We are extremely concerned with the current trend of learners missing school for trivial reasons. The School’s Act requires regular attendance at school, so we ask you to support us by sending your daughter to school unless she is genuinely ill.
Many of our teachers are attending a Grade 10 FET course during the first week of the holidays and we hope that they return wiser and with exciting ideas for the new curriculum to be implemented in 2006. We hope that after the first week they will be able to enjoy a well-deserved break.

I wish all of you an enjoyable holiday and to those travelling, a safe return.

Yours sincerely

Mrs P McEwen
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

MUSIC REPORT

A few weeks ago, one was aware of the sound of music students frantically doing last minute rehearsals. Now, the exams, the first formal practical ones of the year, are thankfully over. May teachers and pupils alike reap the benefits of their hard work!

As a whole, this term has been jam packed with activities, eisteddfods, exams, performances, and lots of fun. To start off the term, the senior marimba band played at the Wynberg Boys’ High food and cultural evening. They then went on to obtain an impressive 83% at Sans Souci’s FACETS (arts festival). The evening was made even more exciting by the confirmation of our admission into the Guiness Book of World Records.

The Recorder Ensemble should also be congratulated as they achieved a Diploma at the eisteddfod - the highest possible award. They have recently been invited to play at Herschel. 

A well-attended lunchtime concert was presented. It was clear that the audience appreciated the varied program just as much as the performers benefited from the pre-exam practice!

Upcoming events include numerous eisteddfods, especially for the individual singers and the choir. The orchestra and junior marimbas will be playing at WBJS in June. Best wishes to the performers.

Raelene Adams

At the end of last year, the senior and junior marimba bands participated in an attempt to get into the Guiness Book of World Records for the most number of marimbas being played together at one time. The attempt was the initiative of Mr Ross Johnson, the marimba teacher of numerous schools in the area. The record attempt was held at Bishops, and throughout the evening, individual bands were given the chance to entertain the crowd, giving them a taste of what was to come.

The finale had players from Rustenburg Girls’ High, Grove Primary, Pinelands High, Herschel, St Josephs, Bishops, Wynberg Girls’ and AmaAmbush (Ross’ private band), all playing together. It was a truly spectacular event, with the marimbas generating immense energy. The evening would have been considered a musical success in its own right, but the confirmation of our admittance into the Guiness Book of World Records amplified it.

Mothers who Care

We would like to extend our grateful thanks to our prayer moms who have prayed so faithfully for our school during the past six 
months. They meet at school for an hour on Thursday afternoons after break and pray for any prayer requests that have been handed in, as well as many other issues affecting teenagers and schools. 

If you feel that this is a ministry you would like to join, please speak to Mrs Theunissen in the front office. If you have any requests (they could be anonymous), please hand those to Mrs Theunissen as well. 

God answers prayers!

Bon Voyage

Mrs Harding is in Birmingham as part of an educational group on a fact-finding mission. We look forward to hearing more about it when she returns. Mr Burrell, Mrs Shapiro-Dodds and Mrs Cochrane are also travelling overseas, to Europe and the USA. We hope they have a wonderful time.

Farewell, Rosie !

The girls in the 8R Maths class said goodbye to Gap student, Rosie, in a true teenage way: chips, cooldrinks, sweets, brownies and laughter. For the past six months, Rosie has helped in this class and the girls wanted to say farewell before her return to the UK. 

Rosie surrounded by South African friends
in Grade Eight

Mrs. Paverd welcomed everyone, and then handed over to Michelle Fourie who handed out “Certificates of Appreciation” to members of different service groups.These members included the tree-huggers of the Environment Club, the super-caring Peer Guides, the very verbose members of the Debating Society, busy and dedicated members of Interact, the well-read Librarians, the computer boffins of NOC, the photographers and reporters of the Web Committee, and the always prepared Technical Team! 

Too often in life people are awarded only for achievements that are obviously and easily recognized by everyone. The service committee is to be thanked for recognizing the numerous small, quiet acts so often performed behind the scenes!

Emma Bryce

On Friday, 27 May, the Wynberg Grade 9’s gathered in the hall to watch a production by the New Africa Theatre. The Island and the Applebox is a modern play about the history of Robben Island and its people, from the time of the settlers through to the post-apartheid era, focusing on discrimination. Through brilliant theatre techniques and effective rhyming, it caught the attention of all of the Grade 9’s and made this aspect of our curriculum thoroughly enjoyable. Besides being thoroughly entertaining, the skilful actors were also teaching important lessons and values. Everyone empathised with the victims of discrimination, while at the same time, feeling great respect for those who had fought for their rights in the past. 

