AUTUMN ISSUE - APRIL MAY JUNE 2018
DIGGING UP THE PAST DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST?
SA’S TREASURE TROVES
5 GEOLOGICAL PLACES TO DISCOVER
MATRIC DANCE SPECIAL ALL ABOUT THE BIG NIGHT + RAGE FESTIVAL
Trinitonian | 1 PLUS: COOL GADGETS, 10 THINGS MONEY CAN’T BUY & EPIC The COMPETITIONS
FOREWORD How is your heart? Is it in a happy place? Is it light and full of appreciation, or do you live with a heavy heart – bothered by the difficulties and frustrations of everyday life? Maybe the question should be: Where is your focus? That could make all the difference. At our schools we try to help everyone see the positive – those things that will give you a lift and help you see the privileges, the blessings and the treasures that are all packaged in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It’s worth reminding each other of this, especially when difficult times make us negative and unhappy. If my focus is the wonderful positive that each challenge is an opportunity and that each frustration is a test that can lift me up to a better outcome if I approach it with patience and positivity, my life will be better. My heart will be lighter, and my productivity and success will be vastly greater.
‘things’, which aren’t lasting. If your treasure focus is on heaven and eternity, your heart will be there too, and you will be free. At our schools we want to focus on good academic results, top sports achievements, good human relationships, quality education and a balanced lifestyle… but for the right reason. Not because these things will give us good jobs with big salaries. That might be true but we are doing this because we received God-given talents and we want to use them to the best of our ability. Speaking about “talents” – you are aware that talents are literally gold coins, those found in treasure chests? The beautiful parable in Matthew 25 puts it quite simply: “... we do not want to be like the man in verse 18 who dug a hole to hide his talents. Our talents should not be hidden; they should be used so we can excel.” This Trinitonian focuses on treasures. We dig them out and are proud to showcase them.
Matthew 6:21 states that “...where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
God bless you and may your heart be in the right place.
It clearly does not refer to a chest with golden coins buried in the sea sand. But what it does highlight is the fact that if you focus on worldly riches and earthly things, your heart will also be heavily weighted down by those
Managing Director
Andries van Renssen
CONTENTS FEATURE ARTICLES
TRINITYHOUSE
LIFESTYLE
06/10 THINGS MONEY CAN’T BUY
03/TRINITOON
60/KIDS PAGES
10/SELF-SABOTAGE: GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY
04/SPOTLIGHT NEWS
64/TRAVEL: SA’s TREASURE TROVES
19/SCHOOL SCOOP
70/GADGETS
14/TREASURE IN THE TRASH
20/ALUMNUS: KELSEY BROWN 72/MATRIC DANCE SPECIAL: DRESSES FOR HER, SUITS FOR HIM; 24/SCHOOL NEWS ACCESSORIES, HAIR, MAKE UP AND MATRIC RAGE. 54/CAREER FILES: ARCHEOLOGY
Published by: Contact Media & Communications Publishers: Donna Verrydt / Sean Press Editorial Director: Marthie van der Wat (ADvTECH) Editorial Manager: Christelle Wolmarans (ADvTECH)
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Editorial Assistant: Kumari Lewis (ADvTECH) Editor: Donna Verrydt (Contact Media) Head of Finance: Lesley Fox Sales: Contact Media Sales Team (011) 789 6339 info@contactmedia.co.za
Content: Design Director: Candice Masson/Quinten Tolken Copy Editor: Angie Snyman Writers / Contributors: Donna Verrydt, Dominique Wolf, Margot Bertelsman Printing: Kadimah Print
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TRINITOON
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SPOTLIGHT NEWS
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! WIN WITH DEMELAN! Win a family photo shoot with Demelan – your secret ingredient to clear skin.
SANCHIA’S WINNING PIC
Congratulations to Sanchia Saffy, Grade 3, Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge, who won the first photo competition by a click and a landslide! Sanchia has won herself not just one nice prize, but three:
1 A NIKON COOLPIX L340 CAMERA VALUED AT R2000 www.nikon.co.za
Simply SMS ‘Demelan’ and your full name to 076 455 4324, and have a shot at winning.
WIN WITH COVAREX! Win a sports gear voucher to the value of R1 500 with Covarex – the leader in the war against foot fungus and athletes foot! Simply SMS ‘Covarex’ and your full name to 076 455 4324, and put your best foot forward.
2
A photobook voucher from Burble online VALUED AT R1000 .za www.burbleonline.co
3
An A2 mounted canvas from Foto First VALUED AT R495 www.fotofirst.co.za
You too could be a winner! The next photographic competition is now open. Send your best pictures to trinitonianreporter@contactmedia. co.za. DO IT NOW! 4 | The Trinitonian
WIN WITH QUICKCHECK! Win a Shox Raptor Camera Drone with QuickCheck – the home test kit that tests for allergies and intolerances. Simply SMS ‘QuickCheck’ and your full name to 076 455 4324, and you might own a drone which is nothing to sneeze at!
TO DISCRIMINATE ONLY GENERATES HATE! ADVTECH SCHOOLS DIVISION POLICY ON ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND INCLUSIVENESS (FEBRUARY 2018) Trintyhouse Schools takes discrimination, in any way, shape or form, extremely seriously and we are committed to eradicating any such behaviour from our school communities. To this end, we have created a three-phase approach to addressing matters of discrimination and we briefly outline our rollout plan below: Our 3 Step Approach to our Implementing our ‘AntiDiscrimination Policy’: 1. Policy Creation: Our first port of call was to create the Anti-Discrimination Policy for our schools. The purpose of this policy is to clearly outline our position on all discriminatory matters, and to guide all members of our school community, including: parents, pupils and staff. Although the staff code of conduct strongly condemns undesirable staff behaviour, all Trinityhouse staff have signed a copy of the Anti-Discrimination to reinforce the importance of the policy in our schools.
Done! 2. Share the Policy: The next step was to share this with all our school communities. This being done by making it available on notice boards in our schools
and on our website (www.trinityhouse.co.za) so that interested parties, may refer to it at any time. Done! 3. Educate & Inform: Beyond creating a policy and sharing its contents to our community members, we at Trinityhouse Schools, are aware of the importance of how we share this information, how we inform our parents and members of staff and how we educate our pupils on this important matter. We are in the process of rolling out various communication platforms, including diversity training, workshops, talks and fun, yet educational, activations, to facilitate the transfer of this important information.
Coming Soon As parents, pupils and staff of Trinityhouse Schools, we hope that you will all stand behind us in this matter and that together we will not only eradicate discrimination from our schools forever but that we will also make a difference to our country and even the world. Thank you, The Management Team of Trinityhouse Schools.
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10 CAN’T BUY FEATURE ARTICLE
THINGS MONEY
by Donna Verrydt
1. High school memories
2. Honest opinion There’s a big difference between having an opinion and being opinionated – and it depends on where it comes from. If the person giving the “honest opinion” truly supports you and only has your best interests at heart, then the honest opinion is a valuable perspective to help you in your life! If the “opinion” comes from a place of competition, resentment or jealousy, the chances are the “honest opinion” is merely a negative thought from an opinionated person. Learn to tell the difference, then to discard the opinionated thoughts and embrace the honest opinions.
Ever wondered why you can remember your high school years clearly but you can’t remember your nephew’s name at the family reunion? Our memories from ages 13 to 21 are most vivid in our minds because they stem from our most emotionally charged, growth time. A time when self-value and worth are determined by comparing yourself to your peers. It’s true not all high school memories are good, but they are certainly personality building. If the memories aren’t so good, chances are you’ve worked very hard to build your selfworth beyond school and to use your experiences to build a stronger you. If the memories are good, then they have most likely outlined your feelings of happiness and driven you to achieve those feelings in other areas. Whether positive or negative, high school memories offer a treasure trove for personality development. 6 | The Trinitonian
3. A second shot There’s a saying that goes: everyone has a second shot, it’s called tomorrow! This is true for daily mistakes or issues, but when it comes to those ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ chances – like an interview at an ivyleague university, or the work presentation that would put you on the map, or that opportunity to make a good relationship decision, then second chances may not be tomorrow. We sometimes let ourselves down the first time round with the decisions we make or the way we behave, but the gift of a second shot sometimes comes around. Grab that gift with both hands, listen to the lesson you’ve learned and go forth and do it right!
4. Connection
It’s a spark of electricity between two people. It may be the energycharged eye contact moment when you’re out on the town, that unexpected conversation that flowed in the canteen or simply a shared giggle with a stranger in traffic as you listen to the same radio station. Whatever the context, it is that moment in time, a mutual understanding, a joint experience, a sharing of humanity! Those moments make us feel good! Try to make more connections with unknown people around you more often so that the positivity continues. Happiness comes through connection.
6. Appreciation
5. Purpose Having something to wake up for is a basic life purpose. People get up every morning to parent their kids, or get to work on time – and while it is nice to have a break from those things now and again, without them, you may just lose your basic purpose and would need to find something else to wake up for. But there’s also a deeper purpose to consider – a life direction or mission. A reason to live a more meaningful life. It’s the thing you want to spend time doing, the thing that inspires you, the thing that drives your will to do better, be better and bring about change. We may all have a job to go to every day which gives us our base purpose, but the deeper purpose is the difference between making a living and making a life. It’s not an easy question to answer, but a necessary question to think about.
Appreciation is a habit that needs to be formed, every single day. Everybody needs to practice appreciating what is around them and showing that appreciation. Whether it be for a beautiful sky, the home you live in, or the people around you, take the time to appreciate these things and give thanks. No special person in your life should ever question how special they are to you. If you cannot imagine your life without them, tell them... often! Remind your best friend how important they are to you, tell your family how much you love them, stop the car and take the picture of that beautiful sky and share that appreciation with those around you. The more appreciation you show, the more appreciation you will receive and that feeling of being appreciated is priceless. The Trinitonian | 7
SUNDAY, 27 MAY 2018 Join us for a family fun day on Sunday, 27 May as Melrose Arch plays host to ducklings, bunnies, foxes and lions. Prams, street slider scooters, tricycles and bikes are all welcome! The fun starts on the Piazza with a loop around Melrose Arch and ends with rewarding hugs, medals, kids’ entertainment, spot prizes and a raffle.
DUCKLINGS 18 months - 3 years 9:00 to 9:45
BUNNIES 4 years - 6 years 10:00 to 10:45
FOXES 7 years - 9 years 11:00 to 11:45
LIONS 10 years - 13 years 12:00 to 13:00
SPONSORED BY:
ENTER AT www.smilefoundation.co.za TODAY!
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FEATURE ARTICLE
7. Rest It’s been said that every day the average person produces six newspapers worth of information compared with just two-and-a-half pages 24 years ago! No wonder anxiety disorders, mental illness and depression are at an all-time high – and rising more than 20% per year. Insufficient mental rest has actually been declared a public health epidemic. It may not be simple, but it is free and rest is the greatest gift you can give your body. So, visualise images that help you to unwind; images that make you happy and at peace. For you that might be the beach, or children playing, or flowers. In your brain, there’s very little difference between the images you visualise, such as the beach, and actually being at the beach! They both bring about the same feelings. So take a mental holiday, every day!
8. Confidence Confidence certainly is a gift! Being self-assured is such a celebration of the person you are and the value you offer. By constantly second-guessing yourself, being fearful of failure, shying away from other people and opportunities, denies the world the opportunity of knowing you! Believing in yourself builds your personal confidence, and a confident person can achieve anything. You may be thinking this sounds easier than it really is, and perhaps that is so, but then you will need to train yourself to be more confident – fake it until you make it! Put your shoulders back, hold your head up high, take a deep breath and venture into a frightening situation with both feet. You may surprise yourself... and become more confident!
9. Mindfulness Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment. It’s a scientific fact that those who live in the moment are calmer, more focused and happier overall. It allows you to be in touch with the people around you, and to truly grasp the situation. It also allows you to be in tune with your own thoughts and emotions. Think of how many emails you answered while in the middle of another meeting; how many phone calls you answered while playing with your kids; how many conversations with your spouse you spaced out in because you were thinking of work! Don’t let your mind steal your time by thinking of other things, other times, other people. Be present, be focused, be in it to win it!
10. Creative brain The creative brain emulates positive thinking, which is important for mental, emotional and even physical health. Energy and vitality are nurtured through creative thinking and creative actions too. So flood your mind with books, music, videos, art and other creative materials that can inspire passion and positive thinking. Surround yourself with creative, positive people because the quality of your thinking will always be the average of the five people that are closest to you, and creativity and positivity are contagious. Join a book club (that actually reads books), a paint night, attend the theatre, go to a live music gig; whatever you choose, feeding your creative brain is the greatest wellness medicine you could ever gift yourself.
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SELF-SABOTAGE GOLDEN NUGGETS OF WISDOM
GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY!
by Donna Verrydt
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s you crumple up the wrapper of a large bar of chocolate, you’re now not only filled with chocolate but with guilt and self-loathing too! You know that you need to lose a few kilos to fit into that dress for that party and you know how to do it, but you just can’t get your head right. What’s wrong with you? Nothing! Self-sabotage is a real thing. Having the mental tools to deal with yourself, so to speak, is what’s going to help you get your head in the game… and your body in that dress!
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Think about your own behaviour and how you may have sabotaged the outcomes for yourself.
Here are four ways to combat selfsabotage…
1. Flatten the pattern
Do you feel like you do very well for a while, and then just when you are about to reach your goal you lose your way and fall to pieces? Think back on anything you’ve done in the past to better yourself – whether it was starting a diet, going to relationship counselling, beating an addiction, applying for a new job or simply working towards a reward like a holiday or a new car. “I previously lost 18 kilos. I felt great, I looked good and everyone complimented me on how well I had done. But it didn’t take long for me to put those 18 kilos back on again, plus two! 20 is a nice round number – literally! Now, every Monday morning, I start my weight loss programme again in an attempt to get back to where I was before. I do well for most of the day, but by nighttime, I fail miserably; as I do on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday – and because “nobody should start a diet on a weekend” – Saturday and Sunday too. It has become a behavioural pattern, and coming home in the evening is my trigger.” – Debbie, 40 Think about your own behaviour and how you may have sabotaged the outcomes for yourself. By analysing your past behaviour, you’ll realise that self-sabotage not only follows a predictable (and often recurring) pattern, but it also happens in more than one area of your life. Questions to ask yourself: • What is my self-sabotage pattern? • What are my triggers?
