2015 RGHS School Magazine by Rustenburg Girls' High School

At Rustenburg High School for Girls learners are taught to lead courageously, explore their unique potential confidently and serve the world compassionately.

Leaders Matric Academic Ms Laura Bekker 2007 - 2015

Music Sport Inter-house Events Societies and Events Rustenburg Old Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

Creative Editor Mr Adrian Skelly

Copy Editor

Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale

Deputy Principal: Academic Ms Susan Schnetler

Deputy Principal: Pastoral Ms Gillian Blackshaw

School Operations Manager Mr Graeme Broster

Finance Office

Ms Lynda Niddrie, Ms Morag Rijs, Ms Dee Penny

Public Relations Officer Ms Geila Wills

Design and Layout Ms Caryn Köhler

Portrait Photographer Ms Kristina Stojiljkovic

Head of Visual Arts and Design Ms Jackie Chambers

HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY Ms Nicky Cooper

Head of the Photographic Team Bianca Blair

Photographic Team

Bianca Blair, Jehan Nothnagel, Brittany Gouws, Lily van Rensburg, Ursula Hardie, Sarah du Toit, Abigail Tudge, Natalie Davidson, Athraa Fakier, Abigail Baker, Gillian Williams, Bronwen Barratt, Kirstin Shaw, Kirsty Davids, Nousheena Ebrahim, Stéphanie Lawrenson, Zoë Goslett, Hannah Abdoll, Emma Swart, Georgia Satchwell, Lu-Jaine Isaacs, Zara Brown, Holly Rowe, Tasmyn Baxter, Neeta Chavda, Rachel Couperthwaite, Daniella Attfield

Systems INFORMATION OfficeR Ms René Forbes

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

This year can be regarded as a period in which we realised the benefits of many years of planning and implementation. In a Rugby World Cup year, it is fitting to start our report on a sporting note and remember the words of Mr Nelson Mandela when he said “Sport has the power to change the world.” Rustenburg’s first official hockey season on our own Astroturf was most enjoyable and the level of hockey and results improved in leaps and bounds. The U19 side improved their placing in the Grand Challenge League from eighth position in 2014 to fourth in 2015. The U16A team finished the league at second position and played in the Provincial Top Schools playoffs. The improved performance should not only be attributed to the new facility; we should recognise the technical expertise and guidance from coaches as well as the talent and commitment of the players. The highlight of the season was a packed grand stand of Rustenburg school girls cheering for the 1st Team at the Cape Town Hockey Festival against an opposing team that was convincingly beaten by our girls. The camaraderie around the turf was enjoyed by all and the hospitality shown to visiting teams was evident throughout the season, which undoubtedly added to the magnificent setting of the school grounds around the Astroturf and the backdrop of Table Mountain. There were significant improvements in the log positions of the other winter and summer sporting codes too and we commend the Sport Office and all the parents involved. Regarding Rustenburg’s Music Department there were over 150 girls who participated in the Choir, Orchestra and Concert Band at the Rutter Combined Choral Event at the City Hall in August. It was a moving performance and definitely one of the cultural highlights of 2015. Our 1927 Steinway & Sons Model D Concert Grand Piano was restored to as good as new by a Steinway expert. We thank the Music Department for their dedication and expertise. The Drama Department put on a world-class rendition of Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced.” Each year they manage to set new standards for performing arts.

From the SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY

Chairman: Mr Brian Abdoll Treasurer: Ms Leslie Shaw Principal: Ms Laura Bekker Secretariat: Mr Graeme Broster Parents: Mr Rudi Gouws, Ms Natalie Lawrenson, Mr Steven Schaeffer, Ms Lauren Wheeler Elected Educator Representatives: Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale, Ms Susan Schnetler Erinville Boarding House Representative: Ms Wendy Newton-Wheeler Non-educator Representative: Ms Pamela van Dyk Pupil Representatives: Kirsten Pienaar, Neo Ramagaga Co-opted Parents: Mr Matthew Mellville, Mr Simion George Co-opted Staff: Ms Gillian Blackshaw

The newly elected SGB has settled in and is energised with new thinking whilst maintaining the existing strategies. The Information Technology (IT) Task Team was established to develop an IT strategy to optimise educational processes, implement efficient capabilities in data-centric processes, protect and develop our infrastructure and ensure that we make sound IT investments. In addition, the IT strategy aims to develop institutional capabilities and stimulate innovation that will accelerate digitisation for Rustenburg. The Sustainability Steering Committee has been hard at work regarding the implementation of the sustainability strategy and creating greater awareness in the Rustenburg community regarding energy, water, waste and ecology. The initial focus of the strategy has been on the low hanging fruits. Based on recent reports, Rustenburg consumes 1200 kWh of electricity (39% school buildings, 33% Erinville House, 14% other buildings and residences, 14% swimming pool) and 55 kl of water (25% buildings, 75% irrigation and pool) on average, daily, from municipal connections. We therefore invested in irrigation and storage systems and completed the automation the irrigation systems of the sports fields and lawns with pop-up sprinklers, increased the reach of the bore-hole piping to supply the entire campus and increased storage capacity so that more areas can be irrigated with this source with the aim to generate savings. A solar photovoltaic pilot project was approved to test the viability of integrating alternative energy sources and traditional sources. Since there are many learning opportunities, Campus Management is working closely with our educators to provide a practical platform to enhance our girls’ learning experience. Financial controls and risk management are important governance mechanisms which enable the Finance Committee to execute its mandate. It has been a difficult task to balance the books in an increasingly challenging and complicated economic environment. We thank our Treasurer, Ms Lesley Shaw, who will come to the end of her term in December 2015. We value her expert guidance and strong leadership over the last few years. The SGB is serious about improving our communication capabilities and aim to build the Rustenburg community on the premise of connectedness and caring for the whole. We stand amazed by the collective willingness to serve and therefore want to move the discussions from problems to ones of possibility and commit ourselves to creating a future using the capacity, expertise and resources of everyone. As Peter Block suggests, “the future hinges on the accountability that citizens choose and their willingness to connect with each other around the promises they make to each other”. At the end of this year we will bid farewell to Ms Laura Bekker, our principal for the last eight years. Laura has made her mark in the history of Rustenburg and we are thankful of her contribution. She is a person with a great regard for strong relationships, she maintains a measured approach and always has the girls at the centre of everything she does. Rustenburg will miss you, Laura. The SGB has implemented plans to enable a smooth transition. We would like to thank all the Rustenburg stakeholders and especially the parents for placing their confidence in us; we appreciate the opportunity and are grateful for the vibrancy and energy in which we can craft a joint future for our girls and the broader community. RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

My own journey into the realm of education has an origin which is difficult to determine precisely. I remember living in Burgersdorp, where I was taught until Grade 4. This was a special time because there was only one class which contained only five pupils, ranging from Grades 2 to 5. We were all taught together. The teacher coped by keeping everyone busy, and I coped by working furiously quickly so that I could set my own task aside in order to eavesdrop on what was happening with the older pupils. This inquisitiveness, always wanting to understand more, is key to the process of the acquisition of knowledge. When I joined Clarendon Junior School, in East London, for my Grade 5 year, I learned that learning at school is not something solely facilitated by adults. While my stern Grade 5 teacher eventually left to become a missionary, my young confidante at the time, Merle Masson, was loyal and unwavering in her commitment to our close friendship. Merle had polio, but this played no part in our mischievous antics and how talkative we were. Nowadays our paths cross less frequently than they once did, because our journeys have taken us in different directions. I have come to understand more and more, whilst travelling through life, that memories are signposted by emotions. People tend to remember with great accuracy how events and others made them feel. I’ve never forgotten, for example, how I felt when one of my junior school teachers forced me to eat a tomato sandwich! My own journey, now more specifically as an educator, was initiated by the passion instilled by my own Grades 11 and 12 History teacher, who was inspirational and interested in my individual progress. It was therefore before completing high school that I had already decided a career in teaching was to be my chosen path. This journey in education eventually brought me to Rustenburg High School for Girls but, truthfully, it felt more like a return than something altogether new. My own alma mater, Clarendon, is uncannily similar to Rustenburg. Both schools have a similar architecture, structure and history. Riebeeck College, where I had served as principal prior to my appointment in Cape Town, is even slightly older than both Rustenburg and Clarendon. My journey into schooling seemed strangely destined towards establishments of heritage and tradition.

From the Principal Ms Laura Bekker BA, HDE

Rustenburg High School for Girls is on a journey, as we all are.

It was in a strange little wooden room, now defunct, at the front of the school where I waited my turn to be interviewed for the position of principal of Rustenburg High School for Girls. Ms Gillian Cockram, a softly spoken Rustenburg stalwart staff member, had been appointed to guide me through the school building towards the Media Centre, where the School Governing Body was scrutinising applicants. As Ms Cockram led me through the open porticos and colonnades, I remember thinking, “I feel strangely at home here.” There was something unexpectedly homely about both the building and the atmosphere of the property. One of my first goals as the newly appointed principal was to meet and interview every single staff member who serves the school. Personal one-on-one conversations helped me to understand the many journeys these people each were on. The general insight shared by so many was that Rustenburg was ready to change, to embark on a new route, so to speak, but there was also a degree of apprehension how this should begin and where this might eventually lead. Inadvertently, it became my task to lead the school towards change. I remain immensely grateful to the School Governing Body at the time for having the foresight and vision to set Rustenburg on its latest journey. This was a tenacious and dedicated group which looked into the future and set to lay out a path on which our school currently travels. It was Ms Alicia Bleby, Rustenburg’s very first principal from 1894 – 1911, who perhaps initially paved the way. And it will be my successors, long after I have left, who will again scan the horizon to determine where it is that Rustenburg must go to next. A dynamic school can never rest on its laurels, or become complacent, or celebrate only its current state. A dynamic school is one that actively seeks out change, growth, development and improvement. I am humbled by the immense contributions to the school which have taken place recently, not only the physical structures of the Mathematics and Physical Sciences Centre and the Astroturf Hockey field, but also the resilience of staff members, pupils and their parents to some considerable curriculum changes which have come our way. While there have indeed been several exciting additions to Rustenburg subsequent to my appointment, I do not accept singular responsibility for steering the school in any particular direction. Countless invested stakeholders, many well before my time, had the wisdom to set Rustenburg on its journey as the lauded educational institution it is. Now, as I stroll through the open porticos for the last time before relocating to Pietermaritzburg to assume the role of principal of Epworth School, I am filled with an indescribable degree of pride. It is a similar feeling, I suspect, which binds all Rustenburg girls, both past and present.

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

One of the first things which impressed about Ms Bekker was her ease and confidence with language, whether this be by formal public addresses or casual, intimate conversations. It was Ms Pretorius who offered tremendous praise for Ms Bekker’s linguistic style after attending meetings hosted by her. Ms Pretorius simply said what a great many other people have thought. Ms Bekker was adept at reading a situation, knowing the emotions of those involved, and responding by formulating discourse with tenderness and care. Where she absolutely excelled was in compassionate one-on-one encounters, those private moments which go unseen and so often unappreciated. This extended beyond the reaches of just the staff. Ms Bekker gained the ear also of parents and many pupils, who felt comfortable approaching her for counsel and advice, sometimes deeply personal. The anecdotes which Ms Bekker shared were not only entertaining, but also revealed how utterly human she is. There is a genuine selflessness about Ms Bekker, as has been proven countless times by her willingness to prioritise emotional support when others experience crisis. This deep care is not something which can be taught. It is perhaps not even a skill which can be acquired. Rather, it is deep-rooted within the character and spirit of a person who has enjoyed what life has brought and knows that it is more fulfilling to be optimistic than fearful. Such an attitude is also reflected in Ms Bekker’s approach towards professional development. Her enthusiasm for growing and learning and improving became a hallmark trait. Staff members were encouraged to follow the example set by attending Houw Hoek “Pro-Gro” courses, and similar programmes which foster an active engagement with current educational thinking. This also speaks of humility. Understanding that knowledge is never in its ultimate state, and that there is always more to learn about the world and its people, reveals an unassuming and modest nature. No-one would describe Ms Bekker as arrogant, complacent or aloof.

Farewell to Ms Bekker Goodbyes are never easy. It seems ironic to try to find the right words to offer our deepest gratitude and heartfelt farewell to Ms Bekker because, as we struggle to pinpoint just how it is she has impacted everyone at Rustenburg, we are reminded how easily words come to her.

Poet Maya Angelou writes about the joy of unbridled, unrestrained laughter: “The hollers / rise up and spill / over any way they want.” These words are true too for Ms Bekker. Her smiles were always sincere. Her laughter, even at her own folly, came from deep within. What a sterling example Ms Bekker set for what it means to enjoy everything that life brings. She was jovial, cheerful and always emphasised the importance of camaraderie. Ms Bekker’s broad, beaming smile invited easy conversation. This innate sense of happiness might relate to her ability to concentrate on the present and appreciate current moments for the value which they hold. She did not harbour grudges or harp on about the past. Ms Bekker was a wonderfully active participant, much to the delight of the entire Rustenburg community. She will be remembered as the principal who did not shy away from becoming involved, in a very real way, whether this meant dressing up according to a theme set by pupils, or flipping hamburger patties, or having a bucket of ice dropped on her head, or playing goalie during a hockey match, or booming words of encouragement at waterpolo matches! There could not have been a better leader for Rustenburg during its 120th birthday celebrations last year. Ms Bekker hosted countless functions, and was always in high spirits, which strengthened valuable ties with Rustenburg Junior and the Old Girls’ Union. She encouraged mirth, festivity and fun, and did this by being absolutely hands-on. Ms Josephine McIntyre (Rustenburg principal 1980 – 1991) wrote “White Stoep on the Highway” which documents the historical development and progress of Rustenburg since its inception. The life of the school is recorded in detailed chapters, each associated with the leadership of the principal at the time. “White Stoep on the Highway” concludes with the momentous year: 1994. That is over 20 years ago. So much has happened in the interim, both in South Africa and at our school. What will Ms Bekker’s own chapter eventually include? Perhaps only time will be able to assess the true magnitude of her contribution towards Rustenburg. Perhaps it is now still too soon to write the instalment which began with her appointment in 2007. Some staff members have suggested that Ms Bekker’s legacy might include supporting the work to enhance the campus: the beautification of the grounds, the building of the Mathematics and Physical Sciences Centre and the new Astroturf. Others have proposed that what she has left for the school cannot be measured through physical fixtures, that it is perhaps more an atmosphere of embracing change whole-heartedly for which Ms Bekker will be remembered. An attitude cannot be encapsulated by tangible items. Still others think that Ms Bekker’s regular reminders about the importance of reading, and love for words, are what might become part of her memory. Her end-of-term speech to the school, during which she promoted literacy and vocabulary, became regarded with great affection. Schoolgirls came to anticipate these words, about words. It felt as though the busy time of the term could only conclude once all had received this final sentiment. Ms Bekker’s time at Rustenburg has now reached its conclusion. We say farewell, knowing that she will go on to spread her deep love for literature far beyond the reaches of the school which we all hold so dear. RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

