ULTIMATE PV MARCH 2011 by Daniel Geldenhuys

PV 2011 CULTURE WEEK FUNDRAISER RAFFLE

WIN

A HELICOPTER RIDE TO THE VALUE OF

R5000 TREAT YOURSELF and TWO FRIENDS to a 30 minute HELICOPTER RIDE in a Robbie 44 with a pilot who has flown the likes of Bono, Jay Z, Beyoncé and Locnville. R10 PER TICKET BUY 3 GET 1 FREE Sold at PV every first break at the cafeteria window next to the tuck shop until 11 March. Draw is on 14 March.

ON THE COVER 22_THE VICTORY NEVER ENDS. How PV won interschools…… 32_CARLA NORTJE on why Karate is not about kicking ass. 44_MORGAN WOLF‟s proudest moment ever. 42_ANINKA MOLLER talks victory. 40_CARLA SNYMAN on running SCA. 38_TAMRYN VAN WYK goes green. And so should you!

again.

FEATURES 18_GRUWELGROM OF VREUGDE oor nuwe dansbalreëls? 16_THE CONSERT OF A LIFETIME. When U2 comes to Cape Town… 20_ALMOST AN IDOL. Kerry Spencer‟s IDOLS audition. ENTERTAINMENT 08_THE ULTIMATE REVIEW. A WHOLE lot of Shakespeare, and other cool stuff. FASHION 28_GLEEK OUT ON FASHION. Dress like your favorite Glee character this winter. REGULARS 05_MASTHEAD. Who did what… 06_LETTER FROM THE EDITOR. Proud of our pride! 07_DEPUTY‟S LETTER. A confession.

ON THE COVER Carla Nortje holding her black belt. Photograph: Kim Swarts. Hair and makeup: Leigh-Anne Maré

DANIËL GELDENHUYS Editor In Chief Creative Director Fashion Director CHANTÉ CHARLES Deputy Editor features editors LANA DE BEER KANYA VILJOEN JODI COETZEE KERRY SPENCER entertainment editors ZANDILE NDAY NATASHA BICKNELL head proofreader M G STEENKAMP

Parel Vallei High School

95 Parel Vallei road, Somerset – West 7130

EDITOR‟S LETTER THE MEANING OF PV PRIDE Don‟t get me wrong, I‟m not saying that the moment they announced that Parel Vallei had once again won interschools and we all went berserk wasn‟t awesome. But let‟s face it, we did kind of expect it. My proudest moment of the interschools day was when we did our parade. Our theme, costumes, and formations stood out clearly in front of Strand‟s traditional drums and HH‟s air con vents. When our dancers came down the track in their Indian glitter outfits, I turned to someone behind me and said, “They look like friggin vampires! This is SO cool!” Once again, our blazer formations were incredible. Not only do they look good but they prompt every student in PV to work together to achieve something great. There is no better example of team work. The next Monday in our victory assembly, Mr Gouws told us to keep our spirit alive, and I would like to second that. If we keep this amazing PV spirit going and continue to work together the way the people on the stands did during formations and the athletes on the field during their items, this school can accomplish greatness. PV is so dangerous! xoxoD^^ Daniël Geldenhuys and Lana de Beer photographed by Kim Swarts.

DEPUTY‟S LETTER

THESE ARE MY CONFESSIONS For me, February is the month in which I realise that my New Year‟s resolutions are not working for me and that I should quit while I am behind (usually, EXTREMELY behind). This year I realised the reason they never worked is because I never worked. Now that I know this, I cannot feign ignorance. Firstly, I need to break a few addictions. I used to (and still do) take pleasure in knowing that I do not have Facebook (yes, therefore I can never read this magazine). I then discovered the joys of Twitter. Now it is the first and last thing on my mind as I live through my days. I never knew how bad it had become until I noticed that half my words were Twitter quotes. (By the way, if you have Twitter, follow @failwhalequotes.) Do you see? Now instead of acting like a member of a support group, I should go to one. Is there such a thing as the TA? Find me one and I promise I will go (or if I cannot, I promise to follow it on Twitter). Funnily enough, my problem can translate to many situations. How many times have we found ourselves in unhealthy habits, unable or unwilling to change it? Now is the time for us to break the cycle. We should detoxify every aspect of our lives. Donate old clothing, lessen your junk food intake and get rid of everything that either makes you feel worse or is unnecessary. Life is too short. Think about it this way: If you die tomorrow, would you want to look back and find that with all the time you spent in front of the TV, you could have done your homework 1008 times over (and not been zapped)? I would think not. My motto for this year is NO STONE LEFT UNTURNED. This is why you can now find me at the gym (please do not try to find me) or at Toastmasters. As for Twitter… that is a work in progress. Point is, you have the opportunity to create an entirely new you. As a starting point, let me give you a tip. Halfway through class, when you are yawning frequently enough to fear that your cheeks might rip in two, take a deep breath. Yawning is your body‟s way of saying, “Hey, I need oxygen!” inhale for a 4 count, hold for a 4 count and then exhale for a 4 count. Do those until you feel more awake. This may seem small, but the keys to huge changes are baby steps. Take it slowly, ease into it and when you realise that you have reached you goals, tell me so that I can fax you my invoice. (I am only joking!) Now that I have imparted all the wisdom caffeine has inspired within me, I leave you. I may not be Yoda, but I want you all to truly think about where you are going, what you want and how to get it. I would also love to know if anyone understands my addiction. (Find me on the T-word!) Until next we meet, ciao! 

A WHOLE lot of Shakespeare, awesome movies, music and celeb news.