2. Face the fear – understand the psyche
Physiologically, our body is constantly trying to keep a stable equilibrium inside so that it can operate at an optimal level. For instance, if we get too hot, our skin sweats to cool us
down to a normal temperature. The same thing happens on a psychological level. Your ego constantly drives you forward toward your dreams and desires. This pursuit of happiness can cause mental excitement or anxiety and your psyche recognises this anxiety as a threat and immediately tries to bring the mind back to a comfortable zone or a state of ease. Welcome to self-sabotage! Understanding your fear means you don’t have to give in to it but can rather equip yourself to manage it – and to go forth and conquer! Questions to ask yourself: • Why do I feel so uncomfortable following my dreams – what am I really afraid of? • Does my fear outweigh my desires?
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GOLDEN NUGGETS OF WISDOM
3. Mind the spiral
The wine farmer doesn’t destroy his entire vineyard because he lost one vine? Instead, he does everything in his power to make sure the vine he lost is the only one he will lose. The same must be said about your derailed plans. Just because you cheated and had a cigarette one afternoon doesn’t mean your whole antismoking campaign must go up in smoke. Your transgression is just one moment in time and that moment shouldn’t affect the next moment, minute, hour, day, week, month or year! This spiral only runs as long as your excuses as to why you can’t get back to the plan. “I haven’t got time”, “I don’t have the expertise”, “I don’t have the money”, “It’s the weekend!”, “I’m too stressed!” Just a few of the excuses that grow a spiral. Let go of your self-loathing and learn to forgive yourself! You need to be your own best friend and not your own worst critic. Be kind to yourself. Your inner voice should be encouraging and supportive and forgiving. Questions to ask yourself: • How did my “mistake” make me feel about myself? • How can I fix the transgression with minimal spiralling?
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4. Avoid the drains!
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “We become like the five people we spend the most time around”. Think about that for a second! If you’re pouring all your energy into helping the helpless, guiding the lost, uplifting the weak, fixing the broken, entertaining the sad and enabling the lazy, very little energy will be left to put into your own dreams and aspirations. And with unfulfilled dreams and aspirations come things like resentment, low self-esteem and demotivation. “My partner and I have run our business together for the past 10 years. The business has grown substantially over the years due to my energy, guidance and energy while my partner has taken much of the credit for himself. I have a dream to start a project that will bring me much fulfilment and will also give back to the business at the same time. My partner claims to be supportive, but allocates little time or effort to the project and instead continues to aggressively push his own agenda – delegating much of his tasks to the staff around him and me! I continuously place my own dreams on hold to assist my partner in achieving his goals and I have become resentful, demotivated and personally uninspired! But I allow it!” – Ben, 36 If the five people around you are draining you, then it’s time to analyse those relationships and put boundaries in place. If you’re having to put many boundaries in place then perhaps it’s time you look to be around new people who uplift and energise you! Questions to ask yourself: • Who are the five closest people around me and how do they impact my life? • How do I allow those people to steal my power?
SPAAR The next time to catch yourself sabotaging, use the below SPAAR method to stop the madness: S = Stop Literally, stop what you are doing. Close your eyes for a minute and clear your mind as much as you can. Take 10 concentrated deep breaths. P = Picture Picture your desired outcome. If you want to get that job, picture yourself dressed for the job, doing the job, being happy at that job. Try to feel the satisfaction you will feel when you have achieved that goal. A = Alternative It is human nature to want something when you can’t have it. So instead of trying to say “no” to that chocolate that is about to destroy your health mission, rather offer an acceptable alternative, such as a sugarless soft drink. You won’t be left feeling deprived and resentful, and your goals will remain intact. A = Affirm Always remember to be your own best friend. Affirm how wonderful you are and focus on the strength you have to stop the sabotage. R = Rock on! If, after all of the above, you still fail, pick yourself up, forgive yourself immediately and move forward. Let the minute that follows your transgression be a successful one, and the one after that, and the one after that one too! Soon you will find your self past the finish line. Rock on.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Treasure in the Trash – You’re Not Broken
Life may try to break you, but you can rise from the ashes! By Margot Bertelsmann
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Whether it’s years, weeks or months later, though, ife really knows how to throw curve balls, right? you notice that there have been some changes. Some parts of the lifetime we get to spend here on earth are fine, a select few times qualify as amazing, and Your attitude to the life-defining event, whatever just as you think you’ve got a good balance, something it was, is no longer the same. Oh, there is still downright horrible might happen. Whether you’re going pain, and wishing things had been different. But through a divorce, grieving a death, battling a financial the passing of time has rubbed the edges off crisis, a dreaded disease, an addiction or your searing grief, has dulled some a conflict or surviving a trauma, some days “Find anything. memories. New experiences have are so hard you don’t know how you will taken up some space in your collection Find happiness. survive them. Nevertheless, you persist. of memories, and the immediacy of the Because the world refuses to stop turning, Make happiness.” trauma recedes a bit. You have even, you rise, and rise, and rise again every perhaps, begun to see an unexpected new morning and perform the motions of a life. But gift in parts of what you went through. you may be too “inside” the experience to reflect on it just yet. Lifshitz calls this the “treasure among the trash. You can sit and stare at the garbage in front of you,” This is what 2017 was like for comedian and columnist she says, “or you can rummage through that trash Laura Lifshitz, who wrote about her divorce in Huffington and find something. Find anything. Find happiness. Post, saying: “There were some moments in which I Make happiness.” thought—I just can’t do this. Many moments.” 14 | The Trinitonian
Everything is not ok!
The danger with reading an anecdote such as this is that you will naturally think of your own biggest trauma, and it may be too overwhelming an event to panelbeat into a character-building learning experience. You may think: you know what, instead of finding the redemptive story in my rape ordeal, I would prefer never to have been raped at all. Not every lemon can be turned into lemonade. Some trauma is too big to ever be okay. We are not saying that your child’s death, or physical abuse, or devastating betrayal at the hands of a spouse, can ever be turned into an “opportunity” for you to develop into an evolved old soul. No.
Making meaning
With that substantial disclaimer out of the way, let us look at how people have found treasures in their own trash heaps. Perhaps the most well-known example of a survivor of extreme adversity is Viktor Frankl, the Austrian psychiatrist who lived through the Holocaust’s extermination camps and went on to write the nowclassic Man’s Search for Meaning about his reflections on these unbearable experiences. Frankl had worked with suicidal patients before his incarceration and said that human beings’ highest desire was for our lives to be meaningful. Therefore, even suffering has meaning, or in his words: “What is to give light must endure burning.”
If you are in crisis, the best and kindest thing you can do for yourself, and the people who depend on you, is to get professional help. Johannesburg clinical psychologist Candice Cowen says it’s essential to Frankl’s nearest family, including his wife, “Ever more people were all killed by the Nazis during the intervene as early as possible. “You today have the prevent a serious mental health problem war, and he did admit that accepting the by picking up on ‘warning signs’ that you means to live, but no fact that hope, which had helped him are not doing okay earlier,” she explains. stay motivated during his time in the meaning to live for.” camps, was extinguished which was the “Warning signs may differ from person Viktor E. Frankl to person but common tell-tale signs are hardest part of adjusting to postwar life. when you don’t feel like yourself or you are behaving out of However, he continued to maintain that meaninglessness character as well as noticing differences and difficulties in was the cause of our existential crises, and that love was your daily functioning.” humanity’s highest calling. However, Candice adds, a reactionary behaviour is living in constant fear of bad things happening, and taking extreme measures to try to avoid them. A more reasonable approach is to accept a certain amount of – unavoidable adversity and look for the nuggets of gold in it.
For Lifshitz, her divorce has forced her to spend time alone, and she has remembered how she used to love it. She has taken up her once-neglected hobbies of running and ballet. Even disastrous post-divorce dating has given her fresh material for her comedy…
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FEATURE ARTICLE
You may have never wanted to learn how to survive widowhood, while still taking some pleasure in the fact that you have learnt how to become financially independent. The seesaw doesn’t need to balance: losing your partner is still far worse than balancing a chequebook. However, being able to recognise the pleasure of the new skill is a marker of emotional resilience, which will help you live your remaining years out happily. Mostly. And the final bonus of finding a diamond in the coal mine? When you do, you know for sure that the worst is over, and your healing has begun. Onward, now, to the rest of your life!
Attention parents Pick through your children’s trash, too… Parents report that few life experiences are as “meaning-making” as having children. They are the parts of ourselves we hope will outlive us and carry on whatever good work we may have started in our lives. No wonder it is so hard to watch them suffer, even more so if you feel like the “trash” out of which they must fish their redemptions. If you feel you have made parenting mistakes, it may help to think of the spoonful of sugar you have delivered along with the foul medicine. “Parents who identify what ‘mistakes’ they have made, own up to them and do something about the situations which teaches their kids that it’s okay to go through a challenging, emotional experience,” says clinical psychologist, Candice Cowen. “They demonstrate that self-awareness is important and that processing things works better than suppressing or avoiding them (no matter how tricky or uncomfortable the situation is).” Teens can be especially critical of parents, and their personal trash heaps, in their own minds at least, can appear unsurmountable - to themselves. “At this stage of development adolescents crave a sense of independence which they demonstrate by creating distance from you,” Candice explains. “This may leave you feeling hurt or rejected, together with the helplessness of having to witness the hormonal rollercoaster.” But don’t be disheartened. You’ll be doing your teen a lifelong favour if you manage to teach her to pick the shiny bits out of the rubbish. According to Candice, “The teenage brain is distinct from any other time in a person’s life. It is a wonderful hurricane of intense and extreme emotions. With help, they can channel their emotional energy into creativity, socialising and self-confidence. If overwhelmed by their emotions they may face frequent fighting with others, emotional distress and minimising risks, which could result in making costly mistakes.” 16 | The Trinitonian
P R O F E S S I O N A L S P O RT S S U R FA C E S
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SCHOOL
SCOOP
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ALUMNUS
SAVING OUR
NATIONAL TREASURES
NAME: KELSEY BROWN SCHOOL: TRINITYHOUSE RANDPARK RIDGE YEAR: 2010 ACCOLADES AT THE SCHOOL: AWARDED ACADEMIC COLOURS (2006 - 2010) STUDIES: MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDICINE (WILDLIFE STRESS PHYSIOLOGY), UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND (2015 - 2017) Bachelor of Science (Animal Science with Conservation Ecology), Stellenbosch University (2010 - 2014) CURRENT CAREER: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN VETERINARY SCIENCE (PARACLINICAL SCIENCES) UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA (2018 - PRESENT)
Why is wildlife a global treasure? Wildlife is definitely a treasure and important in human life because the maintenance of wildlife means guaranteeing the “balance of nature”, and in consequence the natural cycles of life. Secondly, wildlife has an undeniable economic value; be it in the form of agriculture or tourism. And finally, wildlife has an aesthetic value to human beings and it is part of our cultural heritage. What is Wildlife Stress Physiology? We’re in a catch-22 situation. Because our planet 20 | The Trinitonian
is suffering from a dramatic rate of environmental change, which has led to a substantial decline in global biodiversity, we need to establish effective conservation management strategies to ensure the survival of species. However, conservation practices cause significant physiological stress in the animals that they are trying to protect. How stressed do they get? If the animal is confined for a short while, its response is its ability to adapt to a challenge and survive – fight-or-flight! But, when they are confined
for much longer periods or the environment they are in is extremely stressful, this leads to adverse effects. We need to understand these adverse effects in order to maximise our conservation efforts. But I have learned the value of planning, or at least knowing the direction I want to go in before diving in. What are the telltale signs of a stressed animal? Stress is hard to see (visually) and often animals don’t demonstrate any outward, or rather consistent, signs when they are in distress, but the most commonly accepted signs in wild animals are disease, poor conception rates and repetitive stereotypic behaviours, such as pacing. We use both physical as well as behavioural cues. Explain how you conducted some of your research? For my Masters, I was stationed at a wildlife vet in White River, Mpumalanga. My study was conducted on impala and blesbok that were held on site. These animals were monitored and darted on a weekly basis in order for us to collect samples. I analysed these samples to determine stress levels in response to confinement, repeated capture and handling. It was interesting. Sounds like a fun day at the office! I was fortunate enough to be a part of such a great team at the wildlife vet and, in addition to overseeing the care of the animals for my study, I was also able to join the team in the veterinary care of various other wildlife in the area. The practical experience I gained during my time there is invaluable.
What is the best part of the job? Definitely to be amongst wildlife, and to know that my research and findings may potentially aid in the successful conservation of some species. I also appreciate that research is an ever-evolving field due to the development of new technologies so there are always new opportunities to refine previous notions. What is the worst part of the job? The worst is to see first-hand the impact that human influence has on animals and the distress that this causes them. It’s heartbreaking! Like what’s happening to the cheetah – another interest of yours! Yes, cheetah numbers have decreased dramatically! The main causes being habitat loss, fragmentation and the disappearance of its prey species. Cheetahs were originally found throughout Africa and in Asia. The lack of suitable habitats has driven cheetahs into human-populated areas, where they are often live-trapped or killed. As the human population continues to increase, it is likely that remaining habitats will deteriorate further and the survival of the species outside of protected areas will worsen. Why has the plight of other animals garnered more attention than that of the cheetah? The cheetah is currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of species facing extinction in the near future, the cheetah is considered less of a priority than other animals higher up on the list. Conservationists are struggling to ease the current declining trend in the global cheetah population.
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ALUMNUS
They also face natural competition, don’t they? Yes, cheetahs face competition from other larger predators like lions and leopards and as a result, most protected areas are unable to maintain viable cheetah populations. Individual cheetahs tend to fan out beyond wildlife reserves, which places them in even greater danger – in conflict with humans! And to top it off, the survival of the species cannot be assured through captive breeding programmes alone because cheetahs in captivity are prone to poor reproductive performance and disease – the stresses. What plans are in place to help save the cheetah? A better understanding of the species is our best hope of successfully preserving the cheetah. Where funding is available, research is being done to help regrow the population through health and reproduction. How can we spread the word? I think one of the most effective means of raising awareness is allowing the exhibition of cheetahs as part of awareness campaigns. By doing this, people will have the opportunity to engage with the animal up-close and personal. Connecting humans and nature plays an important role in motivating proenvironmental behaviours. Although the welfare of these exhibition animals must be taken into careful consideration.