The faces of Ms Bekker

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

There were 151 candidates and, once again, we had a 100% pass rate. 149 of the candidates passed with a Bachelors pass and the remaining two obtained Diploma passes. 10 of our subject averages were above 80% and seven were above 70%. There were 508 subject distinctions (80%+) in total, which is the largest number ever achieved by our school. 74 of the group (49%) achieved four or more subject distinctions, with five of them achieving an aggregate of 90% and higher. Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan was the Top Student in the Western Cape and placed second in South Africa. She achieved an aggregate of 96.7% and seven subject distinctions (all above 90%). Yi-Tin received 100% for History and was the top student in the Western Cape for this subject. She also earned 99% for Mathematics, and was third in the Western Cape in French First Additional Language. Rustenburg is equally proud of Ellen-Marie Trautmann who placed in the Top 20 in the Western Cape last year. Ellen-Marie’s aggregate was 95.8%. She achieved seven subject distinctions (all above 90%). This included 100% for Mathematics, which placed her seventh in this subject in the Western Cape. She was also fourth in the province for Physical Sciences, achieving a final result of 99%, and second in the Western Cape in Geography. Our first additional class, enrolled in 2013, moved smoothly into Grade 10 this year. We look forward to their reaching Matric in 2017, as this will mean that we have finally reached an even number of six classes in every grade. This will facilitate more creative, flexible and predictable planning and administration, including staffing and timetabling. If the awards received again this year for Grade 9 performance in Language and Mathematics are anything to go by, it is pleasing to note that, in spite of the increased numbers, our good academic standards are being maintained. This reflects the hard work and commitment of our teaching staff. It was a privilege to be able to attend the Convention of the International Confederation of Principals in Helsinki, Finland in August this year. The theme was “Leading Educational Design” and I returned inspired and motivated.

From the Deputy Principal: Academic Ms Susan Schnetler BSocSc, Hons (BA), HDE (PG) Sec

This report on academic matters cannot possibly exclude a summary of the previous year’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results. The outstanding results achieved by the Class of 2014 are as follows:

A presentation entitled “Invisible Learning” by Pasi Sahlberg highlighted collaboration, creativity and trustbased responsibility as some of the commonalities of successful education systems. Finland is best known for this, so I was eager to find out more about their winning formula during my time there. However, research seems to show that their success is largely due to the culture of the people rather than as a result of what they do in their schools. Andre Noel Chaker, author of “The Finnish Miracle” which explores the success of the Finnish education system, spoke about the core values that we need to teach our children. This included trial and error – the importance of making mistakes in order to learn; effort – working harder and smarter; motivation – through autonomy and competence; and bravery – developing tenacity and determination in our students. This resonated with me, working in an environment where our girls place immense pressure on themselves always to get things right and have a tendency to “sweat the small stuff.” We need, more than ever, to focus on conveying to our girls the importance of allowing themselves to make mistakes, so that they can learn, grow and improve. This is critical to the development of perseverance and resilience. In the words of one of the most entertaining conference speakers, Alf Rehn, “we need to turn our schools into a productive zone, rather than a comfort zone.” This is, after all, in line with our vision of producing young women who are “leading courageously and exploring their unique potential confidently.” Since “serving the world compassionately” is also part of our school’s vision, a most thought-provoking keynote address, “Ethics and Global Citizenship Education” by Dr Vanessa Andreotti certainly got my attention. Global citizenship education is seen as a solution in teaching children to deal with complexity, uncertainty, plurality and growing levels of inequality and violence. Challenges such as “entertainment entitlement,” conflictual identities and externalised responsibility and blame were mentioned. Particularly relevant was the concept that children are “socially active” in terms of technology, while actually being socially isolated. It was suggested that we should encourage learners to “de-centre” and direct them “from entitlement to enlightenment.” Focusing on the environment, the community and helping others were offered as potential ways to relieve the anxiety and depression that children worldwide are experiencing today. We cannot deny that the adolescents that we teach have changed, as has the world of work that they are entering. They need to leave us with new and different skills to those that were important when we were educated. I am excited about what it means to be a teacher in a rapidly changing world and in a work environment where the future is likely to be very different. This convention certainly provided a springboard for many ideas, particularly as we continue to explore new approaches to teaching and learning and, in particular, the use of technology. Learning spaces need to be creative, inviting, aesthetically appealing and innovative. With input from our girls, we hope to experiment in various ways with this in the new academic year. Where relevant, we will lead from the front with conscious, intentional and positive change, developing the spirit of risk-taking that is so necessary for the progress of our school. As George Bernard Shaw wrote, “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” (George Bernard Shaw)

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

Extra-Mural Programme

The extra-mural programme is extremely busy at Rustenburg. There are many team and social sports, societies and service groups as well as a variety of music groups from which girls can choose. Our sports teams have performed exceptionally well this season. Our swimmers brought home the U14 and U19 age-group trophies as well as the overall PGSGU swimming trophy. Our U14A Netball Team won the PGSGU trophy and our 1st and U14C Netball teams won their respective leagues. Our 1st Netball Team also won the Western Province High Schools Netball League play-offs. Our girls have also excelled in the cultural sphere with the superb choral event at the City Hall and outstanding “A Murder is Announced” drama production. Our Debating Team also had a successful year. Tamsin Meterlerkamp was a member of the South African team that won the World Schools Debating Championships.

Learner Leadership Programme

Although the Learner Leadership Programme is well established, there have been some worthwhile additions. The most successful addition was the focus on developing the role of Matric mentors. Mentorship plays an important role in helping the Grade 8s settle into high school. We held a training workshop in order to equip our Matric mentors with the necessary skills to fulfil their duties and to be effective mentors. The mentors were guided by Ms Swanson who met with the mentors every week to suggest what topics should be discussed with the Grade 8s. The mentors then met with the Grade 8s every Friday during the longer form period. Kreshalia Ephraim in Grade 8 had the following to say about her mentor. “My mentor taught me how to cope with my work schedule and how to be more involved in school activities. This experience allowed us to interact and to get to know the Matrics on a personal level. For me having a mentor is and will be one of the best experiences at Rustenburg.” The Grade 8s and 10s attended leadership development workshops. Each of the one-day workshops was designed to include a focus on both personal, team and general leadership development through theoretical and experiential learning. The outdoor activities proved to be the most enjoyable, and the most beneficial, to the girls’ learning.

From the Deputy Principal: Pastoral Ms Gillian Blackshaw BA (MBK), HDE (PG) Sec

I would like to acknowledge the prefects of 2015. They worked extremely well together as a team and managed to continue to serve the school and maintain their enthusiasm until their last day. They were wonderful leaders.

The highlights of the leadership development programme are the Grade 9 and Grade 11 camps. The Grade 9 camp was once again held at the Habonim campsite in Onrus. Bianca Cilliers and Bryony Bosman said the following about the camp: “After the stress of Term 1, it was a relief for this year’s Grade 9 girls to relax for two days, at a beautiful campsite, just outside Hermanus. Camp activities included a Treasure Hunt for which we received ambiguous clues that led us to find different coloured balls; the Amazing Race – where we had to use blocks to get across the “lava.” There was also the awesome and ear-piercing bum shuffle game, as well as the mat game, which brought us all closer to the people in our teams. Added to this, was the creative kickball – a combination of soccer, baseball, and cricket. There was also the opportunity to participate in an obstacle course. We were left tired and hot, but happy. The enthusiasm of the fantastic camp guides rubbed off on us, which created a positive atmosphere of fun, friendship, leadership, respect, learning to help each other and good food. We would all do over again in a heartbeat.” The Grade 11 camp was held at the Witzenberg Game Park, a scenic site located in the Breede River Valley. Hannah Clayton said the following about the camp: “This annual camp provides the opportunity for improvement of individual leadership skills and grade bonding. The camp involved a variety of activities that tested different skills, each providing important learning opportunities. These included physical and problem-solving exercises, many of which focused on the importance of teamwork and listening skills – two fundamental aspects of leadership. The girls participated with enthusiasm, and even the early morning exercise and more strenuous activities were completed with a positive attitude. The lessons and skills that we learnt during this camp will provide valuable aid in future leadership roles.” In the April holidays, 11 Grade 10s went on the Nation Building Outward Bound Camp at the George Beck estate outside Robertson, accompanied by Mr Haggard. The camp involved many activities that took the girls out of their comfort zones. Activities included teambuilding exercises, hiking, abseiling and raft building to name a few. In the July holidays, 23 Grade 10s went on the World Challenge trip to Malaysia accompanied by Ms Ryan, Ms Capstick-Dale and Ms Viljoen. The girls worked at a turtle sanctuary on Perhentian Besar Island and also trekked in Kenong Rimba. Ms Ryan had the following to say: “It was really a ‘challenge’ in the true sense of the word, one which the Rustenburg girls met and conquered. They were wonderful ambassadors for their school and for the country. They truly were leading courageously, exploring their unique potential confidently and serving the world compassionately.”

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

The Operations and Campus Development offices are vital to the running and flourishing of a school like Rustenburg. We are able to enjoy the facilities and exposure we have due to the fine people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the rest of the school community is well looked after. In the Marketing and Operations office weekly bulletins, updated Facebook pages and Twitter feeds, an active website and a newly launched staff newsletter all played their part in getting out the good story that Rustenburg has to tell. Mr Broster, Ms Forbes and Ms Wills were able to do this from the comfort of their new office, after having been in temporary dwellings for almost three years. The Marketing team also worked hard at uniting the school community through exciting teambuilding exercises such as the Rugby World Cup Prediction game. Bugs’ Boutique and the school tuckshop play important roles in keeping the girls neatly dressed and wellfed. There was refurbishment done to Bugs’ Boutique and we ran a Customer Satisfaction Survey which gave us plenty of food for thought for 2016. On the subject of food, another survey was conducted concerning the supplies available in the tuckshop and, in late 2015, Banting-friendly and other health options became available for learners and staff. In terms of infrastructure, there has been a lot happening on our campus. The year started with the final completion of the Maths and Science Block and the academic staff room and grounds staff change room were both given much-appreciated facelifts. Repainting was also completed in Charlie’s Hope and the southern façade of the Academic Block. A new guard house was erected and a further 21 cameras installed, to further improve our surveillance system. Another addition for the comfort of the learners was a sheltered waiting area for pupils, attached to the eastern façade of the Maths and Science Block. The shelter was actually manufactured and erected in-house, using the skills of our handymen and is a wonderful testament to their skills.

From the Operations Office and Campus Manager Mr Graeme Broster and Mr Myles Siebrits

The entire electrical reticulation system on the campus was upgraded this year. A new switch and metering room was constructed behind the principal’s house, from which the various cables now originate. Upgraded supplies now feed to the Academic Block, Erinville House, principal’s residence, swimming pool and workshop. The Astroturf, a synthetically surfaced hockey field, was finally completed in July, with the installation of the technical area or dug out. This excellent facility was further augmented with superb landscaping, again, all done in-house by our gardening team. A new power supply was provided for the floodlights from the new switch room. The Astroturf floodlights were the main focus of fundraising this year. Many committed parents worked very hard with the Marketing team towards this goal and, with the help of some generous benefactors, it was achieved. Restoration and history is very important to Rustenburg and an exciting chapter is this story is that we have started a project to restore the old slave/historic wall that runs along our eastern boundary. Here we have engaged the services of a land surveyor and Rustenburg will be working with Heritage Western Cape and the Rosebank and Mowbray Planning and Aesthetics Committee. This will complement the restoration carried out on the historic well in the Centenary Quad. On the environmental front, a Sustainability Committee was formed and, together with a consultant, Rustenburg started a journey of development that will hopefully meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations on the campus, to meet their own needs. Our main goals to reach this self-sustainability include the use of borehole water, automating irrigation, solar water heating, photovoltaic electricity generation, installation of water saving devices in bathrooms, retrofitting all lights to energy efficient units, greenbelt strengthening, recycling expansion, weekly monitoring and sustainability communication together with learning modules. The borehole is in, Erinville House uses only solar produced hot water and a photovoltaic pilot project has been installed. This is just the beginning of our journey into sustainability.

