Staff Changes

Unfortunately, year-end goes hand in hand with farewells. Mrs Marion Mann (Science), Mrs Cynthia Damstra (Biology) and Mrs Pat Griffiths (Music) all head off into retirement. We wish them wonderful days of peace and rest away from the chalkface, and trust that life will be good to them. Mrs Barbara Swart (Maths) and Mrs Jackie Douglas (English) both move to positions at private schools. Mrs Debbie Cheney (Home Economics) comes to the end of her 6-month temporary contract and Ms O’Carroll takes a break to complete her Psychology internship. Our grateful thanks go to all these staff members who maintained high standards in the classroom and have given time, energy and love to our girls. We have also said farewell to Mrs Sarah Isaacs, one of our cleaning staff who has served the school well for 21 years, and Ms Lena Paulse left the hostel.

The following new staff join the Wynberg family next year:

Ms M McCarthy (Maths , English) our new Head of Department),
Mrs Hartmann (Biology),
Mr Bodenstein (Science),
Ms Syndercombe (Music),
Ms Fowkes (Home Economics),
Ms Jordan (Lifeskills/History) and
Mr Roman (Maths).

With best wishes

Shirley Harding

The major Grade Eleven project for Geography this year was the design and construction of a board game on an ecology topic. The overall standard of the games produced was excellent and the Grade Nine pupils at whose age group they were aimed, thoroughly enjoyed playing them.

In what might initially appear to be a bit of a digression, we’d like remind you of a report we wrote in June of an Environmental Quiz in which four of our girls participated. You may recall that the team competed against eighty-three other schools, and in the fourth and final round proved to be the wiser team on 5 June, World Environment Day. On this occasion they brought home the Floating Trophy for the school, won a R7,500.00 bursary from Warner Lambert and a six-day holiday at Anysberg Nature Reserve from Educo Africa At that time we published this photograph of them.

The winning Dentyne Environmental Quiz Team – from left to right Tamaryn Allen, Katherine Bunny, Tammy Baudains and Shelly van Dyk

What is wonderful is that two of the members of that team have not left it at that. They have not been confined to the parameters set by the Fairest Cape Association. Using as its base the information from the Dentyne Environment Quiz, Katherine Bunny and Tammy Baudains thought it a good idea to share the knowledge they had gained by inviting some of their classmates to design and make a board game. Thus it was that Tammy Baudains, Katherine Bunney, Chantelle von Buddenbrock and Sarah Cathor created the game War on Waste. It was a game which had a particularly good reception: the information was very sound, and the board and movable pieces highly creative and most original. It was at this point that Mrs Wilding thought Mr Reuben Synders might be interested to hear about it.

While we are delighted with all that our girls’ work has achieved thus far, we look forward to seeing the names of our girls on the covers of a few CD ROMS for kids!

ANNOUNCING OUR LEADERS FOR THE YEAR, 2000

We met bright and early at the clubhouse for a conflict resolution course with Mrs De Wet and Mrs Malan. The course resulted in many laughs and few arguments.

We would like to extend our thanks to the senior management staff, and to everyone else who was involved in making our camp enjoyable.

On Thursday, 10 October our new prefects for the year 2000 had a day free of lessons, although they claimed to be even more tired at the end of it than they would have been in a "normal" day of school! This was the day when Mrs de Wet and Mrs Malan ran a preliminary "Conflict and Co-operation" course with the prefects up at the Hockey Clubhouse.

At the end of the day, the prefects went off on camp where Mrs Harding and her team had organised even more activities to prepare our prefects for what we hope will be a most challenging, exciting and rewarding Y2000 for our school's new leaders.

By the time you receive this letter, your daughters will have completed their Senior Certificate Examinations. This year, it is expected that the results will be made known to you on 30 December, and you and your daughters will be able to obtain the results from the school at approximately 16h00 on that day. We will publish their results on our website at www.wynghs.co.za and establish a link to the Western Cape Education Department website (http://www.westcape.wcape.gov.za) so that should any girls be travelling they can see their results for themselves. Pupils should note however that in order to access information on their examination results, they will have to enter both their examination number and their identity number.

Until that time, however, it can be said that the school has received the highest praise from the Subject Advisors in their moderating of the year marks. In all subjects, the girls and the learning they have displayed have been commended and their work has been met with great delight. It goes without saying that we are very pleased indeed.

Learning Support Programme

This year, Ms O'Carroll and Mrs Kierman introduced new programme of learning support for a small group of Grade Eight and Nine pupils. The aim of the programme was to build confidence and to improve reading and writing skills and creativity. Topics such as time management, goal setting and study skills were also covered. In addition to meeting in the group once a week after school, the girls also worked on a computer-based reading programme and enjoyed taking books from a small lending library.

