Trinitonian Edition 2

Page 1

SHARK SURVIVOR

LIFE THRIVER!

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

ALUMNI TALES

CONQUER SCHOOL STRESS

UNDER PRESSURE

BE AN ACTIVE TOURIST

ON THE RUN!

Developing a Growth Mindset

NEVER GIVE UP!

ISSUE 02 Trinitonian April, The May, June| 12016


ACADEMIC ARTICLE

2 | The Trinitonian


CONTENTS ACADEMIC ARTICLES

TRINITYHOUSE NEWS

04/HOW TO CONQUER THE STRESS

02/FOREWORD

08/LEADING ADvTECH SCHOOLS

07/TRINITOON

12/DEVELOPING A GROWTH MINDSET

15/SCHOOL SCOOP

58/TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT MONEY

40/ALUMNI ARTICLE

60/THREE REFLECTIONS

LIFESTYLE 46/IN THE KITCHEN 48/PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE 49/HOW TO... 50/ON THE RUN 54/INSPECTOR GADGET 62/SOUL SURFER

Published by: Contact Media & Communications Publishers: Donna Verrydt / Sean Press Editorial Director: Marthie van der Wat (ADvTECH) Editorial Manager: Christelle Wolmarans (ADvTECH) Editor: Donna Verrydt (Contact Media) Sales: Contact Media Sales Team (011) 789 6339 info@contactmedia.co.za

Content: Design Director: Candice Masson Copy Editor: Haley Abrahams Writers/Contributors: Angela Day, Barbara Eaton, Donna Verrydt, John Luis, Danielle Forsyth Repro & Print: Kadimah Print The Trinitonian | 1


ACADEMIC FOREWORD ARTICLE

FOREWORD Andries van Renssen General Manager: Trinityhouse When you have this edition of the Trinitonian in your hands, the Easter holidays will be long gone and the second school term will be well underway. I wrote this foreword during Easter time … a very special celebration on the Christian calendar. In several church groups, the custom of using a ‘Paschal Greeting’ instead of just saying ‘hello’ is used on Easter Sunday, based on the passages in Matthew 27:64 and 28:6-7. Christians, for example those in the Greek communities, will greet by saying, “Christos Anésti!” followed by the response, “Alithós Anésti!” This means “Christ is risen!” and the response “Truly, He is risen!” You might be wandering why this is important to us as the Trinityhouse community? In my view it is extremely important. In the very core of our Christianity – the one thing that makes us different from all religions in the world — is our belief in the resurrection of Christ and how that changes our lives. When we express to each other that ‘Christ is risen’, we confess our belief that we are different. How? In the Trinityhouse crest there are two symbols: an open Bible and the Holy Trinity. The three ‘sides’ of the Trinity symbol represents God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If one imagines that the three lines illustrates the ‘path’ of three dancers around each other, then we understand the picture sketched by Timothy Keller in a chapter of his book “The dance of God”. (Video on YouTube will explain full concept). The basic idea is that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are in complete unity in a selfless love-relationship with each other. They serve each other, because God is love. As Christians, we were part of that complete ‘love’, but we fell out of it through our sins. But God made a plan! He came up with a way to save us, through Himself – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are new again and that should change us, and the way we interact with each other. The great commandment given to us (Mark 12:30-31) is not for nothing: “Love God… and your neighbour as yourself”. With joy in my heart I can gratefully testify of events where staff, parents and pupils interact in a mutually uplifting and complimentary way. As partners in the education of our children I want to encourage and invite you to work with us in a way that shows that we are different, but that we understand each other. May the symbol of the Trinity on the chest of each Trinitonian remind us of God’s love and may we show that to everybody around us. Christos Anésti!

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WELCOME TO THE . E IN Z A G A M N IA N O IT IN TR What is it?

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Who reads it?

rents of our schools and pa the at ed aim is n nia The Trinito r adults ed, and an estimated fou int pr ing be s pie co 00 50 with arents and (taking parents, grandp reading each magazine account — embers and friends into other extended family m upper a significant number of is t tha s), kid the n tio en not to m t are reading our content. tha s all e-b ey ic ph ra og dem

ere? How does it get out thtrib uted to all the parents of

is dis The Trinitonian magazine themselves. the pupils and students Trinityhouse Schools, by

? Want to get involved t to our your business or produc e Would you like to advertis e, while suppor ting our zin ga Ma n nia ito Trin the parents in opportunity! schools? Well, this is your

Cool deal:

tomatically mni of Trinityhouse will au alu st pa d an nts re pa All ing in t on any and all advertis qualify for a 10 % discoun our magazine.

Contact us now:

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The Trinitonian | 3


ACADEMIC FOR THE KIDS ARTICLE

How to

CONQUER

THE STRESS! Donna Verrydt Every teacher will tell you that term two is stressful. There’s a lot going on and you have to conquer all in the classroom and on the sports field. And to top it off, there’s family and friends to deal with. Hectic! But don’t freak out, see below how you can be victorious:

STRESSES

Schoolwork There is no surprise that the number one stress is school work. There’s a lot of pressure to perform academically because of things like: awards ceremonies, university entrance requirements and stiff competition with your friends. As you move up in grades the work becomes more advanced, so we totally get it that you may stress out about work. But remember, lots of people are hard on themselves, and worrying will just add to the pressure.

Casey, 15, offered this advice: “Stressing too much about it doesn’t get you anywhere. It’s good to be concerned about your work, but you have to act on that.”

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Family The second most stressful situation is family issues. We all try to live in the image of God and everyone wants to be part of the perfect family. But nobody is perfect, which means every family may go through issues — some may be worse than others. Bad issues include: divorce, family feuds and even the loss of a loved one. Other issues may be as simple as having a fight with your brother. Whatever it is, family is important to you so when things are not going well… stress!

Brayden, 16, offered this advice: “Sometimes we take our frustrations out on the people that are closest to us. Try to treat your family like you would any other person and avoid unnecessary conflict.”

Social

Appearance

Having friends (good ones), fitting in, being judged by your peers, or being teased are some of the social issues that can upset you. Your social life is also a big deal to you right now, so negative situations will get you down. Remember that everybody feels this way sometimes.

In a survey by www.kidshealth.org, more than 25% of kids said the way they looked worried them the most. As young adults, your body is changing and along with that comes some grim things like acne, weight issues, breaking voices and braces, to name a few. All you really want to do is hide under your duvet.

Lolo, 14, explained

Emily, 14 said

“My best friend left last year, and I’m worried about who I’ll hang out with.” Her strategy is: “No matter how popular or talented someone is, if they are mean, don’t hang out with them.”

“At my old school, I was the most popular girl, now I’m starting to get acne and developing.” But Casey, 14, has some advice, “A year from now, will what you worried about really be a big deal? Other stuff is going to happen.”

YOUR PEERS’ SOLUTIONS The survey on www.kidshealth.org further asked 850 kids what they do to alleviate the stress in their lives. Here’s what they said:

Be active

ee, We agr ion! olut great s

Playing sport or riding your bike is a good way to get some fresh air while releasing that built up negative energy. Exercise also releases chemicals in your brain that helps you feel better.

Talk to a friend

ee, We agr ion! olut great s

That’s what friends are for! Good friends should be good listeners and might know what to say to make you feel better. They may even offer a new perspective of the situation that you didn’t see before

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ACADEMIC ARTICLE

Try not to think about it

NOT A n! olutio great s

If it’s just a little thing, this could work but usually a bigger problem will stay on your mind. If you don’t manage it properly, it can get worse and may lead to a meltdown — which nobody wants. Sure, take a break from worrying about something, but pretending it’s not a problem isn’t a good idea.

Eat something

Don’t get into the bad habit of stuffing your face when you’re feeling down because this could lead to you putting on unnecessary weight, which will make you feel even worse about yourself later. Only eat when you are hungry!

Talk to a parent Lose my temper

NOT A n! olutio great s

Yikes! It’s okay to feel angry, but losing your temper and yelling and screaming won’t solve your problem — it will make it worse!

Cry

ee, We agr ion! olut great s

There is nothing like a good cry to clear away the cobwebs in your brain and bring on clear thinking. But don’t cry for too long because that will stop you from taking control of the situation. There’s a time to shed a tear and there’s a time to get busy!

NOT A n! olutio great s

ee, We agr ion! olut great s

You don’t have to face your problems alone. Your parents love you and often have good ideas on how to solve your problem. Even if it’s a hard problem to discuss with them, they do have your best interests at heart.

Pray

ee, We agr ion! olut great s

Sometimes taking quiet time out to chat with The Lord, helps you gain perspective of the situation. Telling God your troubles helps you think them through properly and you must have faith that He will reveal the solution.

HELP YOUR KIDS CONQUER THE STRESS When you child approaches you with a problem, do the following: • Don’t talk at them, talk together with them. • Start with a hug, this will make the conversation environment comfortable. • Give them your full attention; really listen! • Take them through the possible solutions, but don’t make their final decision for them. • Don’t make them feel worse by questioning them or their behavior! They have come to you — that’s a positive step. • After the chat, help them get their minds off the problem by doing something together afterwards. • Pray with them.

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The Trinitonian | 7


ACADEMIC ACADEMICARTICLE ARTICLE

Leading ADvTECH schools through

TIMES OF CHANGE John Luis, Head of Academic Development at ADvTECH Schools Division.

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I

n March 2016, ADvTECH held a Principals Meeting, where leaders of schools were engaged in discourse around teaching and learning in the twenty-first Century. “Change” has often been discussed at government level, but little transition has occurred in the primary and secondary education in our country. Schools leaders have realised that the idea of change is no longer a discussion point but rather a concept that needs to be put into motion.

The theme of the Principals Meeting was ‘Leading Through Times of Change’ and it was interesting and very valuable to examine this theme though the eyes of each ADvTECH Pricipal. Here we relay three of the important ideas that emerged at this meeting: Idea 1 Education needs to be personalised if those receiving it are to give it greater value. In a world where the future is largely unknown, it is difficult to design an offering which will have impact and purpose beyond that of passing tests and exams. Many will argue that a curriculum based on general studies will realise itself in a student with a broader content and skills base. Others, students included, will argue that they are engaged in learning that is meaningless and of no relevance. For example, all students will study the properties of parallelograms, but few students will understand the purpose of parallelograms beyond the examples and notes in a textbook. The new thinking is to provide a necessary base which includes content and skills that run across disciplines and then to increase autonomy to students by giving them more choice on the content and skills that they would like to learn.