FILM

MARCH is a vastly interesting month for film. Here is ULTIMATE’s pick of the releases that will make you laugh, cry, cringe and leave you speechless… Edited by Daniël Geldenhuys

I AM NUMBER FOUR A cool action movie from producer Michael Bay. The perfect thing to spice up a fun night out with friends. 11 MARCH

GETROUD MET RUGBY The latest addition to the Afrikaans circuit. Based on the smash hit kykNET show, fans will hopefully not be disappointed. 11 MARCH

JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER Yes, there is a Bieber movie. So if you want to make fun and rip it off, at least go watch it so that you know what you‟re talking about. 11 MARCH

RANGO An animation about desert animals with a southern accent and Johnny Depp as a chameleon. It should be entertaining… 18 MARCH

NEVER LET ME GO Based on what is called the best book of a decade and starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield (ABOVE). This one is a must see! 25 MARCH

RED RIDING HOOD Amanda Seyfried plays Red in this horror take on the fairytale classic. Let‟s hope the Twilight director didn‟t mess this one up… Hold thumbs… 18 MARCH

GNOMEO & JULIET. At the very least, the Romeo + Juliet cast should have a good laugh at this… 25 MARCH

MUSIC AVRIL LAVIGNE Album title Goodbye Lullaby Genre Rock Release March 2011 Review Zandile Ndayi At only 26 years of age, Avril Lavigne, the blonde Canadian, has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, earning herself eight Grammy nominations and making a big name for herself. The long wait is nearly over, the anticipation of fans is running high. This studio album will be released on the 7th of March 2011. Our young lady has matured vocally as well as lyrically. The beautiful songwriter shares some of her personal experiences. The hardcore rock to raw and more organic sounds appeal to an evolutionary crowd. It has taken two years to complete this album. Avril Lavigne has collaborated with artists such as Deryck Whibley, Evan Taubenfeld, Butch Walker and producer Max Martin. The first video track is titled `What The Hell`. Offering a range of quality sound, it is a spectacular way to end off the love month and a must-have for any collection.ď Ž

Congratulations to the winners of our JAN/FEB raffle. We hope you enjoy your prizes!

PROFILE JODI COETZEE talks to the most theatric girl in the “Romeo + Juliet” cast…

The Jester's Take...

After an audition in September 2010, a few rehearsals in October and an overdue four week holiday over Christmas and New Year's, Bryoni Curirn, a bright and bubbly young lady in matric, has been working hard at rehearsals for the latest production of Darryl Spijker's, Romeo & Juliet. During recent months, this soon-to-be-famous actress playing the role of the jester, has come to know many people on set alongside her, consisting of approximately 70 hardworking and gifted people, ranging between ages 7 all the way up to the ripe old age of 70 years. Not all of them are professionals, there are those without much experience in this industry. Bryoni says that everyone gets along well, are always willing to help one another and "we also accept everyone else's criticism". Other than having to sacrifice a lot of time and prioritising the production over all her other responsibilities, Bryoni says that she has enjoyed meeting new people, reuniting with those she previously worked with (on A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Little Mermaid) and the fact that she's become familiar with people in PV whom she never knew, has made the experience worthwhile. One humerous event that Bryoni will never forget: "At one rehearsal, where Romeo is meant to stab and kill Paris, "Romeo" acciently stabbed him in the ... "sensitive area" with an actual fencing sword. Needless to say, Paris did indeed die a slow and painful death." The following night, "Romeo" presented "Paris" with a ball-box, saying that when he goes down, it should at least be with dignity. For those of you who haven't already realized this, there isn't actually a jester in Romeo & Juliet, but Darryl Spijkers put the role in for her, as he believes that it suits her "hyper, inquisitive and expressive" personality. Bryoni urges anyone who would like to to be a part of a production to go ahead and try it, as according to her, "there's nothing to lose, it's amazing how much you can learn" and like Darryl Spijkers says, "There's a place for everyone, and everyone in their place". Her experience has been summed up by being "unforgettable, unregrettable and hilarious", and she says she'd do it all over again-if the director is as caring, fun to work with and understanding as Darryl Spijkers is. 

Due to a recent influx of SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTIONS in the Cape Town area, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, ROMEO + JULIET (and some others we probably don‟t know about), NATASHA BICKNELL gives a little extra info on the man himself… William Shakespeare. If I had to say this name in my English class, I‟d probably run the risk of being swallowed whole by thirty odd pupils yawning in unison. No disrespect to them, I get how the whole “thou, thee, doth, needst” thing could throw you off, but one thing is for certain. Shakespeare was certainly not boring. In fact, he was quite the opposite. His plays are full of murder, mystery, tragedies and romance, and dare I say it? - Even humour. Yes, William Shakespeare was, and is, a legend. Here are a few things you may not have known about him... Shakespeare‟s father was a glover and the rest of his family were illiterate (fancy that!) Every four hours a production of Macbeth begins somewhere in the world. Shakespeare put a curse on anyone who dared to move his body from his final grave (needless to say, his bones have remained where they were buried)  All Uranus‟ satellites are named after Shakespearian characters.  When Thomas Edison was a child, his mother read Shakespeare to him.  All of Shakespeare‟s grandchildren have died, so he has no direct descendants today.  He was a successful property investor- he doubled his first investment at the age of 18  Shakespeare didn‟t just write his plays. He played the ghost in his production of Hamlet.  It is believed that he was born and died on the same day (different years of course)  Women were not allowed to act in His day, so all roles had to be played by men (makes you wonder about Romeo and Juliet...)  Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18. She was 26  He named his first son Hamnet  In his will, he left his wife his second best bed.  Shakespeare invented the words eyeball and leapfrog.  He also invented the phrases “in a pickle” and “too much of a good thing” I think it is now safe to say that William Shakespeare was indeed an interesting person. The mere fact that he invented the word “eyeball” makes me smile. It also makes me wonder how bland the English language would have been if not for him. I do hope that after reading this, your respect for Shakespeare will have gone up a few notches and that you won‟t spend your next Shakespearian English lesson counting the seconds „til break. Oh, and if you happen to argue and say “it‟s Greek to me,” you are quoting Shakespeare (Just saying).    