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What is the biggest life lesson you have learned? I’ve learned that you must pursue something that you are genuinely passionate about, even if it is not what is expected or the most apparent path for you to follow. If you want something enough, you’ll get there in the end. What do you do for fun? In my spare time, I like to stay active, in particular going for trail runs and reading. I think it’s important to balance working hard and spending time in a less serious capacity. As a Trinityhouse alumnus, what is it about Trinityhouse Schools that you most appreciated? I appreciated the work ethic that Trinityhouse instilled in me and the capacity to enjoy learning. Do you still keep contact with your Trinityhouse friends? Yes, I’m still in contact with numerous friends and have retained many of the close friendships too! What advice would you give to your younger self, and the current Grade 12s? Have faith in yourself! Take every opportunity that is given to you and actively seek out other opportunities to further your career interests.
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PRE-PRIMARY A
t Glenwood House Pre-Prep we grow happy and confident pupils, who love to explore, create and learn while having lots of fun with play! Our teachers keep the pupils active through many exciting activities, ensuring that they’re developing all the essential skills. Most of the time, the important learning takes place in the process of doing the activity. Our Grade 0 pupils have been participating in our Physifun Core Training programme, presented by Sam Smuts, a qualified physiotherapist, to improve their physical strength. They’re also participating in Beginner’s Tennis. During the summer months, the girls spend time on ball skills and the boys play Cricket; and just before winter, we switch to Rugby for the boys, and Netball for the girls. The Grade 0s are always so proud to wear their sports kit on Wednesdays to participate in these activities. On the cultural side, Grade 0s follow an excellent Music and Drama programme. If you’re walking past our hall during a lesson, you’ll be amazed at the sights and sounds produced. The first session allows the pupils to get excited about the music by acting out a story. The teachers are often in stitches with the choice of costumes, and can clearly see who the future drama stars will be! The second session has a more formal approach, where percussion instruments are laid out. The parents are often impressed with the pupils knowledge of the many classical composers we cover. 24 | The Trinitonian
Fun Fridays: Willem Meyer and Timothy Whitehead managing to paint with popcorn and tweezers. Adam Joubert looks as if he would rather be eating the popcorn!
The Grade 00s spend most days engaged in fun and messy activities, learning skills that will help them master fine motor skills later. Recently they had a wonderful outing to a farm, where they got to spend a morning touching, feeding and watching the animals. We feel it’s important for them to be able to experience the learning that takes place in the classroom in real life. We have only recently introduced the Global Competencies at preschool level, however, are quite amazed at how quickly our little ones have taken to it. The Kagan shoulder and face partners are
practised for weekend news or phonics lessons. De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats are a winner – especially when someone has a problem that needs solving. We’re certainly seeing how these visible tools are equipping the pupils to think more creatively. A parent information morning is scheduled to take place early in the second term to explain these tools, as well as to give parents an opportunity to take part in some of our more messy activities and allow them to see that the process is often more important than the product!
Farm Outing: Grade 00s enjoyed their outing to the farm.
De Bono’s thinking hats: Ayvah Saaiman, Awstin Griffiths and Imboyam Mjumba smartly working through some discussions in the Cheetah Class, using their feeling, problem and idea hats!
Sheep Sheering: Elizabeth Robb, Zander Blaauw, Sarah Rimbault, Layla Fourie, Tristan Delport and Alek Clasquin loving the recent shaving cream activity.
Numeracy: A typical interactive numeracy lesson in the Grade 0 Cheetah Class. Ms Cindy explains sorting, classifying and data collecting to the pupils.
Play-dough: Ms Nicole demonstrates how to make play dough with the Grade 000 Owl Class.
All the pupils get to put their hands into the bowl to give the ingredients a good mix, and then play with the finished product.
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PREPARATORY A
treasured addition to Glenwood House is the Grade 1s exploring the world of phonics and reading. Letterland introduces the sounds in a creative and relatable way to the pupils and opens the door to the wonderful world of literacy and reading. We celebrated the completion of our phonics programme with a Letterland Fancy Dress. Each little one dipped into the treasure chest of the alphabet where they created an outfit for themselves relating to a Letterland character. They get so excited about bringing their beloved characters to life! What a delight to witness the Aha! moment when a pupil realises that these very sounds blend to form words they can now read. Then they are immersed in the wonderful world of reading!
Having fun with Letterland.
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Exploring Letterland.
Glenwood House Letterland Treasures exposed.
The Grade 3 class went on a treasure hunt at the Dias Museum while on an outing. We found out how the duplicate Caravel was placed in the museum.
Taylor-Blake, Kayden, Matthys and Max searching for their glossaries. It looks like Kayden found his glossary first!
We have an amazing hidden treasure at Glenwood House, our library. Mrs Wagner has created a warm and welcoming environment where the pupils and teachers can discover new worlds and learn about fun facts. We still have a few hidden treasures hiding in our books – the Golden tickets. If you’re lucky enough to find a ticket, like Jonathan and Kiki, you can collect a treasure. Reading is an adventure at Glenwood!
Kiki excited about her discovery!
Jonathan spotting a hidden treasure.
Grade 3C at the Dias statue.
Grade 3C and their non-fiction readers discovered that we can find lots of hidden treasures in books. We learnt that we can use all our Core character skills during a fun lesson about non-fiction books. We researched like Research Rajesh and used our communication skills to work in groups while managing our time. Theo Thinker would be proud of these critical thinkers who had to analyse different non-fiction titles and find out how they are similar and identifying the differences. What a fun lesson!
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COLLEGE The Glenwood Karoo Challenge (GKC) The Glenwood Karoo Challenge (GKC) is an annual Glenwood House Grade 10 activity designed to holistically prepare our young men and women for various situations in life. The tough 18-day journey becomes a landmark event in their adolescence and a memorable high school highlight. Resilience, co-operative teamwork, mental toughness and a positive attitude all contribute to our Glenwood pupils’ continued success in the years ahead. The following article was written by pupils on the GKC in 2017. The Challenge The longest and toughest journeys are usually the most rewarding, and that was certainly the case with the GKC. The Glenwood Karoo Challenge is a 500km journey where the Grade 10s hike, cycle and horse ride for 18 days. If you had told us four years ago, when we stood on the border of entering high school that we would spend two weeks in the company of our peers, crashing through the bush with no sign of the twenty-first century close by, we probably would have thought you were mad. And yet, on the morning of Sunday the 17th of November in the year 2017, we stood on the edge of another/ this adventure. A journey that would make us delve further into ourselves than we ever thought possible -- The Glenwood Karoo Challenge. The Karoo challenge journey started long before that morning. Throughout the year the Grade 10s were mentally and physically 28 | The Trinitonian
preparing for the challenge that awaited them. Gear had to be assembled, bikes and proper shoes sourced. Tents were dusted off, and food crates were well packed for the duration. The pupils had to take part in vigorous training sessions as preparation, all this adding to the mounting tension towards the end of the year. During the GKC we were faced with many mental, physical and emotional challenges, and there were many experiences where we had to jump out of our comfort zones. Besides being tested on a physical level, the hardest challenge of all was the emotional one. Eighteen days of holding out against the elements takes its toll on young
minds, but emotional growth is one of the aims of the GKC. There were times when we wanted to go home, or just be left alone, or were simply stressed by the worries of camp life, but everyone was ready to lend a hand and, when it was necessary, a shoulder for a friend in need. We all came out stronger on the other side. All in all, through the trials set before us and the uncertainty whether we would all make it, the GKC was a great success for everyone taking part. Even when group partners threw cutlery into the river (or a certain group of girls stole all the boys’ sleeping bags) we had to learn to thrive as a team! We bonded as a grade, with newfound
patience, tolerance and care for each other paving the way forward. On this journey, we learnt to be less of a ‘group’, and more of a family and a team. From making our food, to literally pushing each other on bicycles, we were there for one another. On this journey we had to learn to not only take care of each other, but also the environment around us. We had to be responsible for our own waste and witnessed how plastic plagues the ocean on our beach hikes. On one of these hikes we stumbled across dead dolphins, sharks, turtles, and even a whale! During this hike we also managed to clean up thousands of pieces of trash that covered the beach.
The Grade 10s of 2017 were the ‘pioneers of the new route’ Due to our group’s increasing size, some parts of the old Karoo Challenge route are now inaccessible to us and an alternate route had to be mapped out for us. It started in the Baviaanskloof and took us east to the coast where we finally ended at Cape St Francis. Camping was a new experience for many of us. Setting up camp, keeping the bugs out, doing your own cooking and washing your own clothes were all new skills for many, but we went from tears and frustration the first evening to being a mean camping machine by the end, seamlessly slipping from campsite to campsite.
During our journey we had to remain positive as we cycled through the pouring rain, or hiked across sand dunes in the unforgiving sun. The physical aspect of the GKC turned out to be less about the strength of our legs and more about the vigour of our spirits. As the stretches of beach seemed endless and the hills never stopped, each step and push of the pedals was a movement towards becoming a happier, healthier challenger that could face any adversity with a smile. This was the 8th GKC and is especially unique to Glenwood House School. The Trinitonian | 29
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PRE-PRIMARY HERITAGE HILL Inquiry-based learning and thinking skills In our inquiry-based classrooms, the pupils at Trinityhouse Pre-Primary Heritage Hill play, learn and discover in a variety of ways. Areas are set up to encourage free exploration of materials and concepts, in order to ask questions and promote critical and creative thinking. We always want our pupils to dig deeper and make learning a more meaningful experience. We have learned to see, think and wonder, compare and contrast, ask questions about materials and what we can do with them and we’ve challenged ourselves to use materials to solve a challenge. #criticalthinkingliveshere!
Odwa and Gabriella using their critical thinking skills to design a dam.
Research skills As part of teaching the pupils about road safety, the Grade 00 Bees decided to ask our school’s security guard about rules in the parking lot. The security guard answered all of their questions and showed them how to be safe while crossing the road. They also looked at a puzzle about different kinds of road transportation and even listened to the sounds that are made by different kinds of vehicles. They were able to gather lots of information about road safety by looking, listening and doing.
We used a tree map to find out more about Spiderman.
Rafael, Nkateko, Melodi and Adeline working on creating a flotation device for their superheroes.
Collaboration The Grade 000 Owlets recently learnt a new shape, the triangle. After their teacher taught them the Tommy Triangle poem, the class divided into their Kagan Co-operative Learning Groups and did a collaborative activity where they coloured in the triangles on the carpet, revising the new shape knowledge in a collaborative manner.
Kgalalelo, Liam, Zeth, Makungu, Leago and Kgosietsile
Pupils of the Grade 00 Bee Class having a practical lesson on road safety
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Collaboration - Kgosietsile Molema and Leago Makgopa.
Communication Skills Communication skills involve sharing information through oral communication. Our pupils need to learn to interact with others effectively and share their ideas. During our Superheroes inquiry in the Grade 0 Lion Class, the pupils had to brainstorm and differentiate between Superheroes and Villains. Together as a class, we discussed their various attributes and created a mind map by putting our thoughts and ideas down on paper.
Kagan Structures Pair and Share is a Kagan’s Structure where two partners pair up and share some information with each other. Here you can see how each pair worked together to make shapes using their bodies. Andrew Manyuni and Jessie Gosney
Philosophy for Children – P4C To make sure that our pupils become globally competent adults one day, we have implemented and adopted a P4C approach to thinking and reasoning. Our pupils are encouraged to form an opinion based on a question or concept and to then share their ideas with the class, free of judgement or criticism. They’re also reminded that they can change their ideas at any time. This specific question, on our question board, was posed during our Reasons for Seasons unit. Michael Fagan, Lehlogonolo Legodi, Izabella Pillay, Kgosi Ledwaba, Tshepo Rabothata, Kiera Kruger and Andrew Manyuni
Caeden Nortje, Kgolagano Lefifi, Talia Magesh, Loago Tsatsi and Siloe Hond.
Sensory & Messy Play Have you ever noticed a child’s bad mood change as they get into the bath? Or maybe you’ve seen the intense concentration in a child’s face when sifting salt, flour or rice through his fingers? Although pupils respond differently to sensory experiences, these experiences can be relaxing and improve motor skills. Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates a young child’s senses: touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing. Sensory activities and sensory tables stimulate exploration and naturally encourage pupils to learn while they play, create, investigate and explore.
De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats “Okay everyone, I want you to put on your thinking caps and try to come up with ways to solve this problem!” Surely you have heard this or even said something like this before! Edward de Bono came up with different kinds of thinking caps that one might use in the classroom. His Six Thinking Hats book outlines both different modes of thinking and strategies to use these thinking hats in the business world. We took this concept and applied it in our Grade 000 Penguins Classroom. These are the two hats we use in Grade 000: The Red Hat When you think of red, think of fire
The Black Hat When you think of black, think of negative, or caution. The black hat is for critical judgment/thinking. It points out what cannot be done. The black hat role will prevent us from making mistakes and think of the reaction/consequences of our actions. When we put on the black hat in the Grade 000 we do it with “Ahoh” gestures, placing our hands in front of our mouths. We related the inquiry back to the Red Hat by discussing the following questions: How do you feel now? Would you change your answer? How would you feel if your dog got lost or hurt?
(L-R): Anneka Wiid; Tiiso Diale; Aquiya Sebola; Jiabin Huang de Bonos.
Sensory Messy Play – Lebo Kgomo, Ari Sinthumule, Keegan Cloete and Combela Ncube.
and passion. The red hat allows people to show their emotions on a subject/ topic. The little ones don’t need to justify their statements. The red hat allows these feelings to be expressed, to come out in the open: I like this, I don’t like that. The idea is that these statements are known to be “feelings” and nothing more.
After the discussion, the pupils get a chance to stick their symbols on a chart that has a cross and a tick on it, in order for them to show if they agree or disagree with the statement.
The Black Hat was next with questions like, What do you think will happen if dogs did not live in your house? Where would they live? What would they eat/drink?
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PREPARATORY HERITAGE HILL A
hidden treasure is often so deeply buried that one needs a map for directions to send out a search party to locate the site of the treasure. A treasure hunter might expect to find a treasure chest with jewels but could be pleasantly surprised upon opening the treasure chest to find sparkling jewels, gold coins in mint condition and exotic spices worth millions. At that moment he realises that it was not enough just to have a signpost to say “treasure” because the signpost did not do justice to the uncovered treasure of great worth.
Our treasure hunt through technology… In ICT we’re exploring possibilities and unlock new worlds every day. We’re creating online storybooks using StoryJumper. We’re also making use of this opportunity to communicate, not only computer skills but English. It’s amazing what you can achieve if you combine both ICT and English. Our communication skills are showcased through Global Competencies.