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ACADEMIC ARTICLE

Did you know?

editorial

A professional / comprehensive eye examination paid by medical-aids consists of the following:

Health Professions Act 1974 (Act 56 of 1974

1. Case History - 10 mins / 2. Clinical examination - 20 mins / 3. Patient education - 5mins 4. Minimum Optical dispensing requirements

a) Case history a separate case history as the patient has not had an eye examination 5 mins b) Performance of ocular measurements for purpose of lens concentration.

f) Analysis of the patient lifestyle in terms of vocation, occupation, working e) Analysis of distance, the prescription environment This is to for the most and safety appropriate lens factors for the determine the and frame purposes of shape of the patients face, selection. prescribing the profile, and optimum lens communication and frame lines, best suited 10 mins 10 mins c) Performance of facial/head measurements for purpose of correct frame selection and fitting.

d) Assessment of vertex distance and pantoscopic angle fitting

Minimum time spent for a comprehensive eye examination is one hour (60 mins). Any optical frame has to be prescribed by a professional Optometrist or Dispensing Optician, and self selection can only be done under strict supervision of a registered practitioner. An optical frame must be prescribed and not self selected. Section 33(1) of the Health Profesions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974) If any previous experience with any optometry practitioner didn’t include all the above - urgently contact

Becker & Bekker Northcliff - 011 214 9040 Bryanston - 011 700 6615 Optometry Group Honeydew - 011 801 5630 Centurion - 012 762 6301

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With personalised learning, comes a greater of people that bring different perspectives and sense of independence and responsibility. levels of expertise to the process. Students have trajectories to follow that might be similar yet different from other peers. Idea 3 Assessment of the student’s achievements and / Education is social and active. As schools move or development, cannot take the form of “one into a new era of digital learning, the factors size fits all”. Assessment needs to be thought ensuring best practice start to take a different through carefully and shape as well. Classroom needs to itself be and learning spaces must AS SCHOOLS MOVE INTO personalised. be looked at differently A NEW ERA OF DIGITAL to accommodate the LEARNING, THE FACTORS Idea 2 introduction of technology. Education transcends ENSURING BEST PRACTICE Straight rows of desks and the school and chairs have served the START TO TAKE A DIFFERENT with availability classroom well over the years, SHAPE AS WELL. of technology allowing the “sage on stage” today, information model to operate optimally. is accessible anywhere and everywhere. The The “guide on the side” model of facilitating industrial era trained individuals to be “robotic” learning is a more appropriate model in today’s in their nature. Today, amongst other things, classroom. Active learning requires students to students need to develop in skills of problem be social, receiving feedback from peers and solving and thinking. Students must develop experts. Students are required to build on core a need to have a positive impact on the world skills which necessitates students to debate, and students need to engage in solution driven research and enquire. Students need to work forums that look at the real world issues that collaboratively, displaying strong innovative and we face today. To achieve the latter, students thinking skills. should not engage in learning from textbooks alone. Instead students, should be engaged in In conclusion, it is clear that change must real world problems that are not contrived but occur, but not in an impulsive and uncalculated that are in fact challenges the world faces. These manner. Schools continue to move forward in real world problems are not solved alone by a way that is well planned, well researched and experts of single disciplines but rather by teams evolutionary. Stay tuned!

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ACADEMIC ACADEMICARTICLE ARTICLE

DEVELOPING A

GROWTH MINDSET Danielle Forsyth (Trinityhouse Heritage Hill Educational Pyschologist)

“Our society worships talent, and many people assume that possessing superior intelligence or ability—along with confidence in that ability—is a recipe for success. However, more than 35 years of scientific investigation suggests that an overemphasis on intellect or talent leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unwilling to remedy their shortcomings.” Dr. Carol Dweck

P

arents and teachers tend to think that praising To have a fixed mind-set means to believe one’s childrens’ intelligence boosts confidence basic abilities, intelligences and talents, are and motivation to learn. However, this type of just fixed traits. However, developing a growth praise provides only a brief boost in students’ mind-set means that you understand that talents confidence, which leads to the development of and abilities can be developed through effort, a fixed mind-set — one that is more concerned practicing and persistence. with looking smart and keeping the parent or Individuals with TO HAVE A FIXED MIND-SET teacher’s admiration, a fixed mind-set MEANS TO BELIEVE ONE’S BASIC rather than actually often develop working hard to learn and ABILITIES, INTELLIGENCES AND and peak before understand concepts. their peers, TALENTS, ARE JUST FIXED TRAITS. Parents and teachers appearing to be would do better to more intelligent focus on praising the ‘process’ or personal effort and successful than everyone else - however this and any effective strategies used, which fosters is a dangerous trap to fall into. motivation by placing value on what students have done and what they need to do to continue “ The moment we believe that success is to be successful. This would ultimately lead determined by an ingrained level of ability, we towards teaching our learners and children about will be brittle in the face of adversity.” (Josh the power of a growth mind-set. Woutzkin) This is what happened to the hare. The tortoise however, with a growth mind-set continues We can liken the theory of growth and fixed to power through and works hard, overtaking the mind-set to the story of the tortoise and the hare. hare and eventually winning the race.

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How many of us think ourselves as ‘not maths people, or creative or sociable or athletic?’ If we are to achieve our potential, we have to start thinking differently. We are not chained or bound to our current abilities. Let’s take a tree as an example, it needs lots of water and minerals to grow, just like we do. By continuing to nurture and care for this tree it can grow taller and stronger than other trees, and the trunk and branches will literally explode with growth. Just like our brain, which is malleable and can physically change in size and growth. Even more so at a young age, the activity and growth of the brain during our short teenage years is phenomenal. So how do we do this? Well there’s no short cut or secret solution. It’s as simple as hard work, commitment and perseverance. In any chosen field or career path you are certain to have some level of failure at some point. But at each pitfall you come across, you must learn to overcome it. We need to fail in order for us to learn to pick ourselves back up.

What can I say to myself? Instead of...

Try thinking...

• I’m not good at this

• What am I missing?

• I’m awesome at this

• I’m on the right track!

• I give up

• I’ll use some of the strategies we’ve learned

• This is too hard

• This may take some time and effort

• I can’t make this any better

• I can always improve. so I’ll keep trying

• I just can’t do math

• I’m going to train my brain in math

• I made a mistake

• Mistakes help me to learn better

• She’s so smart. I will never be that smart

• I’m going to figure out how she does it so I can try it!

• Plan A didnt work

• Good thing the alphabet has 25 more letters!

The Trinitonian | 13


ACADEMIC ARTICLE

FAMOUS FAILURES

Right now these fixed mind-set learners might be ahead of others. However, they are afraid of failure and when they reach the peak that they are comfortable with, they will just stay there. They will never reach their full potential. Failure is the most essential step to success. And as the growth mind-set continues to improve they will overcome the rest. If you feel you are in a fixed mind-set, don’t lose hope, because there is a lot we can do to change that. But start by listening to your fixed mindset and when you hear it, talk back with a growth mind-set voice. For example, if you hear ‘ I can’t do it, add… ‘YET’

ALBERT EINSTEIN

He wasn’t able to speak until he was almost 4-years-old and his teachers said he would “never amount to much.”

How can parents and teachers model a growth mind-set: A lot of how our learners (or children) pick up on a growth mind-set will be from observing and listening to you as their parent or teacher. Show children how to recognise fixed mind-set thoughts and how to replace them with a growth mind-set. With a few simple strategies, let’s take a look at how to empower them in developing a growth mind-set in a variety of learning potential environments:

STEVE JOBS

At 30-years-old he was left devstated and depressed after being unceremoniusly removed from the company he started.

• The first thing our children need to know is that our intelligence isn’t fixed – that it can change. It can get stronger or weaker depending on how much effort we are willing to apply. • Teach your children that they can improve their IQ and talents. Present the evidence and teach them that education is something that they have control over. Just as a baby isn’t born talking but learns over time, they don’t know everything but can learn over time with work and effort. • Assist them in altering their negativistic attitude of themselves into the “I can if I just set my mind to it’ attitude.

OPRAH WINFREY

What kind of mindset do you have?

Was demoted from her job as a news anchor because she “wasn’t fit for television.”

Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset

THE BEATLES Rejected by Decca Recording Studios, who said “We don’t like their sound - they have no future in show business”. 14 | The Trinitonian

• I can learn anything I want to. • When I’m frustrated, I persevere. • I want to challenge myself. • When I fail, I learn. • If you succeed, I’m inspired. • My effort and attitude determine everything

• I’m either good at it or I’m not. • When I’m frustrated, I give up. • I don’t like to be challenged. • When I fail, I’m no good. • If you succeed, I feel threatened. • My abilities determine everything.


SCHOOL

SCOOP The Trinitonian | 15


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PRE-PRIMARY HERITAGE HILL Music lessons at Trinityhouse Heritage Hill Pre-Primary

W

e are so blessed to be able to have music lessons available in the PrePrimary school, which is unique to the Trinityhouse Heritage Hill campus. The programme that is implemented in our music lessons is called “Active listening to classical music through dramatisation and instrumental play”. This is a listening programme that is based on classical music and was designed by Dr Zenda Nel who has specialised her methodologies in Early Childhood Development. The programme is an integration of methodologies from two notorious music educationists and philosophers: Bennett Reimer and David Elliot. The ideas of Reimer and Elliot had a significant influence on music education as they considered listening as a vital concept in their philosophies — Reimer’s listening was based on an aesthetic philosophy where active listening is experienced by involving all the senses. Elliott’s listening was based on a praxial philosophy where listening was combined with active music making, to create and to listen. His philosophy was 16 | The Trinitonian

based on a much more holistic experience. Music appreciation through dramatisation and storytelling is aimed at children aged three to ten, and is used to promote active listening to classical music. The learners experience the music aurally, as they hear it, and visually, as they see the costumes, and even physically, as they act out the story and do the accompanying movements. The name of the composition and the composer is also taught. After a composition has been introduced to the learners through storytelling, which is the specific story of the classical composition, the dramatisation lesson is followed up with an instrumental lesson. In the instrumental lesson the learners’ play non-melodic percussive instruments, namely: bells; tambourines; hand drums; two-tone-blocks; and triangles. The same piece of music that has been dramatised is then transformed into graphic notation. One of our goals is to ensure that all children have access to effective, holistic

and developmental music education during their PrePrimary school years. Holistic education is “concerned with the development of every person’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative and spiritual potentials”. It seeks to engage learners in the teaching/learning process and encourages personal and collective responsibility (Holistic Education, 2003:1). Martin (2002:n.p.) describes holistic education as having goals such as, attention to “experiential learning”, and the significance of relationships and primary human values within the “learning environment”. Therefore, no matter how young the learner is, teaching learners how to reflect critically on how we come to know, or understand the information taught in the music lessons is essential. This information is taught in a fun way as children learn best through play. The listening programme of Dr Zenda Nel is an integration of the Creative Arts. In every lesson these aspects are incorporated; sensory-motor


Sasha Grade 000 owlets

Ethan Grade 000 penguins

skills, co-ordination, fine and large motor skills, non-verbal communication, dramatisation, storytelling, active listening, movement, play/fantasy, memory, relationships, creativity, self-confidence, self-discipline, problem-solving, making music and developing the perceptive skills. This programme makes use of standard resources such as a CD player, musical instruments, fantasy clothing, props, charts and visual stimuli.

Manda Grade 0 zebras

Learners should develop their imagination in such a way as to manipulate and work with costumes, masks and props. Learners should be able to move, make music and tell stories. They need to be able to explore and develop their senses, emotions and observations. Stuart Grade 00 ladybugs

“The focus of learning should be on the development of skills through enjoyable experiential processes” (Nel, 2007:4-2 – 4-22).