CELEBRITY

DIANNEX? Chante Charles tells us about Hollywood’s hottest new couple. Move over Brangelina, there is a new couple in town. Welcome blonde bombshells, Dianna Argon (24) and Alex Pettyfer (20). You may remember Alex from Alex Rider and Wild Child, while Dianna takes to the TV as Quinn Fabray in Glee. The two star in the new movie I Am Number 4. Alex plays John Smith (same as Brad), one of the last alien survivors on the run from bounty hunters (not like Brad). Dianna takes the role of Sarah, a photographer of their school in Ohio. Three guesses as to who ends up with the Lorien dream. The two met on set, with director D.J, Caruso playing matchmaker. “The films‟ director basically set us up. He was like, „Maybe you should meet this guy before you‟re forced together in front of the cameras‟, “ says miss Argon. Romance rumours erupted on 25 August 2010, when Alex visited Dianna on the set of Glee. The two held hands, cuddled up for even the cameras. It escalated to spending Thanksgiving in London (the boy is British) and their representatives VEHEMENTLY deny rumours of engagement. Visit alexanddianna.tumblr.com, a blog dedicated entirely to them. What do we call them though? Diannex? Allanna? Arfer? Pettygon? All these options…

1000th 100. Daniël Geldenhuys analyses the start of a new era of GAGA Mamma monster is back. But is she back with a bang? The US Billboard hot 100 chart would certainly say so as her new single, „Born This Way‟ was the 1000th number 1 in the history of the chart. Those who watched the Grammy‟s will have noticed a bunch of people carrying her across the red carpet inside an egg. She didn‟t come out until she performed her new single on stage to a very appreciative audience. Being a die hard fan, it is hard for me to admit this, but when I first herd the single, I was not jumping up and down with excitement. It seems to be lacking that “Ra, ra, ah ah, aha!” oomph that most of her other singles have. I wouldn‟t call the song iconic. That having been said, we‟ll probably all be singing along to the lyrics in no time. The song, although slightly annoying preachy, does preach a message people desperately need to hear right now. So, as the tune goes: “just put your paws up, coz you were born this way, baby.” Lady Gaga is here to stay! 

Daniël Geldenhuys reports on a ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME concert experience.

It is so hard to find words to describe how incredible the U2 concert in Cape Town soccer stadium was that it is easiest to be sarcastic and say it was dead boring. One of the thoughts that went through my mind was that if we rented the stadium for interschools next year, PV, HH and Strand would literally only be able to fill about 3% of the stadium. (PV gets the golden circle, of course.) By the time the real show began (21:30) the stadium was ready to rock… and so was U2. The show was exciting, inspirational and touching, but most of all, it was completely rocking. One of the many high points was when lead singer Bono requested that everyone take out their phones… all other lights in the stadium were switched off and for those few seconds, all 75 000 people got to experience what it would be like in the milky way. It‟s definitely not the kind of show the average Cape Tonion will be seeing again any time soon, but if it does happen again, I strongly recommend you make the effort to go. It‟s a privilege to be able to say “I was there.” 

Gruwelgrom of vreugde oor nuwe reëls vir dansbal?

Is die nuwe reël dat net Parel Vallei-leerders na ons skool se sosiale dansbal toe mag gaan ‘n gawe of ‘n gruwel? deur Kanya Viljoen Ons het die jaar op „n eienaardige noot begin, veral as jy nadink oor die nuwe reëls wat ons skool onverwags ingestel het. Eers is ons geliefde trui-voorreg van ons weggeneem en toe word ons verwittig dat die sosiale danse by die skool net vir mede-Parel Valleiers sal wees. Leerders het nie stilgebly nie en daar is vinnig petisies opgestel en geteken om te versoek dat die reëls heroorweeg word. Ongeag die petisies en gevoelens bly die vraag staan of die besluit geneem is om die lewe van onderwysers en toesighouers te vergemaklik of skuil iets anders agter die besluit? Waarom word daar by ons skool net Parel Vallei-leerders tydens die danse toegelaat? Is ons nie besig om die dam onder die spreekwoordelike eend uit te ruk nie? Het ons nie meer „n sê oor ons eie doen en late nie en moet ons dit maar net gelate aanvaar as skoolreëls summier verander word? Nee wat, vir die retoriek om aanvaar te word, moet ons darem eers die saak koukus en behoorlik deurtrap.