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

Academic Staff

Back row, from left: Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale, Ms Anita Marshall, Ms Gail Wallace, Mr William Haggard, Ms Stella Rossouw, Mr Leslie Elderkin, Ms Tessa Brown, Mr Gian Marneweck, Mr Colin Shapiro, Dr Sophie Kohler, Ms Perdita Norval Fourth Row, from left: Ms Louise Lawrence, Ms Jackie Chambers, Ms Ingrid Weideman, Ms Helen Kleynhans, Ms Judith Herbig, Mr Graham Reggiori, Ms Christine Steenekamp, Ms Lorraine Gardiner, Ms Monika Brandt, Ms Floriane Blanc- Marquis Third row, from left: Ms Marieta Langenhoven, Ms Amy Heel, Ms Susan Viljoen, Ms Rebecca Goble, Ms Jane Behne, Ms Judith Dernier, Ms Philippa Colly, Ms Monelwa Manjiya-Mboma, Ms Liza September Second row, from left: Ms Tarin Sharneck, Ms Leonie Oram, Ms Olivia Herrendoerfer, Ms Zargielay Rabeh, Ms Zélia Simpson, Mrs Janine Myers, Ms Maileen Jamey, Ms Anita Pretorius, Ms Norma Caesar, Mme Dominique Williams First row, from left: Ms Linda Mallon (Faculty Head), Ms Helene Swanson (Faculty Head), Ms Renée Fourie (School Management Team), Mr Adrian Skelly (Faculty Head, School Management Team), Ms Gillian Blackshaw (Deputy Principal: Pastoral), Ms Laura Bekker (Principal), Ms Susan Schnetler (Deputy Principal: Academic), Ms Brigid Ryan (School Management Team), Ms Bridget Cameron (Faculty Head, School Management Team), Ms Elizabeth Sole (School Management Team), Ms Zuleigah Galer

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

Principal Ms Laura Bekker: BA, HDE

Deputy Principal: Academic Ms Susan Schnetler: BSocSc, Hons (BA), HDE

Deputy Principal: Pastoral Ms Gillian Blackshaw: BA (MBK), HDE (PG) Sec

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT Ms Bridget Cameron: BSc, MEd, HDE (PG) Sec Ms Renée Fourie: MA, HDE (PG) Sec Ms Brigid Ryan: BA (Hons), HDE (PG) Sec Mr Adrian Skelly: BA, HDE (PG) Sec Ms Elizabeth Sole: BMus, MA, TLD

Faculty Heads

Rustenburg

Staff

Arts: Mr Adrian Skelly: BA, HDE (PG) Sec Business and Life Skills: Ms Linda Mallon: BA, HDE Languages: Ms Helene Swanson: BA, HOD Sciences and Mathematics: Ms Bridget Cameron: BSc, MEd, HDE (PG) Sec

School Operations Manager Mr Graeme Broster: BSc (Hons), HDE (PG) Sec

Sport Manager Ms Renée Scott: BA (Phys Ed) HDE Ms Vivienne Williams: Dip Diag Radiography, Dip Diag Ultrasound

Grade Heads Grade 12: Ms Lorraine Gardiner: BSc, HDE Grade 11: Mr William Haggard: BA (Hons), HDE (PG) Sec Grade 10: Ms Anita Marshall: B Home Economics (Ed) Grade 9: Ms Anita Pretorius: BA, HDE Grade 8: Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale: BA, PGCE

Other Academic Staff Ms Jane Behne: BSc, HDE Ms Monika Brandt: BSc, PGCE, BEd (Hons) Ms Tessa Brown: BA, PGCE Ms Norma Caesar: BA (Hons), MEd, HDE Ms Jackie Chambers: BA Fine Arts (Hons), HDE Ms Philippa Colly: BSc, PGCE Ms Nicky Cooper: BA Ms Judith Dernier: BA, BEd, BMus, LSRM, UPLM, UTLM Mr Leslie Elderkin: BMus, UPLM, LTCL Ms Zuleigah Galer: BEd (Hons) (Education), HDE (Comm) Ms Rebecca Goble: BSc, PGCE RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

Mr James Hendricks: M.A., PGCE Ms Judith Herbig: BA (Drama), HDE Ms Olivia Herrendoerfer: BMus (Ed), PGCE Ms Maileen Jamey: BMus (Ed), PGCE Ms Helen Kleynhans: BSc, UED Ms Marieta Langenhoven: BA (Hons), HDE Ms Louise Lawrence: BSc, HDE (Sec) Mr Gian Marneweck: BCom, PGCE Ms Monelwa Mboma: MA, HDE Ms Perdita Norval: BA (Hons), HDE (PG) Sec Ms Zargielay Rabeh: BSc, BEd (Hons), HDE (PG) Sec, ABET Mr Graham Reggiori: BSc, HDE (PG) Sec Ms Stella Rossouw: BA (Ed) (Hons) Ms Tarin Scharneck: BEd (Arts) Ms Liza September: HDE (Sec) (Counselling Diploma) Mr Colin Shapiro: BSc, HDE, BEd Ms Zélia Simpson: HDE (Art), HDE (Speech and Drama) Ms Christine Steenekamp: HDE (Home Economics) Ms Zaandré Theron: BEd (Psych) (Hons) Mr Cedric van Dyk: BA (Hons), HDE (PG) Sec Ms Susan Viljoen: BSc (Hons) Ms Gail Wallace: BA (Hons), STD Ms Lindy Waller: BA, PGCE Ms Ingrid Weideman: BA, HDE, ADRM Mme Dominique Williams: MA, HDE (PG) Sec

IT and Computer Centre

Bugs’ Boutique School Shop Ms Lydia Mostert Ms Linda Simmons

Tuckshop and Catering Ms Michelle Haylett

Erinville Superintendent Ms Pam van Dyk

Erinville Staff Ms Aziza Abrahams Ms Michele Bakker Ms Emma Bergh Ms Jaline Brown Ms Karin Evans Laura Hartmann Ms Susan Mentoor Ms Julia Mitchell Ms Elaine Nyhila Ms Sheila Stoffels Ms Elizabeth Theunissen Ms Nomawethu Tshona Ms Melanie van Blerk Ms Ashleigh Womack Ms Lisa Williams

Mr Francis Vogts: Dip. IT Ms Janine Myers: BTech (IT), HDE (Comm) Sec, FDE (Comp) Sec Ms Trishanta Naidu: Dip. PC Engineering (IT)

Campus Manager

Media Centre

Campus Staff

Ms Marilyn Peters

Ms Klara Constable Mr Lluwellen Giebelaar Mr Ali Ibrahim Mr Gregory Isaacs Ms Ruth Kabinda Ms Veronica Kabinda Ms Linda Mantshi Ms Neliswa Mjiqiza Ms Bongiswa Mketo Ms Gcobisa Mlozane Mr Gladwell Mnyimbane Mr Adrian Munnik Mr Kudakwashe Mwaedza Ms Agnes Ndyambo Ms Nokuzola Ngxabani Ms Bongiwe Pikini Ms Nomazizi Sapepa Mr Checkson Sithole Mr Emmanuel Vureya Ms Yolanda Wyngaard

Part-time Educators Mlle Floriane Blanc-Marquis: M.A. Dr Sophie Kohler: PhD (Science)

Part-time Music Staff Mr Grant Adams: amaAmbush accreditation Mr Gavin Bolton: amaAmbush accreditation Ms Rosemary Davis: BA, BMus (Hons), LTCL Mr Robert Jeffery: MMus, BMus, ATCL Ms Maria Raynham: MMus, LMV, UTLM Ms Jan Thorne: BMus (Ed) Mr David West: BMus, LTCL, AMus TCL, ATCL

Administrative Staff Ms Nolundi Blayi Ms Denise Cowan Ms René Forbes Ms Pat Hanger 14

Ms Sue Hoffmann Ms Lynda Niddrie Ms Dee Penny Ms Morag Rijs Ms Jackie Weston Ms Geila Wills Ms Lynne Young

Mr Myles Siebrits

Campus Supervisor Mr Stephen Nicholas

LEADERS

Campus Staff

Back row, from left: Mr Kudakwashe Mwaedza, Mr Checkson Sithole, Ms Veronica Kabinda, Mr Gladwell Mnyimbane, Mr Lluwellen Giebelaar, Mr Ali Ibrahim Second row, from left: Ms Ruth Kabinda, Ms Bongiswa Mketo, Mr Ibrahim Allie, Ms Yolanda Wyngaard, Ms Gloria Mlozane, Mr Adrian Munnik, Ms Klara Constable, Mr Gregory Isaacs First row, from left: Ms Nomazizi Sapepa, Ms Bongiwe Pikini, Mr Myles Siebrits (Campus Manager), Ms Laura Bekker (Principal), Mr Stephen Nicholas, Ms Agnes Ndyambo, Ms Nokuzola Ngxabani

Erinville Staff

Back row, from left: Ms Elaine Nyhila, Ms Elizabeth Theunissen, Ms Lisa Williams, Ms Sheila Stoffels, Ms Susan Mentoor First row, from left: Ms Michele Bakker, Ms Pam van Dyk (Superintendent of Erinville), Ms Laura Bekker (Principal), Ms Karin Evans, Ms Melanie van Blerk

Administrative Staff

Back row, from left: Ms Geila Wills, Mr Francis Vogts, Ms Morag Rijs Second row, from left: Ms RenĂŠ Forbes, Ms Sue Hoffmann, Ms Marilyn Peters, Ms Dee Penny, Ms Pat Hanger, Ms Denise Cowan First row, from left: Ms Trishanta Naidu, Ms Lynne Young, Mr Graeme Broster, Ms Laura Bekker (Principal), Ms Lynda Niddrie, Ms Jackie Weston, Ms Nolundi Blayi

RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

LEADERS

We would not have been able to function as well as we did if even one girl had not been in the team. My gratitude to the prefects cannot completely be expressed in words. Our main goal for the year was to improve the spirit in the school. We strove to achieve this by implementing projects which positively contributed to Rustenburg. It meant that everyone knew what the prefect body stood for. It made the girls feel like they were serving the school with a greater purpose. With the full backing of Ms Bekker, Ms Schnetler and Ms Blackshaw, we started brainstorming ideas. Firstly, the prefect body needed to have a good dynamic. Fortunately, the girls gelled extremely well from the start and the range of personalities contributed to a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. We learned to understand our natural strengths with the help of the Gallup Strengths Finder course. I was thus able to lead and develop the team. The vast range of strengths meant that we generated powerful ideas in support of our vision. There were two categories of activities this year: traditional annual prefect events and our own innovations. We viewed both of these through the lens of our vision. A few of our annual events included the Grade 8 gala and braai, Valentine’s Day roses and breakfast with the Rondebosch prefects; the Prefects’ Dance in Stellenbosch, the teachers’ appreciation tea, and ushering for various school events. The prefects were allocated a form class which they visited in the mornings to build relationships with the girls. They generously gave of their time performing other duties in the mornings, during breaks and after school. We executed our own ideas from Term 1. Listening to music is a magnificent way in which people relax, therefore, we introduced the Travelling Speaker. The prefects took turns to give up break times to play pop music at the lunch areas for the different grades. The girls were able to request their favourite songs as they jammed to the tunes.

From the HEADGIRL

Immense fun was had as we filled the school with Easter eggs a few days before the April holidays. The girls enjoyed hunting for them in between their classes and a few even “broke” the school rules while retrieving the eggs on the sacred main quad! Girls were also able to take sweets off our prefects’ board to brighten their days on another occasion. The Positivitree was another of our inventions. Girls were able to write on various cards and hang their messages on the tree for all to read. These cards included themes of “My Bucket List,” “Smile because...” and “#THROWBACK.” The girls also showed their love and appreciation for each other by writing positive and encouraging messages on each other’s t-shirts with our Dignity Day civvies day. This idea is credited to the 2014 prefects.

Marianne Schwellnus

I am extremely humbled and blessed to have had the opportunity to lead the prefect body this year. I say this because every prefect had something unique that she contributed.

We made use of Feel Good Videos during our weekly assemblies. These were humorous clips for the girls to enjoy and laugh a little. We realised that the learners felt overwhelmed with school pressures at times and therefore forgot simply to enjoy life. We created more house spirit as well as general atmosphere with our singing competition, The Riff-Off. We were aware that this was a success at various other schools and we decided to introduce it at Rustenburg. It was in our interest to make the Matrics feel special. We knew that if they felt positivity, it would filter down to the other grades. I strongly believed that the rest of the grade should be a part of what the prefect body was doing so that there would be a sense of unity. I am very grateful for how supportive the Matrics were this year. Without them we would not have been this successful. A few of their highlights include break time s’mores and our “Hunger Games” themed 40 Days. The way in which I strove to lead this year was through serving. It has been so rewarding. I have been extremely challenged. My experience was that I was used as an instrument for God’s work. At the start of my time as headgirl, I was reminded of this quote: “God does not call the qualified; He qualifies those who are called.” That is what shaped how I regarded this year.

School prefects

Back row, from left: Estine Everson, Megan Frost, Keabetsoe Nchodu, Hannah Abrahams-Crocker, Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba, Kirsten Pienaar, René Zinn Second row, from left: Neo Ramagaga, Emily O’ Ryan, Jaime Newdigate, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Emily Roberts, Samantha McCrindle First row, from left: Lamees Ismail, Julia Darke, Ms Laura Bekker, Marianne Schwellnus, Ms Gillian Blackshaw, Haidee Davis, Zakiyyah Sablay

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LEADERS

Since one is able to serve on the RCL from Grade 8, one is offered the opportunity to become an influential junior learner whereas, with many other facets of the school, leadership positions are only held by senior learners. I had this privilege as I have served on the RCL for four of my five years at Rustenburg and with each year, my fellow council members, whether younger or older than me, were able to teach me certain skills which I was able to use during this year as chairperson. The RCL has meetings every Thursday to discuss a variety of issues ranging from the updating of certain aspects of our uniform to deciding which location on campus would best suit an apple-peeling machine. We receive regular suggestions from the girls. Our biggest task is finding diplomatic solutions. This is fairly easy to achieve in the dynamic environment we create. This dynamism is inherent to our meetings as a result of the diversity of the body and I believe that it is what enables us to achieve so much. Along with Kirsten Pienaar, the Deputy Chairperson, and the other Grade 12 learners of the RCL, I aimed to foster a strong sense of camaraderie this year, not just within the RCL, but among all the learners at Rustenburg. We were able to set this in motion early in the year when we got the entire school involved in the campaign against xenophobia in our country. Although it was not an issue that affected us directly, it was still important that the girls in the school united in support of the same cause. With that foundation set, it was easy to build on from there. In June, we held a pre-exam de-stresser which included hot chocolate, pancakes and vibrant music before the school day began and which seemed to ignite school spirit. Our other projects during the year included our annual Knitting Project, and our collaborative effort with Interact during which all the girls in the school were afforded 67 minutes to do some charity work for Mandela Day. I certainly believe that visibility is an important tool for the success of any organisation and this year we were afforded plenty of that in the school. From early on in the year, the RCL was able to interact with the new Grade 8s by organising a fun quiz for them and their Grade 12 mentors. We were also granted the opportunity to have several RCL-led assemblies during the year which strengthened the prominence and influence of the RCL in the school. These occasions, amongst others, were important in cementing the idea that the RCL is an integral part of Rustenburg leadership.

From the RCL Neo Ramagaga

The RCL is a body of about 15 learners, comprised of at least three individuals from each of the five grades who are elected by their peers to serve as a communication link between the leadership of the school and the learners.

In August, five members of the RCL had an enjoyable Saturday at the RCL Workshop (Metropole Central District). They were addressed by various speakers and had interactive sessions dealing with issues such as cyber-bullying and gender-based violence. Serving as chairperson of the RCL has been an honour and, despite the pressure of the position, I enjoyed all that came with it. In having to work in close proximity with Ms Ryan and other staff members, I was able to hone many skills, especially negotiation! I also learned a significant amount having been a member of the SGB because I was enlightened about what really goes into the governance of a school like Rustenburg and this understanding equipped me with a great sense of optimistic realism that developed me into a better leader. The RCL of 2015 served with enthusiasm and dedication and I hope that, in the years to come, they will continue to escalate the kind of positive influence that they have in the school.