References: Holistic Education. 2003. Holistic Eduction: An Introduction. Retrieved from www.holisticeducation.net/visitors.htm [Accessed 26 February 2016]. Martin, R.A. 2002. Alternatives in Education: An Exploration of Learner-Centered, Progressive, and Holistic Education. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. New Orleans:LA. Nel, Z. 2007. Implementing a Western Classical music programme for teacher training through integrated arts in Early Childhood Development. (Doctoral thesis). University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

Trinitonian | 17 Tlotlo Grade The 00 bees


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PREPARATORY HERITAGE HILL I

t was a wonderful start to the year — and we are very pleased at how all the kids and teachers settled down so quickly. During the first term the little Grade 1s were introduced to many new and unfamiliar things. They learnt how to handle a reader, how to sit at their own desk and how to work neatly in their books. They are extremely proud of their hard work and enjoyed showing off the work that they were were most proud of . They also thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor activities and working on their gross motor skills for the Perceptual Programme. Our little people love being outside in the sun especially after working so hard in class. One of the Grade 3s’ most exciting themes this term was Recycling. As part of the replace section of recycling we planted some herbs. They have to nurture the plants and make sure it gets enough water and sun. This gives them extra responsibility and confidence to see how this little plant will grow to be something they can actually eat later. Our Grade 4 and 5 children attended an Orientation at the Rooihuiskraal to introduce them to the workings of the library. 18 | The Trinitonian

Fruit rocks!

Two weeks after the Orientation they were taken back and were allowed to take out some books. The children were encouraged to take out both English and Afrikaans books to extend their vocabularly in both languages. Over on the sports and cultural side: On the 22nd of January 2016 our u/8 KFC Mini-Cricket team of 2015 had the amazing opportunity of forming part of the Guard of Honour for the mighty Proteas and the England Cricket team. At lunch time our Trinityhouse boys played a

Mini-Cricket exhibition match in front of the packed Grandstand. Protea and English supporters alike cheered for our boys and were impressed with every ball they bowled, shot they played and catch they made. Truly an amazing experience which we will never forget. We were also very pleased with the development of our choir and the children enjoyed being introduced to a lot of new songs and singing techniques during the course of the term. We focused on learning the basics


Our cricketers standing a guard of honour for the Proteas and the English at Supersport Park

Even the teachers joined in on Fruit Crunch Friday’s

Healthy bodies, healthy minds

Bring and Braai Brunch time - a lovely way of getting to know one another better.

Appreciative Enquiry Workshop

of choral singing through movement and games. Children also had the opportunity to explore the importance of breath control, correct posture, balance and rhythm. Emphasis was placed on creating beautiful sound by listening whilst singing and harmonizing.

Grade 3 Recycling

Henk, guitar teacher, with Sashmita Grade 1

The Music Centre has also grown in leaps and bounds. Lessons are offered in a variety of musical instruments such as piano, violin and guitar. Staff comprises of highly skilled, professionally qualified music teachers. Grade 1s showcasing their hard work

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ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PRE-PRIMARY LITTLE FALLS 2

016 started off with a bang at Trinityhouse Little Falls Pre-Primary. We began with three very successful Parents Information evenings, where our parents were informed about our exciting and fun–filled curriculum. Over and above our classroom curriculum, we also had the opportunity to offer Playball, Net-Girlies, Rugga and Buzz as “extra murals” for our little children. We offer Swimming as part of our movement program during the summer months. On the January 29, parents, children and teachers relaxed and connected with each other in the beautiful Pre-Primary garden. Each family packed a picnic basket, blanket and chairs and watched the sun set over the Little Falls koppies. Our children were spoilt with an A+ Edutainment show, where they were taught all about their five Senses. This was an interactive experience for all our children, as they got to touch, smell, taste, see and hear a variety of things. The children even got to make their own shakers, which was cause for lots of excitement, as they got to take them home.

20 | The Trinitonian

An overview of our lovely Sunset picnic. Our new Grade 000s got to watch the “Be Wise be Sunwise” show, where they learnt how to stay safe from our harsh African sun.

girls could dress up as anything representing Africa. The second theme was “Have a Heart”, which was in conjunction with Valentine’s Day.

We had two OPD days (Other People Days) — which form part of our charity drives once a month and are theme related. The first theme was “Out of Africa”, and our boys and

All proceeds of these days went to our Charity ECD Schools in Lawley. The Trinityhouse children learn at an early age what it means to give to those less fortunate than themselves.


Out of Africa Shona Van Der Walt, Mfumo Mkhize, Kamogelo Mashita, Sadie Laing, Leano Matsafu, Seilatsatsi Phakoe.

Out of Africa OPD day Thanyani Mudzanani, Riley Athanassiou, Niam Hari.

Best Friends enjoying themselves at the sunset picnic. Jessy-Leigh Scheepers, Hayley Odendaal.

A+ Edutainment Teaching us all about our senses.

To end off our family theme, the children had the opportunity to dress up as mommy and daddy. Zac Lessing, Telika Kruger

Parents Socialising while enjoying the sunset picnic.

Our miniature mommys and daddys Ntsakisi Risiba, Jude Stewart, Kungawo Ndlovu, Sarah Pretorius, Jayden Mammen, Lisa Coetzer.

Classroom fun. Ntsakisi Risiba, Addison Dempsey

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ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PREPARATORY LITTLE FALLS T

he Academic year got off to an exciting start with 690 pupils and 45 staff starting on January 13. Staff and prefects assisted new parents and pupils and believe it or not, not a single tear in sight. Our brave new Grade 1s took like little ducks to water and the school year started without any problems. We introduced our parents to the Christian, holistic, traditional nature of our school through a number of parental information evenings in the first few weeks of the term. We were thrilled with the attendance and excitement our parents showed. We invested the 2016 Prefect body at the first combined Assembly on Friday 15 January. Congratulations again to the 2016 cohort. This was followed by the selection of the House Captains for our Inter-house Gala. Tyndale started the annual Inter-house rivalry by winning the Gala with 162 points to Wycliffe’s 148 points. Coverdale achieved a respectable third place with 138 points. One of the very active codes during the first term of school life is the Open Water Swimming discipline. The swimmers had a great season and took part in a number of Open Water swims with the Midmar Mile the highlight of term one. 22 | The Trinitonian

Head Prefects for Trinityhouse Preparatory Little Falls We also had a number of charity highlights during the term. We re-launched the JAM charity drive where pupils donated their small change to feed one child for one day with R1. A Grade 4 pupil, Chanell Botha, proposed that the school donate water to the drought stricken farmers in the North-West Province. The school contributed kindly and the “702 water truck” collected 2400 litres of water to support our farmers. Trinityhouse Little Falls celebrated its 4th birthday on 28 February. The school sang

“Happy Birthday”, followed by the School Song to celebrate this achievement. We had a beautiful cake to add to the festivities. The swimming code continues to grow in stature as both our A and B squads remain undefeated over the swimming season of five Galas. Well done to the Swimming teams for excellent achievements and good sportsmanship. A highlight of the term was undoubtedly the Blazer Awards ceremony at the combined assembly on Friday 26 February. We are extremely proud of our


Trinityhouse Little Falls turned 4 on 28 February.

Gala: Panatyioti Tjirkos, Elihle Gcaleka, Blessing Bonga Bonga, Serena Naidoo, Timon Taljaard, Reitumetse Malope, Aurian Bals, Joshua da Fonseca

Grade 2s enjoying their technology enhanced lessons

We awarded 10 pupils with Honours Blazers at our Combined Assembly on Friday 26 February. Congratulations to our Senior Pupils.

The Grade 7s observed snails as part of their Natural Sciences lesson.

House Captains: Back row: Macayla Colin, Janice Brits, Mikayla Klerck Front Row: Lex Harvey, Amiel Van der Westhuyzen, Gideon Malan

ten Grade 7 pupils who were rewarded for their consistent, loyal work in the fields of Academics, Sport and Art. The first term ended with our combined Easter Assembly on closing day, 18 March. The message is simple but profound: Christ died on a cross and rose from the dead to save us from eternal damnation.

During OPD (other people’s day) the pupils celebrated their heritage

Open Water Swimming: Joel Joseph, Jaeden Humes, Duncan Kurten, Warick Williams, Joshua Joseph and Simeon Van Der Westhuizen with The Trinitonian | 23 Mr Berman.


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

HIGH LITTLE FALLS A New Light Shining on the Hill “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

T

rinityhouse High School Little Falls has started 2016 with its light shining bright from its new building on the top of the hill. Not only are the views from the academic block amazing, but the attitude and enthusiasm of the staff and children have shone brightly this term. Seven staff members and 60 new children joined the family this year and they bonded over a three-day camp for Grades 8 to 10 — whilst the Grade 11s job shadowed and the Grade 12s continued working at school. The first Prefect body enjoyed welcoming their cubs – the Grade 8s – into the pride and have been working tirelessly to lead the school with integrity and spirit. The school has responded by coming second in the Inter-High Gala, competing in tennis and chess matches and engaging in too many extramural activities to count. Innovation in the classroom has been remarkable, with

24 | The Trinitonian

Trinityhouse High School Little Falls moved into a new building on the hill in January this year.

staff enabling deep learning experiences through careful integration of technology and 21st Century Thinking Skills. Academic activities have made great use of the whiteboard lab desks, the two computer centres, a growing Media Centre and the wifi that covers all areas of the school. Lessons have been enhanced using sweets to consolidate concepts, playdough to re-create diagrams, experiments that go bang, dissections that awe and a great

deal of outside exploration. This was especially evident in the reactions of the Grade 7s who visited and spent a day in the High School. In addition, the Grade 11 and 12 learners travelled further afield to visit the Johannesburg Art Gallery and the Harties Cableway to enhance their learning. It is clear that this school on the hill cannot be hidden and will continue striving to be a light to the world.


The Grade 9s were challenged during their camp to Fraaibos. Here, Troy Du Plooy hangs from the monkey bars whilst his teammates watch.

The Grade 8s bonded on a threeday camp to Madidaba.

The Grade 9s were tasked with drawing landscapes of the school building. Andrea Smith sketched this amazing view.

The Junior Chess Team played against Christian Calvary School and drew 4 all. They won a number of their other matches.

Todd Fisher, Tamara Damant, Thomas Jordaan, Amy Fisher, Bryden Davies, Andrew Britz, Hannah Ainsley, Tyla Wojciechowicz and Tegan De Reuck represented the school at the Prestige Gala, they swam with passion.

Showing team spirit and supporting their teammates at the Inter-house gala.

Todd Fisher in the open butterfly event at the Inter-high gala. Trinityhouse High School Little Falls came second. Loran Rolfe and Tumelo Noah were part of the Grade 10 Life Science class which built Mammalian cells out of sweets and food.

The Grade 10 Business Studies class learnt about teamwork through a number of interactive activities.

The Grade 11 Geographers headed up the Harties Cableway to learn more about cuestas and mapwork.

The Grade 12 Visual Art class visited the Johannesburg Art Gallery to complete a research task.

Tennis practices and matches were in full swing this term. Here Dillan Small and Alexandre Rodrigues perfect their technique.

Tamara Mastilo investigating physical and chemical change in Physical Science.

The Trinitonian | 25


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PRE-PRIMARY & PREPARATORY NORTHRIDING T

rinityhouse Northriding had an exciting start to 2016, with the introduction of Core Skills. This introduction to conceptualise thinking started from Grade 000 right up to Grade 3. Teachers approached their planning and goal setting differently and have enabled the children to develop skills they need to effectively collaborate, interact with others, manage themselves, research facts independently, as well as supporting them in thinking critically and creatively. Along with Core Skills, Time2Read was also implemented from Grade 000 to Grade 3 in various age appropriate ways. The Grade 000s focussed on language development during Show-andTell, by learning rhymes and by playing auditory perceptual games. The Grade 00s spent time predicting the next word in a spoken sentence, to listen and count how many words there are within a sentence. Our Grade 0s spent a lot of time blending two or three sound words, and they practiced coding words using lids and unifix cubes and recognised the initial, last and medial sounds in words.