Dit is „n moeilike saak en aangesien ons „n “ PV-familie” is, moet ons gou „n middellyn daarstel. Ek het besluit om navorsing oor die saak te doen en die kantevan die saak so te stel dat julle self kan besluit of die nuwe metgesel-reël „n seëning of „n vloek is. Waarom is die reël ingestel? Volgens mnr. du Toit (onderwyser in beheer van danse) is die volgende redes die hoeksteen waarom ons net leerders van ons eie skool mag vra:  Oneerlikheid: Daar was in die verlede te veel gevalle waar leerders en selfs leerderraadslede oneerlik was oor wie genooi word. Mense van universiteite en ander skole is willens en wetens genooi, ongeag die versoek dat dit nie gedoen moet word nie.  Veiligheid: Sowel mnr. du Toit as mnr. Gouws het al onder skeltaal van leerders buite ons skool deurgeloop omdat hulle standpunt ingeneem het. Die gebrek aan respek en aggressie wat hiermee saamgaan, is totaal onaanvaarbaar.  Getalle: Die beheer van getalle speel „n massiewe rol in die besluit wat geneem is. Daar is alreeds te min spasie vir paartjies in die saal. Ons het „n verantwoordelikheid om seker te maak elke senior moet danse kan bywoon. Deur die getalle intern te beperk en nie buite skoolverband te kan nooi nie, word dit prakties makliker vir almal om aan die sosiale geleenthede te kan deelneem.  Geskiedenis: As „n mens na die geskiedenis van danse in ons skool kyk, is dit opvallend dat die Herfsbal eers as „n Graad 11-bal voorgestel is, juis omdat so min Graad 11‟s vir

Image source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UWL9avDDvdE/S6_QWgNzKjI/AAAAAAAABRc/TzyYh1MrKnM/s1600/cinderella+story +gazebo2.png

die Valentynsbal gekeur kon word.  Mnr. du Toit sê: “Hierdie reël is die laaste poging vir die voortbestaan van funksies. Dit was nooit ons idee om „n rowwe uithangplek te skep nie, maar wel „n deftige plek waarheen ouers veilig sal voel om hulle kinders te stuur. Anders is die volgende stap om alle funksies te stop.” Opinies van leerders in ons skool: “Ons betaal so baie geld vir die bal en dan kan ons nie eers mense vra van wie ons hou nie. Danse by Parel Vallei was gewoonlik „n groot sosiale geleentheid: jy kon mense van ander skole nooi en nuwe mense ontmoet.” “Die ouens in ons skool kan nie eens ordentlik dans nie . Waarom moet ons gestraf word vir vorige jare se agtelosigheid en foute?” Sabrina Shuttes van die 2011Valentynsbalkomitee het die volgende gesê: “I get why the teachers made the decision, but half the school has boyfriends and girlfriends in other schools. It affected the Valentine‟s ball as well, as so many people asked us to sneak in people from other schools and this put the committee in a very difficult position.”

My siening van die storie: Elke reël het „n rede: of ons daarvan hou of nie. Ek dink die situasie kan positief of as „n doodslag gesien word. Mense spring baie gou op hulle perdjies en sê iets is nie regverdig nie. As jy mooi hieroor gaan dink, kom jy agter dit skep dalk net „n geleentheid vir daardie ou of meisie wat nooit gevra word nie om saam na „n bal toe te kan gaan. Die Matriekafskeid bly steeds „n geleentheid waarheen enigiemand geneem mag word. Dalk word dit nog „n matriek-voorreg en hopelik sal dit jare lank bly voortbestaan. Ons is „n groot skool en een kenmerk van Parel Vallei is die feit dat ons toegelaat word om individualiteit te toon. Ons het ons eie ritmes en maniere van doen en dit sluit dalk die feit in dat ons mense van ander skole wil nooi. Ek sluit af met die volgende: Wat ook al jy oor die onderwerp besluit het, ek glo ons as „n skool sal staan vir dit waarin ons glo. Ons sal baklei vir dit wat goed en regverdig is en soos die Engelse sê, “Life may not be the party you hoped for, but while you‟re here, you should dance!” 

“Waarom moet ons gestraf word vir vorige jare se agtelosigheid en foute?”

ALMOST AN

\Every South African knows how Jody, Sasha-Lee and Jason became famous. Idols South Africa is one of the most watched reality television series on TV and I thought it would be the perfect tool to help me become South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x;s next big thing. Auditions were held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Saturday 12 February. The gates were to be opened at 7am, but my day started far earlier than thatâ&#x20AC;Ś 00:00 I was in the car in a zombie like state on that Saturday morning, accompanied by my Mom, Dad and my ever supporting boyfriend. The car was filled with a less than enthusiastic air and shortly we arrived in Cape Town. 00:30 After scouting out the short line of sleepy aspiring singers, we filed into the queue and laid down our chairs and blankets to wait out the next six hours. Finally, after a few hours of disturbed sleep, far too many hours of out of tune guitars in the vicinity and six coffees shared

between the four of us, the sun had come up. 7:30 At least three thousand excited Idols contestants had arrived at the auditions and had formed a queue that snaked around the block (me being more agitated than anything from the many ant-like people that were jumping the line). Finally, Proverb- the idols presenterarrived and all the irritation had lifted. The crowd was asked to scream over-enthusiastic things into the hovering camera secured to some sort of crane device. Things such as "I'm the next South African Idol!" and "Welcome to Cape Town!" were fun to scream out at the top of my lungs...the first three times. 9:15 After almost two hours of exploiting the crowd's excitement, the camera and Idols crew had one more request: to wave and scream at a specific black car that would be driving past and dropping off the notorious judges. But in fact, the car was empty, which brought on an extremely contagious wave of

injustice to the waiting crowd and that's when I realised that the entertainment industry isn't the most genuine industry. My unbelievably patient boyfriend cracked and kept repeating, "This is fake, it's all fake!" "This is showbiz, babe." 9:30 The doors to the ICC had opened and everyone pushed forward, anticipating their moment to shine. I felt far too tired, hungry and annoyed at my space bubble being invaded by so many strangers to be excited. Everyone filed into a large hall filled with organised chairs. Row by row, people were being registered onto the Idols database and being sent off to do their first audition. Two auditions were to take place that day and whoever passed both were going to sing for the judges on Monday 14th. After a dispute with an usher to let me be one of the first people to register, as after all, I had been there since 00:30 that morning, I was then allowed to get my unique number (2030) and was off to my first audition. 10:30 I had been assigned to a group of ten contestants and as we walked out of the enormous waiting room, I had a double take when I saw my parents sitting on a

