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TERM I #2
March 2004
Dear Parents
A truth parents do not dispute is that it is becoming more difficult to parent adolescents! My discussions with parents during the past few years have shown an increase in frustrations, and bewildered attempts to understand the behaviour of what was once an angelic child. More and more I am convinced that parents and the school must work together in our fight against the pressures modern society places on our wonderful girls. When parents and educators set the same expectations and parameters for behaviour and work ethic, and keep in contact with each other, there is less confusion on the part of the learner and less playing off of one side against the other.
Our tutor system is designed to encourage you to build a relationship with the tutor who will look after your daughter at school for the 5 years she is at Wynberg. We have also decided this year
systematically to re-evaluate and re-vamp our school policies to suit current situations. We will make these available to parents to use in conjunction with the family’s values to guide and protect our girls as they journey through this challenge of adolescence. Each policy will be discussed with staff,
the School Governing Body (as representatives of the parents) and the learners (through the RCL). The first policy released this year was the Acceptable Use of the Computers and Internet, and we are currently in the final stages of the drug, alcohol and tobacco policy. We value the input of parents and encourage you to communicate with the SGB or me about policy issues or other ideas, or areas in which you could offer your particular expertise.
Shirley Harding
Principal
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SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY 2004
Huge Apologies !!! The first newsletter inadvertently contained the list of last year's Governing Body. The full list of 2004 parent GB members is:
Mr Nick Shortall (Chair)
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Mr Peter Meyer (Treasurer)
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Mr Mike Reid
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Mrs Charlene Mason
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Mr David Roux
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Mrs Cheryl Bluff
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Mrs Janette Louw
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Parents wishing to contact the SGB can do so by leaving a letter for them at reception.
RCL 2004
Chairperson: Andrea Meyer
Vice-chair: Insaaf Abrahams
Secretary : Nikita van der Berg
Governing
Body Representatives
Andrea Meyer
Pulane Mpondo
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Grade 8 Representatives:
Nandi Ganda PT
Thea Small AC
Tarryn van Zyl CP
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Grade 9 Representatives:
Raelene Adams NS
Olivia McCarthy JJ
Heather Whitehorn AC
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Grade 10 Representatives:
Rayvonne Mars RD
Kebone Moloko NF
Joanna O'Carroll SC
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Grade 11 Representatives:
Pulane Mpondo VM
Leila Padayachi TL
Melissa Theunissen SC
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Grade 12 Representatives:
Insaaf Abrahams CP
Andrea Meyer IM
Nikita van der Berg DM |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ...
DONNA MILES, English teacher and debating maestro, who quietly took time off last week to attend a wedding ceremony . . . her own !!! We wish her, and her very lucky husband, Nolan Moss, a long and happy life together!
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT TERM 1 2004
Newsletter #1 recorded the English Department’s first success of the year: the AS Level English results of 2003. In case you missed them :
ten students attained C aggregates; seventeen B aggregates and twelve very impressive A aggregates!. May this be an incentive for this year’s AS Level class! Congratulations to all these candidates and to Ms Orpen, Mrs Kourie and Ms Lawrence who taught them and tried to calm their panic attacks.
Our yearly visit to Maynardville took place on a splendid evening in mid-February. As the lights dimmed and the action began, all realised that they were in for an exciting time. Mr Lauff, who has organised the Maynardville trip for a number of years, stated that this performance was absolutely outstanding. Hats off to Geoff Hyland, the director. The learners spoke so enthusiastically the next day that it became apparent they would be back for more next year!
Twenty-six learners entered the English Olympiad on 2 March 2004. They were asked to study a selection of extracts from Shakespeare’s sonnets and some of his plays. The broad topic was “Shakespeare
on Love”. As with many exams, the closer 2 March loomed, the more the learners wished they had studied during the holidays! Despite this, the exam paper was creative and interesting and we eagerly await the results. One thing is certain: any learner who prepared for this exam will have benefited from this experience, despite the outcome.
On 8 March, the grade 12 classes were visited by The Little Touring Company who, after enacting various scenes, invited discussion on their prescribed Shakespearean play, “Hamlet”.This, as usual, helped the Grade 12’s consolidate what they have already studied in class.
I would like to thank the staff in the English Dept. for the valuable part they have played and continue to play in this very busy term.