Similarly, it’s not enough just to drive down Nellmapius Drive and see the sign Trinityhouse Heritage Hill. The “treasure” is only discovered when one opens the gate, enters and finds the “sparkling jewels, hidden gold and the exotic spices”... One such “sparkling jewel” is to be found in the area of technology. We’ve realised that the future for our pupils looks different to the present, hence the emphasis on algorithms and coding to develop logical reasoning and critical thinking. We’re busy developing the Grade 4-7’s block programming skills using ScratchJr. Grade 2s and 3s are creating online storybooks, using words such as “props, scenes and text boxes”. Grade 1s are developing their mouse skills, using Paint extensively. Superb “gold” is found in the sports programme we offer. Our coaches do an outstanding job recognising the talents of our young people, and then refine that talent into amazing skills. This 32 | The Trinitonian
Our Math “treasure hunt” through measurement... In Grade 4 Mathematics, we went on a measurement journey. The pupils had to research different measuring tools to find the right one for the job… what fun we had!
builds confidence. As well as skills training, the pupils do conditioning to build the core muscles that also impact favourably on academic achievement. Our cricket boys had the privilege to stand guard for the South African Cricket Team during an international cricket match against India in February 2018 in Centurion. Our netball girls were so excited to attend their first
netball camp in March at Camp Discovery. Our K4J (Kids 4 Jesus) programme holds “exotic spices of endless worth” since it evokes “the aroma” of God and life lessons of wisdom and understanding that stand our students in good stead for their entire lives. The aim is to develop pupils with the heart of
In Natural Science, pupils had to investigate different ways of food processing and had to communicate their findings to the class. People had to be interviewed, and then the pupils had to use the food processing method and bring an example to school. Investigation skills were put to the test and we had a feast! Vuyo Letsoalo and Ray Clark, from Third Day Power, after tearing a phone book in half, showing that together through God, truly anything is possible.
We are on a vowel hunt
Tennis enthusiasts
G1 Maths Day with our face partners Our cricket team forming the guard of honour at the South African test
Showing some love on our CHOC MAD day
Christ which spreads, not only to peers at school but takes that “sweet fragrance” into their homes and communities. Here they learn how to worship, how to understand God and His Word and how to seek direction from Him in all spheres of their lives, as well as how to love God and others.
Netball camp and Camp Discovery
In the same vein, we start the week with an assembly, led by our principal, who brings instruction from the Word of God to train our pupils to walk in righteousness with God. We end the week with the last period on a Friday being a praise and worship session, and a teaching from the Word, to equip our pupils to face struggles and
I love you to ‘pizzas’
We are ‘Hooked on Books’
Enjoying time outside with friends
Spice painting for our senses theme
victories and to teach them to be strong in the Power of God’s might, being led by Him. You may never have the opportunity to find a treasure chest filled with treasures, but you can join our family and discover valuable jewels each day as we prepare the future world leaders! The Trinitonian | 33
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PRE-PRIMARY LITTLE FALLS Treasure Hunters New Grade 0000 classes This year we were proud to announce the opening of two Grade 0000 classes at Trinityhouse PrePrimary Little Falls campus. Last year we had countless requests from existing parents as well as enquiries from new parents about this facility. In fact, the demand was so high when we announced we would be opening a Grade 0000 class, that we had to open a second class as well! At the moment we are the only PrePrimary in the Trinityhouse brand to offer education for this age group. Pupils entering the Grade 0000 classes are 2 years old turning 3. The programme we offer is sensorial based as pupils of this age learn primarily through their senses. The programme includes music, movement, language development, (through theme discussions), perceptual activities (e.g. puzzle, pegging and threading), messy play, fantasy play and free play in order to build social skills. Inquiry-based learning and Global Competencies “Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I’ll understand.” – Chinese proverb The new approach of inquiry-based learning that the school has adopted has turned our traditional classrooms into high-energy learning centres, where pupils are excited to learn and participate. Inquiry-based learning is about doing, not observing; action, not inaction. Essentially, it’s a natural way to learn. It allows pupils much more control of their learning experience, while teachers help and guide them along. 34 | The Trinitonian
The pupils were given numbers 1-5 randomly and had to sort the information (White Thinking Hat) into the correct order.
The pupils completed sorting the factual information using de Bono’s White Thinking Hat.
It encourages our pupils natural curiosity and sense of wonder about the world around them. Learning isn’t linear. It’s a web that grows out from the central question. In order to develop 21st-Century Learning skills, five Global Competencies (previously known as Core Skills) need to be taught to our pupils. These consist of research skills, communication skills, thinking skills, social skills and social management skills. Certain 21st-Century Learning tools are used to instil these skills, and these are already entrenched in our learning. A couple of examples are P4C (Philosophy for Pupils) that encourages independent thinking
and reasoning at a deeper level. Pupils are encouraged to see things from a different perspective and there are no right or wrong answers. Another tool is de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats that encourages pupils to think laterally and critically and understand that thinking can be done in a variety of ways. In other words, thinking can be done emotionally or factually, as two examples. Our pupils have fully embraced these new tools and concepts and are well on their way to becoming fully equipped 21st-century pupils!
In this P4C lesson, the pupils had to decide between two questions.
Puzzle-building increases eye-hand coordination and creates an awareness of colour, shape and line.
The pupils divided themselves into two groups depending which option they chose.
Baking is a fun way to teach pupils sequencing.
Getting waterwise
The music teacher encourages our pupils to listen carefully, utilising this useful lesson in picking up any hearing difficulties.
The heated pool The wonderful heated pool facility enables our pupils in Grade 00 and 0 to participate in the Waterwise programme.
Fantasy play helps build social skills and teaches young pupils to share.
Movement is very important in order to develop strong core and shoulder muscles.
This programme is run by professional swimming coach, Martina Leonfellnerrichter. Martina is a registered and certified coach with both Swim SA (SSA) and Central Gauteng Aquatics (CGA). She is also fully trained in CPR and First Aid. Coach Martina is highly experienced at working with
young pupils having run her own swimming school in Honeydew for the past nine years. She’s been running the Waterwise programme at Trinityhouse for the past three years, and it forms part of the school’s weekly movement programme at no extra cost to our parents. Our pupils absolutely love their swimming lessons. In fact, for many of them, it’s the highlight of their week at school. Even the little ones that are anxious to swim at
Learning to swim and having fun with pool noodles
first, and are too scared to try, can be seen swimming happily with their friends once they see how confident their friends are. We are proud and privileged to be able to offer this unique opportunity to our little pupils at Trinityhouse Pre-Primary Little Falls.
“Learning to swim is a life skill that can save a life!”
Waterwise Swimming - Teacher Martina
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PREPARATORY LITTLE FALLS T
rinityhouse Preparatory has many gems that make it unique to others. Trinityhouse Preparatory’s unique location in the hills that surround the Little Falls Nature Reserve give it a tranquil atmosphere, and it’s home to 16 different indigenous plants. While bunnies hop around freely, our school’s backdrop is the mountains which give us breathtaking views. In the arena of sports, we’re implementing new athletics programmes that are completely unique to us. This year, we introduced high jump, long jump and shot put. Even though it was our first year participating in these sports, some of our athletes made it to the D12 Championships. In Technology, we’ve introduced a GO Lab. The kids love to design and do 3D printing which makes it a favourite place to go... We look forward to a robotics and drone clone, which is due to commence this year! In cultural activities, we continue to excel in the Arts and Music programme.
The senior Rugby Team takes a group photo after a great match with the Little Falls mountains canvasing the background.
Our culturally diverse school is a melting pot of hearts that continue to give beyond themselves in Outreach and charity. Academically we achieve astounding results and produce world-class pupils in the class and in life. With our Global Competencies, we are grooming the future citizens of a successful South Africa. Using the Global Competencies, Kagan technology, and de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats we’re encouraging our pupils to see, think, wonder and learn in the future. These methods also encourage research, selfmanagement, conflict resolution and group work which are gems that will make them streets ahead in the real working world. 36 | The Trinitonian
Trinityhouse Preparatory Little Falls is beautiful to behold. Pictured is an evening sunset at our recent annual Father and Child Camp Out.
We’re truly blessed by God, at the centre of everything, allowing us to have such amazing gems like our pupils and staff. Deep in the hearts of our staff is a deeply rooted love for God, care and sacrifice for the pupils, continual
We love our Trinityhouse families and we celebrate families in exciting ways! Pictured here is Declan Swanepoel with his dad, David Swanepoel, at our Father and Child Camp Out.
learning and acceleration in their personal teaching methods. We continue to let our gems shine and let the world see how truly amazing Trinityhouse Little Falls is.
Pupils are using our Global Competencies to collaborate with different lessons and activities.
We even incorporate our Global Competencies into our language programmes. Here pupils are collaborating in Afrikaans class.
We now offer high jump, long jump and shot put in our athletics. Pictured is Jordan Smith making high jump look easy. Jordan made it to the D12 Championships in Athletics.
Lessons are made so much fun at Trinityhouse Little Falls. Here pupils act out a traditional story in their language class.
Our mornings are always started with thanksgiving and prayer at Trinityhouse Preparatory Little Falls.
Keyah Hadebe, Tyra Pestana and Talia Hadebe show their diverse South African outfits on Proudly SA Day.
Our pupils had so much fun making their Zulu hut projects for Zulu class. Here is an example of how beautifully they turned out!
Some of our prefect body of 2018 in prayer at their Prefect Induction Ceremony.
From the pools of Trinityhouse Little Falls to the Midmar Mile, our open water swimmers are taking open water swimming by storm. Pictured are Christopher Williams, Joel Joseph, Declan Swanepoel, Coach Chelsea Cutler, Jessica Baker, Sharné Steele and Tatiana Maia.
Our prep school pupils love hymn singing and worship. Here they point up to The Trinitonian | 37 heaven and “the One”.
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HIGH LITTLE FALLS “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21 Our treasures at Trinityhouse High School Little Falls have been plentiful so far this year. We started by celebrating our excellent 2017 Grade 12 results and the good news has kept on coming. We welcomed 75 Grade 8 Cubs to the high school in January. Each Cub is allocated a Lion who mentors them throughout the year. It has been really special watching these relationships grow as the Lions and Cubs spend time together. In February, we used our new school hall for the first time. It’s a beautiful sanctuary where we gather each morning to worship God together. We’ve also opened our Makerspace, which has provided a safe space for creativity, critical thinking and research. The Grade 8s and 9s have used it in a specific Makerspace lesson each cycle and have built puzzles, newspaper towers and straw bridges. The Grade 12s have used the space to work on their One Research Task projects and have loved the flexible seating on offer in the venue. Classrooms have continued to be a treasure trove of new ideas. The Grade 9s have been preparing for their Climate Change Expo, the Grade 10s have been debating in History, and the Grade 11s danced the sokkie as an introduction to an Afrikaans poem. The Grade 12 Geography pupils also visited Cullinan for a tour of the diamond mine. We have had great successes on the sports field and in the pool. Our swimmers swam very well against tough competition at Inter-High, 38 | The Trinitonian
Lion, Katherine Rolfe (Grade 12), spends some time catching up with her Cubs at lunchtime.
Mahlako Machika (Head Girl) ready for the Grade 12 Gees Week assembly.
coming a very close second overall. As a result of this success, seventeen of our swimmers were then invited to the Prestige Gala. Our Rugby boys were blessed with an awesome Sevens Training Camp run by exBlitzbok captain, Frankie Horne. The Boys’ 1st Tennis Team has enjoyed their third undefeated season in a row, while the Girls’ Tennis Team has continued to grow. Our Athletics Team had a successful season with five medals having been earned at the Western Districts Athletics meeting. These athletes went on to participate in the Gauteng Provincial Athletics Championships.
Gees Week was an absolute highlight of the term and culminated in our second annual Founders’ Day Derby in March. All our teams performed exceptionally well. The senior Rugby boys played Randfontein, The King’s School Robin Hills and La Salle, winning all of their matches. The junior Rugby boys played Randfontein and La Salle, and were also victorious. The Hockey girls played their hearts out, drawing in all of their matches except one. The Hockey boys also had a successful day, drawing in three games and winning one. The Netball girls started their
Palesa Bako (Grade 12) makes use of the flexible seating and a Chromebook to work on her One Research Task project in the Makerspace.
Kamogelo Sepamla (Head Boy) and Tamara Mastilo (Deputy Head Girl) enjoy the view from the new high school hall.
Willem Havenga and Shaun Brits (Grade 10) give their all on the rugby field on Founders’ Day.
Tumi Noah and Mahlako Machike (Grade 12) playing defence in Netball on Founders’ Day.
The Grade 12 Geography pupils on their tour of the diamond mine in Cullinan.
Mrs. R. van der Westhuizen teaches Blessing Bonga-Bonga (Grade 9) in Maths.
season with the U14s remaining undefeated and the First Team displaying their commitment to their team and school by giving their all on the court. Our Senior Chess Team is currently playing in the D12 Roodepoort Schools’ League and has won all five of their matches. They will compete in the semifinal next term. The Junior Chess Teams have won all but one of their games. Our public speakers have also had a number of moments to treasure.
Rahil Patel (Grade 11) swims butterfly at the InterHigh Gala
Thabiso Madumo, Kabelo Moalusi (Grade 11) and Matthew Govender (Grade 8) watch a Chess game between Daniel Brown and Jordan John (Grade 8).
The Grade 8s achieved a B+ for their speeches. The Grade 9s had to develop a thought-provoking speech, using a lyric from a South African artist as a topic. Both teams excelled, with one team earning a B+ and the other an A. The Grade 10s received an A and the Grade 11s received a B+. Our Grade 12 team, consisting of Molemo Molefe, Tumi Noah, Tumi Mafuze and Bradley van Vuuren received a B+, whilst our individual speaker, Mahlako Machika, achieved an A. In March, our talented pupils took to the stage in the Talent Show and celebrated their unique treasures.
Emilio Giangregorio (Grade 10) on the hockey field on Founders’ Day.
Ruan Pieters and Tadiwanashe Matope (Grade 11) dance the sokkie in preparation for a poem in Afrikaans.
In addition to giving of themselves in all spheres of school life, our pupils also made time to support their local communities. The Outreach Team sold magazines for JAM and visited Tjokkers vir Jesus. The Grade 10 Debutantes and Squires have made a fantastic start to their fundraising this term. At Trinityhouse High School Little Falls, our treasures are in the classroom, on the sports field, on the stage, in helping others and in honouring God. This is where our hearts are. The Trinitonian | 39
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PRE-PRIMARY & PREPARATORY NORTHRIDING The hidden treasures of our campus are, first and foremost, our pupils and our staff. Trinityhouse Northriding is a young, upcoming and innovative school where each child is known, where each child matters and where individuality is celebrated in everything that we do. The staff of Trinityhouse Northriding believes that we have to constantly learn, adapt and be lifelong pupils ourselves to ensure that we can implement best practice and best theory. We are continuously asking questions such as: “How do we educate pupils for a future whose main characteristic is ambiguous change?” and “How do we ensure our pupils become grounded, community-focused individuals?” So although we’ve embraced change, we’re standing firm on the fundamental elements of education.