bench engaged in what looked like an extremely interesting conversation with Proverb . I "LOL'ed". Maybe my parents are quite cool after all... 11:00 My group entered a small room one by one, to be judged by a producer, whose job it was to decide who would face the judges. Their goal: find the stars and the not-so-shining (for entertainment purposes). Unfortunately my nerves got the better of me and my audition didn't go as planned. 11.30 I hadn't made the cut, but left that enormous conference venue knowing that I had the most supportive family anyone could ever ask for, a loving and assuring boyfriend and the patience of a rock. I was exhausted, but happy because of two simple reasons: I could complete my Matric year with no interruptions and I had the knowledge that if I could get through an Idols audition, I could get through anything. I have yet to decide if I want to try again next year. Auditioning to sing on Idols was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but this after all is showbiz, babe. ď Ž

THE VICTORY NEVER DIES

ChantĂŠ Charles reports on the proudest PV moment of the yearâ&#x20AC;Ś so far.

one are the days where war was fought with spears and shields. On 11 February, three schools of merit once again met to take to the fields in battle. Hosted by HH High School, all supporters marched to the pavilion to take up their seats. With one look at the stands, all spectators knew how important this was to any participating student. First were the inspiring speeches by the HH faculty, encouraging the athletes to do their best. Then silence reigned over the area, and the true show beganâ&#x20AC;Ś Strand (otherwise known as the Green Eagles), started off with an overhead of a Zulu warriorâ&#x20AC;&#x;s speech, backed up by trance-like swaying. Then began their mumbo beats in traditional drums with accompaniment of Haka-like moves by their students. In African gear, their cheerleaders began a very hiphop dance, leading their fellows in cheers. When next silence fell, every PV member tensed with anticipation and waited. Nerves surged, breathing quickened, heartbeats raced and every mind

quadruple checked the order of movements and songs. This pause went on for an eternityâ&#x20AC;Ś thanks to an electrical failure. Finally, the HH headmaster announced our arrival. With armours of navy blazers, 300 proud Parel Valleiers raised their heads in fierce determination. The loud Bollywood beats of Jai Ho sounded and out stepped our leaders, followed by our outstanding athletes. On count, every student stood up and began a dance that would make Aishwarya Rai proud. Dressed in flowing garments of rich colours and bejeweled to the hilt, our dancers entranced everyone with rhythmical hip movements and graceful stances. Huge ceremonial umbrellas and swathes of silk transported all viewers to an Indian festival. It came to an end and our head Maha-Raja, Damon, stepped forward to

deliver the two-count that would begin it all. Gigantic PV, 2011 and BOLLY stood out starkly in white. Then came the hypnotic “Oooooo-oooh” of our introduction. We struck fear with Eminem and showed we had the “fire.” We were a firework display and had “everybody‟s hands go up.” Hands clicking and clapping, we dropped down before roaring with a deafening “A-boom achick a-boom.” Drumline members sounded out a beat and we ended off our dramatic display with claps and a flourish of hands. Our “Bosvark” reverberated

in the mountains, heralding our arrival. From out of space came the HH cheerleaders in shiny (emphasize that) outfits. Congratulations also go to them for coming up with a new use for giant Slinkies. Counting down, their space walk then ended with said Slinkies doing a rather cute and impressionable, if not somewhat obscure, performance. They remixed the legendary Michael Jackson‟s “They don‟t really care about us” and launched into their musical medley (somewhat reminiscent of a recent Abby optog). Immediately afterwards, the games began. Our knights (athletes) did final warm-ups, while the cheerleaders started

the scream-offs. Parel Vallei, who started with a bang thanks to our famed longdistance athletes, used this to boost ourselves. In the hurdles, there were highs and (quite literally) lows before we took off with 400m sprints. One of the most memorable first events would be when Jaden Flagg (RIGHT) showed HH exactly where the gap was. In high jump, discus, shot put, long jump, triple jump, hammer-throw and javelin, athletes pushed themselves to the maximum. They surpassed all, including their own, expectation. New standards were set, with a 20year-old record being broken by one of our very own. Parel Vallei shot forward in points, leaving the other two schools to battle it out. When the time came for the awards, silence dominated once again. The Spirit Cup went to HH High. Though our discipline shone and we executed our plans with precision, they walked with the trophy. It then began with the two athletes who scored the most points. Both belonged to HH. Between the two, they garnered three quarters of their schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x;s points. Strand won too, while Parel Vallei sat in tense anticipation. Next came the awards for the individual girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x;

and boys‟ age groups. Once again, our girls had us roaring with applause as they cleared the trophy table. In a pleasant turn of events, our boys managed to scoop a nod or two as well. Finally, when the announcement of Interschool Champion came, Parel Vallei collectively took a deep breath… held… and SCREAMED to the heavens as our school reigned victorious for the SIXTH (thank you, thank you) year in a row. Now February 11, 2011 will forever be cemented in our mind. Never has a Parel Vallei learner

tasted anything but the sweet taste of glory. Next year, we will come back and continue this tradition. For now though, we send a massive thank you to all who made this possible. Soldiers can never go out without brilliant commanders. Our coaches made us the proudest students, and our athletes made sure we were a force to be reckoned with. Therefore, let us end with a new cry. In likeness of a Rihanna song, “HH, Strand… You made us feel like we‟re the only school in the world!” 