Representative Council of Learners

Back row: from left: Aleya Dugmore (Grade 8), Adwoa Danso (Grade 9), Phumzile Konile (Grade 11), Stephanie Du Jiang (Grade 8), Victoria King (Grade 8), Muofhe Tshifularo (Grade 11), Lauren Schaefer (Grade 10) Middle row, from left: Daariah Arend (Grade 11, Secretary), Samantha Carletti (Grade 9), Zahra Mohamed (Grade 9), Alex Jeaven (Grade 10), Jamie van Niekerk (Grade 10), Sakeenah Jaffer (Grade 11, Treasurer) Front row, from left: Amy Kunz (Grade 12), Neo Ramagaga (Grade 12, Chairperson), Ms Brigid Ryan, Kirsten Pienaar (Grade 12, Deputy Chairperson), Emily Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ryan (Grade 12)

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These phrases, which are slung about the corridors of Erinville on a daily basis, might sound peculiar to an unfamiliar ear yet they are only a taste of the rich dialect that the young ladies of Erinville have created over the years. And although Roald Dahl himself would commend our colourful language, it is only a glimpse into the quirky little community that is Erinville Hostel. I have never found greater pleasure in anything than being able to identify as an “Erinville Girl” and it was therefore an honour and an even greater pleasure to be offered the chance to serve the place that has had an immeasurable influence on the young woman I am today. When I first arrived from Johannesburg as a little Grade 8, my idea of life as a boarder was warped because my preconceptions were based purely on the British films I had watched about boarding schools and my mother’s gruesome tales about her boarding-school experience in the rural Free State during the 1980s. But, clichéd as it may sound, all of that changed from the moment I was welcomed inside Erinville Hostel. The Pink Boarding House, as it is so fondly called, is the epitome of a home away from home. I knew that I would never want for anything during my stay at Erinville, and that was just after my first day in Grade 8. After my fifth year of residence, I still stand by that statement. Erinville has been everything to me and so much more. Apart from having automatically garnered a wealth of family members, I was welcomed into an elite ladies’ club, a support system so strong that just reminding myself that I am an Erinville girl can help me out of the darkest of times. What truly makes a home special, however, are the people who reside in it. We have affable house mothers who take care of us so well. I also have 75 sisters who, because there are so many, are able to be everything that I could ever need: fun, understanding, compassionate and astonishingly wise. However, despite all the wonderful people, the house itself is able to offer solace in times of need. The walls that have carried through so many others before me, the pillows that have muffled homesick tears, and the chairs that have seated tired bodies all remind me that many others have experienced the same struggles as I have and they also remind me how privileged I am not to have to go through them alone. I am so appreciative of my fellow Grade 12s as we have come a long way from being the kitchenette-cleaning Grade 8s we were five years ago, to becoming the most efficient group of event planners last year in preparation of Erinville’s annual Fancy Dress. From being troublemakers in Grade 9 to running D-Com like professionals in Grade 11, we have shared numerous experiences over the years and there is no-one else I would have rather shared those experiences with other than my dearest sisters. This year, we have made an even bigger impression on Erinville and I doubt that we will ever be forgotten.

From the Headgirl of Erinville

The job of the headgirl is one that I took on not knowing what to expect. After all, there is no job description as every year brings with it new girls, new challenges and thus new responsibilities. Special mention is due to Samantha McCrindle, my dearest partner in crime, together with whom I was able to lead Erinville courageously and with compassion. We made a formidable team and I am grateful for all that she has taught me. In retrospect, I have found that I learned more from the girls of Erinville House than I was able to give to them. Their high spirits, unity, tenacity and genuine respect for one another are values that will always stay with me.

Neo Ramagaga

“What’s for tea? Is D-Com Open? Do we have enough condense milk for the midi rolls?”

Erinville Prefects

Back row, from left: Hannah Abdoll, Amy Kunz First row, from left: Samantha McCrindle (Deputy Headgirl of Erinville), Ms Pam van Dyk (Superintendent of Erinville), Neo Ramagaga (Headgirl of Erinville), Ms Laura Bekker (Principal), Lwethu Dube

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LEADERS

Ms Evans and I were invited to attend a day’s seminar at Bishops on 7 August. We were inspired by the talks given by Mark Robinson of the BSA in the UK and by Allan Laing from Michaelhouse (KZN). It was especially good to meet our colleagues from so many boarding schools in the Western Cape to swop ideas and to reaffirm that our work in schools really does matter and is, in fact, of the utmost importance. Boarding school offers significant advantages. Our teenage girls all yearn for a degree of independence as they develop their own identities and hostels provide this opportunity. The girls become part of a structure which gradually gives them more and more independence as they mature and grow into hostel life. The girls are given responsibility and respect and build a certain resilience which helps them to face difficult situations and make them positive. They build life-long relationships through shared experiences and friendship. We see evidence of this when Old Girls have reunions and visit Erinville, still with their hostel friends, and regale us with tales of the past amidst much nostalgia and laughter. At Erinville, we try to ensure that the girls are happy, healthy, safe and enjoy life at Rustenburg. We expect that the girls become involved in school activities and make a positive contribution, so that they are ready for the challenges that life has to offer when they leave. Mark Robinson identified four core emotional needs of boarders which I like to think we address with some success, but perhaps our parents and girls should be the judges. These are affection (through words or touch), acknowledgement (through honest praise), acceptance (through a sense of belonging) and approval. Apart from emotional needs our girls also have academic needs which require a structure in which to work, suitable space to work, the internet and peace and quiet. In this regard we are grateful to Mr van Dyk and Ms Weston who supervise prep so well and to Mr Vogts who sees to all our IT needs. Boarders also have moral needs. They learn from how staff members conduct themselves and from the talks we have when they make mistakes. Here Ms Evans, Ms Bakker, Ms Mitchell and Ms Tshona are indispensable.

From the Superintendent of Erinville Ms Pam van Dyk

One of the highlights for me this year was our inclusion in the fairly newly formed Boarding Schools Association of South Africa.

We are always trying to improve our boarding facilities to meet their physical needs of food and shelter. In 2015, we upgraded one of the bathrooms and converted the hostel hot water system to solar. The latter step was well received as it made the boarders feel part of the school’s sustainability efforts. In addition, we upgraded the food serving area in the kitchen. Our new bain marie warmer keeps food nice and hot while the girls are dishing up. Ms van Blerk and her team continued to give of their best to provide us with a variety of tasty, healthy meals. Ms Bakker does excellent work catering for the girls’ social needs. We were able to purchase a mini-bus this year and Ms Bakker took the girls on many outings, namely to the Waterfront, the Creamery, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Cavendish and Canal Walk. Apart from this, she took on different running routes, some on the mountainside and ran an aerobics class in the common room once a week. The Matrics particularly enjoyed the hikes near Rhodes Memorial during their exam-time study breaks. We engaged a past headgirl, Ms Stella Inggs, to run workshops for our Grade 8s on conflict resolution to assist them with uniting as a group of individuals with different backgrounds and needs. I am extremely thankful to live and work in this happy environment and to be part of a team of dedicated staff members. We share our ups and downs but generally this a place of laughter and kindness which can only benefit the girls who come to live with us for a period of their lives.

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They utilised the relative calm and tranquillity of the Thomson Hall to enjoy the traditional breakfast feast of fruit platters and croissants with jam and cheese. That event marked the end of the celebrations for a while, as academic matters were set to come to the fore. The Matric Parents’ Meeting was held the following week and the students were given valuable information on how to survive the year by two girls who had very recently been in the same position as they now found themselves. These were Ellen-Marie Trautmann and Robyn van Bergen who both matriculated from Rustenburg in 2014. These talks were followed by Ms Lovegrove, mother of another 2014 Matric, who told us that the Grade 12 year can be both a positive and enjoyable event, as long as it is approached with a good dose of humour. After these two events, a number of “lasts” were chalked up on the boards in the Matric form classrooms. In Term 1 these included the Inter-house Gala and Forum Discussion, as well as the last Inter-house Plays for the Grade 12s. Caitlin Truter broke the U19 50m breaststroke record in the Inter-house Gala and placed second overall on points in the U19 age-group. Term 2 saw the girls participating in their final Inter-house Cross Country race, where Elle Mouton placed first in the U19 race and fifth overall. In Term 3 many Matrics enjoyed their final performance at the City Hall in Rutter’s Requiem, either as members of the Choir or the Orchestra. We salute the various heads and deputies for their sterling work: Kirsten Pienaar, Hannah Abrahams-Crocker, Emily O’Ryan, Annemieke Lourens, Marianne Schwellnus, Kirsten Buchanan, Stéphanie Lawrenson and Jaime Newdigate. The Matrics of 2015 certainly excelled in cultural affairs. Four Grade 12s, namely Julia Holzberg, Chloë Venter, Amy Kunz and Gillian Williams, acted in the production of “A Murder is Announced” which was staged in August, while René Zinn was the Pupil Producer. Jarita Kassen, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Jaime Newdigate, Kirsten Pienaar and Neo Ramagaga were members of the Forum Discussion team that won the SACEE Forum Discussion competition where Tamsin was adjudged to be the Best Speaker. Tamsin was also voted the Best Speaker in the Provincial Debating competition and was a member of the South African A Team that won the World Schools Debating Championships in Romania. Her team remained undefeated throughout the tournament and met the South African B Team in the finals.

From the HEAD OF GRADE 12 Ms Lorraine Gardiner E1: Ms Lorraine Gardiner E2: Ms Louise Lawrence E3: Ms Zélia Simpson E4: Mr Gian Marneweck E5: Ms Helen Kleynhans

The Matrics of 2015 were welcomed to the whirlwind that would epitomise their year by having their traditional Matric breakfast on the first Friday of Term 1.

There was much excitement amongst the Accounting staff when it was announced that Chelsea Bam and Annie Ou Yang both reached the second round of the SAIPA Accounting Olympiad, the first time that this has been achieved by a Rustenburg student in three years. The English Department joined in the celebrations when they found out that Tamsin Metelerkamp had come third in the country in the English Olympiad. Jemma Charnley, Liezl Cloete, Aaliyah Davids and Tamsin Metelerkamp were successful in each having a piece of writing published in the prestigious “English Alive” annual magazine. Five Matrics excelled in the Afrikaans Olympiad this year by achieving a mark above 80%. These girls were Estine Everson, Rebecca Haines, Marianne Schwellnus, Jessica Smith and René Zinn. A number of girls represented provincial teams in various sporting disciplines this year, namely Samantha McCrindle and Elle Mouton (both Western Province Senior Ladies and U21 Touch Rugby), Ziyanah Fredericks (Western Cape U21 Touch Rugby), Haidee Davis (Western Province U18A Hockey Manager), Megan Denny (Western Province U18 South Zone Hockey) and Michelle Winter (Western Province U18A Hockey and U18 Seals Indoor Hockey). Two girls, Jessica Banks and Megan van Westenbrugge, were included in the Boland Waterpolo team. Caitlin Truter took part in the South African Youth Swimming Championships in Durban in April, where she won a Gold medal in the 50m breaststroke race. Caitlin also entered the Western Province Short-course Championships held in Cape Town in July and succeeded in winning Gold medals in all three of her breaststroke races. Zoë Goslett, Rebecca Haines and Yuh-wen Samantha Ma took part in the gruelling Discovery World Triathlon and finished in a competitive time. Matrics were involved in various activities out of school as well. Carla Scholtz danced in the ballet “Spartacus of Africa” at the Artscape Theatre, while Pauline Shrosbree attained a certificate for a Philosophy course held at UCT. The pinnacle of the year was the Matric Dance held at Kelvin Grove on 26 September. The girls all looked spectacular in their dance dresses and the enchanted evening was enjoyed by all. For the first time parents were invited to view the girls at the school prior to the dance. From the number of guests who arrived, it was the start of a very popular tradition at Rustenburg. The rest of the school was not forgotten as they were able to see the Matrics in all their finery at the Fashion Show, held in the last week of Term 3. The Matrics of 2015 are an exceptional group of young ladies and we wish them every success and joy in the future as they leave Rustenburg to utilise their wings that have been sprouting for some time now! 12 Club Back row, from left: Tamsin Metelerkamp, Marianne Schwellnus, BuhleBemvelo Zimba, Megan Frost, Amy Kunz, Kirsten Pienaar, René Zinn, Jaime Newdigate First row, from left: Lamees Ismail, Claire Denny, Ms Laura Bekker, Neo Ramagaga, Ursula Hardie

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Back row, from left: Abigail Tudge, Samantha Pelteret, Hannah Abdoll, Aaliyah Davids, Julia Darke, Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba, Keabetsoe Nchodu, Kirsten Pienaar, Jemma Charnley Third row, from left: Estine Everson, Liezl Cloete, Georgina Firth, Hannah Nassen, Rebecca Haines, Chelsea van Rensburg, Jaime Newdigate Second row, from left: Neo Ramagaga, Lwethu Dube, Tayla McGregor, Couthar Sakir, Jessica Smith, Isabelle Kratz, Musa Makhoba, Azraa Kannemeyer Front row, from left: Yonela Katsha, Bronwen Barratt, Samantha Ma, Ms Lorraine Gardiner (E1 Form Teacher, Head of Grade 12), Nicola Starke, Mia van Aardt, Aaliyah Vayez

Back row, from left: Thandi Mettler, Katherine Davidson, Macarron Halfpenny, Olivia Bloomer, Amy Kunz, Ashleigh Barnard, Jamie Peisl, ZoĂŤ Goslett, Dominique Nothnagel Third row, from left: Carla Scholtz, Tasneem Bawa, Jessica Houliston, Shannon Sissons, Hannah Luxton, StephanĂŠ Hornsby, Julia Holzberg Second row, from left: Michelle Winter, Ursula Hardie, Fei Susan Wu, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Julie Chandler, Gabriela Munkes, Kirstin Shaw, Santhuri Pillai Front row, from left: Sahaar Takay, Tiana Hansraj, Ms Louise Lawrence (E2 Form Teacher), Qawekazi Bakana, Ms Lorraine Gardiner (Head of Grade 12), Jessica Rackley, Zakiyyah Sablay

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Back row, from left: Bianca Blair, Jenna Wood, Hannah Abrahams-Crocker, Megan van Westenbrugge, Chelsea Bam Forth row, from left: Jemma Ellis, Gillian Williams, Jessica-Lee Meeser, Marianne Schwellnus, Pauline Shrosbree, Tatum Skriker Third row, from left: Kate Clarke, Ilham Manjra, Alexandra Hall, Emily Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ryan, Emily Roberts, Claire Corbishley, Maxine Wilcox Second row, from left: Ashleigh Curtis, Lisa Alberts, Lamees Ismail, Sarah Dalvie, Ashton Sims, Annie Ou Yang, Samantha McCrindle, Catia Dos Reis Front row, from left: Shameez Phillips, Farheen Abdullah, Ms Lorraine Gardiner (Head of Grade 12), Jessica Banks, Ms ZĂŠlia Simpson (E3 Form Teacher), Anika Ebrahim, Saara Kapery

