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www.thevillagenews.co.za
16 October 2019
Hermie Magic here to stay T he matrics of Hermanus High School had their valedictory assembly in the main hall on Friday 11 October. The morning started with an academic prizegiving and was followed by a tea with the learners and their parents in the school’s gymnasium.
At 11:00, everyone returned to the main hall for the valedictory ceremony. After speeches by the new head boy and girl for 2020, the school’s principal, Mr Greg Hassenkamp, took to the podium to give his final words to the matric class of 2019. His speech was passionate and his voice broke with emotion in some places as he spoke about his pride in the matrics and in the school. Hassenkamp mentioned some of their achievements from earlier in the year and how ‘Hermie Magic’ had played
such a big role across all school activities and events.
Wishing the matrics good luck for their final exams, Hassenkamp left them with a parting quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
After the learners had given their principal a standing ovation, the head boy and girl for 2019 and their deputies made their way to the podium. The four learners wished their peers all the best for their final exams and encouraged them to work hard. The head girl, Mari Carstens, also reminded the younger grades that the Hermie Magic would not leave with them, and told them to keep the magic alive in the years to come.
year’s events and activities marked the end of the ceremony. All that remained was for the matrics to gather on stage and sing their school song one final time as learners of the school. They then made their way out of the hall and each matric rang a bell before passing through an honour guard made up of younger learners. From there it was off to Bientang’s Cave to jump into the ocean in their uniform from the rock known as ‘Piet se Klip’ – the traditional way for every Hermie matric to end their school days.
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It was an emotional and memorable day for learners, parents and teachers. We wish all the matrics the best of luck for their final exams.
A slideshow presentation of photographs of the grade 12s and all the
– Taylum Meyer 5
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1. The 2019 matrics of Hermanus High sing their school song for the final time as learners – with gusto! 2. Tourism teacher, Tersia Smit, is a favourite of the learners at the high school with her jokes and readiness to join in the fun. 3. Angelina Skakulski excitedly waves at a friend who jumped into the sea just after her. 4. Jasmin Cowley and Sherrymae Sayson excitedly leave the school property through the honour guard. 5. It was a bitter-sweet moment for Mikayla Martinengo as she walked out the gate with her class mates after the valedictory ceremony. 6. Kiah Saaiman (right) helps best friend Klara Skein to get out of the water. 7. Ruben Jordaan shows off his backflip skills. 8. It is tradition for Hermies matrics to jump from ‘Piet se Klip’ every year on their last day of school. 9. Friends Megan Horne and Margaret Viljoen are relieved to be back on dry ground after jumping into the sea. 10. Luncedo Sandile decided to make a splash with his jump by doing a water bomb. 11. The head boy for 2019, SJ Herholdt, says his goodbyes to his peers at the valedictory ceremony and wishes them good luck with the exams. 12. Mari Carstens, the head girl for 2019, reminds the younger grades to keep the Hermie Magic alive. 13. The head of the matric council for 2020 are Jenna Metcalf (deputy head girl), Ronelle Coetzee (head girl), Kyle Philander (head boy) and George Botha (deputy head boy). PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer
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The teachers and learners of Hermanus High School would like to wish their matrics good luck for their upcoming final exams. Believe in yourself and work hard – you can achieve anything!
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