This month, take a style cue from your favourite Glee character. ULTIMATE interprets their styles to the approaching winter seasonâ&#x20AC;Ś edited by DaniĂŤl Geldenhuys

RACHEL is known for her short skirts and conservative cardigans. This winter she‟ll be celebrating her curves with the look that defines the new season in fashion… She wouldn‟t have it any other way. Her hemline will fall gracefully into a calf length 50‟s style fullskirted dress. Kitten heels are a must, and so is a nipped in waist and a minimalist tote bag. If you want to dress it up, add a pair of vintage gloves. Rachel‟s catwalk counterpart: Louis Vuitton. 1. Marc Jacobs

2. Diane von Furstenberg

THE KEY ITEMS: Rachel: 1. Gathered cotton skirt R8500,10, Marc Jacobs; Mercedes: 2. Chunky sweater R2820,49, Diane von Furstenberg, all from saksfifthavenue.com Mercedes‟ catwalk counterpart: D&G.

MERCEDES plans to back up her big voice with some bigpersonality clothes. Anything that‟s fluffy and cozy will be her preferred buy. She must however remember not to overdo the look. Although big boots will go well with a chunky knit, anything more will become overkill. If she‟s feeling a little more hardcore, she‟ll opt for one of the season‟s must-have shoes: the hiking boot.

KURT is and will always be blatantly fashionable. He always finds new innovative ways to mix the formal and the playful. This winter he‟ll be wearing skinnies with high-tops, a formal shirt (don‟t forget the tie) and either large shearling jacket or a sweater over it. He‟s not afraid to wear primary colours but is careful not to clash. It‟s better to take one bright color and pair it with something more mellow. Kurt‟s catwalk counterpart: D&G.

1. Dior Homme 2. 7 For All Mankind.

THE KEY ITEMS: Kurt: 1. Classic sport shirt R3477,31, Dior Homme; Mr. Schuester: 2. Plaid duffle coat R1721,19, 7 For All Mankind, all from saksfifthavenue.com Mr Schuester‟s catwalk counterpart: Burberry Prorsum.

MR SCHUESTER is saying goodbye to his waistcoats and hello to jackets with buckles and big buttons. He gets to keep his formal teacher look, but updates it with the perfect jacket or coat: a dark colour with an exaggerated collar that manages to mix utility with the hiker look. Finally, a bag to carry all his teacher‟s guides.

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THE 2011 MATRIC GIRLS This year, Parel Vallei is getting a good dose of girl power. Beyond this page youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll meet the girls who are achieving greatness, running committees and leading the school to victory. We love their spirit!

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DISCIPLINE Carla Nortje mastered the art of karate and achieved the highest merit: a black belt WORDS

Lana de Beer

PHOTOGRAPHS HAIR AND MAKE-UP

Kim Swarts

Leigh-Anne MarĂŠ

“My mom wanted me to take ballet lessons but when she saw that I wanted to beat everyone up, she put me in karate. My Sensei soon made me realise that karate isn’t a sport at all. It is an art…”

arla Anne Nortje has achieved a shodan in karate. In other words, a black belt. That‟s right: A girl is ranked one of the highest in karate out of everyone in our school. Take that, guys. When you hear the word karate, you probably get flashes of people in white garb facing each other solemnly and then striving to knock out as many teeth as possible. This is in fact not what karate is about. So what is it? The word “karate” actually means “empty hand”. It emerged in Japan in the 1920‟s, although its roots are deep in the histories and traditions of China. The full name is karate-do and this martial art has spread world-wide. The founders of karate-do never intended it to become a sport. Not even a fighting system. Yes, it teaches self-defense, but it was meant to be an art and many dojos overlooked that and “She breathed now it is all about the competitions. The dojo where Carla trains is so loudly, so one of the few which honours its precisely, that I roots. The Higashi dojo is run by Stan thought she Holroyd Sensei and is very traditional. It‟s about respect and selfwas muttering preservation. There are no things under competitions because he believes that it will inflate your ego. Also, you her breath.” need a black belt to take part in these competitions and he doesn‟t want to rush his students. Indeed, it took Carla many years to achieve hers. She started at the age of seven! There are ten levels before the black belt and don‟t think it ends there! After the first black belt, there is the second black belt then the third, etc. It took Carla four months to train for the shodan and in-between she had to help her Sensei teach classes as well. She was recorded while training and teaching and it was sent to a head office of Senseis in Japan, where she was evaluated on her performance and awarded a black belt. She admits that this was the toughest moment in her life. Well, it‟s certainly worth it. Before her class starts, she takes part in a Japanese greeting ceremony. The students line up and then sit in seiza (on knees). Now they are asked to clear their minds in a sort of meditation and completely forget about their everyday struggles. They greet the portraits of masters on the wall and then turn to their Sensei and ask him to look upon them kindly (Yoroshiku onegai shimasu). Only then class will start. Afterwards they thank him (Domo arigato gozai mashita). A polite bunch, hey? Karate is all about self-discipline and humility. You need to focus on yourself and perfect yourself. It has little

to do with anyone else. Your breathing has to be absolutely flawless during your routine. You need to breathe deeply – so deeply in fact that you need to draw from your toes to the top of your head. Carla did a little demonstration for us and she breathed so loudly, so precisely, that I thought she was muttering things under her breath. It seemed to vibrate through her. She calls it an energy flow. The one thing she wants everyone to know is that all women in karate are treated equally to the men. She trains on the same level as any guy and she‟s just as good as them. But that doesn‟t make her any less feminine. When people find out about her belt, they tend to be wary around her and she doesn‟t like that. It‟s the same with guys who dance. They aren‟t any less masculine. She admires them. Karate is a way of life for many people. For her Sensei, it is a religion. It is not to be taken lightly. After her demonstration, I was dumbstruck. Karate is truly beautiful and I can see why it is considered an art.