Grade 1 – Working together works!
As a staff, we serve our Lord, Jesus Christ wholeheartedly, where Colossians 3: 23 24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” is the driving force behind everything that we do. Some of the other gems about our school are: • We offer a water-safety programme run by Vorn’s Lifeguards Swim School for our Grade 00 and 0s; • Our Grade 0s attend weekly Chess sessions with Coach Kunda; • Our Grade 00 and 0 pupils attend Music with a highly experienced and qualified Music teacher, Mrs. Sally Corbin; and • It’s a small school, with 15-18 pupils per class, where we aim to create a sense of belonging. 40 | The Trinitonian
Jordan Kowet, Ota Musetha, Rebecca Mongold, Kamara Holzinger – we belong to a community of learners; just like pieces of a puzzle.
Our water-drive project – our actions have an impact on our community.
Grade 00s – Azwi Mabela, Inge Schutte and Etan Petzer are exploring the garden and animal habitats at school.
The water-safety programme in action.
Preschool chess in action.
Grade 3 – Presenting their thoughts on the attributes of a hero.
Our incredible staff
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rinityhouse Palm Lakes staff are vibrant, open and always willing to help each other. There are a few things that separate the first KZN Trinityhouse Palm Lakes from other schools on the North Coast. Access to many different educational toys helps the pupils to learn the discipline of waiting their turn and means they can help their friends if they’re not sure how to play with those toys. Small classes allow for individual attention in a family-orientated school with a nurturing environment and access to a swimming pool for weekly swimming lessons that form part of their movement programme. Private lessons as an extracurricular activity is an option. Outdoor equipment for imaginative outdoor play, is in abundance, rotated often so that it stays fresh and exciting. Another drawcard is our inspirational Music teacher who provides an environment that our pupils love and want to explore. At Trinityhouse Palm Lakes, inquiry-based learning has replaced content-driven themes. Wonder walls are taking shape and red, green and black thining hats have been tried out. The ADvTECH Global Competencies are also introduced from the beginning, with our Grade 000s meeting our superheroes – Simone Social, Thinking Theo, Self-management Sizwe, Rory Research, and Cali Communication. We want to be like these superheroes as our skills and thinking “muscles” grow and grow. The Grade 00s have been learning about relationships and how to treat others in order to be treated in the same way, as well as safety in their environment 42 | The Trinitonian
The Grade 00s looking to see what they see!
Marco Ballot and Annabelle Hall exploring Black Uh -oh! thinking hats
ensuring they don’t get hurt. A family kitchen scene was chosen for the “I see, I think, I wonder” activity. Everyone sits on the carpet together and takes turns to look at and comment on the picture. “I see” was straightforward and interesting feedback came from it! Zachary Govender – “I see a boy, a baby and a mommy inside.” Rinae Dali – “I see a girl is cutting an orange.” Kuhlekonke Khumalo – “I see a daddy.” Hugo Chen – “I see Daddy is cleaning the room.”
Marco Ballot and Annabelle Hall exploring red feelings thinking hats
“I think”, brought about answers such as: Mayank Naidu – “I think they are cleaning because they are all sick.” Talia Kasavan – “I think the baby wants milk.” (That’s why she is crying.) Austin Kabongo – “I think the baby needs the milk in a cup.” Leone Peacock – “I think they like carrots.” (That’s why the girl is preparing food.) “I wonder”, needed some prompting – “I wonder what is for dinner?” or “I wonder why the mom is doing laundry?” and “I wonder why the baby is crying?” In the picture, it wasn’t clear as to what the one boy was using
Mason Ballot and Jared Marais completing their box construction of a hospital.
Cali Sizwe Communication Self-management
The Grade 0s with their Green Thinking Hats!
Rory Research
to clean the floor, therefore, “I wonder what the boy is using to clean the floor?” Nkazimulo Mthimkhulu – “The baby is crying because she wants milk.” Talia Kasavan – “Carrot soup” Joshua Govender – “Vegetable soup!” Leone Peacock – “The house is dirty.” Joanne Wagener – “Mopping!” Mayank Naidu – “The baby needs her dummy!” When getting creative in the classroom, the Grade 0 Seals love to put their creative thinking hats on to grow new ideas or make
Theo Thinking
suggestions about their friends’ ideas. With the exciting inquiry units this year, we have many opportunities available to us to explore big ideas. The Grade 0s had to remember ideas and facts that they had learnt about healthy living during the inquiry discussions, using the notes recorded on the thinking tree. Their Green creative hats were perfect for helping them to think of ways in which they could build a hospital using many different-
Simone Social
Musa Qwabe
sized boxes. Problem-solving involved how to glue the hospital together so that it wouldn’t fall apart, and how they would decorate it to look like a hospital was a decision left in the hands of the group members. Using different thinking strategies makes the pupils become confidently aware that their ideas and thoughts are important pieces of information and that they have the power to speak up and work together as a team to brainstorm new ideas and pathways.
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n Matthew 6:21 we read: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The Trinityhouse Palm Lakes Buddy System is a treasure to the school’s ethos. It highlights the special bonds and relationships that are formed during this programme. The highly anticipated moment arrived for the Grade 1s to meet with their Grade 8 Buddies for the first time. Their excitement is a testament to the significant benefits this mentorship-based programme affords young pupils. Grade 2 at Trinityhouse Palm Lakes is a treasure on its own! The Grade 2 teacher loves using concrete and practical ways to teach difficult concepts. For example, doubling and halving this year have been taught practically, using Smarties and Astros. When it came to number patterns, the Grade 2s were surprised with Jelly Tots to help understand and count properly, mastering the art of number patterns in a very sticky and sugary way – the best way! At Trinityhouse Palm Lakes, the teachers dedicate all their time and energy to discovering the hidden gems and treasures inside each and every child. Global Competencies are lifelong skills that help our pupils in a connected world. In the classroom, the pupils have created a Think and Wonder, Wonder and Think wall. This was inspired by Dr Seuss’s book Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! During class discussions, there is always unfamiliar information or new ideas that our pupils need to creatively or critically evaluate or 44 | The Trinitonian
Lerato Madlala, Mangi Mthembu, Toko Nakakita and Leah Naidoo learning about Think and Wonder, Wonder and Think.
Maths in the Grade 2 class with Smarties .
think about. Research skills are essential in our world as it helps us to discover, understand and expand our knowledge about the world. Communication is not just expressive but receptive too. While pupils communicate their findings, the rest of the class need to listen and support the efforts of their classmates, manage their behaviour and value the contributions made. Therefore, in one activity we get to explore all our Global
Counting made fun with Smarties in the Grade 2 class.
Competencies: Thinking Skills, Research Skills, Communication Skills, Self-Management Skills and Social Skills. When doing research, choosing the right articles on the Internet and working through all the details that are included can be time-consuming and extremely confusing, especially for young minds not familiar to some of the terms. That being said, learning the skills to find the treasures that
The Grade 5s invested in their hard work.
The Grade 1s and their Grade 8 Buddies
are hidden in heaps of content are the golden keys to unlocking the concealed tomb to find the answers to our inquiry. The seniors have been inspired by famous artists. Their incredible artwork is based on the treasures of methods that a few chosen artists used. The Grade 4 pupils have learnt about Piet Mondrian, a famous artist who created art based on
Anezka Arthur sifting through information.
The Grade 2s, Blue Thinking Hat
Umbrella Art from Gugu Tywabi, Tessa Heafield and Christian Scharneck.
The Grade 2s, Green Thinking Hat
Miss Archer’s eBeam on freeze for the children to read.
The Grade 2 Thinking Hats all done!
straight lines, primary colours and music. The pupils were asked to create a rough sketch based on three different songs on a playlist. The first song was calm Indie music, the second was upbeat and busy, and the third was Jazz. Jackson Pollock inspired the Grade 5s with his unique abstract technique. One of the treasures they discovered through him was his splattered and random painting ability. Andy Warhol inspired the Grade 6s to
take a look at all of the popular brands in our lives. They were inspired by his Pop Art portraits and created self-portraits similar to his. “Sport doesn’t build character, it reveals it.” Is this the essence of a treasure hunt and life itself, moving from one destination to another trying new things and experiences to ultimately reveal that big X marked on the map we call life? The Trinitonian | 45
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t Trinityhouse Palm Lakes, we treasure and value relationships. We value the Christian ethos and embrace it in all areas of our school curriculum. With this being said, we have many unique opportunities to share this “treasure” with those in our community and within our school. We have many Outreach days where pupils learn to embrace and welcome those less fortunate than themselves in the community. Trinityhouse is also proud of our unique mentorship system which also shows how we treasure the role pupils play in each others’ lives. This is based on our wild dog mascot. Wild dogs live and hunt successfully in packs. Our pupils each find themselves in a designated “pack” where there are pupils from Grade 1-12. It is in these packs that they unravel the treasures in their lives and grow through sharing and learning together. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35 Visual Art at Trinityhouse Palm Lakes is a platform where our pupils are able to explore their hidden talents and dig deep to discover who they are in this world. The Grade 8 pupils embarked on a practical task whereby they told a story about themselves or about someone special to them with assemblage art. Assemblage is both the process and the product of art making, referring to an act of putting various fragments 46 | The Trinitonian
Weekly peer reading outside
Emma Morphew and her Buddies, Zomnotho Mamba and Lillian Larsen
together, in order to compose a piece. The practical was titled Sculpture in a Box. The high school pupils have embarked on a new treasure hunt this year, and this applies especially to the Grade 8s who are learning what the school’s all about and are trying out for new sporting teams. A treasure hunt for a high school pupil can refer to the journey they’re about to embark on. We look forward to
finding “gold” within our pupils and on the sports field.
Unlocking the treasure of reading “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Bearing this in mind, the Afrikaans Department at Trinityhouse Palm Lakes has embarked on a peer reading project to unlock the many treasures of reading for each pupil. Pupils from Grade 8-11 have been
Saige van Niekerk and her Buddies.
Aleah Viramuthu and her Buddies
Riley Mordaunt and his Buddies.
Assemblage Art.
This is Arshvin Naidoo and his Buddies. No matter how ‘tall’ you are, you’ll always be my buddy.
Elihle Gcaleka achievements: Athletics KwaDukuza District Trials 1st in 200m and 2nd in 100m sprints. Role models: Wade van Niekerk and Caster Semenya.
Water collection for The Gift of the Givers.
allocated a reading buddy. There’s an emphasis on comprehension, building up of vocabulary treasure chest, articulation and confidence. It’s most gratifying to watch the interaction in the different groups as it not only improves their fluency and reading ability but it also builds on the existing relationships between the pupils.
sounds of musical notes. Having identified all the notions of sound they went on to understand the physical properties of sound. Sound travels fastest in solids and slowest in gases. Reflection of sound is an echo. A length of ground was measured and, using a stopwatch, we determined the time taken to hear the sound from a distance.
The Grade 10 pupils are studying sound. There was much deliberation and discussion on the
Like the Indiana Jones movie of 1981, the Grade 11 pupils are like the fictional treasure seeker
Peer Reading.
himself, encountering twists and turns at every corner each day. The Grade 11s attended the Summer School programme offered by Immedia, where they were challenged each day both physically – waking up at 5am to get to work at 7am – and mentally, by bringing home the most precious treasure known to and revered by mankind – knowledge!
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hen asked to reflect on what makes our campus special and sets us apart, we’re truly blessed to work with such talented and highly qualified educators. Not only do we have passionate pre-primary teachers, their many individual talents are a great blessing to us all every day. However, one specific group of ladies comes to mind when thinking about the theme of “hidden treasures”. This is our staff’s precious Care Team who’ve undertaken an indispensable role and, in essence, carry the ministry of encouragement for our team. As staff, we not only see each other as esteemed colleagues but as a pre-primary family and our Care Team is the “heartbeat” of the family. This team, whose members largely remain anonymous, are responsible for many of the random acts of kindness we as staff receive on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Whether someone’s celebrating a personal achievement, a wedding, a pregnancy, a new baby announcement, going through a really tough time, struggling with sickness or a personal tragedy, the Care Team is there to rally around us and be our prayer warriors. We will often find an encouraging word or verse with a thoughtful gift in our classroom or workspace without us even knowing where it came from! As a staff, we’re able to enjoy a special Saturday morning of encouragement, ministry and blessing together once a year. The theme of this recent morning was New Beginnings, and it centred around the bible verse, “Because of the Lord’s great 48 | The Trinitonian
Teacher Shirley brought our Sensory Garden to life and is a wonderful and talented artist.
Auditory learning together in a group is always fun.
love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness.” –Lamentations 3:22 – 23. Our Care Team was at the forefront of all that was enjoyed throughout the morning and we walked away feeling truly privileged to have them.
With the faithfulness of our Care Team, the staff is able to feel loved and treasured! It’s appropriate to end off with a quote from Kirpal Singh: “Kind hearts are the gardens. Kind thoughts are the roots. Kind words are the blossoms. Kind deeds are the fruits.”
Our Care Team work hard behind the scenes and bring so much joy to our school.
Thinking Hats encourage pupils in group discussion and individual thinking. What a treasure to see our PrePrimary pupils creating friendships that will last a lifetime.
Time to read is so much better with shaving cream, and means lots of fun while learning!
Teacher Susan is a blessing to our school as a life and parent coach.
Teacher Candace brings insight due to her training in Integrated Learning Therapy, as she implements it in the Pre-Primary.
Imagination is a wonderful thing!.
Friday smiles!
The beloved Pre-Primary staff. We thank the Lord every day for His many blessings over our school.
Our little artists always create great masterpieces.
Our Buggy Bakers bring new and exciting treats for their class and friends every week.
Teacher Karen, who has submitted her thesis her Master|of49 Thefor Trinitonian Education degree.