Back row, from left: Shannon Lorimer, Mubeenah Gangraker, Sarah du Toit, Amber Goldberg, Megan Denny, Lauren Hales, Catherine Smith, Christina Franco, Raeesa Mathews, Haidee Davis, Lauren Abbott Third row, from left: Halinka Paarman, Hannah Wilson, Aidan Dette, Ashleigh Joubert, Natalie Davidson, Farheen Mahmood, Tanur Faber Second row, from left: Ziyanah Fredricks, Nabeelah Mahatey, Laura van Rensburg, Ulriche Jantjes, Melissa Barnard, Eden Howard, Jihan Yasin, Zubeida Waggie Front row, from left: Jarita Kassen, Caitlin Luter, Mr Gian Marneweck (E4 Form Teacher), Orissa Ramesar, Ms Lorraine Gardiner (Head of Grade 12), Sumayah Mia, Kauthar Achmat

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Back row, from left: Tayla Anthony, Megan Teubes, Desiree Denner, Megan Frost, Annemieke Lourens, Nuraan Nicholas, Nousheena Ebrahim, Abigail Baker Third row, from left: Jessica Walters, Claire Denny, Zarah Mitchell, Caitlin Truter, Chelsea Samaai, Elle Mouton, Isabella Meyer, René Zinn Second row, from left: Hannah Rush, Azrah Bassier, Hannah Karodia, Revana Pillay, Chloë Venter, Kerry-Ann Couperthwaite, Kirsty Davids, Athraa Fakier First row, from left: Salmah Khan, Kirsten Buchanan, Mrs Helen Kleynhans (E5 Form Teacher), Zahraa Badat, Ms Lorraine Gardiner (Head of Grade 12), Michaela Madurai, Ameena Mhatey

From Rustenburg Junior to Rustenburg High

Back row, from left: Raeesa Mathews, Zoë Goslett, Keabetsoe Nchodu, Hannah Abrahams-Crocker, Julia Darke, Aaliyah Davids, Sarah du Toit, Hannah Nassen Third row, from left: Shannon Sissons, Melissa Barnard, Isabella Meyer, Farheen Mahmood, Jenna Wood, Jessica Houliston, Revana Pillay, Tanur Faber, Jemma Ellis Second row, from left: Hannah Rush, Emily Roberts, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Couthar Sakir, Jessica Smith, Maxine Wilcox, Kirstin Shaw, Bronwen Barratt First row, from left: Shameez Phillips, Aaliyah Vayez, Catia Dos Reis, Musa Makhoba, Ms Laura Bekker (Principal), Zakiyyah Sablay, Ashleigh Curtis, Farheen Abdullah, Anika Ebrahim

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Academic Awards

Life Sciences Practical Work: Jaime Newdigate

Accounting: Rebecca Haines and Emily Roberts

Advanced Programme Mathematics: Rebecca Haines

Afrikaans First Additional Language: Kirsten Pienaar

Mathematics: Rebecca Haines

Afrikaans Progress Cup: Gillian Williams Marietjie le Roux Cup for Excellence in Afrikaans: Marianne Schwellnus and René Zinn

Mathematical Literacy: Caitlin Luter

Certificate for Overall Academic Improvement: Jemma Ellis

Music: Marianne Schwellnus

Consumer Studies: Emily Roberts

Physical Sciences: Rebecca Haines

Consumer Studies (Culinary Skills): Kirsty Davids and Zoë Goslett

Visual Arts: Megan Teubes

Design: Nuraan Nicholas

Visual Arts (Photography): Julia Holzberg

Grade 12 Academic Half Colours

Dramatic Arts: Julia Holzberg

2015 Matric Awards Ceremony

Pricewaterhouse Coopers Book Award (for Accounting and Mathematics): Rebecca Haines and Emily Roberts

Rosenberg Award (for Dedication to Dramatic Arts): René Zinn English Home Language (Naureen Parkes Memorial Prize): Tamsin Metelerkamp English Literature (Adèle Cloete Memorial Prize): Tamsin Metelerkamp French Second Additional Language: mother tongue speaker: Pauline Shrosbree French Second Additional Language: non-mother tongue speaker: Claire Denny Helga van Heerden Cup (for Excellence in French): Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba International Computer Driving Licence: Ursula Hardie Geography: Megan Denny and Elle Mouton Geography Research Prize: Megan Denny, Samantha McCrindle and Jehan Dominique Nothnagel

Tasneem Bawa (re-award), Claire Corbishley (re-award), Sarah Dalvie (re-award), Julia Darke (re-award), Katherine Davidson, Mubeenah Gangraker, Julia Holzberg, Jarita Kassen (re-award), Isabelle Kratz, Amy Kunz, Stéphanie Lawrenson (re-award), Hannah Luxton, Yu-wen Ma, Nabeelah Mahatey (re-award), Farheen Mahmood, Isabella Meyer (re-award), Sumayah Mia (re-award), Nuraan Nicholas (re-award), Neo Ramagaga (re-award), Pauline Shrosbree, Megan van Westenbrugge, Aaliyah Vayez (re-award), Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba (re-award)

Grade 12 Academic Full Colours Farheen Abdullah (re-award), Bronwen Barratt (re-award), Olivia Bloomer (re-award), Kirsten Buchanan (re-award), Jemma Charnley, Claire Denny (re-award), Megan Denny (re-award), Megan Frost, Rebecca Haines (re-award), Lamees Ismail (re-award), Jarita Kassen, Isobelle Kratz, Nabeelah Mahatey, Samantha McCrindle (re-award), Elle Mouton (re-award), Jaime Newdigate (re-award), Kirsten Pienaar (re-award), Santhuri Pillai (re-award), Emily Roberts (re-award), Marianne Schwellnus (re-award), Megan Teubes (re-award), Mia van Aardt, Maxine Wilcox, Fei Susan Wu, René Zinn (re-award)

Sustained Academic Achievement

German Second Additional Language: Kirsten Pienaar

Claire Denny, Megan Denny, Rebecca Haines, Ursula Hardie, Samantha McCrindle, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Kirsten Pienaar, Santhuri Pillai, Emily Roberts, Marianne Schwellnus

History: Tamsin Metelerkamp

Top Academic Positions in Grade 12

Geography Mapwork: Megan Denny

Sybil McGregor History Prize (for Research): Tamsin Metelerkamp isiXhosa First Additional Language: Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba

Marchand Dux Trophy for Outstanding Academic Achievement: Emily Roberts

Life Sciences: Elle Mouton

From Top: Shameez Phillips (Grade 12), Julia Darke (Grade 12), Ulriche Jantjes (Grade 12) RGHS MAGAZINE 2015

Fifth position: Megan Denny Fourth position: Marianne Schwellnus Third position: Rebecca Haines Second position: Kirsten Pienaar

MATRIC

Amy Steyl Award: Ursula Hardie has been an exceptional Art student since Grade 8. Her innovative, passionate and fearless approach to the creative process through reinvention and experimentation has been inspirational to both her peers and teachers. This has made her a highly respected and accomplished art learner. Centenary Cup: The Centenary Cup for all-round excellence in service to the school over five years was awarded to Marianne Schwellnus. During her time at Rustenburg she involved herself in all facets of school life and excelled in many spheres, serving in a number of leadership positions in her Grade 12 year. Apart from being Head Prefect, she was also the Deputy Head of the Music Society, Head of the Afrikaans Society and Head of the Orchestra. Her contributions to the Chamber Choir, Orchestra and Jazz Band have been commendable. She was also a valued member of the First Touch Rugby Team and represented Western Province in the sport.

2015 Matric Special Prizes Alston le Roux Drama Cup: This trophy was donated in 1998 with the request that it be awarded annually at Prize Giving to the pupil, or pupils, who offered the greatest contribution to the development, promotion and service to the theatrical genre at Rustenburg in that particular year. There were two recipients in 2015: Julia Holzberg (Grade 12) and Lauren Pienaar (Grade 11). Julia holds the honour of being one of the few actresses in the history of the school to receive this award twice. Julia’s lead role this year, as the villainous Leticia Black in Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced,” demanded considerable skill to transform from the gracious hostess into a psychotic murderer. Few will forget her unexpected attack, with a pair of scissors, in the final scene.

Dr Moll Honour Prize: The Dr Moll Honour Prize is presented to the girl who has best upheld the traditions of Rustenburg. This is regarded as the most prestigious accolade which the school can bestow. Head Prefect, Marianne Schwellnus, was the recipient. A natural leader who displayed great inner strength and integrity, she had the ability to motivate others and led the school with maturity and optimism. Marianne brought her own warmth, enthusiasm and positivity into the many activities in which she was involved. Her contribution and loyalty to Rustenburg has been sincerely appreciated and she has set a wonderful example for others who follow. Siebrits Eco Action Award: This is for the learner who made environmental awareness an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of the school and in doing so involved the wider community. The first recipients were Jessica Smith and Bianca Blair, who led the Earth Children and Eco Reps with enthusiasm and initiative. They organised the hike and donations to firefighters during the Cape fires. They planned numerous river and beach clean-ups, and arranged the sale of proteas at the Interact tea, the proceeds of which was used in a tree planting project with Bishops. They helped to initiate the recycling bins in the school and turned weekly Eco Rep meetings into environmentally educational and inspirational gatherings. EMV Smit Cup: The EMV Smit CUP is awarded for personal achievement. The recipient for 2015 was Ashton Sims. Ashton maintained her cheerful and positive disposition throughout her school days, while coping with huge obstacles. Excellence in Leadership: This award is given to the Grade 12 learner who has displayed exemplary qualities in her role as a leader in the school. The 2015 recipient was Emily O’Ryan. She excelled in her roles as a Prefect, a member of the RCL, Head of the General Choir and Deputy Head of Interact. Emily showed great initiative and creativity. She had the ability to dissolve tensions in a group and to find solutions to problems. Emily’s leadership was characterised by her positive energy, enthusiasm and the ability to motivate others.

From Top: Macarron Halfpenny (Grade 12), Ursula Hardie (Grade 12) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

Hope Award: Tamsin Meterlerkamp, captain of the Rustenburg Senior Debating team, has made an exceptional contribution to debating at Rustenburg. She represented the Western Cape schools’ team in the National Schools’ tournament at the end of 2014. She was also judged the top debater at this year’s Provincial Championships held at UCT. In addition, she was a member of the Rustenburg team that won the Western Cape SACEE Forum Discussion competition. She was judged best speaker of this competition for the second year in a row. The highlight of her achievements took place this September when she represented the South African A Team that won the World Schools Debating Competition in Romania. Karin Wiese Trophy: Ashton Sims was the recipient of the Karin Wiese trophy. This is awarded to someone who, in the opinion of her peers, has overcome great difficulty with dignity. Kopsch Award: Jarita Kassen, the 2015 Deputy Head of the Debating Society, has been a loyal, committed and enthusiastic debater over the past four years. She has been a member of the Senior Debating Team that has participated in the Rotary League, National Girls’ Schools Festival and Provincial Championships over the past three years. In addition, she was the chairperson of the Rustenburg team that won the Western Cape SACEE Forum Discussion competition this year. Lucia Jacobs Trophy: This is awarded for organisational skills and initiative. Emily O’Ryan was the 2015 recipient for her role in both Interact and the General Choir. Emily could always be relied upon to come up with innovative new ideas and to implement these ideas with enthusiasm and energy. One of her many concepts was to make purple ribbons and to sell them in aid of rape survivors. Marchand Dux Trophy: Emily Roberts was the top academic student of 2015. She achieved an aggregate of over 90% in every term of her Matric year and has been an ‘A’ student since Grade 8. Miller Cranko Award: This was presented to Julia Darke for service to the community. As Head of Interact and a member of the Ignition committee, Julia has been dynamic and organised while remaining true to her kind, compassionate and selfless nature. Julia was the main co-ordinator for the many functions run by Interact over the past year and has been a humble, dedicated leader and an inspiration to the members of her team. Preiss Floating Trophy: The Preiss Floating Trophy was awarded to Neo Ramagaga for her dedication and leadership of Erinville Hostel. Neo was a firm but kind, caring, reliable and honest headgirl of the boarding house and a good role model for her Erinville sisters. Senior de Wet Prize: Kirsten Pienaar, the top scholar in Afrikaans and third in English this year, is a worthy recipient of the prestigious Senior de Wet Prize for a scholar who excels in both her Home and First Additional Languages. Kirsten, who is also able to converse in German with ease, is a linguistic allrounder. She is planning to embark on the study of languages at university next year, with the long-term view of becoming an English teacher.

MATRIC

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

MATRIC DANCE

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

ACADEMIC

At the annual Parents’ Information Evening in Term 1, parents and learners were addressed about the challenges, expectations and trials that lay ahead. Importantly too, it was stressed that personal growth can be accomplished through making the most of one’s opportunities. To this end, it was pleasing to note the active participation of our Grade 11s in a number of diverse activities offered by the school. Term 1 began with two significant highlights that served to create important bonds and group cohesion. Firstly, in a very strongly contested inter-grade race at the Inter-house Swimming Gala, the Grade 11 team beat the other grades. This noteworthy accomplishment certainly created closeness and spirit. Secondly, on 30 March, the Grade 11s embarked on a three-day Leadership Camp (at Witzenberg Game Park) where an opportunity for the improvement of individual leadership skills and grade bonding was created. After three intensive days of physical and problem-solving exercises aimed at incorporating aspects of leadership, the Grade 11s were able to bond effectively. The Grade 11s were academically strong and a number of girls received Academic Colours this year. Special mention needs to be made about our learners who excelled in various Olympiads: Hannah Clayton was placed in the top 100 in the South African Mathematics Olympiad. She also attained a Gold Award for being placed in the top 10 at the UCT Mathematics Olympiad. Hannah, having been selected for the Western Province Senior A Team, also represented South Africa at the PAMO and PAMO-G held in Nigeria. Her excellent accomplishments continued into other subjects as she was also awarded a Gold Certificate for the English Olympiad. Lauren Pienaar was also awarded a Gold Certificate. Walda van der Merwe was ranked first in the Afrikaans Olympiad. Julie Ziegenhardt’s essay, “The Waiting Room”, was selected to be published for “English Alive”, a prestigious anthology of student writing that is nationally recognised.