GETTING TO KNOW CARLA… Her form of communication with her friend in preschool consisted of growling. They never spoke. She played dinosaurs instead of Barbies. She has a zoo in her garden. Her parents started looking after animals and specialised in breeding some of them. For example, African Gray Parrots. Now they‟ve handed the job over to her. A seriously skilled woman here. In her lifetime she‟s had 70 guinea pigs, 20 rats, 2 cats, 3 dogs, 25 birds, 40 rabbits and 15 fish. The only things that she and her brother (Pierre in Grade 9) have in common are karate and their parents. She can‟t believe they‟re related. They fight a lot. Her favourite colours are green and turquoise. Her favourite actor is Nicholas Cage and her favourite actress is Nicole Kidman Her motto is, ”Never let an opportunity pass you by because you only live once.” The last movies that seriously struck her were Inception and Avatar. She chews her nails. (Don‟t kill her, Kim Swarts.) She also plays with her hair a lot. She received a silver bracelet from her mother for her birthday, which was inscribed with the words Live, Laugh, Love in Japanese. She cherishes it. She considers Severus Snape to be the scariest character ever. She doesn‟t think she‟s an irritable person but she gets annoyed when someone asks her what‟s wrong when she‟s daydreaming or thinking. Things that she wishes she could do but never could are singing and dancing. After Matric she wants to study Human Resources because she likes working with people, and then she wants to take a gap year and go to either Australia or America. She never leaves her house without her lip ice, cell phone and chewing gum Her dream holiday places are France, Japan and Thailand. She craves the rich culture. She is head of Finances on the Culture Week Committee. She looks up to anyone who has achieved anything in their lives. She admires people who try something impossible and even more so when they succeed at it. Carla is an amazing human being and will try to help you even if she doesn’t know you. All you have to do is ask. I’m in her Geography class and when the teacher isn’t there, she takes her place. She likes to get involved. We wish her luck for Matric, the future and for her next black belt! 

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GOING GREEN Tamryn van Wyk is co head of the PV GOES GREEN committee. She tells us what PV is still lacking in our green status窶ｦ INTERVIEW

DANIﾃ記 GELDENHUYS

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A PART OF THE ECO COMMITTEE? My family, we really care about the environment and my parents are very conscious about everything we use, buy and end up recycling. My dad is always recycling his newspapers and my mother‟s constantly switching off lights. When you‟re surrounded by that it grows on you. I joined the eco-committee because I also wanted to do my bit, but on a larger scale, and PV is just large enough. WHAT IS THE SCHOOL‟S CURRENT FLAG STATUS? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? To receive a Green Flag or to apply for one certain criteria need to be met, such as doing projects and obtaining evidence, drawing up a monthly planner in which all the projects, activities and events are set out in, to ensure they are executed, etc. The Eco-schools programme consists of nine topics, from which the school can choose, to focus on, for example: Global Perspectives, Water, Litter, and Waste. This year the Eco-Committee has chosen Nature and Biodiversity as our theme for 2011. This means all our projects, events and work throughout the year will be focused around the theme Nature and Biodiversity. The eco-committee really only kick-started last year so we‟re still in the beginning stages but we‟re doing our best to create awareness of the environment and ways in which we can reduce the school‟s waste by establishing recycling bins outside the tuck-shop and properly disposing e-waste (Electronic Waste). Everything we do contributes to our green flag status and hopefully in the near future we will have completed more projects for Parel Vallei to receive its majestic Green Flag. WHAT DOES PV STILL NEED TO DO TO GET A GREEN FLAG? „Eco-Schools” is a programme run internationally. More than 46 countries run these programmes so the number of schools running this programme is incredible. Once the school is registered it does projects and mainly creates awareness of the environment and certain issues (nine topics) within the school and the environment. Although all this hard work is not for nothing. Each eco-school wants to achieve an award and The greatest award it can achieve, is the distinguished Green Flag Award alongside the Silver and Bronze awards. For Parel Vallei to receive its Green Flag Award we need to continue transforming Parel Vallei into a complete “Green Gogga” and continue to better the community in which we live and our school by reducing the amount of paper we use, amount of water we consume, electricity etc. IF THERE IS ONE THING YOU CAN SAY TO THE SCHOOL AS ADVICE TO HELP US GET OUR GREEN FLAG, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Everything starts at home. I started recycling and re-using at home and did the same at school. If we are able to get into that „green mode” at home it will become second nature and we will not only find ourselves recycling and being cautious at home and school but virtually everywhere we go. Everything needs to start somewhere. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS FOR HELPING PV GET THE GREEN FLAG? My future plans will be to become more involved in the community‟s already established projects such as beach clean-ups, river clean-ups, etc. By the school volunteering to be a part of something greater than us, will have a large effect on the environment and both parties will benefit. We will conserve the environment and Parel Vallei will unconsciously be steps closer to receiving that Green Flag Award. Chinese Proverb- “Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a songbird will come”

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RELIGION Carla Snyman is head of the SCA this year. After a very successful love week, she chats about her other plans for 2011. INTERVIEW