Ms Miki Lawrence
SPORT
Ashleigh Heese was placed 1st in the Western Province Girls U-18 Longboard Surfing trails held at the beginning of March. This means that she will represent WP at the SA Championships in PE later this month.
Chanelle van Wyk participated in the 2004 USSASA High Schools’ Swimming Championships recently and won 6 medals: 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze.
Well done, Ashleigh and Chanelle!. Wynberg is very proud of both of you !
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DRAMA HISTORY @
WGHS
For the first time in the history of Wynberg, the entire class of Grade 12
Drama students has been awarded colours. This group has been exceptional
as a group and individually, whether at the various Arts Festivals that
they have participated in, the major productions, the eisteddfods, the
house plays or in their exams.
Grade 12 Awards :
Full Colours (re-award):
Ondine Corewijn, Tara Notcutt, Tarn de Villiers, Olivia van den Heever.
Full Colours (new):
Ellie Shortall, Aimee Valentine, Kerryn Lancaster, Tarryn Blows, Lamees
Albertus, Jessica Riviera, Hilary Ions, Laverne Portellas, Stacey Lee Son,
Tamlyn Wightman, Genevieve Forte, Jenny Moolman, Boniswa Isaacs, Nicole
Whitehorn, Kate Jennings.
Grade 11 Awards :
Full Colours:
Romy Shortall, Sam Guiness, Amy Donaldson.
Half Colours:
Chanré Terblanche, Ashleigh Badham-Thornhill,TarnHodson, Chantelle
Portellas, Melanie Pitout, Jessica Leibbrandt,
Nikki van Zyl.
WOGU WOGU WOGU WOGU
Shelley Kassel (Class of ‘84) is organising a 20 year reunion. Her email address is:
typinggalore@telkomsa.net
Lisa Buckles (Class of ‘94) is also trying to organise a reunion (10 years!) to take place at the end of the year. Her email address is:
lbuckles@goldingcommercial.co.za
DID YOU KNOW THAT .....
Hayley Godfrey, class of 2003, can be seen on the cover of
“Wicked” this month. Of course, this is because of the
wonderful education she received @ WGHS!
(Reflected glory etc.etc.)
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MATRIC HIKE 2004
Finally our Matric year has come and with it all the joys and privileges of being in Grade 12. One of these is the Matric Hike which, this year, was a camp (during which we hiked) rather than a trail.
On Friday, 20 February, eleven excited Grade12’s departed for Beaverlac, a campsite set in a valley in the heart of the Grootwinterhoek mountains. No sooner had we unpacked than we were swimming in deep, refreshing mountain pools and the more adventurous of us jumping off water-falls. Reluctantly, we left these amazing pools and returned to our 'comfy' log cabins situated in swaying pine forests where we filled the cool night air with talk and laughter.
Saturday morning was beautifully warm, filled with a myriad of chirping birds and other natural sounds. We left the campsite and headed up one of the many surrounding mountains. We keenly anticipated the cooling mountain pools we would visit on our way. There were many laughs and new experiences as we 'bundu-bashed' through thick vegetation in search of these pools. Our efforts were rewarded eventually and we eagerly dived into the clear, refreshing pools before returning to the campsite. Here, we spent the remainder of the afternoon lazing around our cabins, exploring our surroundings and visiting the nearby pool. That evening we learnt to braai and studied the
amazingly clear sky and stars before retiring to our beds.
Reluctant to leave on Sunday, we spent our last moments at this blissful location walking through orchards to find a stunning waterfall and pool where we spent the morning.
We would like to thank Ms Wilding and Ms Bernstein for making this experience possible and so memorable.
Gillian Lupton Smith
Back: Mrs M Wilding, Catherine Phillips, Stacy Lee Son,
Lindsay Paton, Alison Engel, Genevieve Forte, Hilary Ions, Ellie Shortall, Gillian Lupton-Smith, Danny Alexander
Front: Jenny Moolman, Nicola Wasserfall
Inset:: Ms A Bernstein
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OPEN DAY
Our annual Open Day was held on Wednesday 3 March in wonderful summer weather. Approximately 250 Grade 7’s accompanied by their parents, explored the school which was abuzz with sporting, cultural and academic events.