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chools have hidden gems that add value. They can’t always be measured and are often taken for granted. We acknowledge and appreciate these gems; our people and the various programmes that are such an important part of everyday life at our school. Music is an integral part of a child’s development at Trinityhouse Preparatory School Randpark Ridge. The class Music instrumentation programme and the Music Centre work together to foster and build a love of music from a very young age. The pupils are encouraged to take up an individual instrument from Grade 1, once they’ve been exposed to instruments such as the recorder, violin and guitar, during our Foundation Phase. The Intersen Phase, in due course, exposes all pupils to the variety of brass instruments and the flute. Our pupils are encouraged to pursue their individual musical interests by joining the Music Centre for individual lessons. Tuition is offered in piano, keyboard, violin, viola, flute, fife, recorder, cello, harp, vocal training, brass instruments including saxophone, and the ukulele and guitar (classical, modern, electric,acoustic and bass guitar). Many of our pupils, then, become part of the various school instrumental ensembles such as the string ensemble, marimba and brass ensembles. Students later take up marimba exams for individual recognition with the official examination authorities, such as the Trinity College of London. Some of the Music Centre staff are renowned
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Inter-house swimming is always a highlight of the first term.
musicians in their own right. They often join the preparatory school orchestra that performs at various festivals and functions. Music is a shining gem at our school! Cubs and Pups have truly become an integral part of our school. The Grade 1-6 pupils are known as Wolf Pups and, in Grade 7, become Wolf Cubs. The Grade 7 Cubs each lead a family of six Pups for the duration of their Grade 7 year. These “families” become a strong base for affirmation of school achievements and pupildriven discussions. “Den” meeting discussions take place about some of the more challenging life issues. The families also enjoy spending time together at picnic events or share in the more life-changing and inspiring times, such as the Passover Meal during Easter. Cubs
Our Grade 1s had a Bell Ceremony symbolising their entrance into the school.
and Pups have become one of the strong cornerstones of our micro school community, where the pupils can assist and guide each other on various matters. The staff guide them to a point but tend to remain in the background, while the Grade 7 head of his/her family is expected to lead and guide their pack. Digital support groups In the past, support groups for the Foundation Phase were well attended by either parent of the pupils on various occasions. But in order to change with the times, we now are able to offer our support groups in the digital domain! The response to this change has been fantastic and our parents and pupils are benefiting in many ways. One of the benefits includes the referral and revising of important concepts at will by the child and the parents.
Our Music Centre continues to amaze us with the great talents exhibited by our pupils.
Cubs and Pups continue to make our pupils feel more and more a part of the Trinityhouse family.
Our school’s Mathematics programme continues to encourage learning.
GO Lab has brought much excitement to the school with lots of new and wonderful things to be learned.
Support classes are offered on a digital platform to provide parents and children with the opportunity to better understand what is being taught in the classroom.
Grade 6 and 7 Maths programme Mathematics is a linear subject where concrete knowledge and understanding of a particular concept are key to moving to the next level. In Grade 6 and 7, pupils are placed into ability groups for Mathematics, where they’re challenged at their own level. We divide five classes into six Mathematics groups, in order to keep the classes smaller in number, and have found that pupils freely ask questions, while engaging confidently in the learning process. Teachers are able to give more individual attention to each child. Pupils all complete exactly the same syllabus content and write the same tests and assessments, and we’re so encouraged by the incremental improvements we’ve seen in confidence and achievement across the board!
We’ll be friends until we’re old!
GO Lab GO Lab aims to equip pupils with far more than just an awareness of global technology trends. The interactive STEAM-based curriculum and practical learning environment incorporate a range of relevant 21st-Century Skills. These include higher order thinking skills such as collaboration, research, communication, technological skills, as well as design and critical and creative thinking. Self-evaluation and self-management, curiosity and innovation also play an important part in this exciting programme. These skills are intertwined with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to encourage and facilitate meaningful education to address present and future global needs.
Money collected for Trinityhouse Maths Day for the Bible Society of South Africa.
Continuous professional development of staff Our staff are most certainly some of the gems at our school! They’re continuously exposed to cutting-edge developments in the global education arena, including the latest methodologies and trends. We focus on the skills of the World Economic Forum’s global competencies which include developing creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication in the classroom daily. We continue to appreciate the gems we have at our school and are working hard to add more to the basket of what we offer at Trinityhouse Preparatory School Randpark Ridge.
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rinityhouse High School Randpark Ridge is blessed to have many attributes which are not that well known or publicised and could be classified as our “hidden treasures”. From an academic perspective, our implementation of the core skills (Global Competencies) in our day-to-day lessons often goes unnoticed by our pupils as they’re often so immersed in their work and so busy enjoying what they’re doing. Our Grade 9 Geography pupils have richly enjoyed the creation of their contour cakes. This activity develops self-management skills encompassing the effective use of time and planning. It facilitates collaboration which exposes our pupils to the skills of shared responsibility and effective communication. Applying knowledge and identifying various features visible on a map, and replicating the elements using sponge cake, allows the children to be at their creative best. As you can imagine, the added bonus of being able to eat your project has added greatly to the enjoyment factor! We have no doubt that the impact and the value of these core skill lessons will soon be noticeable in the academic growth of our pupils. The Trinity Orchestra is another one of our hidden treasures, often performing away from the limelight. The addition of a brass section to complement the string ensemble and marimba band has added significantly to it’s growing reputation. Recent performances at their Inter-high Swimming 52 | The Trinitonian
Trinity Wolves. One team. One dream.
Gala and at the headmaster’s Friday assembly has heralded the end of their “hidden” status as more members of the school community have been exposed to these amazing talents. We have no doubt they are firmly on their way to becoming one of the more prominent parts of the Trinityhouse fabric. The library, and particularly its busyness during the afternoon, is undoubtedly one of our school’s gems. The fact that this happens in such a calm and quiet environment has led us to place it in the “hidden” category. The number
of pupils who willingly use the library after school while waiting for extramurals or transportation is a compliment to our library staff and is a sign and is a sign of the willing diligence and self-discipline of our pupils. The combination of computer research, collaborative work and individualised engagement has contributed to an atmosphere, which can best be described as an academic haven with a high level of productivity. Our school is blessed to have many treasures which contribute largely to our “education beyond expectation”.
Gees Week always brings much excitement and spirit to our school. It’s such a treasure to see the effort and enthusiasm of all our pupils.
Tyndale Cheerleaders.
Peer-to-peer tutoring creates partnerships to provide academic support for others.
Our magical High School Orchestra.
Our Grade 10s took time to put together a Foldscope. A paper-based microscope that you can assemble yourself.
Our Just One project has touched the lives of many by providing 1838 sandwiches to those less fortunate. It’s amazing to see our pupils putting in time and effort to help others.
Our relationship with Kingsway School allows our pupils to extend themselves, their talents and their resources to benefit those in need.
Our library is always a great place to be. A wonderful environment enjoyed by The Trinitonianmany. | 53
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TREASURE HUNTERS – Archaeologists
T
he job may not be as hazardous as Indiana Jones, Lara Croft or everybody who works at Jurassic Park has made out. If you become an archaeologist you probably won’t be trying to outrun massive boulders, hanging off cliffs or dodging giant lizards but you do get to be a treasure hunter every single day! Sold? Now how do you go about becoming a Dr. Jones? What is archaeology? ‘Archaeology’ means “the study of ancient things”, including the people of the past: how they lived, where they lived, what they ate, and their environment. How is an archaeologist different to a historian? Historians use documents, letters and drawings to understand how 54 | The Trinitonian
people lived, while archaeologists use tools, houses, plant and animal remains, pollen, shells and other evidence that they dig up in excavations. How does archaeology differ from palaeontology? Palaeontology is the study of plant and animal fossils, while archaeology is the study of human artefacts and remains. However, both work closely together. Why do people study archaeology? The past is the key to the present and the future. Everyone should know where they came from – their heritage – and the lessons that they can take out of past events to make the present and the future better.
What do archaeologists do? Dig: Archaeologists make a grid of squares with string on the ground and each square is excavated carefully with a trowel, brush, dustpan and bucket. They record and draw everything that they find. Things they find include pottery, animal bones, stone tools and beads. Study rock art: Some archaeologists study rock art painted or engraved by our ancestors. Using special techniques they’re able to trace the rock art and record their findings. Work in labs: Lab archaeologists work on all the artefacts found out in the field. They sort the artefacts into different categories (stone, metal, bone, charcoal, beads, etc.), they count how many there
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are in each group and they test the elements. They then record all their workings and present their findings to relevant and interested organisations. Record and write: All archaeological findings need to be recorded so that people can read about the past, in books and museums, and find out about their heritage. Recording archaeologists write books, make television shows, give speeches, create information websites, etc. What do I need to study archaeology? A matric exemption is first and foremost on the list. Some universities place archaeology in the Sciences Faculty while others place it in the Arts/Humanities Faculty. Your archaeology
direction depends on what other subjects you take: Archaeology with scientific subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Zoology and Botany, will allow you to: • Analyse bones of animals • Analyse plant remains and pollens to find out how climate has changed and what vegetation existed in the past • Analyse bones of fossil hominids and DNA to explain the evolution of humans and how we are all related • Analyse isotopes from bones to discover what people once ate • Analyse methods for dating archaeological materials such as charcoal, shell and bones The Trinitonian | 55
CAREER FILES CAREER FILES Archaeology with arts subjects such as History, Geography, Anthropology, Political Studies and Philosophy will allow you to study: • Anthropology: reconstructing the social organisation of people • Historical Archaeology: finding clues to understand events at historical sites • Geography: analysing where people lived in the past, and why they chose those places • Art: to analyse and interpret rock paintings and engravings
Cool archaeological sites (below and above the ground) An interesting archaeological site that was once buried by ash from a nearby volcano, thousands of years ago, is Pompeii in Italy. Today it’s a popular excavation site that tourists flock to, to see the discovered ruins of a once bustling Roman city.
Which universities in South Africa offer Archaeology degrees? • The University of Cape Town (UCT) – www.uct.ac.za • The University of Pretoria (UP) – www.up.ac.za • The University of South Africa (UNISA) – www.unisa.ac.za • The University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) – www.wits.ac.za • The University of Limpopo (UL) – www.ul.ac.za
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But not all archaeological sites are buried. Some stand tall above the ground for all to see, for example, Stonehenge in England, the pyramids in Egypt, the Parthenon in Greece and the city of Great Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe.
For more information on careers in archaeology in South Africa, visit the website of the Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA) – http://asapa.co.za.
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LIFESTYLE
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KIDS PAGES
s e g a P Ki ds’
Kids Treasure Hunter Puzzles & Games Treasure Maze
Fun & Games
Find 10 differences between picture 1 and picture 2
Q: Why was it so hard to call the pirate on the phone? A: Because he left the phone off the hook.
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ANSWER: B
Who said finding treasure was easy? Which boardwalk is the start of the correct path to riches?
! u o y o t s w e N Chimp & Zee at The Valley of Waves R190 per person | www.suninternational.co.za Chimp & Zee, a rope adventure park has officially launched over Sun City’s Valley of Waves. The roped web of fun is made up of individual obstacles placed high in the trees, which are interconnected to form an exciting adventure course featuring: high balancing beams, zip lines, hanging spider nets and jungle rope bridges, to name a few! What To Bring Fitness • Closed shoes or go barefoot A degree of physical fitness is required but if you can run up a • Sunscreen flight of stairs, you should be fine. • Comfortable clothing for the journey • Must wear a shirt or top • Long hair to be tied up
Restrictions Maximum weight 120kg Minimum height 1.2m
KidZania is coming to Fourways!
Opening: Later in 2018 In February 2018, a massive Boeing 747, on the back of a flatbed truck, disrupted traffic on the N1 highway as it made its way from OR Tambo airport to its new home, KidZania soon to open in Fourways Mall! What is KidZania? KidZania is an interactive city combining fun and learning through realistic role play for children up to the age of 18. It’s a scaleddown replica of the real world, complete with streets, buildings, a transport system and a functioning economy. In KidZania children can discover, explore and learn through role-playing different real-life jobs, such as pilots, journalists, scientists, firemen, TV broadcasters, surgeons, and many more.
How does it work? When you arrive at KidZania, you’ll find yourself at our airport check-in area. When you check in, parents and kids will each receive a security bracelet with a GPS tracking device. Children get 50 complimentary kidZos (the currency of KidZania) and a map of the city. Once inside, all kids can explore the city and take part in the activities they choose. Each activity will be facilitated by a trained supervisor.
What are the activities inside KidZania? There are more than 100 interactive activities to choose from, including: • Aviation • Science and Technology (e.g. careers of the future) • Automotive (e.g. driving school, driving streets) • Health and Healthcare (e.g. Medicine) • Finance • Arts & Culture • Education • Media
• Private Sector Services (e.g. courier service, beauty salon) • Public Sector Services (e.g. fire station, police station, tax office) • Early Childhood Development • Restaurants • Retail • Sports • Transportation
On average, activities take 30 minutes. An average of 6 activities can be completed during your 4-hour visit depending on the activities you choose.
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KIDS PAGES
Out With the Old robot, in With The new
HELLO Pepper! Hey kids, moms and dads! My name is Pepper, and I am a humanoid robot. I am intended to make people happy, to enhance lives, facilitate relationships, introduce fun and learning and to connect people to the outside world. What is a humanoid robot? A humanoid robot is a device that has a body shaped like that of a human and which is designed for research or functional purposes, such as interacting with and in human environments. Pepper has been designed to identify your emotions and to select the behaviour best suited to the situation. Based on your voice, the expression on your face, your body movements and the words you use, Pepper will interpret your emotion and offer appropriate content. Where did Pepper come from? Pepper Robot was launched in Japan in 2014 by the French Company Aldebaran, which is owned by the Japanese company, Softbank. We’re still in the early days of robot and human interaction. Robots, as we South Africans know them, are either found at busy intersections or on production lines but that is all changing now. Pepper is currently deployed around the world in retail, hospitality, elderly care, airports and banking environments, with developers developing more apps to support different sectors all the time. How many Peppers are there? There are currently four Pepper Robots in South Africa with more on their way! The companies investing in Pepper are looking to support interactions with clients that are repetitive and informative allowing for their current employees to be better utilised and upskilled to enhance their employees’ abilities, and thus their business.
Would you like Pepper to come and visit your school? Cut this box out and give it to your teacher by 18 June and Pepper could come and visit you!
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Scott Giles MD Deftech 010 590 0740 | scott@deftech.co www.deftech.co You can find out more at @pepperrobotsa on an educational series on Pepper that’s being run in South Africa. Or Tweet them, by using the handle @pepperrobotsa and #pepperrobotinsa.
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TRAVEL
South Africa’s
Treasure Troves
FIVE FAMOUS GEOLOGICAL SITES WELL WORTH A VISIT.