The girls who were chosen to participate in the programme seemed to benefit from the interaction in the group, and many teachers remarked on their improved participation in class. Progress was also noted in their approach to their work and their performance in learning subjects. The girls seemed to develop a more positive attitude to school and we hope that they ended the year with a sense that they can in fact achieve the goals they set for themselves.

The November examinations have been written and posted off to Cambridge, all of the end-of-year administration has been completed, and so one’s thoughts turn to the past year - a distinctly positive and pleasant experience.

It has been home to twenty-two A level students, most of whom wrote their final examinations in November 1999. Judging by the marks achieved in the March and June results, we have every right to expect a high standard from these results as well. Final results will only be available in January 2000, so there will be some nail biting until then.

The A levels students of 1999

All of the A level students are to be commended on their ability to turn the Alf Morris Centre into a comfortable, relaxed, friendly workplace. They worked hard and participated fully in the more intimate atmosphere of the A level classroom.

Also to be praised and thanked are the wonderful group of enthusiastic and dedicated A level teachers. Most of them arrived at 3 or 4 or 5pm, having taught a full day at school, and then engaged their over-worked brains with the intricacies of A level thought. That they did so with unfailing interest and humour and enthusiasm is to their credit!

No academic year is complete without a prize giving. The A level prize-giving/supper was held in the Bill Bowden Pavillion at Wynberg Boys’ High, where prizes were awarded, amongst others to Karen Jennings for her excellence in English Literature, and to Gemma Patten for her excellence in Pure Mathematics.

Should you wish to contact Lynne Martin, the A level Administrator, you can do so by e-mailing her at lmartin@wynghs.co.za or by phoning her at 021 - 790 4160. During term time, you could leave a message for her with the secretaries of the school, at 021 -797 4163.

We wish her well in her studies, having the utmost confidence in her ability.

The Grade Eight pupils for the year 2000 were invited to attend an information evening on 26 October, where they could get to know a little more about Wynberg Girls’ High School, and what to expect next year.

It was a well attended evening with valuable input from various people. Pupils and parents got to hear about life at Wynberg from Sibongile Balfour, a day-girl, and Jessica Jones told them what it is like to be a boarder at Waterloo House. Both girls are currently in Grade Eight.

Mr Penberthy spoke on behalf of the Governing Body and Mr Jones informed them of the role that the Parents Association plays at Wynberg Girls. Pupils and parents were invited to ask questions about their daughters' option subjects for next year, which seemed to help solve selection problems.

We would like to thank all of the Wynberg School parents who have given so much of their time and their unfailing support in the library, tuckshop, as members of the flower roster and for those co-ordinating and running our clothing exchange. These areas of service are ongoing and are greatly appreciated by the school.

We should also like to thank all of the Grade Ten parents who generously provided a delicious tea for our Valedictory Service. We are deeply appreciative of the numerous ways in which our parent body bolster, serve and contribute to the working of the school.

There have been a number of fund raising activities for the Cancer Association recently. One of this organisation's creative actions has been to arrest public figures and release them should they have been able to raise the bail set for them. One of our learned colleagues, Dr Fullard, principal of Rustenburg High was one such person.

This month, the Wynberg Staff are also doing their bit by paying for the privilege of wearing casual clothes to school. The money raised will be given to the Cancer Association. A recent innovation, Casual Day happens at the end of each month, and the staff of Wynberg Girls make a contribution to a chosen charity every month. So far we have raised funds for the SPCA, the Cancer Association, the National Park’s Board and the Association for the Disabled.

Wynberg Art Exhibition

As is customary at Wynberg, the work of our Matric pupils was publicly displayed on 5 October for the viewing of parents and friends.

This year our students have done themselves and us extremely proud: their work is excellent and there were a number of calls for greater exposure - of the girls' work, not our girls! This is certainly something we aim to do, and soon you will be able to see the work of our students in the Art Gallery on the Wynberg Girls' High website at www.wynghs.co.za .

A little taste of the quality of the work can be seen here, although clearly, because it has been reproduced on a photocopying machine, in black and white, we cannot hope to do justice to the works produced by our students.

This examination project, by Paula Raubenheimer, earned high praise from the external examiner.

This was painted by Mandi Knipe and also earned bigh praise from her examiners.

The next image was produced by Lara Wooley.

DRAMA DEPARTMENT

As for all subjects, the fourth term is the examination term. Once again we had quite a number of girls entering the Trinity College of London Exams. The examiner was flown out from London and the exams were held at the Nassau Centre. Each candidate prepared performance pieces (the number depending on the grade entered) including poetry, prose and monologue. Theory questions were asked and sight-reading and improvisation (unprepared) were presented during the exam.