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Beetle class (Grade 00, dress up like mommy and daddy day) In Grade 1, Time2Read was implemented from Level One. Coding and sound manipulation were methods used to teach pupils to build words and be able to identify sounds within three letter phonetic words. Our Grade 2 class focussed on recognising short and long vowels in two or more syllable words. The Grade 3s have been learning how to chunk words, a method used to break complex words into small manageable

parts, enabling pupils to decode large words making reading easy and fun. Other first term highlights include our Pre-Primary “Dress up like Mom and Dad Day”, the Grade 00 Picnic and the search for Paw-Paw the lost puppy! The Preparatory school children celebrated “Love your Neighbour Day”, collected money for CHOC, and competed in their first Eisteddfod event.


Veronica Yudina, Jordynn Gunn and Tyler Samuel applying their phonic knowledge

Chad Smit and Bonga Kudembe playing ‘Bump’

Beetle class (Grade 00) class picnic

De Bono’s 6 thinking hats, a tool to teach children how to think critically

Megan Vorster, building words using her sound tiles

Uyanday Gweqa, chunking a multi syllable word, coding and applying her phonetic knowledge

Grade One pupils are illustrating the number 6

Grade 2s celebrates M-a-D Day

Rhino class (Grade 0) researched and created mind maps about health and hygiene (how to clean my teeth)

Owen Northover and Thomas Williams collaborating (creating a dinosaur book)

M-a-D (make a difference) day, love your neighbour charity drive

The Trinitonian | 27


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PRE-PRIMARY PALM LAKES T

he first term has been a blessed one! By the grace of God we have had a perfect blend of new and existing staff collaborating to establish an exciting environment for our explosion of new little people in our pre-primary classes. We have loved watching the miracle of growth as the Grade 0s took the lead on the journey of discovery, being fantastic role models for their younger peers as they took full advantage of all that we had to offer. Not only did the children learn fast this term, but so did we as a team! We embarked on journeys of our own, stimulated by a stream of talks, workshops and discussions to enhance our methods, in the hope to better prepare our children for an everchanging world. Along with the children, we enjoyed getting to know the families during the Newcomers Party, Information Evenings, the Annual Family Picnic and the Family Evening at Spur. It was a joy to get together and be included in their interaction outside of the normal school day. It was encouraging to see our parents embracing our outreach efforts as they supported their children’s naturally generous nature during Valentine’s Day and the Easter Egg drive. With their kind contributions, we are

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Brody De Vry Grade 00 playing with puppets as part of language development certainly building on our strong reputation for caring and giving in our community. Our themes each week created further opportunities for fun activities and we had a busy programme which included an in-visit of a dentist, during our Health and Hospital theme and visits from Miss Archer’s gorgeous puppy, a bunny and guinea pig from Flag Farm as well as the fabulous Dogzcool

show, during our Pets theme. Preparing for this term was a bit daunting, as we couldn’t imagine how to squeeze so much into each day, each week, each month — but looking back on a successful start, we are reminded that we are not alone and pray that God continues to hold our hands as He guides our dedicated team in our endeavour to every day special for all who walk through our Palm Lakes doors.


How much is that doggy: From left: William Sak, Mpumelelo Gumede, MJ Viljoen, Ziyanda Ngema, Ria Hiralal, Kaara Govender, Mia Van Niekerk, Jared Marais, Lucca Jamieson, Desana Naicker, Liyana Hafeez

Left – Right: Mckenzie Wilkinson, Reneiloe Lesenyeho, Siyamthanda Ngema, Shiloh Janse van Rensburg, Christian Lauderdale at the Spur Family Evening. Spur says they love it when they know Trinityhouse is coming as we have the best support and the restaurant is full!

Christian Lauderdale and Sebastian Kroell at the Spur family evening

Jared Marais and Lucca Jamieson are hard at work, strengthening those finger muscles by hanging up the washing, while their friends are giving the dolls clothes a good wash behind them.

Reneiloe Lesenyeho and Christian Lauderdale visit the bunnies

The Trinitonian | 29


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PREPARATORY PALM LAKES T

he first day of the school year is special for pupils of all ages as it’s the time to meet old friends, and just enjoy the comradery of being part of school life. It was also special for our new Grade 1 pupils who started with us for the first time. It is always such a delight to see the many animated, bright faces in their brand new uniforms. On the Trinityhouse Palm Lakes Campus we were blessed to welcome many new faces in the form of excited pupils and enthusiastic teachers at the start of 2016, and as always, we look forward to another busy year while we work together to give our children the very best educational experience possible — an education beyond expectation. Our children have been extremely busy partaking in an extensive extracurricular programme, from cricket and tennis, to swimming on the sporting front; with much fun had in the Drama and Visual Art classes too. Other fun events include our annual Family Picnic, Valentine’s Day, and the Family Spur evening. Grade Update: Grade 1 The Grades 1s started the year with great enthusiasm and all children settled in well

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Being spoilt by our lovable Grade 1s and enjoyed the routines of our weekly program. The children had fun with this term’s themes, including: All About Me; My Family; My Five Senses; and My Home. They also enjoyed learning to read our class readers and library books and loved learning to string words together to make beautiful sentences. The class spends most mornings playing word and sound games, to help the children recognise words when reading. PE has been a swimming adventure and I’m delighted to see how the brave little ones have progressed so much from the first day of swimming. At first just the toes and knees got wet and now the whole body

is under the water — even the face! Well done to those children who can already swim 25 metres. Grade 2 The Grade 2s have had a wonderful term, which began with the themes Myself and Our school. We enjoyed learning about our uniquness and how we enjoy different things. Learning about Trinityhouse is also fun, such as how our rules help this school to be a special place. We also learnt how to respect each other and ourselves. Our next themes inclided Our Garden and Caring for Plants and we grew the most magnificent beanstalks out of just cotton wool, butter beans and a little


Teacher Sam with the Grade 1s

bit of water. We also wrote and presented speeches about our Gardens at home. It was very interesting to learn the parts of plants that we eat and how healthy plants are for our bodies. We ended off the term with themes Birthdays and Insects, and designed our own invitation and dream birthday cakes and learnt about creepy crawlies. We wrote creative stories about a make believe insect which we discovered. Our highlight of the term is always P.E. because we love swimming and playing fun games with our friends. Grade 3 “Carpe Diem!” — this is indeed what the Grade 3 Class accomplished this term. They seized every day with both hands. Not only did they learn how to sort their friends names in Alphabetical Order, but they also discussed various important Family Celebrations in groups and the feedback was quite interesting. Doing Vertical Sums with carrying over is something they can do very well and their Mental Maths is improving daily.

Teacher Nicole with the Grade 2s

Furthermore, they have learnt how to greet someone in English, Afrikaans and Zulu. The Grade 3 Class enjoys new concepts and they are full of ideas and eagerly take part in class discussions. Grade 4 The year started off with eight new learners coming into our Grade 4 class and we were so excited to welcome them. A prestigious milestone for the Grade 4s, as they enter the senior phase of the school, is the wearing of blazers. The academic term began with them getting to know each other. Then the serious work started with new subjects such as Natural Science, Geography and History. A significant highlight was when the children learned about living and non-living things and utilised the microscopes to see various microorganisms. They also moved onto learning about plants, whereby each child nurtured and grew a plant from a bean. In History, they learnt about our local town, Ballito as well as the history of Trinityhouse School.

Teacher Alida with the Grade 3s

Teacher Lauren with the Grade 4s

The u8 Cricket Side following their victory The Trinitonian | 31 over Felixton College


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

HIGH PALM LAKES A

t the beginning of the new academic year, we officially welcomed our new pupils, staff members and all our new parents who joined the Trinityhouse High Palm Lakes family for 2016. We were very blessed with our enrolment numbers, which doubled! We were also pleased to welcome five new staff members to the team. The nervous excitement of the 2016 Grade 8s was quickly settled as they “found their feet” and became fully integrated into the life of the school. We wish this delightful ‘Class of 2020’ a magnificent journey! It has also been very pleasing to see the enthusiasm and commitment shown thus far by all children – from their academic lessons to their sports. A highlight of the first term was the rolling out of this year’s ‘Buddy System’. Each Grade 1 pupil was paired with a Grade 8 ‘buddy’. A ‘buddy’ is someone who the Grade 1s can talk to and discuss any issues or to just chat about life. The children have spent time getting to know one another, sharing their favourite past times and reading to each other. The ‘buddy system’ is a great way to make the grade 1s feel cared for, protected and loved at our school. It has been incredibly pleasing to witness our Grade 8s taking this responsibility seriously.

32 | The Trinitonian

2016 Grade 8s with Mrs. Hoffman (Head of Grade 8) and Mr. D (Principal)

The Grade 1s with their Grade 8 ‘Buddies’.


ART THROUGH OUR EYES By: Nolwazi Zaca (Grade 10) On 29 February 2016, my three classmates and I went on an art excursion to a private residence in Tinley Manor, accompanied by our Visual Arts teacher, Mrs Moor and our High School principal, “Mr D”.

Trinityhouse High Palm Lakes Art Enthusists

When we arrived outside the gates of the premises, we saw a beautiful white house overlooking the ocean, this to me was art on its own! Outside the house we were introduced to a sculpture of a buffalo that was made in Zimbabwe, beautiful mosaics on the outside wall and a ‘boat chair’ sculpture. Later inside the house we discovered a shell sculpture, which was a lamb; one word, wow! We made our way into the living room, where we saw different types of paintings from different eras. We discovered watercolour and oil paintings on canvas. I learned a new oil technique called “Impasto.” This is a technique that the owner of the house used often. When one looks at a painting, you should be able to point out the era that it is from. We were able to recognise each painting’s era, and this helped with analysing the art. The eras that came up most were, Impressionism and Realism. We also saw paintings from the Cubism, Dada and Surrealism eras. We also learned that if a painting is signed, this means that it is an original piece by the artist.

Trinityhouse students were in awe of the wonderful technique in Cornelius Bosh painting

If it isn’t signed, it means it is a copy inspired by the artist who did the original. Vincent Van Gogh, an artist from the Post – Impressionism era, inspired quite a few of the paintings in the house, such as ‘Sunflowers’. The Van Gogh style is easily distinguished from all other styles because he blended colours well and used a lot of hatching in most of his paintings. The living room had a few collector’s items. I realised that art is ageless — the older it is, the more it appreciates in value. I’m inspired to one day own a collection of vintage pieces.

The famous flowers that the South African Artist, Cornelius Bosch is known for

In general, I gained a lot of knowledge from the excursion, like how important it is to choose the right type of glass to best suit your artwork, especially if you are displaying pencil and charcoal drawings. And how oil paintings shouldn’t be displayed behind glass at all because people wont see the texture and other art elements in the complexity of some paintings. What struck me was the embroidery in the bathroom, because this is something that is very common in the Zulu culture and it is something that I wish to learn to do. It was an overall great experience! The Trinitonian | 33


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PRE-PRIMARY RANDPARK RIDGE 2

016 began with much excitement as parents and children arrived on the first day of school, raring to go! Receiving 270 pre-schoolers through our doors is always an adventure and offers an endless realm of possibilities. Little children of this age are so real and always just themselves and that is such a blessing. We, as the adults, just focussed on settling them all in and making sure they felt safe and secure, and above all, loved in their new environments.

onto Gr 00 which is a “work in progress” and a patient process from beginning to end, to Gr R where we eventually look at School Readiness.