JODI COETZEE

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO APPLY FOR SCA CHAIRPERSON? Technically, I didn‟t. I applied for a different position, and this is what I got! Ha-ha no, actually, I enjoy it so much because I get the amazing privilege of being able to act out what I believe in a way I hope will be effective; to be God‟s tool. Of course, you don‟t need to be chairperson of SCA for this to be true about you. WHAT‟S IN STORE FOR SCA IN 2011? A solid helping of bold, defiant truth! This year is all about foundation, on which we hope the following year‟s SCA can be built. We‟re counting on God for changed hearts and mind-sets that can only come with an encounter with Him. The blatant and reviving reality of God is what we want to settle in! WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH YOU RUN THE SCA? There are many decisions to be made regarding how you run groups like the SCA, and I try to implement them, all of which I hope aren‟t mine but God‟s, the greatest of which, I think, is keeping the focus on God and not ourselves or the things we do. Once the focus shifts, SCA is on unstable ground. Another commitment I have is to remember that EVERYONE is welcome, not just an elite group of established Christians (which no Christian ever is). SCA is for those who don‟t know Jesus as much as it is for those who do… So how could I judge who comes? HOW DO YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE? Come to think of it, it‟s really not that difficult. Everything I do, I do because I choose to. Since I choose to, I enjoy it all. When you enjoy what you do, you make time for it. Other than that, I guess it‟s simply learning how to do things quickly and effectively. When you have a lot on your plate, you need the wisdom to know when to cut out what. WHAT IS YOUR AIM AS SCA CHAIRPERSON?

It‟s not so much an aim as a vision I need to have as chairperson – an aim implies an end to SCA‟s efforts, while a vision can form part of a longer term mission. And it‟s extremely simple: all I want is for SCA to become a tool in giving God glory, which I believe it does (although, of course, it has its flaws). ANY TIPS YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO LEAD A GROUP OR SCA SPECIFICALLY? Don‟t hold back out of fear– it might not be just you, but a whole lot of people that you‟ll be disadvantaging, and keeping from going forward. Keep a sensitive ear to God, and be sure of your motivations for decisions, and the vision that you‟re working towards. And importantly: keep your focus and will in line with God‟s. WHAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE OF HEADING UP SCA TAUGHT YOU ? I really shouldn‟t try to control freak my way through everything – some things are out of my hands, some things I simply can‟t do… and some things I should just leave to others to do! I‟m part of a team that needs to work together, and if communication sucks, or if we‟re not all on the same page, then everything won‟t work out as planned. Planning ahead is so essential, as is trusting each other‟s abilities. But most of all, relying totally and terrifyingly on God is so important – planning our own ways in and out of meetings and projects won‟t serve Him or achieve any ends. We have got to trust that God always has His hands right behind our backs, just waiting for us to stop toiling miserably and ineffectively, and fall back in faith that He‟ll lift us higher than we could ever go ourselves.

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THE CAPTAIN Aninka Moller fearlessly led our under 19 girls to victory at interschools. We talk victory窶ｦ INTERVIEW

DANIﾃ記 GELDENHUYS

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE ATHLETICS CAPTAIN? To be honest, the fact that I could be captain only ever occurred to me this year. I was happy to be chosen though. I used to admire previous captains but never actually thought I would be one. WHAT WAS YOUR HIGH POINT OF THE ATHLETICS DAY (OTHER THAN WINNING)? Amongst other things, seeing our teacher relay team win was pretty fantastic. Another highlight was that we took two boy trophies this year. WHO IS YOUR ATHLETIC ROLE MODEL? Oscar Pistorius. WHEN YOU‟RE NOT TRAINING, YOU‟RE… Ha-ha, showering, playing outside, drinking tea, finding new bands, sleeping, not sleeping. HOW DID IT FEEL TO WIN THE ATHLETICS THIS YEAR? Bad. ...No, obviously it was sick. IF YOU COULD SAY ONE THING TO THE GIRL WHO WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE NEXT YEAR, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Put your faith in your team and encourage them. A positive attitude is vital and contagious. Laugh at yourself a lot. That‟s more than one thing, isn‟t it?

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LEADERSHIP Morgan Wolf, PV’s fabulous head girl, talks about her year so far and her plans for the rest of 2011. INTERVIEW

DANIËL GELDENHUYS

HAS BEING HEAD GIRL LIVED UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS? I honestly didn‟t expect to become head girl and I still feel extremely blessed and privileged. It has lived up to be more than any expectations I could‟ve had. It is a lot more work then I had imagined it would be but it‟s definitely worth it and I‟m enjoying every second. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR SO FAR? There have been so many highlights but my favourite one would have to be winning interschools for the 6th consecutive year. It was one of the proudest moments in my life. WHAT IS IT LIKE, SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL EVERY MONDAY? IS PV A TOUGH CROWD? I love speaking in front of the school on Monday mornings. It was very intimidating at first but no, PV is a great crowd to talk to and I feel that it is a great privilege. WHAT‟S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING WITH CHARL? The fact that a lot of the time, it doesn‟t really feel like work. We get along really well and are always laughing and joking around. WHEN YOU TURN 18 YOU‟LL… When I FINALLY turn 18, only at the end of December (not ideal), I‟ll have graduated from high school, hopefully driving and ready to start a new chapter of my life. NAME ONE THING THE SCHOOL DOESN‟T KNOW ABOUT YOU. I‟m more South African then I am American, even though it doesn‟t sound like it. I‟ve lived here for 10 years now and I love it. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOU EXPERIENCE AS HEAD GIRL THIS FAR? I have learned more then I can say or explain to anyone. I have learned how to work with different types of people, how to work alongside someone, how to trust in God just for strength to complete something, how to handle stress, how to organise things but mainly, how to lead a group of people to one common goal. I‟m learning life-long lessons now that I know I will never forget. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE REST OF 2011? To try and make 2011 the best year that PV has ever had. We‟ve won interschools but there‟s so much more to come. I want to take every opportunity and give it my very best. I don‟t want to have any regrets looking back on the year. 

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