By Donna Verrydt
Geological rock formations
Robberg Nature Reserve WESTERN CAPE History: Robberg, meaning “mountain of seals” was the name given to this headland by Dutch mariners back in the 15th century. Later, the Portuguese “re-discovered” the area and called it Formosa Bay – or “beautiful bay”. It has been declared a Provincial Heritage Site.
The Robberg coastline, a national treasure
Location: The peninsula forms the 245-hectare nature reserve that’s run by Cape Nature. If you’ve ever been to Plettenberg Bay, you will surely know Robberg, which lies 5 kilometres to the south of the seaside village. Geology: Robberg provides a look at the sedimentary basin that was formed when the new Southern African coastline was formed following the break up of Gondwana (the ancient supercontinent) more than 180 million years ago. Nelson Bay Cave offers artefacts of human life from the Stone Age. Evidence shows that the cave people ate seabirds, bush pigs, Cape buffalo, crustaceans and oysters (who wouldn’t!)
A Cape fur seal
The legendary Nelson Bay Cave filled with fossils and artefacts
Nature: True to its name, Robberg has a healthy colony of Cape fur seals which also attracts the great white sharks that patrol the rocky cliffs from the water. Don’t miss... There are three popular hikes here. The longest is The Point (9km round-trip) and the shortest is The Gap (less than an hour). The hikes offer breathtaking scenery and the chance to encounter mammals and birds too.
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Wooden walkways facilitate easier walks for hikers
Baboon’s Castle, a breathtaking viewpoint
Breathtaking mountain vistas that boast a thousand-million-year history
Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve KWAZULU-NATAL Location: The scenic Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve lies 25 kilometres inland from Port Shepstone and 125 kilometres south of Durban.
Waterfalls abound in the gorge
Geology: Geologic uplift is the upward movement of the Earth’s surface (occurring during earthquakes) and it is responsible for forming gorges. The basement rocks of the gorge were formed a thousand-million years ago and consist of hard granite, while the upper levels show evidence of deposited sandstone. Nature: Although the likelihood of seeing a leopard is extremely low, they do live in the gorge as evident by kills that are found. The more visual animals include chacma baboons, giraffe, bushbucks, duikers and the rock hyrax (better known as dassies!) Don’t miss... Where there are extremely high rock ledges, there are crazy people wanting to jump off them! The Oribi Gorge swing is the highest in the world and starts at the top of Lehr’s waterfall. There’s also the 84 metre-long and 100 metre-high suspension bridge – a spectacular opportunity to exist between heaven and terra firma for a bit. And for the not so brave, Baboon’s Castle viewpoint is a spectacular site and easily accessible.
Oribi Gorge suspension bridge
Oribi Gorge Swing, an adrenalin junkie’s paradise
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Hole in the Wall at Coffee Bay has cultural beliefs for the Xhosa people
Hole in the wall EASTERN CAPE The Hole in the Wall is a unique structure with a huge detached cliff that has a giant opening carved through its centre by the waves. Location: Situated eight kilometres from the small town of Coffee Bay, on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, Hole in the Wall is a natural site as impressive as its big cousin Table Mountain. Geology: The cliffs of Hole in the Wall consist of dark-blue shales, mudstones and sandstones dating back 260 million years. These rocks were subsequently intruded by a dolerite sheet, and the ‘hole’ was created over millions of years by the buffeting waves, which eroded away the softer rocks underneath the dolerite to form an arch. The same process also eventually separated the cliff from the mainland. Nature: Between July and December every year, the Eastern Cape coastline is frequented by southern right and humpback whales. These animals glide past the shore, breaching and frolicking in the water. If you prefer terrestrial beasts though, check out the beautiful Nguni cows that frequent the beaches in this area.
A herd of a Nguni cows standing on the beach Wild aloes dot the Eastern Cape coastline
A group of surfers, living the free life Traditional houses near Hole in the Wall
Don’t Miss... Hole in the Wall is both an adventurous and cultural experience. You can enjoy the surrounds with hikes and biking trails through the hills, surf lessons off the coast, canoe trips down the Mthatha River to see mangrove forests, and then visit the local villages and communities, where you will be welcomed with open arms. The Trinitonian | 67
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Golden desert
The Richtersveld National Park NORTHERN CAPE Location: The Richtersveld is a desert landscape characterised by rugged kloofs and high mountains, situated in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. The park covers more than 6 000 square kilometres, 30% of it in the far northwest of South Africa (Richtersveld), the rest stretching across the Orange River into Namibia. Geology: There are a number of interesting archaeological sites in this region. The earliest evidence of human habitation was discovered in a shelter at Die Toon near Tatasberg. Bones uncovered reveal that at least some of the species currently present in the region, such as springbok and zebra were also present 4 000 years ago. The presence of fish bones indicates that the Orange River was an important source of food for the hunter-gatherers. Nature: There are more than 200 species of birds in the park and 10 different species of bats – so stay alert at dusk. The zebra that occurs here is Hartmann’s mountain zebra, unlike Burchell’s zebra of the Kruger National Park. If you pass any, see if you can spot the differences. (Hint: look at the stripes and dewlap.) Don’t Miss... There are more than 220 kilometres of 4x4 tracks in the Richtersveld, but they’re all extremely sandy and often rocky, so you need a high-clearance vehicle (and probably recovery equipment too). To be safe, you should also carry extra fuel, a tow rope, two spare tyres, a tyre repair kit, a decent jack – and maybe a bottle of whiskey.
Crown or castle-shaped sandstone rock
A goldmine hole in the Richtersveld
A quiver tree of the Richtersveld
Canoeing down the Orange River, which forms the border of South Africa and Namibia.
We used the book 50 Must-See Geological Sites in South Africa by Gavin Whitfield as our inspiration. Thank you to Belinda at Penguin Random House for all the books! The Trinitonian | 69
GADGETS
Treasure Retrievers TREASURE RUSH GAME R239 Real-life treasure hunting is like a game, only more lucrative and exciting! Just because you live in the city, doesn’t mean you should miss out on all the fun. Treasure Rush is a game where each player gets a set of six double-sided adventurer cards, which they need to use to find the treasure – but quicker than everyone else. Turn over the top treasure card to see what treasures are available to find, then build a path from your starting point to each treasure chest. Whoever reaches the chest first calls “done”, and if their path is correct, they win that treasure map card. Whoever claims five treasure map cards first, wins the game! www.takealot.com
FIRESTARTER AND WHISTLE R199 This could save your life – if not from the wilderness, then from load shedding, at least. One of the basic human needs for survival is fire, as it provides warmth, security, it can cook food and sterilise water. This compact kit comes with both a fire starter and a survival whistle. Items are small, lightweight and can still work when wet, unlike matches that are useless when they get we and can run out. www.mantality.co.za
BEAR GRYLLS COMPACT COMPASS R250 Bear Grylls ranks ‘navigation’ the top survival priority when you’re lost in the wilderness. There are many ways to establish your whereabouts naturally including using the sun or the stars on a clear night, but all you need is a rainy day to foil your plans. For a foolproof, nature-safe navigation option, try the Bear Grylls Compact Compass. This lightweight device will guide you home safely – just like Bear himself. Holding company, Gerber, combines decades of experience in crafting tools and, with the addition of Bear Grylls’ adventure knowledge, they’ve created a compass designed to go anywhere. www.mantality.co.za
KEYCRAFT EGYPTIAN MUMMY EXCAVATION KIT R249 Excavate a mini mummy from ancient Egypt with this digging kit that includes an excavation block, six coloured paints, a roll of paper bandage, a paintbrush and three wooden excavation tools – hammer, chisel and brush. For those who are new to the digging world, a full step-by-step instruction booklet is available. This archaeology kit will provide plenty of fun for young scientists and will introduce them to historical facts such as excavation tools and techniques used to unearth fossils and artefacts. www.thegadgetshop.co.za 70 | The Trinitonian
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L IA C E P S E C N A D IC R T A M The Dress
T
he international ‘red carpet’ is a wealth of insight into the trends, colours and styles of evening dresses for the year ahead. If you still can’t decide on a dress for your matric dance, here are some tips on the hottest, up-tothe-minute celeb styles.
COLOURS Metallic and black
A delicate combination of silver or gold and black gives your dress a shimmer with a bit of an edge. The black tones down the shine and makes the dress look more sophisticated. The two-tone effect is very flattering too. www.oscar.go.com and www.pinterest.com
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White
There is absolutely nothing wedding-like about the white dresses seen on the red carpet this season. No fancy feathers, frills or lace – the dresses were super tailored and angular. This is a very brave colour to wear if you don’t have a long, slim body. White is a very unforgiving colour. www. worldcelebritydress.com and www.pinterest.com
Blush If you prefer a more muted tone, this balletslipper pink is beautifully feminine and was used as appliqué and embellishment on the same colour dresses. Very light fabrics tend to need some texture like this to give the otherwise bland shade some life. www. footwearnews.com and www.pinterest.com
Hot red
This is a massive colour for evening dresses and for Winter 2018. This red has a slightly orange undertone and looks great on almost everyone. “Lady In red” is very much still a thing! www. variety.com and www. pinterest.com
DRESSMAKER WISHLIST:
READY-TO-WEAR:
Vesselina Pencheva www.vesselina.co.za
Rubicon Clothing www.rubiconclothing.co.za
Annie Potgieter: 082 654 8599
Pallu The Zone, Rosebank: 011 447-6366
Gert Johann Coetzee www.gertjohancoetzee.com Roxanne Pengilly www.dressesbyroxanne.co.za Asanda Madyibi www.asandamadyibi.com House of Superior Clothing www.superiorclothing.co.za
Edgars www.edgars.co.za Democratic Republic www.drepublicstyle.com (Sandton City and Mall of Africa) YDE To find your closest store go to www.yde.co.za.
STYLES This year it’s a lot more Star Wars than Cinderella with a lot of edginess and less fairytale prettiness.
Naked backs
In previous years, there have always been individuals who’ve stood out simply because of the outrageous amount of skin they bared. This year there’s a more conservative feel with more dignity in place. Instead of plunging necklines and thigh-high slits, the focus is on deep V-cut backs, large open-keyhole detail and voluminous sleeve support. www.pinterest.com and www.dresses.news
Minimal simplicity
Statement colours like sunflower yellow, bright pink and royal purple were seen on simple, uncomplicated designs and clean, minimal designs. In these cases, less was definitely more because the colour said enough. www.vogue.mx and www.writethisrun.co.uk
Black magic
Dramatic sheer black fabrics mixed with lace, chiffon and even velvet with high necklines, accentuated shoulders and elaborate detail gave a little bit of a medieval feel to the dresses, leaving a whole lot more to the imagination than the usual sheer fabrics. www.pinterest.com
Sharp tailoring
Besides the ladies that were dressed in amazing tuxedos and suits, a lot of the dresses showed sharp, tailored lines and structure with collars and shoulder pads and geometric silhouettes. www.refinery29.com and www.pinterest.com
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Suit-able for gentlemen
T
he classic black tuxedo is never going to be passé, but if it feels a little too dull for you, here are some of the menswear trends for 2018 and ideas of how to really shake up a boring old suit.
Full-colour suits
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Obviously, there are some colours that work better than others, but suits in forest green, ruby red and blue made waves on the red carpet this year.
Velvet jackets
A massive trend last year and even more so this year are different colour velvet jackets, paired with black pants and bowties. Emerald green was the standout colour, but sapphire, ruby and mustard are also great in velvet.
Checked fabric
Now, we’re not talking about tartan or gingham, but rather large, subtle checked fabrics worn on entire suits or just on the jackets.
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Turtlenecks
Does the mere thought or a tie or bowtie make you want to cringe? Luckily for you, the turtleneck is back with a bang and looks rocking under a beautifully tailored suit.
Shades of colour
So if you are going to be the adventurous guy who opts for a bit of colour, try different shades i.e. an emerald green suit, with a light green shirt and forest green tie. It’s 50 shades of any colour, giving your whole look depth and a whole lot more life than a flat black suit.
Dancing shoes
Don’t let your entire outfit down with bad shoes. Choose black or tan with a pointed toe or a pair of classic brogues. If you feel more comfortable with loafers or slip-ons, you can really play with different fabrics and colour. It’s yet another way to liven up your look.
WHERE TO SHOP: TailorMe: 51-6th Street Parkhurst 074 884 4848 Frank Bespoke: 12-4th Ave Parkhurst 079 015 9623 Row-G: www.row-g.com 011 482-1980; Mr SlimFit: info@mrslimfit.com 082 462 0808
READY-TO-WEAR:
SHOES:
Woolworths Trenery ZARA Edgars H&M Topshop
Frank Bespoke ALDO Steve Madden Edgars Woolworths www.spree.co.za www.zando.co.za
CREDITS: Photography: Karoo Biking Images courtesy of TailorMe Model: @the_great_duch Suit design: Celeste McTurk
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Let’s make it a night to remember. With a range of exclusive luxury vehicles to choose from, you won’t just feel like a VIP, you’ll be treated like one too. Plus, our wold-class service ensures that you get the red carpet treatment, with a personalised meet-and-greet on pickup and delivery of your vehicle. So choose Avis Luxury Cars because it’s not just about a classy rental vehicle, it’s about the way we make you feel on your matric dance night.
Avis. We Try Harder.
For more info, visit avis.co.za or call 0861 021 111
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Drop Off
M
aking a memorable entrance in front of your peers is obviously very important, but what lengths will you go to, to arrive with a bang? It depends on the budget. Here are some options…
Horse and carriage
You can be a real Cinderella and arrive at the ball in a horse-drawn carriage, except with your prince in tow. For R3 500, you’ll be collected from your home and taken to the venue with enough time allowed for a great photo shoot. You’ll most likely have to clear the trip with the traffic department in your area for your fairytale ride too. www.horseandcarriage.co.za offer their services in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
A helicopter
Vintage or classic car
Classic and vintage cars always create a stir, so if you’re a lover of things old and beautiful, go to www.bookaclassic.co.za and pick your ride from one of South Africa’s largest selections of dream cars.
Not only the most expensive and extravagant option but also the diciest. There are factors to consider like the weather, availability of a helipad or space to land and aviation authority permissions. You can hire a helicopter for a minimum of three hours from R25 000. If this is your option, contact www.kriekheli. com and be sure to book at least two weeks in advance and pay in full upfront.
Limousine Tuk tuk
Why not go for the unique and fun experience of a tuk tuk? You’ll get to your dance using a safe, reliable and affordable mode of transport which is super cute and funky too. Visit www.e-tuktuk.co.za or call 072 316 8099.
Enjoy your ride with your friends and arrive in red carpet style in a stretch limo! The packages usually include petrol, mileage, a chauffeur and sparkling wine. Book your limo at www.limo.co.za.