On the 23 January we hosted a parents braai. This was a fun morning where new parents got to bond over South Africans favourite activity — braaiing! As the men stood around the fires, the ladies sat on picnic blankets and enjoyed the warm sunshine, all the while the children played happily in our magnificent Gr R garden. This annual event is always a great success and enjoyed by all.

The Grade 000 and Grade 00’s also attended a “sun wise show” where they learned the value of being sun wise and always making sure they are well protected from the sun’s harmful rays. This was an interactive show, and the children got a chance to get involved. The Gr R’s enjoyed the “Science Labs” visit where they learned that water carries density and even got to experience making their own “volcanos” with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. What fun!

We conducted informative and curriculum appropriate Grade Talks throughout the first term. These Grade Talks allow the parents of our three age groups to get a good understanding of what to expect from their child during the year. Beginning from Gr 000, which is curriculum based mainly on sensory and kinaesthetic development, 34 | The Trinitonian

Our photographs are always taken in the first term. This year’s theme was “The Countryside”. Our little girls resembled princesses as they twirled in their dresses and the boys looked like they had a field full of mielies to plow as they stood tall and proud in their farmer dungarees!

There was much excitement too when the incubators arrived at school. The eggs were numbered from one to 23 and “bets” were taken as to which chick would be the first to hatch. Of course, when this does happen, there are always screams of delight for the winners. The best part is that

most times, the children actually get to see their chick hatch right in front of them. Afterwards, the farmer comes for a class visit, with his recently hatched brood of chicks and the children get a chance to hold a cute little “fluffball”. This is definitely a highlight of the year! The Easter Hat parade ended off our term. What a flourish of amazing architecture and design by our ingenious parents! Of course, during the morning the Easter Bunny also got a chance to hide his eggs around our different gardens and the children ran around in delight looking for them. Although, this is the fun part for our children, we never fail to impart into their little lives the “true meaning of Easter”. Thank you dear Lord Jesus for your ultimate sacrifice on the cross for us all. By dying in our place for our sins, you gave us life in abundance. We now have an opportunity to be reconciled to You, to give our lives to You and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in all we do. We thank the Lord for His Hand of Protection over our little School this term and we look forward with faith, hope and excitement for what lies ahead for the rest of the year. Thank you and God bless Andy


Isabella Butler and Andrea Botha

Children walking on different textures.

Abigail Amm and Gabriella Quintal

Rachel Anderson and Gabriella Desai

Rafaella Luis- assisting with a science experiment Joshua van Gool in the Bees class

Jaeson Kwak L to R, back - Derek Nelson, Cole Nayiager and Robert Chaplin. Front- Gabriella Cromer- Wilson, Isla Mathieson and Nkulu Njoko

Teacher Ali all dressed up for the “Love Day”

Grade Rs at the Science lab show Kayla Ndoro and Olivia Syrett decorating cookies for “Love Day”

Gabriella Cromer-Wilson and Rachel Hutton

Teachers explaining the science experiment

Andrea Botha in the Tigers class

Olivia van de Vyver Tasting different textures

Grade 00s getting ready to taste different textures and different tastes

Riley Rault and The Trinitonian Savannah Goodwin | 35


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

PREPARATORY RANDPARK RIDGE T

erm One on the Randpark Ridge campus is exceptionally busy and productive. Our staff started the year with the annual Bosberaad at the Fairway Hotel and Country Club. The ADvTECH Academic Department joined us for a Core Skills discussion and training session, led by Traci Salter. The staff was urged to continue moving strongly in this direction. In order to stay relevant in an ever changing world, we are equipping our children with much needed 21st Century skills. In essence these incorporate: • Ways of working: communication and collaboration • Ways of thinking: critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation, learning to learn and metacognition • Tools for working: information literacy, information and communication technology (ICT) literacy • Ways of living in the world: global citizenship and civic responsibility, including cultural awareness and competence. The academic programme kicked off in the first week with much anticipation and excitement. Moving deeper

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This is Christopher Wagner in the foreground and Gary Chapman in the background into the 21st Century skills has been exciting, challenging and very rewarding from a teaching perspective. Our pupils have also enjoyed the varied and engaging methodology employed by the staff. Both the Foundation and Intersen Phase staff have been constantly involved in discussions of development and growth this term. It is truly an exciting time at our school in the Academic Arena! The summer extra-mural programme commenced in week two. This year we have made

some innovative changes to our swimming and cricket practice formats which have started to bear fruit. Our teachers have been further deployed into coaching at various levels of participation and have not been confined to coaching and managing the A-teams. These activities cater for mass participation and a number of teams that play or swim in leagues on a weekly basis. Our gala and open water swimmers have both had a busy season. The three swimming teams have trained hard in the pool and have reaped the good fruit of


Daniel Smart, Kayden Kelly, Caitlyn Smart doing Core Skills work

Luke Steyn and Sashin Govender in Robotics

consistent effort. Our cricketers have excelled in the various North West Government School leagues and the Saturday Private School leagues. Here too, innovation has brought about change with due reward. Our cricketers and netball girls enjoyed wonderfully successful tours this term. Our sports tours continue to play an important role in the development of our sport. Our children also learn to be more independent as little people. Our Junior and Senior Choirs performed a touching mass choir

Jennifer Goodyer and Kayla Dunkley

medley at our Easter assembly, while two children portrayed the theme of love, grace and hope on easels with paint. Various charity drives have been active this term including: collecting Easter eggs and Long-life milk, and our regular weekly “love sandwiches�. Our school community was honoured to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. We are amazed and grateful that our parents and children continue to open their hearts to others in very trying economic times.

Kayla Dunkley

The Trinitonian | 37


ACADEMIC SCHOOL SCOOP ARTICLE

TRINITYHOUSE

HIGH RANDPARK RIDGE T

erm 1 of 2016 has been a glittering success in so many ways for Trinityhouse High Randpark Ridge. We saw our major production “Big City Lights” wow audiences with our pupils’ myriad of talents. With a cast of nearly 90 pupils, we were entertained with some spectacular music, singing and dancing with some Oscar deserving acting performances from a number of pupils. We congratulate and thank Mrs Andrea Dawson and her team for blessing our pupils with the opportunity to perform on stage.

Back: Duncan Quick, Ami Cowie, Aphiwe Gwiji, George Kaloianov, Natanael Janse van Rensburg. Middle: Paul Temple, Jessica Schaller, Tyla van Niekerk, Timothy Hill, Rebeccah De Chalain. Front: Sandra Hu, Panashe Sika, Zithe Kamesa, Nicholas von Buddonbrock, Ana Damjanovic, Marcelle Lawrence

One of the big events on our calendar this term was the Matric Dance which was held at Oakfield Farm and hosted by our Headmaster, Mr de Wit. The matrics arrived at the venue in a suitably stylish manner — what an array of vehicles! As always our Trinityhouse boys and girls were elegantly dressed and their families lined up to watch as they stepped onto the red carpet.

Our swimmers completed the season by retaining their position in the A League and finished 3rd in the Golden League Gala. Our 1st Team Girls Tennis finished fourth out of 24 teams in the Inter High Girls Tennis and our netball girls attended a skills training camp at Nandini.

This term, our public speakers really made us so proud by continually receiving A and B+ evaluations against strong competition.

On the academic front, we moved into the digital era with certain Grade 8 and Grade 9 subjects setting homework on the myHomework app, and

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then having the pupils actually complete and submit the homework via their cell phones. We also had IT and Geography set some of their cycle tests digitally and the pupils then completed their tests online, also via their cell phones. Pupils were delighted to receive their results within minutes of submitting their tests. Overall, an excellent start to the year. We look forward to even more successes in the coming terms.


Grade 9 Pupils using smartphones to complete a computer literature cycle test

Big City Lights - The Production

David Elliott and Tannah Swanepoel

Cole Taylor and Jennifer Sinclair

Trinity Choir (vocalists)

Ballet Dancers

Nandini 2016

The Matrics were treated to a glamourous Matric Farewell dinner

Big City Lights Production The Trinitonian | 39


ALUMNI ARTICLE ACADEMIC ARTICLE- AIMEE MANICOM

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? There is a doctor in the house — the Trinityhouse! Interviewed by Donna Verrydt

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NAME: AIMEE MANICOM SCHOOL: TRINITYHOUSE RANDPARK RIDGE ALUMNI YEAR: 2000 ACCOLADES AT THE SCHOOL: FIRST HEAD GIRL OF TRINITYHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL. CURRENT CAREER: ANESTHETIST IN OXFORD, UK

Congratulations Aimee on your success. deanery. So, we found a little place in the Oxford countryside to call home for the next few years. It’s very Grey’s Anatomy. Ha, ha, I wouldn’t complain if there were a few more McDreamys running around my hospital! Greys Anatomy is inaccurate in most respects but it does convey the bond that medical colleagues develop. Working ridiculously long hours, dealing with stressful situations and witnessing things that nobody should have to see definitely brings colleagues closer. It’s a special friendship. But beyond that, everything else on Greys is fantasy. What type of doctor are you? I’m an anesthetist in the Intensive Care Unit at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, England. Wow, Oxford how did you end up there? After working in South Africa, my husband and I decided that our respective careers needed a little international experience, so we headed to London. I was offered a fellowship in anesthetics and intensive care at the famous Kings College Hospital; where I worked for two incredible, but sleep-deprived, years. Then I applied for a speciality training program post in the Oxford

Nice! How did it all start? Immediately after school I pursued a career in medicine — which was always my dream. I studied for six years at Wits University; and graduated with an MBBCh degree in 2006. I then moved to Cape Town to do a two-year internship at Groote Schuur Hospital and Red Cross Children’s Hospital; and then I relocated to Emmaus Hospital, in the foothills of the Drakensberg for a year of community service. Community service can really define a career, right? Absolutely! During my community service year, I looked after the nursery at Emmaus Hospital. Even after all these years, I can’t think of anything that made me happier than seeing tiny premature babies growing bigger every day. Your job can’t always be easy though? No it’s not. Despite our best efforts, sometimes there is nothing more that we can do for a patient. Watching someone die, and breaking

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ACADEMIC ARTICLE

bad news to grieving relatives and friends is something that I will never get used to. What most concerns you about the world today? I’ve become increasingly disheartened by the disgraceful way that people treat the elderly. I’ve witnessed cruelty, neglect and abuse — a sad reflection of our youth-centred culture. Why anaethestics? Some people think anesthetics is a bit of a boring speciality … looking after the sleeping patient while the surgeons do all the exciting work! But I certainly don’t see it that way. No two days, or patients, are the same. One day I may be relieving pain for a new mother during childbirth; and the next I’m in the intensive care unit solving challenging clinical conundrums and caring for the critically unwell. How do you deal with the trauma of what you do? I’m very lucky to have a wonderfully supportive husband, who always has a hot bath and delicious dinner waiting for me when I get home after a difficult shift. And although weekends off are a rare,

42 | The Trinitonian

the best thing about living in the UK is Europe is a short flight or ferry trip away — there’s nothing like a holiday in France or Italy to ease the mind. Do you ever pop home for a visit? Yes, and whenever I do, I try meet up with old friends from Trinityhouse. The matric class of 2000 was small and I’m fortunate to still be in contact with many of my classmates. Some even live close to me in the UK. You seem to have thoroughly enjoyed your time at Trinityhouse! I did! To me, Trinityhouse is a school that encourages and nurtures its students to realise their full potential. I joined the school half way through my high school career and remember going from a nameless ‘number’ in a large school, to a real member of the Trinityhouse family. I always felt that my teachers really cared about their students, and wanted the very best for them. Who was your best teacher? The legendary Mr Matthee! I was recently reminded of the night before my final matric science exam when Mr Matthee was patiently explaining a difficult topic to me over the phone.