This was the first time that Wynberg Girls' High has entered the South African Guild of Speech and Drama Teachers' exams. The Guild have just received International recognition and therefore these exams compare favourably with those of the Trinity College of London, Examinations were held in the school hall on 30 October.

Results

The results were excellent. Thirteen candidates entered. Eleven were awarded Honours (over 85%) and two merit (over 75%) The examiner commented on the poise and eloquence of the girls.

The standard of Speech and Drama improves each year at our school. Ms Penelope Glover and Ms Jacqueline Domisse must be thanked and congratulated for their hours of hard work and dedication to their students.

Youth Leadership

It was wonderful to have the interest and support of friends and family on this occasion. The girls excelled and without exception showed how their communication skills have improved. The meeting ran smoothly and efficiently with an enjoyable refreshment break. We were delighted to have Mrs McEwen with us to hand out the graduation certificates. At the end of the meeting various family members willingly participated in the ABC game which was highly amusing and entertaining. A great time was had by all and especially the participants who deserved all the praise showered on them.

The Achievers’ Dinner was held on 6 October in the school hall. Over two hundred pupils and teachers and coaches attended the dinner. The captains' or chairpersons' speeches were well received and the Sports Captains and Cultural leaders were announced for the year 2000. We congratulate those pupils who received certificates or awards and trophies. The dinner honours those pupils who have achieved outstanding results in a particular area. Our Sports Achiever of the Year went to Robyn Lewis.

OORLOGSKLOOF TRAIL

On 23 September a group of nine very enthusiastic pupils departed early from school to embark on a five-hour journey into Namaqualand and begin the five days' hiking on the Oorlogskloof trail.

We were led by Lucille Krige, Mrs Wilding and Mrs McCallum up and down the steep valley sides within the reserve. Although some of the days were long and tiring, a beautiful camp always awaited us as each afternoon drew to a close. Every camp was comprised of five three-person tents, a fireplace, wooden stools, mattresses and a source of running water close by. The name "Oorlogskloof" given to the reserve, reminds us of the battle between the Settlers and the Khoisan which took place in the valley two hundred and sixty years ago. Remains of this time include stone buildings, Khoisan graves and kraals, all of which we came across during the trail. Fascinating San paintings and caves were also encountered. Numerous ropes and ladders as well as tunnels, chimneys and a passage behind a waterfall added a touch of adventure to the trail. The third day brought with it a steady drizzle, which lasted from when we got up till nightfall with brief respites in between.

One of the marvelous climbs on this trail

The scenery was breath-taking from the bottom of the valley to the top of the plateau. The bush was fresh and green and crawling with many insects. Some we stopped to look at and others we chose to pass rapidly. We also shared the area with larger fauna such as feral donkeys, porcupine, leopard and baboon. Some of the braver members of the group swam in the deep river pools, which were, to say the least, freezing cold. On the fourth day we had to locate ten rock arches along the trail, some of which had to be crawled through. We claim to have seen most of these although some were rather suspect.

Many memorable moments were shared by all. Although the trail had been a stunning experience; there wasn't a single hiker who didn't up the pace with great relief as the finishing point neared.

Tammy Baudains

WATERLOO HOUSE

For all things there is a time … and this term has presented us with a time of celebration and humour, and it has also presented us with a time of reflection and academic consideration.

The first major social event of the term was the "End of Year Party" for the matrics - organized and hosted by the Grade Elevens. Much preparation and enthusiasm goes into the planning of the event and this year was certainly no different. Our girls created a night full of horror and humour as they transformed the dining room into a house of horrors.

Most of the Matrics left early in the term and the Grade Elevens took over the running of the hostel. One of the first spirit-building events that they organized was a very entertaining fashion show. There was also an enjoyable braai and party with the boys of Littlewood House. The termly boarders were, as usual, kept busy over the weekends with movies, braais, shopping sprees and a very successful day on Clifton beach.

We wish the girls, their parents and all the staff a restful holiday and thank them all for their support throughout the year.

Wynberg Girls' High School and Rustenburg Girls' High School will be hosting a Sports Festival in the year 2000. The Netball and Hockey festival will take place from 27-30 April 2000. Twelve schools from around the country will be competing and a fun-filled weekend has been organised for all competitors, coaches and staff members. Our First teams in Hockey, Netball and Squash will be competing and socialising with other teams from the rest of South Africa. The competitors will enjoy an evening at Ratanga Junction while testing out the Cobra. We look forward to your support over the festival.