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Picture Perfect
W
hether you’re going for a super glam look or a more minimalist approach, we have picked some really great make-up looks for you to try for your dance.
EYES Cat eyes
Stand out from the sea of smokey eyes with bold cat eyes. Make a full circle around your eyes with a wing on both sides with your favourite eyeliner. Liquid eyeliner is best for this look as it gives a great, sharp flick. Try Revlon ColorStay Exactify Liner – Intense Black.
Naturally smoked
If you prefer a more natural look but still want to be super glam, find a colour palette of shadows that are in the same category as your skin tone. Layering these hues will bring your eyes out and complement your complexion. For a comprehensive palette, try NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow Palette.
Metal lids
Ocean eyes
Use a light shade of blue or green to cover your eyelids and then add a smokey grey to the crease of your eye for a soft and fresh look. Finish it off by adding a brighter emerald green or navy blue under the lashes. Try Maybelline Eyestudio Colour in Satin Baby Blues or Maybelline Diamond Glow Eyeshadow Quad Forest Drama.
Add some shine and sass by using a metallic eyeshadow to cover your entire lid. This looks great with a thin, delicate line above the lashes and under the eye. Try copper or gold instead of the predictable silver shades. We love the Essence Metal Shock Eyeshadow range. 78 | The Trinitonian
5 MAKE-UP HACKS 1. Cover your eyelid with white liner to make any eyeshadow colour pop. 2. Dust translucent powder on lashes in between coating on mascara to plump them up. 3. Banish dark circles and puffy eyes by creating a triangle under your eye with your concealer.
4. Sweep your mascara towards your nose instead of upwards to make lashes look fuller and eyes wider. 5. Use a lip balm or Vaseline to naturally smooth out your eyebrows and keep their shape.
LIPS Paintbox brights
Also called ‘pop lips’, this is a super bright colour like red, orange and fuschia. Liquid lipsticks are great for this because they give a really intense colour, but they can dry your lips out. To make sure your lips don’t flake and the colour stays on, use a bit of lipstick in the same shade to keep your lips moisturised. We love L’Oréal’s Designer Colour Riche L’Extraordinaire in Fuschia Drama and Revlon’s Colorburst Balm Stain in Rendezvous.
Glittery gloss
Most make-up brands do gloss with a bit of glitter or shimmer in them. This is a great alternative to a lip colour, especially if you have very made-up eyes and want to tone down your lips. The shine in the gloss keeps your look glam but sophisticated. Try Urban Decay Stardust Sparkling Lips Glosses or Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Confetti.
Classic red
There will always be a place for the classic red lip. Find a shade of red that works with your skin tone and pair it with natural, minimally made-up eyes for a super chic face. One of our favourites is Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Love red.
Nearly nude
Nude lips are not the same colour as your skin nor do they blend in with your foundation. There needs to be a hint of colour like blush or toffee to give your lips shape and not make your face look washed out. Try Flirtatiously Flushed by Smashbox.
Plum pout
A deep plum pout is beautifully paired with soft greys on the eyes if you’re wearing black. Choose a matte lipstick and avoid pairing deep shades like this with heavy eyes if you don’t want to look like a goth! Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Midnight Plum is spot on.
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UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE Kick-start your ‘I-WANT-TO-BE’ dream at one of the oldest institutions of higher education in South Africa - the University of the Free State.
DON’T BE LEFT IN THE DARK – MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY AT KOVSIES.
Check out our programmes at Kovsie2B and www.ufs.ac.za.
#ROCKINGCAREERCHOICES www.ufs.ac.za Inspiring excellence. Transforming lives. Inspireer uitnemendheid. Verander lewens.
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Spruce it up!
Y
ou’ve decided on the outfit, now the question… what do you put with it? The general rule is that if what you are wearing is very ornate or detailed, the accessories need to be minimal and vice versa. If your dress is minimalistic or you are wearing a classic black tux, add a bit of colour or bling detail.
FOR THE LADIES: Matching clutch bag
If you’re having a dress made, get your dressmaker to make a matching clutch or cover an existing one. Alternatively buy one as close to the colour of your dress as possible. It makes the whole look really polished and sophisticated.
Chokers
Gemstones and diamonds
This is a massive trend this year and looks incredible on a necklace if you have a low neckline or sleeveless dress. Alternatively, gemstones and diamonds look great on long dangly earrings. It’s also better not to wear both the necklace and earrings at once. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds are your best option. Make sure that the fake versions don’t look cheap and nasty because it will ruin your entire look.
Chandelier earrings
These never go out of fashion and there are hundreds of different options out there. Again, if you are wearing long earrings, it’s not necessary to wear a neck piece as well.
Jewel-encrusted or simple gold or silver chokers work beautifully with a formal dress. Try and avoid fabric chokers which sit mid-neck – they’re just not formal enough. If you have a short neck, try a longer necklace rather.
Hair accessories
Rather than a cheesy tiara, wear an embellished clip in your hair; or if you have very thick hair or a weave, thread something gold or metallic through it to finish off your look. Flowers can also be very beautiful but just avoid looking too bridal.
FOR THE MEN: Lapel pin
Kind of like a brooch for men – this can be in the form of a flower or something more ornate. Scour your dad’s drawers for a vintage lapel pin.
Cufflinks
There are so many options to choose from – colourful, fabric balls to metallic, square or studded. Such a great way to polish off your look and show a bit of class.
Socks
Take the stiffness out of the formal and inject some colour and sass into your outfit with some bright, playful socks.
Watch
If there was ever a time to wear a great timepiece, it’s now. It may be the only accessory you want to wear, so make it count!
Pocket square
Play around with colour and patterns with a pocket square. It doesn’t have to match your tie/bowtie, it just adds a pop of colour and a little bit of attitude. The Trinitonian | 81
Let’s talk about
! y b a B , e g a R
Interview by Donna Verrydt
A
recent discussion amongst parents gave rise to some concerns around the annual Rage Festival in Ballito/Umhlanga. So we decided to get answers directly from the horse’s mouth or mouths. Thank you, Marina Oreb (Marketing & Sales Manager), Greg Walsh (CEO) and William Mcintyre (Rage Festival Director) for answering our questions!
1. How prevalent are drugs at The Rage Festival?
Rage Festival maintains a zero-tolerance policy for dealing and consuming of any banned substances. We work closely with local SAPS, The Red Frogs and an ace undercover team to prevent, locate and apprehend persons involved with dealing. While the consumption of drugs is a reality in modern society, we deal with very few drug-related cases. We find the vast majority of the Rage Festival audience to be well brought-up and well aware of the risks involved in drug use. Ragers, no part of drug taking is cool! It’s risky and never worth it. Never consume any banned substances and don’t condone your friends doing so either. If you’re confused, nervous, tempted by or have information regarding banned substances, please make contact with any Rage Festival staff member, Red Frogs volunteer or SAPS official at any Rage Festival event. We are all here to help you and information given is strictly anonymous.
2. Have there been many personal thefts or muggings at Rage Festival? Not really, but theft is also a reality of life and we encourage all Ragers to move in groups and report any suspicious behaviour. Being responsible for yourself, your friends and your personal belongings will significantly minimise the unlikely risk of your possessions being nicked.
3. Have there been many kids hospitalised with alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol intoxication is probably “the worst of it” at Rage Festival. While it’s only a few people each year (maybe 30 or 40 medical cases out of nearly 50 000 Ragers over the week) it’s something we try to prevent. Once again, balanced young people make the right decisions and know when to stop. Should a Rager get carried away, our world-class medical teams and the Red Frogs are there to provide free water and to make pancakes to help them sober up. 82 | The Trinitonian
4. Have there been any significant road accidents involving Ragers?
No, all Rage Festival attendees use either the Rage Rides bus network or other private or taxi transfer services. Ragers... Don’t drive!
5. There were reports of a rape incident at Rage Festival 2017. What happened and what was the outcome?
Rage Festival is aware of a charge of “alleged Rape” that was laid on Tuesday 5 December 2017 by a girl staying in Umhlanga against a boy staying at the same hotel. Rage Festival takes any accusations in a most serious light and will always seek to support the party (/parties) in any way possible. It must also be noted that Rage Festival takes “false rape allegations” equally seriously. We are not in direct contact with either party involved but have been informed that all charges have been withdrawn. This is unconfirmed at the time of writing this. This was the first charge of “alleged rape” laid by one Rage Festival patron against another in the 15-year festival history; however, rape remains an ongoing issue in South Africa, and so we offer the following recommendations: • Always travel in groups of friends. • Make sure your friends always know where you are. • Use either Rage Rides or another well-trusted transport source known to you. • Have a Rage Festival Passport and keep it loaded with Rage Credits (this avoids having to travel to an ATM at night). • Do not accept invitations to go home, or out with anyone you don’t know well. • Don’t get overly inebriated – moral boundaries could become compromised. • Familiarise yourself with all the guides on the Rage Festival website (https://ragefestival.co.za) and get acquainted with the Red Frogs on arrival.
6. How about fights? Have you had many of those to deal with?
Not many these days. In about 2006, a hundred boys or so from two Durban schools had a go at each other. It was a challenge to curb but was eventually diffused. But that was a long time ago. It’s more or less impossible now with the Rage Festival security and police presence. It’s simple, you fight (we don’t care whose fault it is) and you’ll be removed from the festival, your Rage Festival Passport revoked and you will be handed over to the SAPS. If there is a fight today, it doesn’t last more than about 20 seconds due to the significant security and police presence in place to stop it.
• It is, without question, the safest festival in South Africa. The festival offers comprehensive medical facilities, completely over-the-top security presence, on-site police management and some 200 volunteers from the Red Frogs to assist with “safeguarding” each generation as they celebrate their freedom. • It’s a once in a lifetime event! The opportunity to go away, on a holiday for a week of parties, near a beach is not uncommon. Ibiza, Mallorca, Mykonos, Cancun and many others come to mind, but the opportunity to do it with 100+ people you know is a once-in-alifetime opportunity.
9. At Rage Festival, kids are encouraged to get a “Rage Festival Passport”, what is that?
7. Taking all the above into account, if there The Rage Festival Passport is the all-inclusive week-long is one important thing you would like to say ticket. It’s also the Rage Festival attendees’ wallet which to parents about Rage, what would that be? they use all week to pay for transport, food and drinks. If you’re a good parent and you’ve done your best to raise your child well, giving them the life skills required to live in our modern and complex world, then they will be absolutely fine at Rage Festival. It is a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed, so let your child come; let them celebrate their achievements and they’ll come home tired and happy!
8. Why should kids attend the Rage Festival?
• It’s the best festival in South Africa – from the music, content, duration, production and experience perspective. A chance to see international artists from all over the world alongside SA’s biggest talent in a beautiful location. • It’s a whole week! Nothing else in South Africa offers anything similar other than maybe AfrikaBurn.
10. Policing a bunch of wild 18 year olds must be harrowing – and dealing with some of the parents even worse! How can parents work with you?
Please bring up your children to be good adults! And remember, just because we organise a “party”, doesn’t mean we are not people too. We’re an awesome bunch of mostly young, enthusiastic entrepreneurs and like any business, not everything goes perfectly. But no matter what your request or issue is, please know we’re doing our best, always!
11. Are kids younger than 18 allowed at Rage? Are “old” people allowed at Rage?
Strictly no under 18s, it’s the law! Also, no over 25s. We deeply sympathise with Matrics who are 17 years and 10 The Trinitonian | 83
months old and we agree that they’re no different to their counterpart who is 18 years and 1 month old but the decision isn’t ours, it’s the law and we must abide by it without compromise.
12. Many other Rage options have popped up, like parties in other areas or on commercial cruise liners, for instance. Do you feel that these spin-off parties water down your focused efforts to keep people safe? Absolutely! It took 15 years, millions of rands and all the blood, sweat and tears you can imagine to get to where we are today. It’s no surprise that anything successful will attract copycats. Other options offer far less health and safety measures and are far less spectacular too. You have a lifetime to go on cruises but only one opportunity to go to Rage Festival with all your friends. If we had a rand for every time we heard 19, 20 and 21 year olds say they regret doing something else instead of Rage Festival…
13. What does the Rage Festival offer the local KZN communities and tourism? A total GDP contribution of some R150 million with significant job creation. It’s a major event for KZN.
14. Please give our Matrics your top tip for Rage Festival Ballito/Umhlanga: DOWNLOAD THE RAGE FESTIVAL APP: The Rage Festival App is a complete festival guide in your pocket with the most up-to-date music set times, maps and preferred outlet listings. The App allows you to flag the acts you want to see and will remind you when they’re about to hit the stage! https:// ragefestival.co.za/rage-tips
15. Please give our parents your top tip in dealing with Rage:
DISCUSS A ‘CHECK-IN’ SYSTEM: Ask your child to check-in with you at set times of the day. A Whatsapp can be reassuring and will prevent the “annoying parent” having to check up all the time.
16. Final word…
Parents, trust us we have been doing this for years! Your child is far safer at Rage Festival than at an average high street club on a Saturday night.
RAGE FESTIVAL BALLITO/UMHLANGA PARTNERS THE RED FROGS: You’ll find them throughout our festival grounds, on the streets, around the hotels, beaches and everywhere! They offer a volunteer support network available free to all attendees. These heroic friends of the festival stay on their feet all night until the sun comes up or the last Rager is home safely. We’ve been working together for 10 years and give them an annual donation as do other sponsors. CRISIS MEDICAL: At both the Umhlanga and Ballito festivals ALLIANCE SAFETY: Our health and safety consultants ETHEKWINI and KWADUKUZA: All department heads from the cities involved
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SPOTLIGHT PRAYER
Heavenly Treasures
There are many things that we could, and should, say thank you to God for, but we often forget to do so. It’s a bit like having special treasures that we bury and forget about! Let’s not forget – let’s rejoice and say thank you to God for all the heavenly and spiritual treasures He bestows upon us. O Lord of All Gifts, You taught us to live and to love. You taught us how to serve one another as You served us, not counting the cost but being available to all. We pray that You will give us generous hearts and spirits that willingly give of our time and talents to build up Your Kingdom here on earth. Take our feet where they need to go, give us hands that readily reach out to others, give us ears to hear the silent cries of the sad and eyes to see their needs and the good hearts to want to help. May we bring You, the treasure of life, to them in our own unique way. We ask this in all humility and gratitude. We give thanks to you Lord, We give glory to You, Lord. Amen.
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1 Instructional DVD The Trinitonian | 85
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