The following day I passed that exam. Now, ironically, fourteen years later, while writing my final anesthetic examination, that very same physics topic came up, and to my relief, Mr Matthee’s caring voice came through to save the day, again!

What advice can you give the Grade 12s at Trinityhouse, as they look to their future beyond school? When I was finishing school, my sister gave me this quote from Dr Seuss:

Who inspired you most? My father inspired me to pursue my career. His own career has spanned the ‘golden age’ of anesthetics. He witnessed the introduction and evolution of equipment and drugs that I now consider absolute routine; and has also contributed his own outstanding inventions to the field. Also John Snow, who is accredited as the father of both epidemiology and anesthesia. By thinking ‘outside of the box’ he solved the puzzle behind the great Cholera epidemic in London in the 1800’s thereby saving countless lives; and later, administered the first anesthetic to Queen Victoria during the birth of her children.

You have feet in your shoes.

Wow, very interesting! So, where to from here Aimee? In five years, I’d love to have a little family. One of the best things about anesthetics, is that it does lend itself to a flexible lifestyle.

“You have brains in your head. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go.” My advice is don’t be afraid to follow your own path in life; it’s the best way to learn who you are. And what do you live by? When I was little my grandmother taught me a quote from Stephen Grellett: “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” I try to apply that value to everything I do.

The Trinitonian | 43


ACADEMIC ARTICLE

44 | The Trinitonian


TRINITY

LIFESTYLE

The Trinitonian | 45


ACADEMIC IN THE KITCHEN ARTICLE

Pack the

PERFECT LUNCH with Angela Day

Finding inspiring ways to get your family to eat their packed lunches can be quite a challenge. Here are a few helpful tips: 1. Remember the rule of three– a lunch box should include: protein, fruit or vegetables and a wholegrain. 2. For the perfectly paired lunch, include high-fibre foods and a protein to help keep the kids satisfied through the day. 3. Pack a colourful lunch box by adding foods with a wide variety of colour. Slices of peppers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas with a dip or hummus will encourage children to eat vegetables. 4. Have fun with shapes by using cookie cutters to cut out sandwiches or even pieces of fruit like melon and pineapple. 5. Involve children in the preparation of their lunch box meals. 6. Make easy-to-eat foods and cut fruit and meats into bite size portions. 7. Try to keep lunch boxes cool by packing them in an insular cooler bag with an ice brick. Items like cheese and yoghurt don’t taste great when they have been sitting in the sun all morning. 46 | The Trinitonian

Low Fat Banana and Blueberry Muffins Serves 4

Ingredients: • 250ml bran-rich selfraising flour

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed

• 250ml plain selfraising flour

• 1 egg

• 125ml light brown sugar

• 250ml coconut milk • 5ml vanilla essence • 250ml fresh blueberries

Method: Combine the flours and sugar in a mixing bowl. Combine the banana, coconut milk, egg and vanilla essence and mix well. Add to the dry ingredients and mix gently to combine. Mix through the blueberries, taking care not to break them up. Spoon the mixture into a muffin pan that has been lined with paper cases. Bake at 180°C for 20-30 minutes until done. Remove and cool. In place of coconut milk, use buttermilk or ordinary milk. These muffins can also be frozen.


Bulgur Chicken Salad Serves 4

Ingredients: • 125ml bulgur wheat • 250ml boiling water • 100g cherry tomatoes, halved • 1 small red pepper, diced

• 1/2 small English cucumber, peeled and chopped

• 40ml chopped mint

• 2 chicken breast fillets, cooked and diced

• 15ml lemon juice

• salt and pepper • 45ml olive oil

Method: • Put the bulgur wheat into a bowl and pour water over. • Set aside for 30 minutes. Drain well in a sieve. • Combine the tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and chicken and add the drained bulgur wheat. • Mix in the mint and season to taste. • Combine the lemon juice and olive oil and mix well. Add to the salad and toss to combine.

* This salad keeps well in the fridge for a few days.

Angela Day

more than 45 years, The Angela Day column has been part of The Star newspaper for ul full-page colour and has grown from one or two black and white recipes to beautif features. n and put healthy, Over the years, we have helped readers to cook for every occasio at our cookery affordable meals on the table.Our recipes are all tested in the kitchen offer fun, also we where Ridge, school in the Lifestyle Garden Centre in Randpark ay.co.za ngelad www.a hands-on cooking classes and informative demonstrations. See for more information.

can call us on We also offer readers help at the end of a telephone line, and you household and (011) 836 7181 from Monday to Friday 8:30am–12:30pm with your cooking queries – or email us at angeladay@inl.co.za.

The Trinitonian | 47


ACADEMIC HOW TO...ARTICLE

PRAY WITH

CONFIDENCE I

profoundly fine sermon he could possibly have heard that day, if not ever.

A lad from a farming community in Scotland had to look after his father’s sheep on Sundays, while most of the community went to church. His parents were not believers but wanted to rest on Sundays, so the boy looked after the sheep. One Sunday, while listening to the church bells ringing he thought to himself, “I would also like to pray to God, but what can I say? Nobody has taught me any prayers.”

It took me many years, right to the middle of adulthood, to realise that prayer is nothing less than a conversation with God. I suddenly knew I have direct access to the Creator of the Universe, any time, any day anywhere – through Christ Jesus. My own “Alphabet” came with the realisation that I do not have to be on my knees to have access to God. I can talk to Him while I drive, work, and while I watch my own lad play sport. That realisation brought confidence to my prayers.

n a recent article by Nevil Norden called Faith, he relayed this beautiful story:

So, the lad knelt beside a bush and began to recite the alphabet. An elder, on his way to church, over-heard and was intrigued. He interrupted the young lad and asked, “What are you doing little boy?” The lad answered, “Oh sir, I was praying!”

When one functions at this level, you also understand that God knows what is good for you and He will answer your prayers in His time and in His wisdom.

“Why were you praying the alphabet?” the Elder asked. The lad replied, “Sir, I don’t know any prayers, but I want God to take care of me and to protect my father’s sheep. So I thought if I recite the alphabet, God will put all the letters together into words, because He knows what I want.”

There is a deep confidence at play when we realise, and accept that God’s will reigns supreme.

The elder smiled and said, “Bless your heart, young boy. God will answer your prayer!”

The little Scottish lad didn’t know how to ask God to look after him and his father’s sheep, but he was confident in the knowledge that his God will understand what is best for him. That is confident prayer.

The elder left and went on his way to church, knowing full well that he had just heard the most

48 | The Trinitonian

1 John 5:14 is clear on this matter, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.”


HOW TO...

TAKE CHARGE! By Donna Verrydt

This is the digital age and most households have mutiple devices — phones, ipads, ipods — all of which are competing for plug points! There are cords lying everywhere and devices often have to balance or lay in inappropriate areas — like kitchen surfaces just to get a charge. Stop the madness! Follow these simple steps to create you very own Charge Holder.

What is it?

A charge holder is a container that will hold your phone or device, and its cord it while hanging directly off the plug, allowing your device to charge. Keeps your home clutter free and looks cool too.

What to do Step 1: Wash it Wash the bottle out with hot water and let it air dry. Step 2: Mark & Cut Starting on the front: mark a line across the middle of the bottle, that flows all the way around to the back. On the back: take the front line and pull it right up to the neck of bottle to create the hanger bit. Don’t forget to mark and cut a circle out to hook the bottle over the plug. Now cut it out with your stanley knife — carefully! Step 3: Sand it Once cut, use sand paper to smooth out all of the edges and make the surface rough for glue to stick to.

What you’ll need • Plastic lotion or shampoo bottle that your phone would fit into (flattened rather than round) • A stanley knife and/or sharp pair of scissors • Small piece of sand paper • Material or wood glue • Pretty paper or material

Step 4: Decorate it. You can now spray paint the outside or add fabric or wood glue and stick funky fabric or pretty paper around your holder. And that’s it! Your phone holder is ready to charge. The Trinitonian | 49


TRAVEL ARTICLE ACADEMIC

ON THE

RUN! There’s a lot of pressure on our kids today. They’re either keeping their heads down on the academic front or digging deep to win on the sports field. So when a holiday finally comes around, it can be a bit of a crash and snooze! But there’s another way to conquer the stress … make holidays more active, outdoorsy and an opportunity to release the pressure. Become Park Run tourists! Let’s be honest, gyms are packed and gym goers are nothing more than sardines in spandex! That coupled with the skyrocketing contract costs means that people are seeking alternative ways to get fit for less — and you can’t get less than free! Welcome to the Park Runs, the latest fitness craze that has 300 000 outdoor enthusiasts reporting to local parks at 8am every Saturday morning! We’re talking: old and young, in shape and some-sort-of shape, dog walkers and baby pushers, all testing their speed and stamina over the 5km course. And there are 36 Park Runs in South Africa at venues ranging from cities, to wine lands, to beaches and dorps. So why not try to experience them all by planning mini breaks around some of our favourites!

Cannibals Cave Park Run — Drakensberg This is one of the newer Park Runs and has a beautiful mix of boulders and mini forested areas. But more than this, the land is steeped in history and owes its name to Shaka Zulu, who once displaced a local tribe who hid out in these mountains. When food became scarce for the refugees, they resorted to eating their dead to survive. And so Cannibals Cave was named.The Park Run begins at Lizzy’s Store, Royal Natal National Park Road, Royal Natal National Park, Northern Kwazulu Natal.

Summerfields Park Run — Hazyview Every Saturday, runners and walkers alike, tackle the 5km fun run around the beautiful Root 44 Park Run — Stellenbosch Summerfields rose farm. The track varies The Root 44 Park Run through Audacia’s Vineyards, from gravel, to tarmac, to sand and also with the gorgeous Stellenbosch and Helderberg offers patches of forest and grove and luckily mountain ranges all around, is one of the most gorgeous parts along the Sabi River. Once your scenic Park Runs in the world! And it’s not just the run is done, feel free to grab a cold beer and beauty of the run that attracts people but the Root 44 food and beverage vendors who tempt you with breakfast at River Café. The Park Run begins at Summerfields Estate in Hazyview, at 7am well-deserved culinary delights and refreshments (October to March) and 8am after you’ve crossed the finished line. Root 44 begins at Audacia Wine Farm, Stellenbosch. (April to September). 50 | The Trinitonian


EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL TO TRINITONIAN FAMILIES!