From the Head of Grade 11 Mr William Haggard D1: Ms Zuleigah Galer D2: Mr William Haggard D3: Ms Amy Heel and Ms Nicky Cooper D4: Ms Jackie Chambers D5: Ms Philippa Colly

In Term 1, Ms Colly and Ms Heel were welcomed to the team. Ms Heel was only able to be with us for one term and in Term 2 we were happy to have Ms Cooper join us. We were able to work and engage very meaningfully with the Grade 11s to facilitate their personal development and to be there as support structures for them.

Rustenburg has produced many talented sportswomen and this year proved to be no exception for Grade 11. Special mention must be made of the following learners who have excelled in various sporting codes: Kristin Bellingan (who represented Western Province at the South African National Championships and was awarded a Senior Gold Medal in the 4x200m Freestyle. Outside of school, Kristin also represented Western Province at South African Nationals, being placed first in Surf Swim.); Alyssa Cummings (Western Province Squash); Ashley Howard and Alina Schönberger (Western Province U16B Waterpolo); Stephanie Scriba, Kiera Maher and Tamarah Pike (U18 South Zone Hockey); Zay-yaan Hamza (U16 Sunbirds Indoor Hockey - December 2014); Talia Botha (Western Province U17B Action Netball); Kristen Naidoo (U18 Barracudas Indoor Hockey); Emma Swart (Western Province Ice Hockey and Figure Skating). With reference to cultural activities, many of the Grade 11 girls excelled in various codes: Lauren Pienaar and Hannah Clayton were selected to attend the Grahamstown Jazz Festival; Kerryn Duff attained a Gold Award at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod; Lauren Pienaar had a lead role as Miss Marple and Catherine Sonnenberg performed as Philippa Haymes for this year’s production, “A Murder Is Announced.” Outside of the school, Megan Kode achieved a Diploma for Modern Dance at the Cape Town Eistedfodd. With regard to leadership, our Grade 11 girls made use of the various leadership structures. An extremely successful RCL ably run by Daariah Arend, Sakeenah Jaffer, Phumzile Konile and Muofhe Tshifularo, was maintained. A number of Grade 11s were placed in-charge of societies and 47 sub-prefects were chosen to take on the role of acquiring leadership skills. As can be seen, this Grade 11 group has been one that has reflected diversity, individual excellence, creativity and independence – all attributes that are fundamental in a changing and transforming society. May they continue in their journey of self-exploration and take habits of excellence into their final year at this school.

Top row, from left: Asiphe Sinari (Grade 11), Daniellé Lund (Grade 11), Hannah Lambe (Grade 11) Second row, from left: Jane Lineveldt (Grade 11), Pasqualle Hefer (Grade 11) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

ACADEMIC

Our first Olympic event was sport. We had a number of water babies in our ranks, including Tristan Jones, who competed for Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club. Natasha van Greunen earned her Western Province Colours for surfing and gave her opponents a hard time in various competitions. Caylan Bromley took part in the Open Water Championships and represented Western Province in the South African Inter-provincial Lifesaving Championships held in Durban this year. What a relief to have so many lifesavers among us! Tasmyn Baxter, Aaliyah Meredith, Tristan Jones and Kayla Budge all played Western Province Waterpolo. Brittany Gouws and Casey Wheeler played Indoor Hockey for the U16 Seals team. Brittany also played in the Western Province U16A Hockey team while Casey represented Western Province in the U16B Hockey team. Bianca Hill participated in Western Province Synchronised Ice Skating, Adrienne Clynick was in the South African Rhythmic Gymnastics team and Séanne van Horsten achieved South African colours for Karate. Just when we thought we had exhausted our sporting talents, Western Province Touch Rugby called on the skills of Angela Mibey, Britney Price and Sarah Virgin. For the cultural section of our Olympics, Stephanie Keyser and Jasmine Wyatt-Minter led with a programme of music that made One Direction look like minnows. They were supported by the dramatic works of Alex Jeaven in “A Murder is Announced.” While Hollywood has Sir Anthony Hopkins, we have Sir Adrian Skelly who helps our Grade 10 stars to shine on stage. No Olympic Games would be complete without an adventure. In April, 11 brave Grade 10s, accompanied by Mr Haggard, embarked on the annual Outward Bound challenge at the George Beck estate outside Robertson. There was excitement (or was it fear?) in the air on the first morning. That was soon replaced with hard work, laughter, sweat, cramping muscles and a lot of bonding. Outward Bound achieved its aim: the young ladies were tough as nails and learnt to work together to achieve their goals. Moreover, the Grade 10 Eco Representatives took on the environment and brought a little green into our classes. The Form Captains motivated fellow learners to knit squares for blankets.

From the Head of Grade 10

Finally, our grade has no shortage of international ambassadors. Imke Mühr was selected to represent South Africa at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan. This opportunity was not just an honour but also a lifechanging experience that Imke will be able to refer to for the rest of her life. Moreover, 23 girls signed up for World Challenge Malaysia where Ms Ryan, Ms Capstick-Dale and Ms Viljoen kept them on the straight and narrow. The two groups worked at a turtle sanctuary on the Perhentian Besar Island off the coast of Malaysia. The girls handled complications with accommodation, transport, bookings, budget, and finding food during Ramadan with aplomb and took responsibility for themselves and other members of the group. The Grade 10s of 2015 have accepted all the challenges they faced and surpassed even their own expectations. There is no question that our girls emulated the Rustenburg High School for Girls vision this year: each can attest to leading courageously, exploring their unique potential confidently and serving the world compassionately.

Ms Anita Marshall C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: C6:

Ms Zargielay Rabeh Mr Graham Reggiori Ms Lindy Waller Ms Anita Marshall Ms Marieta Langenhoven Ms Tessa Brown

Few girls knew, when their 2015 academic year started, that they were actually signing up for the Grade 10 Rustenburg Olympics. We took a break from mopping our brows to round up the highlights package of this eventful year: from academics and culture, to sport and social activities, our girls were really put through their paces. Top row, from left: Daniella Attfield (Grade 10), Holly Hawthorne (Grade 10), Alex Jeaven (Grade 10) Second row, from left: Chloë Allison (Grade 10), Jenna Doveton (Grade 10), Jamie Van Niekerk (Grade 10) Third row, from left: Kelly van Vlaanderen (Grade 10), Razaan Phillips (Grade 10), Saiyuree Sewchuran (Grade 10) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

ACADEMIC

Regardless of this inclination, the Grade 9 class of 2015 took another step on the ladder of education this year. The correct tone for the academic year was set on 11 February when staff, parents and students met for an informative session for the coming year. The prefects were responsible for a most entertaining evening of bonding when they arranged a Recycling Fashion Show on 19 February. The girls staged their version of hip designs and promoted environmental conservation while having fun and much laughter. March proved to be a very busy month for the youngsters. They played a key role in the school’s celebration of Human Rights Day during the assembly on 16 March. Their performance of the song “When I was your man” by Bruno Mars indeed touched the hearts of the audience. In the week leading up to 20 March it was hands on preparation for the annual Market Day. The EMS learners once again did not disappoint and had a wide variety of eats, drinks and handmade gifts for sale. This venture promoted group work as well as good business practices for our future entrepreneurs and was a valuable opportunity to prepare for the teamwork required for the main event on the Grade 9 calendar: the camp at Habonim in Hermanus. On 30 March, 168 excited campers boarded four luxury buses and headed to Hermanus. The weather was good and so was the food, new friendships were formed and leaders emerged during this two day camp. The girls enjoyed bonding during the obstacle courses and reluctantly left Onrus beach when they had to pack their bags for the trip back home. Soon a more serious tone set in with the May/June examinations looming. The Grade 9s were serious about their academics. Proof of this was reflected in the high number of A aggregates that they achieved at the end of the first semester. They also displayed promising talent in other areas.

From the Head of Grade 9 Ms Anita Pretorius B1: Ms Judith Herbig B2: Ms Monika Brandt B3: Ms Stella Rossouw B4: Ms Anita Pretorius B5: Ms Tarin Scharneck B6: Ms Ingrid Weideman

When you are in Grade 9 you are inclined to think:

It is pleasing to note that many Grade 9s were involved in the activities of the Music Department. Many of them entered external examinations and performed at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod. We congratulate them on their excellent performances. We commend Bryony Bosman, Bronwyn Kruger and Lauren Solomon on their participation in the excellent production “A Murder is Announced.” Another achievement on the cultural front was Sarah Grace’s selection as a member of the Junior Western Province Debating Team. A number of Grade 9s achieved good results in the South African Mathematics Olympiad and were to be congratulated on their selection to write the second round. Special mention must be made of the following girls who represented their province in various sporting codes: Natasha Espag (Western Province U15 Touch Rugby), Sarah Firth (U16 South Zone Hockey), Aaliyah Jacobs (Western Province U15 Touch Rugby), Amber Jossie (Western Province U15 Touch Rugby and Western Province Softball), Michaela Hill (Western Province Synchronised Ice Skating), Zarah Philander (Western Province U15 Touch Rugby), Caroline Schreiber (U16 Seals Indoor Hockey and U16 South Zone Hockey), Jacqueline Sissons (U16 South Zone Hockey), Michaela Thomas (Western Province Synchronised Ice Skating), Alice von Zeil (Western Province U15 Touch Rugby) and Courtney Wheeler (U16 Seals Indoor Hockey and U16 South Zone Hockey). We were very proud of their achievements on the sports fields. In retrospect, 2015 was a busy, but successful year for the Grade 9s. We believe that they enjoyed it and will progress to Grade 10 with enthusiasm and excitement as they enter a new phase in their high school careers.

“Adults are sometimes such a bore And your peers are friends to adore They are so clever and cool Yes, much better than parents and school.”

Top row, from left: Bridgette Bauer (Grade 9), Caitlin Powrie (Grade 9), Chloé Kruger (Grade 9) Second row, from left: Fozia Hendricks (Grade 9), Georgia Smith (Grade 9), Lamees Crawley (Grade 9) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

ACADEMIC

The year began in its usual busy style with the Grade 8 orientation programme. The school prefects of 2015 led groups of awe-struck girls around the school, trying to familiarise them with the buildings and hallways before the rush of a full school day. Girls were placed into their form classes and so began to bond with one another from the first day. The first week of school was a short one and packed full of activities. On Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January, a Leaders-in-Action programme was held and three form classes attended on each day. The aim of this course was to allow girls the opportunity to learn through introspection as well as group work and a range of challenging games. Through learning about personal and team leadership, the programme built grade confidence and unity. Following two days of getting to know teachers and meeting new friends, the parents were treated to the same experience at a braai on the evening of Friday 23 January after a thrilling Grade 8 gala. The event was exceptionally well attended, despite the wind, and many parents met each other and some of their daughters’ teachers, all while enjoying the great South African tradition of a braai. The bumper turnout set the tone for the year, during which the partnership between students, parents and teachers was very strong. During the April holiday, the Grade 8 Rondebosch and Rustenburg Bundi camp was held at the Bundi campsite on the banks of the Breede River near Worcester. A group of boys and girls, most of whom had not met before, set out for the two-night adventure and came back solid friends. The adventure camp included a high-ropes obstacle course and rowing on the river. Julia Wilson in A3 said her highlights of the camp were “night walks and stalking the lantern” (a night-time game in which they had to sneak up on the guide holding the torch without being caught.) The group spent a day on the river, stopping for lunch on the banks. Bundi was a great success and most of the girls said they would definitely go on it again, if given the chance.

From the Head of Grade 8 Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale A1: Ms Zaandré Theron and Mr James Hendricks A2: Ms Rebecca Goble A3: Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale A4: Ms Linda Mallon A5: Ms Helene Swanson A6: Ms Norma Caesar

The Grade 8s of 2015 have coped well with all the adjustments that come with beginning high school. New girls can feel daunted by the large campus and prospect of a more intense academic programme, but are also generally excited about the varied extramurals, including many interesting societies.

Sport was also high on the agenda for 2015’s Grade 8 class. Lots of girls involved themselves in team sports and there were many who represented their province in a variety of sporting codes. In the summer months, Erin Harzenberg, Shannon Canter and Daniella Solkow swam in the South African National Level 2 Age Group Championships. Jade Lawson was selected to play for Western Province in the U15 Touch Rugby team. In hockey, Georgia Hill, Ashleigh Noyce, Hannah Schaefer and Shana Daniels were selected to play for the U14 Central Zone team and Ashleigh and Shana also represented the U14 Seals Indoor Hockey team. Alida van der Merwe added depth to the school cricket team and was selected to play for Western Province in the U19 team. Outside of school, Shae-Lee Tzamtzis was selected as a member of the Western Province Horse Riding team. While there were no Western Province representatives for netball this year, the U14A Netball Team won the PGSGU Interschool tournament, which was definitely a feather in Rustenburg’s cap. Erin Hartzenberg also belongs to the Western Province Motorsport Club at Killarney Racecourse where she takes part in the short circuit Honda CBR150 junior races. She is one of only two girls and so she rides with the boys. She is definitely leading this pack courageously! Music has always been an important part of life at Rustenburg and 2015’s Grade 8s proved their talents by being accepted into the prestigious Chamber Choir and Orchestra. New to the Chamber Choir were: Lara Cattermole, Ameryn Peters, Geena Polzin, Kimlyn Smart, Erin Steyn and Erica Whittal, while joining the Orchestra were: Jiyoon Jeon, Jade Lawson, Jessica McLachlan and Mia Salonen. Kimlyn Smart was also selected to play in the percussion ensemble which accompanied the Chamber Choir at the All Girls’ School Choir Festival at St George’s Cathedral in September. Rustenburg musicians enter many eisteddfods throughout the year, and there were some outstanding results from Grade 8s. Achieving Highest Honours at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod in August were Jade Lawson (Romantic/Modern, Saxophone, 14 years) and Ameryn Peters (Romantic/Modern, Clarinet, 12 years). Jiyoon Jeon achieved Diploma at the Tygerberg Eisteddfod. The Grade 8s have not only coped with the year admirably, but shown determination in their academics and tenacity in approaching the challenges that high school had to throw at them. They will be watched carefully as they move through the school as great things can be expected of the Grade 8s of 2015 in the future.