The play ended with an explanation of events and the singing of the National Anthem where girls joined the cast in a joyous and united finale. Overall it was an amazing experience and the message of equality and freedom for all was clearly conveyed.

Philippa Bodenstein & Emma Proctor

Grade 8 Solo
Katherine Moffett poetry DIPLOMA
Sian Goodson-Coutts monologue DIPLOMA

Grade 9 Solo
Sarah Child poetry DIPLOMA
monologue MERIT

Grade 10 Solo
Olivia McCarthy poetry DIPLOMA
monologue DIPLOMA

Grade 12 Solo
Romy Shortall poetry HONOURS
monologue DIPLOMA

GROUP WORK:
Grade 10 Theme: HONOURS
Grade 10 and 12 (first time inter-grade combining): 
Romy Shortall & Olivia McCarthy: DIPLOMA
Grade 11 Theme: HONOURS
Grade 11: Sadiqah Steenkamp & Kim Hyman: HONOURS

Ms P Glover

Just how much (or how little work) has been done and understood becomes apparent initially to the teachers - who generally wonder what they have been doing over the last six months - and then the students who puff with pride at their achievements or find someone else to blame! Whatever the case, WGHS exams are over, and by now the students know just how well (or badly) they have done. 

While many of us might associate examinations with scrunched up bits of papers, red eyes, blotchy faces and numerous visits to the kitchen for the inevitable sustenance break, it was a pleasant surprise to pop into some of the exam venues to see just what the glamorous gals at Wynberg were up to while they were doing their exams.

But apart from the work of Reto, there were prizes to be won: from Wicked and Top Billing magazines, Elixir skin products and Accessorize and from Reto himself. 

Champagne and savouries, music, lights and laughter were the backdrop to the evening... It was hugely entertaining, and great fun!

Ms P Orpen

The show, called "Mass Production", combines dance, song, rap, mime and an original script, devised by the youth for the youth, creating awareness and encouraging them to speak out. 

Some of the things that pollute our world which the show touches on are sex, drugs, alcohol, gangsterism, labels, pressure, affirmative action and of course HIV/AIDS. But it is not all gloom and doom because running through it all there is man’s (as in human’s) conscience, played by the brother / sister team of Amy and Bradley Reaper. So this is also a story about love and hope.

Now for the really important details : Performance dates: 10, 11, 12 August : Booking opens: 1 August at WGHS

The project is being facilitated and directed by Penny Glover and Victoria Bartlett. Victoria is a freelance actress who has been 
involved in work-shopping and script-writing: we are grateful for her talent and expertise. The combination of these two drama 
specialists should produce an unmissable show - diarise now !

The humorous play, performed with enormous enthusiasm, also included snippets of African song and dance where the girls were encouraged to clap along!

When the production came to an end, the actors were met with warm applause…but there was more! For the last twenty minutes of the session, the actors involved the school in Theatresports. Slowly, everyone warmed up, and suddenly, people were stomping their feet, throwing their arms about and singing along at the tops of their voices. When the bell rang, the actors were met with a disappointed moan, something which must have heartened them! 

Emma Bryce

Back: I Coulter, C Manuel, S-L Gedult, T Hanekom, A Casper, K Anderson, R Anderson, L Badenhorst, N Mullins
Kneeling: Ms Bernstein, I Davids, K Croxford, M Paterson, E Muller, C Jones
Front: M Greeff

An even more exciting development is that superstar Illse Davids is on the move again. She has been selected to play for the South African U21 team which will travel to Chile during August for the Junior World Cup! Onward and Upward, Illse !

A big thank you must go to Mr Bodenstein and our coaches. We hope all squash girls will stay fit during the holiday! Practices starts on the first Tuesday of next term. Squash greetings, Mrs J Nel

Grade 8 Knitting Competition

At the end of the exams, the grade 8's had an enjoyable morning of, believe it or not, knitting! Some learned a new skill, assisted by some teachers, while others showed off their knitting prowess. After break the girls watched a video and even then many of them were still knitting....it was after all a competition.

Kirsten was the winning house, but everyone will remember this unique morning at high school!

DOLLS 4 AFRICA :

During term four, the Grade 8's are going to be making dolls out of recycled fabrics . These dolls will be donated to trauma rooms, hospitals etc.What they need are: fabric, buttons, cotton, needles and wool. We know that the fourth term is still some way off, but please could you start bringing in any of the above-mentioned items now. Hand them in at the office for Mrs du Plessis. Thank you.