30% DISCOUNT ON RACK RATES. BOOKING CODE TRINITYHOUSE. PLEASE BOOK THROUGH reservations@hippohollow.co.za

HIPPO HOLLOW CLOSE TO SUMMERFIELDS PARK RUN - HAZYVIEW Although the Hazyview Parkrun is held at the gorgeous Summerfields farm (which is a wonderful accommodation choice for couples), if you are travelling with kids then you may want to check out Hippo Hollow. Just eight minutes from the Park Run, and 10 minutes from the Kruger National Park (Phabeni Gate), this establishment is a gem on the banks of the Sabie River —naturally attracting beasts like hippo (a resident one even grazing on the lawns), crocodiles, monkeys, and the elephants from Elephant Whispers (the tourist organisation that offers one-on-one activiites with elephants). All of these scenes can be absorbed from a table at the acclaimed Hippo Hollow restaurant, known to perfectly balance the finest cuisine with wonderful wines. Hippo Hollow’s

most family friendly accommodation offering is the River Chalets, as they have a standard double room and a loft room with two single beds. The units are rustic and don’t include airconditioning or televisions, but this is to truly immerse you and the family into your surroundings! If you simply cant survive without your fix of Homeland, then the recently redecorated Courtyard Hotel rooms are ideal, offering the basic comforts of television, wi-fi and air-conditioning. Obviously activities in the area include safari drives into the Kruger National Park, but things like aerial cableway adventures, quad biking, abseiling, wall climbing, river rafting and helicopter flips over the savannah are also avaible from the Hylton Ross Tourist Information Centre down the road.

Contact Details www.seasonsinafrica.com | reservations@hippohollow.co.za 013 737 7752 | Rates available online

The Trinitonian | 51


ACADEMIC ARTICLE

MONTUSI MOUNTAIN LODGE CLOSE TO CANNIBALS CAVE PARK RUN - DRAKENSBURG Situated just 15kms from the Cannibal’s Cave Park Run, and exactly half way between Johannesburg and Durban, Montusi Mountain Lodge is the only fourstar graded hotel in the Bergville area. The lodge boasts full and uninterrupted views of the magnificent Drakensberg’s Amphitheatre — a view that attarcts visitors from all over the globe! And if the view isn’t close enough, then let Montusi organise a day hike to the top of the Amphitheatre for you, an experience which is said to be a life-changing experience for those with average fitness and an appreciation of heights! But truth be told, you don’t actually need to leave the 1000 ha. estate at all because Montusi provides daily morning walks up to the top of Montusi Mountain, or to the Bushman Cave (complete with paintings), or even to Waterfall Cave boasting rock pools for summer swimming. And if, by this stage of activity your feet have had enough, then get on a horse! Montusi Estate provides custom horse trails which range from gentle strolls through flat plains to exhilirating valley descents. Some other activities available include: fly fishing; golf (8kms away); swimming; trail running; birding; tennis and and a full menu of adventure sports too. On the accommodation front Monstusi offers ten Garden Suites, four Family Suites (which can easily accommodate four adults in two bedrooms), and two Mountain Suites, the newest of the accommodation offerings and the most spacious. All accommodation however boasts luxurious finishes, spectacular views and king size beds — perfect to rest weary Park Run bodies.

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL TO TRINITONIAN FAMILIES! 10% DISCOUNT ON TWO NIGHT MINIMUM STAY. VALID UNTIL 10 DECEMBER 2016

Contact Details 52 | The Trinitonian www.montusi.co.za | info@montusi.co.za | 036 438 6243 | Rates: available on the website


SPIER WINE FARM CLOSE TO ROOT 44 PARK RUN - STELLENBOSCH The biggest luxury one can have in life is options! At Spier Wine Farm, you don’t have to do all the activities on offer, but having the many options is luxury in itself! For instance, if you want to explore the entire farm, there are bicycles that will take you to every leafy corner. There is even an audio tour that will share heritage and biodiversity stories of the estate. Hopefully your bicycle will take you to the craft market, along the riverside walk and to discover the eagles. If you prefer baguettes to bicycles, then you have to try the artisanal deli food and crafted farm-to-table dining experience at the delightful Eight Restaurant.

They also do gourmet picnics to take-away so you can choose you own setting while you dine. The new Hoghouse Bakery and Café — an artisanal establishment — spills out charmingly onto the historic Spier werf. After you have wined and dined, you can retire to one of Spier’s magnificent rooms overlooking the Eerste Rivier. Each room is also decorated with contemporary artworks from the Spier Art Collection! But the most special thing about Spier is the way they welcome the children. A Kid’s Clubhouse has been specially designed to entertain your littles, while you test the wine.

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL!

Contact Details www.spier.co.za | info@spier.co.za |

021 881 8400

Enter “Trinitonian” into the voucher code on our online store to qualify for 15% discount and free delivery on your next purchase. Terms and conditions: Valid on 6 or more bottles purchase, Valid 15 April - 15 July, Not valid for wine club members

The Trinitonian | 53


INSPECTOR GADGET ACADEMIC ARTICLE

ROCK OUT RETRO STYLE

TRAINING TUNES

CROSLEY CRUISER IN PINK OR BLUE R1 699

MONSTER iSPORT VICTORY EARPHONES R R1999

If you’re shopping for teenagers, check out the Crosley Cruiser range of turntables. With vinyl making a comeback, this portable music system with built-in speakers is as hip as they come. Constructed of wood and bound in pink or blue leatherette, the briefcase-styled record player is lightweight and perfect for sleepovers. www.thegadgetshop.co.za

GET MOVING TO GET WARM FITBIT - R2 999

Work up a sweat to keep those extra winter kilos at bay and warm up from the inside. The Fitbit Charge HR lets you track your workouts, analyse your progress and monitor your sleep patterns. With automatic heart rate monitoring, the Fitbit Charge HR helps you work out the way you need to and the battery won’t die halfway through the day. With an extended battery life of up to five days, the Fitbit Charge HR will keep going as long as you do. www.istoreonline.co.za

54 | The Trinitonian

These no nonsense earphones produce high impact audio and deep bass for those who take their sound seriously. With noise-isolating ear tips to block out distracting sound, they are the ideal earphones for passengers on long, noisy flights or car trips. The SportClip ensures that the earphones stay put when in use, while the Omnitip is adjustable, proving a snug fit for all ear shapes. Being sweat-proof and washable, with antimicrobial ear tips also makes these earphones great for use during strenuous exercise and outdoor activities. They also offer an in-line mic with controls that are compatible with Apple devices. www.takealot.com


CHARGE IT AND CHARGE IT

SEYVR POWER SAVER WALLET - R799 Need a gadgety gift for your father-in-law or boss? The powersaver wallet from Seyvr takes practicality to a whole new level. It’s got a built-in battery charger, meaning he can go from one important meeting to the next and charge his smartphone on the spot. www.thegadgetshop.co.za

PROPPED AND READY

THE DESKSTAND - R17 999 Okay, this isn’t a gadget, but it should be on your list of geek must-haves. In terms of health, sitting is the new smoking, which is why you need the DeskStand. It doesn’t just get you on your feet, but it helps to improve your posture and strengthen your back muscles too, while allowing you to stay focused for longer. It’s even endorsed by chiropractors. Flat packed for easy assembly and shipping, the DeskStand is fully adjustable. www.deskstand.co.za

COOL MOVES

FLYBOY DIAMOND R9000 Because walking is so last season, and fun is the name of the game, the Flyboy Diamond (which comes in white, red or black) is screetching up the ranks as one of the best ways to travel. Moving effortlessly at 10kms per hour, the FlyBoy offers 12 – 18kms range on battery and takes 40 – 80 minutes to charge. Not only is the device super silent, it comes with eight inch wheels and built-in Bluetooth to manage your tunes while you fly! But the FlyBoy is not just fun, it’s also practical. It can be used in the working environment: doctors rushing from one side of a hospital to another; warehouse workers stock picking; airport personnel moving through terminals; and security guards racing to the rescue! Practical fun for everyone! www.flyboys.co.za

Disclaimer: Prices are recommended retail prices and are correct at time of print

The Trinitonian | 55


ACADEMIC HEALTH ARTICLE

KING OF

THE STING Donna Verrydt

W

e live in Africa, so dealing with creepy crawlies is naturally something we have to do. Avoidance is always better than cure, so use insect repellant when necessary, keep a look out for dangerous spiders and don’t purposefully annoy a bee — the bee will not only sting you, it will also call a thousand of its closest friends to come and help it (true story). Should you accidentally take on a bee and lose, then here are eight natural remedies to treat the sting:

First things first …

Using the edge of a credit card, a butter knife or your fingernail, scrape the sting out of your skin as soon as possible. As long as the sting remains in your skin, a little sac will keep releasing venom into your body. Try not to pinch the sting between your fingertips when pulling it out as this will squeeze even more venom out of the sack and into your skin. Scrape rather than squeeze.

Remedy 1: Papaya

Remedy 2: Apple cider vinegar

Papaya has super-enzymes that have the ability to neutralise insect venom. Mash the papaya up to make a fruity concotion and apply to the sting site. Try and keep the papaya on the wound for an hour for maximum results … good luck with that!

Dip some cotton wool into apple cider vinegar and then tape it to your sting site. It may burn a little (more than the usual bee sting itself), but the vinegar will help relieve redness and swelling quickly.

Remedy 3: Apply an ice pack Ice is always the number one go-to ingredient to manage swelling, and bee stings are no exception. To numb the area, apply crushed ice. If you’re not a sissie and can handle the cold, then leave the ice pack on the area for at least half an hour.

56 | The Trinitonian


Remedy 4: Aspirin paste Using the back of a spoon, crush two aspirins and then add a small amount of water to make a paste. Smear this paste all over the sting site. The ingredients of the aspirin will help to neutralize the venom.

Remedy 5: Onion Nobody knows why onions work so well on bee stings, but they do! Enzymes in the onion seem to break down inflammatory compounds. Garlic lovers on the other hand, swear by crushed garlic cloves. If nothing else, your sting site will smell like a delicious Italian dish.

Remedy 7: Sugar Sugar is now known as the evil of the modern world, unless of course you’re talking about bee stings. It is said that dipping your forefinger into water, then into the sugar bowl, and then applying the sugar granules to the sensitive area will give you a very sweet relief to the swelling.

Remedy 8: Lavendar Oil There is an essential oil for every ailment, and lavendar oil is the bees knees when it comes to stings. To stop the itching, dab a drop or two on to the sting and then wait for fifteen minutes to allow the oil to take effect. Keep applying the lavendar oil, but only one or two drops at a time.

Remedy 6: Baking soda Mix a table spoon of baking soda with your favourite moisturising skin cream, then apply it to the sensitive area. The baking soda will relieve inflammation, and the skin lotion will keep the baking soda in place while it does its job.

Call a doctor! It’s time to call a doctor or get yourself to the emergency room if you have been stung by a bee and the following happens: • You are short of breath

• You get hives

• You feel faint

• Your pulse increases rapidly

• You experience swelling in your mouth or throat These are all signs of a potentially fatal allergic reaction called anaphylaxis and immediate medical attention is necessary. Good luck out there — it’s a wild world! The Trinitonian | 57


ACADEMIC ACADEMICARTICLE ARTICLE

TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT

MONEY

Barbara Eaton - Academic Development Co-ordinator for the ADvTECH Pre-Primary Schools

T

he parent of a child under three will be careful to keep money away from their little one because it will probably go straight in his mouth! But from the age of three we need to start teaching important lessons in order to raise financially competent children.