Top row, from left: Abigail Reck (Grade 8), Ana van Straten (Grade 8), Erin Mamacos (Grade 8), Jade Benton (Grade 8) Second row, from left: Jessica Ng (Grade 8), Maia Duffus (Grade 8), Rebecca Kew-Simpson (Grade 10), Simthandile Witbooi (Grade 8) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

ACADEMIC

Each step taken leads us closer to the ultimate goal of communicating in multiple languages eloquently, and of engaging critically in both written and verbal mediums. Language plays an important role in life as it allows us to articulate and understand subtle nuances of information. Knowledge of languages therefore assists us in navigating a world bombarded by information. Henry Hazlitt expresses this well in “Thinking as a Science” when he writes, “A man with a scant vocabulary will almost certainly be a weak thinker. The richer and more copious one’s vocabulary and the greater one’s awareness of fine distinctions and subtle nuances of meaning, the more fertile and precise is likely to be one’s thinking. Knowledge of things and knowledge of the words for them grow together. If you do not know the words, you can hardly know the thing.” It is well known that the Rustenburg community embraces different cultures and languages. Our school appreciates the importance of diversity and boasts a variety of outstanding language departments run by a diverse group of talented, creative and inspiring teachers who are passionate about their subjects and the learners. These teachers understand the benefits of being multilingual: improved problem solving, multi-tasking ability, critical thinking, decision-making ability and cultural awareness. These skills will equip learners to gain a competitive advantage in whatever workplace they will eventually enter.

English 2015 started off on an exceptionally high and happy note for the English Department. The English results of the 2014 matriculants had set an all-time high for Rustenburg (94 distinctions and an average of 80,5%) and had given the teachers wings, without the aid of any Red Bull! It indeed proved to be a busy and industrious year for this department and, at the time of writing, there was promise of more good things to come. During the notoriously busy first term, most of the English teachers and matriculants took time out to spend an evening under the stars at Maynardville, where the offering of the year was “Othello”, the Matric setwork. The production was excellent and it was wonderful for the girls to see a Shakespeare play as it was intended by the Bard himself – on a stage and in the open air.

Faculty of Languages Faculty Head: Ms Helene Swanson Subject Heads: Ms Stella Rossouw (Afrikaans), Ms Gail Wallace (English), Mme Dominique Williams (French), Ms Renée Fourie (German), Ms Monelwa Mboma (isiXhosa)

This is an age where instant gratification is the norm and where rapidly advancing technologies enable any information required to be instantly at the learner’s fingertips. In this world, however, our senses become bombarded and we struggle to process the mass of information available. In contrast to this rapid-paced lifestyle, gratification becomes an exciting and revealing process when we discover and explore languages at our own pace.

Also during this busy time, the girls who had entered the 2015 English Olympiad were hard at work preparing for the three-hour exam that lay ahead. When the results finally arrived, we were delighted to find out that Tamsin Metelerkamp had placed third in South Africa, beating thousands of other entrants to this position, and that two Grade 11 girls – Hannah Clayton and Lauren Pienaar – had been awarded Gold certificates, placing them in the top 100 of 2015. At the start of the second term, on Shakespeare’s possible birthday, our Battle of the Books team, ably led by Amy Long, took up arms against nineteen teams of super-keen readers from different schools. The battle raged on in the dark, courtesy of load-shedding, but the girls were valiant and ended up tying for eighth position, alongside Wynberg Boys’ High School. The successful streak continued into the third term, when Rustenburg heard that five of its learners had had writing chosen for the prestigious annual book of the best student writing in South Africa, “English Alive.” The launch of this 2015 edition took place at Rustenburg at the beginning of September. It was an inspiring evening, hosted between the Media Centre and the foyer of the Kemp Hall, where the Bon Appetit girls added to the festivities of the evening.

Afrikaans This was an eventful year for the Afrikaans Department. Ms Stella Rossouw took over from Ms Norma Caesar as Subject Head and we welcomed Ms Judith Herbig to the Afrikaans team to teach Grades 8, 9 and 10. The positive outlook and hard work displayed, by both learners and teachers alike, have reaped rewards. In 2014, 41% of the Matric girls achieved more than 80% for their final Afrikaans First Additional Language examination, with a 75,81% grade average. Of the 145 girls who wrote the Afrikaans examination, 12 achieved more than 90%. They were Shannen Beukes, Emma Bergh, Tanri De Lange, Caitlin Grüning, Nuzhah Jacobs, Amy Ledwidge, Zakiya Mia, Yusra Modack, Anja Mühr, Riancha Schoombie, Ellen-Marie Trautman and Yi-Tin Yuan. This was an excellent result and the bar was set at a high level for the 2015 Grade 12s. We were proud that Rustenburg’s Afrikaans Department once again received the coveted award for Best Public School: Afrikaans First Additional Language in the Western Cape. The teachers of the Afrikaans Department take pride in their efforts and always strive to stay informed at the highest level. Ms Caesar and Ms Rossouw attended a workshop hosted by the WCED on the presenting ‘the drama’ as a genre to learners. The Afrikaans First Additional Language girls participated in a variety of competitions. A number of girls passed the extremely challenging Taalbond Examination in Bilingualism. 33 Grade 10, 11 and 12 girls participated in the Afrikaans First Additional Language Senior Olympiad. Walda van der Merwe came first in the Western Cape, with 93,85%, earning prize money of R600. Shafeeqah Modack secured a 19th position in the Western Cape. Katrin van der Merwe and Lerato Ntsime represented Rustenburg at the regional trials for the ATKV Spelathon. The junior classes had the privilege of attending a lecture by two Afrikaans writers, Alet Steenkamp and Nerine Ahlers. Both writers are particularly well- known for writing the SSS-series which is written in Afrikaans in such a way that English-speaking teenagers are easily able to understand. Both speakers emphasised the value of reading RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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in order to enhance critical thinking and emotional intelligence. The Afrikaans Department is going from strength to strength. It is only through diligence and a shared vision that it has been able to produce so many highlights and achievements this year.

isiXhosa At Rustenburg isiXhosa is offered as a First Additional Language and a Second Additional Language. First Additional Language is designed for those who already have the ability to speak the language and Second Additional Language is designed for non-mother tongue speakers to raise their level of understanding, writing and reading skills. An interesting and challenging development in this department, however, is the increase in the number of learners taking isiXhosa as First Additional Language who are non-mother tongue speakers. These learners have developed an interest in the language and want to learn more about it. By doing this, the girls are empowering themselves in our multi-cultural society and are being introduced to a different culture. This is also proved by the large number of girls who have joined the Jabulani Society which is a Xhosa society. The society has moved from being only for those learners taking isiXhosa as a subject and is now very popular with the school at large. It communicates history, culture, tradition and humanity through cross-cultural experiences and values. It promotes cultural diversity by allowing the girls to showcase their talents in the form of singing, dancing, poetry and other art forms. The isiXhosa Department not only encourages girls to understand one another as they all come from different cultural backgrounds in South Africa, but also raises awareness of African cultures which have played a vital role in South Africa’s heritage. We do this by allowing learners to research other cultures and tell stories from them so that they can learn more about different traditions, thus engendering understanding and respect. Two highlights of the year were our annual isiXhosa Assembly and the Jabulani evening. The annual isiXhosa Assembly event was a success as usual. The theme for this year was embracing the different cultures we have in the isiXhosa Department. Girls showcased fashionable attire from isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, isiNdebele and Swahili cultures. Another highlight of the year was the Jabulani Evening held on 8 May, where we had a guest MC, Samantha ‘Sammy Sosa’ Lehoko, a Rustenburg Old Girl (E2009), who is a Metro FM DJ, Vuzu TV and Channel O presenter. Another Old Girl, Rolivhuwa Madima (E2013), who designed the outfit for the MC, also attended. Once again this was a great year for the isiXhosa Department. Maz’enethole!

German “It is becoming ever clearer to parents, how important German as qualification is for the career path of their children. I often hear that German is the key to success.” Teacher in Rome (translated from “German Businesses, a bridge between Economics and German Teaching” – Goethe Institute) There has been a welcome increase in the number of learners taking German and continuing to Grade 12. The results from 2014 again reflected a high standard in the NSC examinations. The spoken German of the senior girls is excellent. In Grades 8 and 9 one focuses on vocabulary acquisition, pronunciation and simple rules of grammar so that one can use these to conduct a basic conversation. Role-play is an important tool in using these, hence our creating situations for ordering in a restaurant (Grade 9), having tea with friends (Grade 8), shopping or discussing the cuisine of German speaking countries and then trying to make a German cake or tart (Grade 10). By the FET phase, learners apply their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to more advanced levels of writing, comprehending spoken and written German and writing in narrative, discursive and informal tasks. The German literature reflects the cultural history and German daily life, past and present. To this end the visit to the Holocaust Centre (Grade 11) gave them background understanding to certain German poems, texts and literature. The girls who visit Germany with the FSA-Youth Exchange get firsthand experience of daily life and come back with enriched fluency and understanding, as did Emily O’Ryan (Grade 12), Adrienne Clynick (Grade 10) and Emily Malherbe (Grade 10). At the national conference of German teachers and lecturers, the Goethe Institute and the German academic exchange service (DAAD) discussed, with German businesses in South Africa, the connection between learners of German and increased work opportunities in South Africa and the mutual advantage to all parties. The German Second Additional Language Grade 12s of 2015 embraced their ability to take German further in whichever career they pursue and saw the benefits of regular discussions and role-plays, literature and writing to enhance these skills.

French The French class of 2014 produced some exceptional results in the NSC examination with an average of 78,4% and seven out of 13 candidates achieving above 80%. In 2015, once again, a huge number of girls chose to take French at Grade 8 level and many girls decided to carry on with the subject in Grade 10 and present it as one of their seven subjects for Matric. We therefore offered two French classes in Grade 10 this year. With some 250 learners, a qualified ‘French Mademoiselle’, Ms Blanc-Marquis was recruited to assist with the juniors. No doubt this will enhance an already very popular department at Rustenburg. The Grade 8s and 9s enjoy being empowered with a new language and appreciate interactive lessons in which they can use what they hear. The Grade 10s, having chosen to carry on with French, tackled poetry and articles from newspapers and magazines for the first time, all done in a very interactive and communicative way and they thoroughly enjoyed this new challenge. The Grade 11s moved up a gear as the final Matric examination looms in the background. This was the year to consolidate the foundations and plug the holes in grammar. We also took part in a cross-curriculum outing with the History and German girls and went on a visit to the Holocaust Centre. The Grade 12s’ five years of French culminated in the annual French dinner in June. As it was a class of 27, we had food galore, with many dishes on the menu. The snails made by Madame Williams were a must-try and the evening was filled with great joie de vivre, laughter and camaraderie. “Celui qui n’a pas déjeuné à la française avec des amis n’a pas vécu.” (“He who has not had a true French dinner with friends has not lived.”)

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National English Olympiad Success

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We welcomed four new teachers into this faculty this year and they all successfully completed their first year of teaching. Ms Brown taught Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy, Ms Goble taught Natural Science and Life Sciences and Ms Viljoen taught Natural Science, Mathematics and Technology. Ms Colly taught Mathematics and Mr Hendricks took Ms Theron’s place twice as Ms Theron was selected to be part of the South African women’s rugby sevens team. Jedidiah Waller was born on 24 March to Ms Waller and her husband, Pete. While she was on accouchement leave Mr Shapiro taught her classes. The girls enjoyed his teaching and the wise words that he read to his form class. Another exciting development was that Ms Colly married Luke Kannemeyer during the June holidays. Ms Waller decided that she would rather be a full-time mother and so we were sad to say goodbye to her at the end of the year. She had been at the school for seven years. Besides her teaching, she helped with tennis, cricket and waterpolo and the Matric dance. She has also been very involved with Ignition. She made herself available for extra Mathematics lessons in the afternoons. We will miss her friendliness and no-nonsense approach to teaching. It was with real sadness that we said goodbye to Ms Kleynhans who retired at the end of the year. Ms Kleynhans started at Rustenburg in 2004. She has been an excellent Mathematics teacher, ending her career as Head of Mathematics. She was also the Grade Head for Grade 12 for two years. Over the years she has been involved in the Running Club, cross-country, tennis, hockey as well as being available for extra Mathematics in the afternoons. She helped with setting up the school timetable for the past seven years. Ms Kleynhans has the special ability of doing a job well without any fuss. She has a passion for mountain climbing and we wish her many mountaineering adventures in the next phase of her life.

Geography Geography is probably one of the most relevant subjects of all. Future-focused and dynamic, it encompasses elements of Natural and Life Sciences, History, Economics and Mathematics. It gives us the tools to look at the world from different perspectives. We study a variety of concepts such as globalisation, development, population trends, urbanisation, climatology and sustainable development.

Faculty of of Sciences and

Mathematics Faculty Head: Ms Bridget Cameron Subject Heads: Ms Helen Kleynhans (Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy), Mr Graham Reggiori (Physical Sciences), Ms Zargielay Rabeh (Life Sciences), Ms Monika Brandt (Natural Sciences), Ms Brigid Ryan (Geography)

This has been a year of comings and goings in the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics.

One of the strengths of Geography is that it is an ever-evolving subject. Our department has been a good example of this with a lot of variety and movement during this year. Ms Theron was invited to join the Springbok Women’s Sevens Rugby team. Mr Hendricks, who is married to one of our old girls, Helen Davies, and who has a Masters in Environmental Management, filled in for her. Ms Schnetler attended an International Principals’ Conference in Finland in August and Mr Fynn, former headmaster of our neighbouring school, St Joseph’s, came in to take her classes. His experience and enthusiasm for the subject were infectious and inspiring. Our 2014 matriculants performed very well, with 33 of the girls getting over 80% for Geography. Our top student, Ellen-Marie Trautmann, achieved 97% and was closely followed by Kate James, Sarah Shamley, Sameena Allie and Dominique McFall. We enjoyed our usual fieldtrips to Cape Point with the Grade 11s and around the Cape Peninsula with the Grade 10s. These were both wonderful opportunities to observe our classroom theory out in the real world, where we could study the influence of rock structure on the landscape and the influence of the landscape on man’s use of the space. As part of an assessment, the Grade 9s were asked to take selfies that represented their understanding of the definition of Geography. The girls produced some lovely pictures illustrating the interconnectedness between man and the environment.

Physical Sciences The 2014 Matric class excelled in the National Senior Certificate Examinations. They achieved a class average of 66%, with 18 of them obtaining over 80%. Ms Behne, Ms Brandt and Mr Reggiori formed a dynamic and experienced teaching team. Ms Behne joined the Physical Science team this year (formerly teaching Mathematics only) which meant class sizes could be kept small to make the teaching and learning experience more meaningful. Dr Kohler joined the team as a student teacher and was of great assistance. Our laboratory assistant, Ms Young, spent many hours setting up practical investigations and experiments. The Rustenburg Mintek quiz team excelled achieving an overall fifth place in this prestigious Physical Sciences competition. The demand to do Physical Science as a Grade 10 subject at Rustenburg is high. As a result we have had four classes per grade and we are trying our best to keep class sizes smaller to create an effective learning environment. The Physical Sciences curriculum is becoming more relevant and interesting with the inclusion of chemical systems. Many pupils enjoy the subject and contribute in class. They are encouraged to consider a career in the Pure Sciences.

