 10-11 years up to our seniors consisting of 15-19 year olds.

Basketball is hence a great way of keeping our learners active in a competitive fun environment!

This year, the choir (Grades 3-6) will perform a musical together with the theater group - “The Secret Life of Pirates”. The learners practice the songs during music lessons in the morning. Only learners, who want to participate in the musical, have special afternoon rehearsal sessions.

Debating at the DHPS

The Debating Club is an extramural activity for learners from Grade 9-12 who meet once a week.

The activity provides an excellent opportunity for learners ot increase their general knowledge about everyday issues and current events, acquire persuasion skills and strengthen their assertiveness and self-confidence.

While debating takes place among DHPS learners during the weekly meeting on Mondays, certain members also participate in national events and inter-school encounters, such as the annual “Zula Radio Energy High School” debate competition.

Skills acquired during these weekly sessions assist learners to become more persuasive and convincing, to lose their fear of public speaking and to become increasingly interested and knowledgeable with regard to general issues, With the aim of providing a voice to the youth - an important part of society that can, will and must make a difference.

Wednesday afternoon. The next deadline draws to a close and the only noise coming from the media room is busy clicking of computer keyboards.

“Elizabeth, how far is the article about the SRC?”, “Joshua, is the report on the student exchange ready?", “Dante, when can we upload your video on the Special Olympics?”, “Did we already receive Christian's photos of the grade 12s graduation ball?” With the deadline moving closer, things are hotting up. “We still need articles for the sports section! Any ideas?” - “Mountain bike extra-mural! The basketball tournament in South Africa! What about judo?” There is an infinite number of ideas on happenings to report about.

Finding topics, doing research, taking photos, conducting interviews, summarizing and compiling objective reports. These are the tasks of a professional journalist - and also of our DHPress-editors.
The small group of dedicated grade 6-12 learners is always on-site when there is news to report on: From events and excursions, to extra-murals and social projects, to sports and current events; nothing goes unnoticed by the vigilant eyes of the DHPresS-reporters. And it’s worth the effort! In addition to regular online articles and video clips on the DHPresS-My Zone platform (see https://zone.my.na/school/dhps/), the ultimate hot-of-the-press-outcome, the "DHPresS”, is published as a supplement of the Windhoek Express and thus of all Namibia Media Holdings newspapers. This exciting moment always is an inspiration for the entire editorial team.

"Being able to inform my fellow school mates and the public about what is happening at the school, motivates me. At DHPresS, we learn something new every session, making it a great platform to get the idea of what being a journalist is like", says Dante Ilovu, DHPresS journalist and videographer.
A circulation of 20,000 newspapers of course provides the great opportunity not only to feel as a journalist, but to actually be one.

The project is a partnership with the Namibian publishing company "Namibia Media Holdings” (NMH), who support the process via a supervising editor. During a media camp held for several days each year, the young journalists are trained professionally and have a lot of fun with their colleagues from other schools.

Please see all stories, articles and newspapers on our DHPS - MyZone page.

Grade 6-12 learners who wish to continue to sing and make music, have special voice training and introductions to ensemble playing. Besides classical music, the repertoire increasingly includes light music.

Many amateur photographers simply press the release button of their camera and are satisfied with what they see on their display.

At the photo-extra-mural activity interested learners can acquire basics skills of active digital photography. It’s not just about “snapping”, but an active awareness of creativity and technical know-how. Participants acquainted with their camera, learn to set scenes effectively, consider light incidence and how to use the camera settings for the ultimate picture.

The photo group mainly focuses on portrait photography, macro-photography and digital image processing.

Projects offer participants the opportunity to get familiarized with the camera and explore their photographic creativity.

“If you fall six times, you get up again seven times” ( Ichiro Abe, 8th Dan)

Judo is a very orderly and disciplined sport, where in addition to strength, fitness and coordination, also concentration and self-confidence are trained. Discipline, self-control, friendship and respect are in the foreground here.

The success speaks for itself! DHPS judoka annually participate in the South African Judo Open Championships as well as in a great number of national competitions and they benefit from the professional training at the DHPS.

Perceiving the environment with wakeful eyes, monitoring closely, registering abnormalities, being curious - these are the basics for “Youth in Science”.

If you ask yourself questions and try to answer them by means of small experiments and enjoy natural sciences, this is your place to be.

The aim is to reach interesting conclusions by means of your own research and written records, thereby qualifying for participation in the German “Youth in Science” competition, to face the critical jury and perhaps even win a prize.

LEGO Robotics combines engineering- and computer-sciences in a playful way.

With kits of the latest LEGO Mindstorm Technology we build our own robot, program it on the PC or smart phone and have tons of fun.

We remote-control the robots, sent them into mazes, have races etc.
Or how about a bulldozer-robot that cleans up for you?
Join us and build one! It is easier than you can imagine.

Our goal is to become the first team in Namibia to participate in the First Lego League. Here 300 000 participants of 30 000 teams worldwide compete against each other - this is why we need you and your ideas!

And by the way: LEGO Robotics is not just for boys!