Lesson for very young Children: Learn to Wait Young children find waiting hard and adults who cannot delay gratification will not set a good example. Little ones can be taught to wait for a turn on the swing or for an ice cream and this ability to delay gratification will correlate with later school success. When you go shopping do not automatically buy something for your child. Explain the shopping plan beforehand and then stick to it so your child does not associate shopping with goodies for them. And, it’s no good using the excuse that you have no money if they know you have a credit card! Helping mom or dad draw money from the ATM can give the impression that money is freely available at the touch of a few buttons, so be sure to explain that you work hard for this money! Once the child begins to receive money for birthdays, pocket money or chores, create three money boxes/jars. One for saving, one for spending and one for giving. The latter includes gifts for families and friends as well as for charity. All money received must be divided accordingly and the child helped to set reasonable goals and manage their assets. Saving for a bike on R10 pocket money a week is too much for a young child so you could make agreements that when the savings have reached a certain goal, you will fund the difference. 58 | The Trinitonian


A five year old can start to learn the values of coins and how many of each you need to make R1, R2 etc. Keep your loose change until you have sufficient for sorting, matching, counting and calculating.

Lesson for older children: Difference Between Needs and Wants From six you can teach the difference between needs and wants. You can set an example while writing up the shopping list or doing the shopping. Discuss whether you really need those chocolate biscuits or you just want them. Help the children to discuss this in terms of their own desires. Let your child see that you also set saving goals and are prepared to wait for something that is not essential.

FROM SIX YOU CAN TEACH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEEDS AND WANTS. YOU CAN SET AN EXAMPLE WHILE WRITING UP THE SHOPPING LIST OR DOING THE SHOPPING. Comparing prices is also important. Look at the prices of two items, such as sugar, then discuss the quality and, if comparable, choose the cheapest. Discuss the power of bulk buying and show why you choose to buy 48 toilet rolls rather than 6. Use the price-check websites to compare the prices of bigger purchases and discuss them with the child when opportunities arise. These lessons will have

to be reinforced to develop understanding, so get them to help with shopping and saving decisions.

Lesson for pre-teens: Serious Savings, Goals and Interest Pre-teens can begin to learn about serious saving, long term goals and compound interest. The best way to teach the latter is actually to do the calculations with them. How much more interest can you earn over five, 10 or 15 years? As post matrics they are going to want a university education, a set of wheels or a gap year overseas, so why not get them involved in saving for one of these? Wealthy parents should be careful not to provide everything too easily. Their children need more help to manage money as they will never have experienced what it is to go without. If your child is to live in digs during his university years it is an excellent opportunity to teach budgeting and managing on a set income. Do not be tempted to top up the funds unless serious hunger is involved! Once the first job is attained, help your young adult to seek financial advice on saving for retirement. They will probably think you mad as every young person believes they will never age, but this is where your earlier teaching on compound interest will kick in as they appreciate the huge gains to be made by saving early. All this talk about money could be misinterpreted. The most important thing to teach the children as they grow is that money does not buy happiness, it buys choices. It’s what you do with those choices that makes you happy.

The Trinitonian | 59


ACADEMIC ACADEMICARTICLE ARTICLE

THREE REFLECTIONS John Luis, Head of Academic Development at ADvTECH Schools Division

O

ver the last couple of months in my new position as Head of Academics for the ADvTECH schools, I have been part of the conversations held at strategic level and have come to understand the company’s growth mindset. Here are three reflections that excite me in my new position.

60 | The Trinitonian


1

ADvTECH has strength in numbers and diversity

The group of schools has grown and at any time in the day, twenty five thousand students are learning and hundreds of teachers are facilitating the learning. Our student demographic leans towards being a microcosm of the world, bringing with it a multiplicity of viewpoints and varied cultural understandings. In a world that necessitates collaboration and cooperation, it is exciting to be in an environment, where vast student numbers and personal differences are united through caring, respect and understanding under the ADvTECH family umbrella. The learning of subjects and skills will not mean much if we are unable to work to the strength of one another and celebrate in the success of all. The opportunities to develop individuals that will role model global citizenship optimally is very exciting. At the entry level and most basic of this continuum, is an instilling of basic morals and values that include respect and caring in the hope that we can live together in a peaceful space. At the top end of the continuum, is an individual that is strong in communication and self-management skills.

2

ADvTECH respects wisdom

The business of nurturing future generations must primarily focus on the respect for wisdom and decision-making with the student at the centre of the reasoning. In a presentation to the principals of our schools, australian Pam Ryan, an expert in leadership and management (https//pamryan. com), discussed the role of a leader in today’s times of constant change and dynamic spaces. Leaders need to encourage wider communities of thought in the generation of ideas and the fostering of innovation. These communities must include all stakeholders including students and parents. Besides the institutional wisdom that is brought to the fold by the many staff that have been at

ADvTECH for many years, a welcoming of new thought and fresh thinking is embraced and encouraged, brought about by newly appointed staff. At the end of the day, it is the voice of reason that will influence and secure positive shift through strong paradigms. There is too much risk attached to the lonely and impulsive decision maker that hopes to influence. ADvTECH has a responsibility for the future of South African Education As a leader in South African education, ADvTECH plays a key role in defining a path for the success of schooling in our country. We have the means and resources to do it and should believe that we can be key in this process. UNESCO has taken a strong step in publishing, “The guiding principles for learning in the 21st century”. (http://www.ibe.unesco.org/en/document/guidingprinciples-learning-twenty-first-century)

3

This guide speaks to the knowledge, competencies and attitudes that should be developed in our future generations. The publication has already influenced ADvTECH and aligns well with their progressive approach. Our new world today needs a new curriculum. A curriculum that is less focussed on exam and test success and more determined to prepare students to be contributing particpants of socially and culturally diverse communities. A curriculum that encourages independence and self regulation. A curriculum that engages students in finding solutions for the world’s political, moral and environmental challenges. I am excited about the road ahead for myself, my academics team and my many colleagues working for ADvTECH. ADvTECH will without doubt continue for many years as an authority in education. The Trinitonian | 61


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ry beat ch and eve a e r a e h ld cou dden tug arm eart. The su s already w h a r w e r h f te d a o w he was swift an as only rm a w ft it le h r g e u h o on even th e water any te, and as th rning. Beth o ra e m b li e e th d n, in seven rned crimso ly on her tu id r u e g h n d la n u y sely aro om Hamilton la angling loo r drained fr d u s lo o rm c a e r e th h board, yed the ce. r as she enjo te Bethany’s fa a w e d th re e in th a g ed!” she les that had been attack bale of turt st ju d e e v I’ tt “ a h Holt, She c na’s father, la d A n . d ie around her. e fr r m e a h scre the reef ith Alana, aked who was also surfing cheerfully w so y e th s a ntically surfer, g swam fra in ly n and fellow rn e o d m d u t a S th ing sun. pool and up the morn the bloody ze si to s r it e v in o s u mino enager to a shadow, o gged the te beneath ra d d e ss a p , 60% of ss . More than enly and greyne d re d o su sh e e th im T oard. Bethany’s b any n, and Beth slowed dow

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wed lood had flo Bethany’s b ere her ing hole wh p a g e th m fro Holt d to be, and shoulder use iquet ade a tourn m ly te ra e sp ard de n her surfbo o g n ri st e from th aramedics bleeding. P e th p o st to ital any to hosp rushed Beth what most clearly r e b m e m re the “I id to me in sa ic d e m ra the pa y. “He said Bethan ,” e c n la u b nd — am held my ha d n a ly ft so spoke d in my ear, he whispere you or ever leave “God will n ght. .” He was ri u o y e k a rs fo

g small fishin a f o th g n the le t tiger feet is. It’s 4 1 g n ly, the gian lo g w in y o if h rr y tl te c ack , more ent exa umper and old body b for a mom b r r a e e to id r -y s e 3 n p 1 o c m n Let’s er the d and rked bu arm from h faith in Go art cars pa r ’s e m n h S to t o il u p m tw a o t, boa any H ter wh surfer Beth the youngs re hole! m to o t fr a n th o ti hole as a w shark spira w in e k th o d to n a d e worl world, in 2003. Th the surfing r e u q n o c ack to bounced b

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By Donna Ve

62 | The Trinitonian


s to be a thany’s plan e B hit pretty l surfer got after the a n th io n o ss m fe a ro p ess than g and in ck covering L that mornin paddled ba re y n n k o a e e rd th a w e h B a , t d onths en attack eant she ha uld Bethany sp eeks, and m o m w c y e s, it y il sh a b d a ll a is e d of th er where e had a lot the out. H sh push up off , d to in hospital, e le in d w k d o c ll a a p b that fo en, it learn to s getting importantly, g to do. Oft think of wa am of to re in st h o re d rc m a r , e d se h n l a u g says so ursuin her board ing and she y tr water and p r o ry a r. e was sc pro surf ill is. She’s to balance. becoming a e ways it st m in so a g in a t a g n th me a started surfi ard to beco f not being t h o rs y fi a ll I e a n id re e e h d to e th ng “W work “For me, to get out in ow competi than the rd n r a e is h ri y a d ll n sc a a s re r, a w rs in grab both pro surfe ter it was able to surf omen surfe rmally you k in the wa w o c a N st b . e rf b g e su in tt sh e th e with idea of g ld The th ard and pu rm,” she to f the surfbo a o y s e m d st si t a lo I the world. ave th . after h K U ’t n e id th d I in t r spape put down, bu as ever Mirror new . So my dad yone who h n re a o w m o y N n a y ds and uld abilit ainst the od ard, so I co in would be g a o a g b a d e e rf th iv su n rv t o o su “To n a handle it was .” p . So for me ri le g ib e ss m o so p im have surfing at least try ” t. essential to n e w see how it ea again and to me, the id

“For able to g in e b t o of n n carier tha surf was s f getting o a e id e h t e water back in th y arm” m t s lo I r afte

The Trinitonian | 63


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endous “It’s a trem able to relief to be ust in God r t r u o y t u p e burden and take th oulders.” off your sh ows that xcel in life kn gone on to e the likes f time before o r te at m a ’s it ing s, Good Morn re e n e G e D n of Elle the Tonight Today Show, e th , ca ri e m A agazine even Time m d an le p o e P Show, published g. MTV even in ck o kn e m co True oul Surfer: A S k, o o b s y’ Bethan Fighting to , Family, and th ai F f o ry to S ok is oard. This bo B e th n o k ac l Soul Get B gely successfu u h e th d e ir what insp ded in h is even inclu ic h w , e vi o m r Surfe ay. curriculae tod some school ith in me what my fa k as le p o e p n “Whe ly answer in to me, I usual s an e m st ri h C says : “everything!” ark just one word before the sh e u tr as w is h Bethany. “T believe ter. And I truly af as ll e w as t me attack art of what go p ig b a is h it that this fa through it. “ s to know ves that it help lie e b y an th e B a clue u don’t have yo n e h w n ve that e ed in your g has happen in th e m so y h w aster plan there has a m p u e n o e m life, so g over you. and is watchin to put lief to be able re s u o d n e m e “It’s a tr e burden od and take th G in st u tr r a u yo She says. “I am .” rs e ld u o sh r off you living rfer, and I am su al n io ss fe ro p my dream!” g to see us, it is inspirin f o st re e th ally r Fo d how good re an t u o s rk o w how life Knowing bad situations. m o fr e m co n a plan ca d that he has an s u s ve lo d that Go ing can eans that noth m s, e liv r u o r fo k! ot even a shar shake us … n 64 | The Trinitonian

Bethany is one of the world’s greatest inspirations. She is a New York Times Best Selling Author, whose life has been featured in a Hollywood movie, she’s a professional surfer, a spiritual icon and more recently a mother! Bethany shares her story through motivational talks, encouraging audiences around the world to live their life with more tenacity, courage and faith Follow her at: www.bethanyhamiltom.com www.soulsurfer.com Facebook and Twitter


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66 | The Trinitonian


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