An information talk by Mrs Harding was followed by our students’ “roadshow” which showcased talents we are proud of at WGHS: learners performed a fashion-show cum dance item; the Xhosa society dancers and the ballet group performed pieces from “African Footprint” and the drama girls put together a rap item which extolled the virtues of WGHS.
Parents and prospective pupils were taken on guided tours of the school by members of the school council and matric leaders, and were invited to observe us at work and play. There were Waterpolo matches to be watched in the pool, Marimba players under the trees, promotions of some of the clubs and societies, and the Choir, Orchestra and Flute Ensemble to listen to. There were various sports to watch and as usual there were wonderful Art displays in and around the school.
We need to be reminded occasionally of how very fortunate we are to have the sorts of facitilities we do at Wynberg, and it is invariably on occasions such as these that we once again see the school through new eyes. We are reminded of the hard work put in by the various Parents' Associations to provide us with facilities like the Computer Centre, our Tuckshop and the rain shelter.
Visitors commented on the sports fields, astroturf, swimming and diving pools and the "amazing campus" that we have. As they wandered through the buildings - from our Ballet Hall, to the Gymnasium, to the Technology, Biology and Science labs and the Audio Visual Centre - it became clear that it was not only what is available to our students, but also the beauty of the old buildings and the grounds that impressed them.
Days like this make us reflect on what we have, and make us extraordinarily proud to be part of a school like Wynberg.
Grade 12 Ballet girls dance for prospective
students
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ECO FASHION SHOW
It’s Cape Town Festival time, and WGHS too, is participating. From 14 - 22 March, Cape Town is hosting a multi-cultural festival. Its purpose to unite us as South Africans through the language and medium of poetry, dance, film, fashion and its theme this year is "10 years of Democracy".
Part of the festivities is the Eco Fashion show and a number of our girls have been busily designing outfits they hoped might be selected for the event. On 10 March, the Art Studio was abuzz as these hopeful contenders donned their creations made from recycled materials. It was soon obvious, that one does not have to be rich to look gorgeous, and for those Matriculants who are agonising over their matric dance outfits, it might be worth tapping into some of the creative energy of our own fashion designers. We were delighted when our adjudicator selected all of the designs put forward by our girls.
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URGENT REMINDER !
WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL has been declared a public holiday because of the Elections. Consequently, the second term will now commence on THURSDAY 15 APRIL.
It is very important that your daughter attend school on THURSDAY 15 because the following outings will be taking place - all of which contain curriculum work which will be assessed: Grade 12 - Biology, Grade 11 - Geography, Grade 10 - Maths, Grade 9 - History. The Grade 8’s will be doing assessment work at school.
In addition, FRIDAY 16 is an essay exam day for English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. Absence will require a doctor’s note.
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CRICKET
The WGHS 1st Cricket team were once again on the winning trail in the Monday League when they beat Steenberg High by 12 runs. Top scorer for Wynberg was Elana Soloman.
TENNIS
The 1st and 2nd teams have been up bright and early in the mornings, practising for Senior Inter-schools Tennis. This tournament was played in lovely warm weather and Wynberg came fourth overall. The Grade 8 Interschools team also came fourth in their tournament. Well done to all concerned. A big thank you to Mr Lord and Mev Muller for a good, well-organised season.
Debbie Gray
INDOOR HOCKEY
The Interschools tournament will be held at Herschel on Friday 19 March. The tournament starts at 15:00. Don’t miss this chance to share our team’s triumph !!!
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INTER-HOUSE WATERPOLO
In what is becoming a tradition, inter-house waterpolo was played on Open Day, Wednesday 3 March. This allowed prospective parents the opportunity of seeing waterpolo being played in the school pool. For the first time, the competition was contested by eight different houses. Four houses played on Monday, four on Tuesday and the semi-finals and finals were played on Open Day. Teams consisted of players ranging from Grade 8 to Grade12 and, for some girls, it was the first waterpolo match they had ever played ! Cavanagh proved to be the strongest team, beating Silverlea in a hard-fought final. Third and fourth place went to Copenhagen and Apsley respectively.
Well done to all the teams for an excellent inter-house competition played in a very good spirit.
Mr Pete Bodenstein
URGENTLY NEEDED BY THE ART DEPARTMENT
RECYCLABLE GOODS, BUTTONS, BEADS, FABRIC, MAGAZINES, etc. etc.
Hand to Mrs du Plessis or put in the box outside the Arts and Culture Room.
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