Welcome to our “Big band with strings”

Orchestra members are Grade 7-12 music-enthusiasts, who have previously received instrumental lessons for one of the orchestral instruments and former brass-class participants. The program includes classical-, jazz-, and pop-music.

Highlights, in addition to the DHPS school concert, are regular school-internal and -external performances, concerts and musical productions, where learners can prove their musical skills, such as the Orchestra week of German schools in Southern Africa. DHPS had the honour to host this event in March 2019.

The DHPS Interact Club has set itself the task of helping people who live on the margins of our society. True to the motto “Service before Self”, donations are collected and social projects are supported.

One of these projects is the “Kids Soup Kitchen”, a soup kitchen in the former Windhoek township Katutura. Once a month, members of the DHPS Interact Club drives to Katutura and take along food to prepare a meal together with the Kids Soup Kitchen for about 260 needy children and teenagers.

A “Soup Kitchen” provides the opportunity to cooperate with other voluntary helpers and the learners realize the importance of their commitment, time and dedication for other people.

Finding pleasure in doing good - this is what characterized the DHPS Interact Club.

Peer mediation is a chance for students to work with other students to help them resolve problems, arguments and disagreements without having to get the teacher involved.
The Peer Mediators of DHPS aim to maintain a tranquil and friendly environment among the students at this school through peaceful mediation sessions.

If our learners have an issue they would like to resolve without the teacher being involved, you can inform Frau Falk, our peer mediator teacher, or find us in the Peer Mediators room next to the sports hall during our AG time.

Students from grades 7 and upwards are welcome to become a mediator and to join us!

According to our theater-instructor, Andreas Robisch, “school theater in the first place can be seen as a medium for learners, that involves them from head to toe and offers them the possibility for a new view of the world and to explore it actively” “Thus a very special part of our school that should be fun above all.”

True to this motto, the DHPS theatre group devotes itself to a large productions each year: From classics like Berthold Brecht’s “The Good Person of Szechwan” to musicals like “Dance of the Vampires”or “The Secret Life of Pirates”.

Theater builds self-confidence, character and - above all - is great fun.

YouThinkGreen Namibia is an educational youth initiative at the DHPS. The aim of the project is to train school-age participants to become critically-minded climate ambassadors who create awareness in and outside the school for sustainable consumption, transport and energy.

Our latest projects include: Save Water initiative, Schools´recycling competition, Liquifruit Can building competition, cacti clean-up and many more.
More information is provided here.

In this extra-mural activity for Grade 1 and 2 learners not only the sense for music, singing and dancing is developed, but learners are also introduced to simple rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment.

Mountain biking rocks. It is just fun and exercising outdoors is healthy. These are just a few of the many reasons why one should grab a mountain bike and start to explore the outdoors.

Since cycling becomes increasingly popular in Namibia, our school also wants to give its learners the opportunity to improve their skills, dexterity and endurance on the bicycle. In addition to the training the learners also attend workshops on bicycle care, maintenance and repair.

Besides having fun the overall aim of the project is to motivate extra-mural participants to compete in the Namibian School Cycling League 2018. Here learners represent the DHPS and receive points for their school, while they show their cycling abilities and acquire competition experience. Currently about 20 learners from Grade 2 to Grade 11 are joining the fun.

Our teachers Mr Thorsten Horenburg and Ms Nadia zu Bentheim are in charge of the extra-mural and also support the participants of the MTB schools league.
The answer to what motivated them in establishing this sports project is simple: „It´s just the greatest sport ever!”, says Thorsten Horenburg. “Mountain biking and cycling in general are booming and we also want to strengthen the up-and-coming cyclists in Namibia.”

This season the DHPS-team ranked second at the FNB Mountain bike Schools League but the expectations are high and the intensive training will hopefully pay off.
Naturally, the training location should be easily accessible for all the participants. Together with workouts on our spacious campus, the “wild outdoors” will be experienced as well and most MTB training sessions take place at “Farm Windhoek”.

By extending our sports offer we follow the current trend of outdoor sports and charged an open door considering the keen interest in the MTB extra-mural.

Fun and “human self-reflection” (Novalis)

Acting in a theater play means to take a stand, to occupy a position. For a holistic educational approach, School Theater is an excellent opportunity to perceive young people from head to toe and to enable them to take a new look at themselves and the world and explore actively. It is a way to encourage learners to confidently find and fill their personal place in life in the world later.

In addition, play-acting provides an opportunity for encounter: between different cultures and grades - all within a casual, free atmosphere, where language is “learned by doing”.

Overview of past and future DHPS theatre productions:

"Kwela, Kwela", 2018
"Once upon a time there was... or was there not?", 2017
"Ms Müller must go!", 2017
“The secret life of pirates”, 2016
“Oh, Ballade!”, 2016
“The Good Person of Szechwan” (Bertolt Brecht), 2015
“Dance of Vampires”, 2013

“Spot-on” with the Tech-Team: Lighting-, sound, and event-technology

High-quality events not only need to be well-planned on stage, but the lightning-, sound- and event-technology also plays a major role backstage.

Our technics - team offers learners extensive training and is responsible for organizing everything which is required for a successful event, a concert, a theater play ore our regular assemblies.

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