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NATURAL Sciences The Natural Sciences department focused on bringing engineering to life with hands-on workshops. The aim of these workshops was to expose our learners to engineering, and more especially, to show them that girls can do engineering too! The first workshop was a six-week academy course during which 10 Grade 9 learners went to Rondebosch Boys’ High School once a week to learn how to program different types of robots. The girls enjoyed it immensely and many of them want to continue with Physical Sciences so that they keep engineering as a possibility for their tertiary education. The second workshop was aimed at the entire grade. Each class went to the Kemp Hall where they had an interactive, fun and educational experience with engineering and robots.

Life Sciences At the start of the year the Life Sciences Department welcomed the arrival of Ms Goble, who brought a fresh approach to the teaching of Life Sciences. The Grade 12 learners found their syllabus to be really stimulating. Through learning about DNA fingerprinting and blood types they were finally able to make sense of the many television series such as “CSI” and “Criminal Minds”. During Term 2 the girls attended a talk given by a Rustenburg parent, Dr Philip Zinn, on the female reproductive system which focused on the menstrual cycle. The talk gave learners the opportunity to discuss health issues, understand misconceptions and gain clarity on some aspects of the syllabus. The Grade 11 learners embarked on an outing to the Tygerberg Medical Museum. They attended various sessions in which they learned about the human skeleton, different diseases, anatomy and the preparation of cadavers. Medical staff entertained learners with stories of how to tell the difference between skeletons of different ethnic backgrounds and male and female skeletons. Learners were given the opportunity to see cadavers and examine organs. The outing served as a valuable opportunity to let young minds see the harmful effects of drugs and smoke on organs. The outing made learners gain an appreciation for the human body and also created awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy body. The Grade 10 learners found the year quite challenging with the change from Grade 9 Natural Sciences to focusing on Life Sciences as a specialised field. Learners were able to test common household substances for the presence of starch, glucose and lipids. During some of their lessons they were able to see images from the Body Worlds exhibition and discover how ecosystems in the ocean work using a David Attenborough documentary series. A group of five learners also attended a Genetics workshop at the UCT Medical School which included simulation of a CSI crime scene, creating a DNA fingerprint and learning about the various career opportunities which relate to Genetics. The aim of Life Sciences is to create critical thinking, an enquiring mind and a respect for the world in which we live.

Mathematics This year started on a high note with the announcement of the results of the Matrics of 2014. Ellen-Marie Trautmann’s 100% and Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan’s 99% were reason for celebration, as were the many excellent results of the rest of their grade. The second week in March was a very mathematical one for Rustenburg. On Thursday the whole school, except girls taking Mathematical Literacy, wrote the Mathematics Olympiad and Friday was Pi Day (14 March – 3.14!). Time spent on practice papers in the week before the Olympiad and writing the paper itself was a valuable exercise for every girl as the problems required some out-of-the-box thinking. Hannah Clayton, Sarah Grace and Jiyoon Jeon progressed to the very difficult third round. Pi Day was celebrated by enjoying circular food in class and various activities involving Pi. The Grade 12s sang the Pi Song on the lawn outside the Kemp Hall at the end of the day, which became a tradition in recent years. UCT was buzzing on the evening of 16 April when 75 Rustenburg girls joined 7613 others from 169 schools at the UCT Mathematics competition. 25 took part as individuals and 50 worked in pairs. Most of our Mathematics staff attended as well, helping to register Grade 8s. It was an experience not to be missed! Jiyoon Jeon, Elizabeth Stevenson, Younsun Choi, Hannah Clayton and Rebecca Haines were among the top achievers who were subsequently invited to take part in the UCT Invitational Mathematics Challenge. At the prize giving function on 21 May, Jiyoon and Hannah received Gold awards. Jiyoon was third in Grade 8 and Hannah ninth in Grade 11. Rustenburg also received 30 Merit awards. Hannah Clayton was a member of the South African team that travelled to Nigeria to participate in the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad in August. Team South Africa won one gold, one silver and four bronze medals and was placed second behind the Nigerian team. Hannah received a bronze medal. She also received a silver medal and was placed third in the PAMO-G competition for girls. Mathematics Olympiads tend to be dominated by boys, hence the introduction of PAMO-G. These are wonderful achievements and we are very proud of Hannah. On a lighter note, 20 girls, in teams of four, took part in the Wynberg Boys’ High School Mathematics Challenge evening in August. The WBHS school hall was packed with teams from schools across the Peninsula. The noise levels rose and the juice and doughnut break was much appreciated. We are grateful to WBHS for arranging competitions such as these that show that Mathematics can be fun and sociable too. The extra help afternoons were expanded to four times a week so that there is a teacher available to offer assistance when needed. Ms Cameron continued to take the IEB Advanced Programme Mathematics classes in the early mornings for Grades 11 and 12.

Mathematical Literacy The class of 2014 excelled by achieving an average of 82%. Katy Chan was the top learner with 99%. “But can you do your taxes?” the notice on the door of the Mathematical Literacy classroom asks everyone who passes by. Girls taking Mathematical Literacy learn skills that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives. The smaller classes allow for a more creative learning environment in and outside of the classroom, such as collecting data from our very own veggie garden on campus, measuring the school fields with our bodies and putting together a measurement DIY booklet inspired by the class favourite, Suzelle. Investigating the practical effects of load-shedding; computing the trends of our city’s rainfall patterns; holding rap battles to learn about elapsed time and time calculations are also some of the interesting topics that have been covered. The star representative for Mathematical Literacy this year was Tanur Faber, in Grade 12, who showed the school what the subject is really all about when she went on to win the competition for estimating almost the exact number of sweets in a jar. All the other guesses paled in comparison to her accuracy and she did us proud!

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Faculty members leaving

New Faculty members

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The faculty is productive and energetic, and the learners are extremely privileged to be taught by such a creative and committed group of teachers. The time and care that goes into lessons is evidence of their professionalism. Kathryn Patricia Cross, a scholar of educational research, said, “The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate ‘apparently ordinary’ people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people.” I believe that this faculty makes winners out of ordinary people.

ACCOUNTING AND EMS Top Accounting learners in the Western Cape are invited to spend a day with Chartered Acountants at Deloitte’s offices in Cape Town. This year, five Grade 12 and four Grade 11 Accounting learners participated in the Deloitte Young Executive Programme. The Auditors’ course included a debate about South Africa’s economy, a simulation entrepreneurship game to improve and develop a failing business, and a social media challenge. Sasha Marais (Grade 11) and her team achieved the overall highest points, with Tahira Abrahams (Grade 11) and her team placing first and Musa Makoba (Grade 12) and her team second for the simulation. This year we again invited a Financial Accounting student, Ms Shahmeen Galer, to present company analysis and interpretation to our learners. The purpose of this presentation was to extend our learners’ knowledge in completing their project on Analysis of Published Financial Statements and Audit Reports, and to inspire our Grade 12 Accounting learners to consider Chartered Accountancy as a future career option. The learners particularly appreciated her many references to actual companies and current economic challenges in our country.

Faculty of Business and Life Skills Faculty Head: Ms Linda Mallon Subject Heads: Ms Zuleigah Galer (Accounting), Ms Anita Marshall (Consumer Studies and Technology), Mr Gian Marneweck (Economic Management Sciences), Ms Janine Myers (ICDL), Ms Perdita Norval (Life Orientation)

The Business and Life Skills Faculty continues to add value to learners of this school, empowering them with key skills and allowing them to understand and apply real-life scenarios.

Participation in Accounting Olympiads is intended to challenge the top Accounting learners and to promote careers in the Accounting field, particularly Chartered Accounting. Learners participated in the SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants) and in the SAIPA (South African Institute of Professional Accountants) Olympiads and wrote both these exams at school. Annie Ou Yang and Chelsea Bam in Grade 12 advanced to the second round of the National SAIPA Olympiad. Our top Accounting learners also participated in the annual Spine Road High School Accounting Olympiad in Mitchells Plain. Four Grade 12 learners competed against 27 other schools, answering many challenging Grade 12 Accounting multiple choice questions, and attained 10th place. Grade 10 Accounting learners embarked on their annual excursion to Grabouw, to extend their knowledge of cost accounting, and to experience first-hand the processes in the manufacturing sector. Their tour included visiting various manufacturing businesses in the Elgin and Grabouw region (vineyards, factories and orchards) and they appreciated the valuable information provided by tour guides Mr Bert Towen and Ms Norma Bridgman (an Old Girl). Mr Marneweck and Ms Galer made significant contributions towards the publication of a Grade 9 CAPScompliant Accounting Text/Workbook. Our Grade 9 learners were the first to use the book this year. The aim of the book is to prepare Grade 9 learners adequately for Grade 10 Accounting, to promote Grade 10 Accounting as a possible subject choice and to inspire learners to study Financial and Chartered Accounting at tertiary level. The Grade 8 version is a work in progress. In EMS, we give the learners in Grades 8 and 9 an overview of the economy, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. We place a special emphasis on preparing the learners who will be taking Accounting in Grade 10 with a solid foundation. Every year we look forward to the Grade 9 Market Day which takes place in March. A lot of time is spent in class learning about marketing, drawing up business plans and deciding what to sell. Mr Alex McLeod from Kreate School of Entrepreneurship was our guest speaker and his message to the Grade 9s was that to be an entrepreneur takes courage, perseverance and hard work, but that the rewards are well worth it. Three teams were entered into the JSE Investment Challenge, which allows school learners to learn more about the workings of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange, without the risk of losing any real money. It encourages learners, in our case young women, to enter the world of finance when they leave school. A special emphasis is placed on money management skills, the importance of personal financial planning and understanding the benefits and risks involved in using credit facilities, such as credit cards and loans, to maximise wealth creation. This will ensure that our learners will be well-prepared for the adult world when they leave school.

Life Orientation Ms Goble joined the Life Orientation Department to teach Physical Education to Grades 8 and 9 this year and brought a fresh enthusiasm with her. We also had Mr Hendricks in the department this year at certain times when Ms Theron was away. We appreciated his contribution. Highlights of the year include the Grade 8 Create a Garden project with input from the ground staff, Mr Siebrits and Ms Chambers; this project formed part of the school’s Eco-awareness programme and incorporates the grade’s Healthy Lifestyle curriculum theme in a practical, exciting way. Grade 9 learners focused on FET subject choices, while the Grade 10 learners benefited greatly from doing RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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their community service. Grade 11s were able to become involved in various job shadow opportunities, including faculty-specific open days run by the universities. They also attended open days at law firms and hospitals, and were part of Women in Engineering, a programme arranged by Stellenbosch University among others. Grade 12 learners had interesting speakers from tertiary institutions such as UCT, CPUT and Vega, and learned of an exciting local initiative run by Old Girl Ms Jen van Heerden called Year Beyond, which is a tutoring gap year done in Cape Town. There were additional lunchtime speakers to add to the girls’ knowledge and awareness of career development: Dr Laura Comrie, an Old Girl, spoke about her career as a GP and then as a psychiatrist. In June 2015, the Career Expo held on the Rustenburg campus involved 40 institutions displaying their courses. These courses illustrated the significance of Life Orientation, because they endorsed the broad scope of the subject, which covers personal development, social and environmental issues, health, human rights, physical education and study skills. Life Orientation empowers pupils to make informed decisions and meaningful choices in all aspects of their lives as teenagers and as adults.

Consumer Studies and Technology The best feedback any Consumer Studies teacher can get from Old Girls who come back to greet us again, must be: “We use what we were taught in Consumer Studies every day of our lives,” or, “I am doing a degree in Humanities, Commerce, Marketing or Teaching and I am using and building on the content we covered in Consumer Studies in so many of my subjects.” This is one of the reasons Consumer Studies teachers get up in the morning to do what they have done so many times before, again and again. The discussion about the Banting Diet is still going strong. “That Sugar Film” is reinforcing what Banting has started and learners are checking the sugar content of food with enthusiasm. They are beginning to understand the trickery that the food companies have used over so many years. Exposing this gets our learners involved in investigating the information out there rather than taking it for granted that all is well. In the process, it is preparing the learners for a different life from that of the generations before them, where many followed trends because everybody else did, where we trusted low fat and no fat, and took it for granted that if fat was out of the food, then it was a healthy option. We are working on breeding a culture of curiosity amongst our learners. We encourage them to listen to the news, to read about new developments and to question opinions. We highlight the importance of being informed and in control of one’s own finances, health, and decisions, rather than allowing the media, the producers or marketers, or the Kardashians, to remove personal control. Informed learners are less likely to fall prey to media propaganda. We are more determined than before to enforce the importance of resource conservation in our teaching. We are lucky that examples of bad management of these resources are being written about every day. We use these examples to show the relevance of our subject. We do believe that we send out learners who are better informed to take a stand and who do care about the consequences of their consumer actions on the world around them. Even though Technology is not the forerunner for Consumer Studies, the same values are being enforced in these classes. We have exposed our learners to the horrors of the abuse of our oceans and we introduce them to the solutions that are out there. We have shown them the intrigue of the battle between the inventors of DC and AC power and allowed them to solve the restrictions of RDP housing. Grade 8 and 9 learners are now able to do some outstanding perspective drawings. It was a bit of a challenge but once they understood the rules, they managed the process successfully. Grade 9 learners were taught why an ABS break system is so highly rated, and are able to recite the safety measures to apply when changing a wheel. Another year has passed and another 500 learners have had the benefit of learning in the two well-equipped Consumer Studies rooms. We are excited about new challenges and possibilities in 2016.

International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) In May, our ICDL Department was honoured by a visit from the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charles Flanagan, and a delegation from Enterprise Ireland, including some representatives from ICDL South Africa. The objective of the visit was to highlight the activities and achievements of the ICDL Foundation in Africa. Rustenburg was selected to showcase how the ICDL programme has been successfully implemented in schools in South Africa. ICDL has a rich history with the Irish. It was in Dublin, Ireland where the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) Foundation was first established in 1997. When ECDL was introduced outside Europe, the certification became known as ICDL. The ECDL Foundation is the certifying authority of the ICDL certification programme. Through this visit, Rustenburg was acknowledged as a flagship school, demonstrating how technology can empower young girls; this definitely shows in our learners’ confident use of technology, as well as in what they manage to achieve in tertiary education and in the workplace.

Visit from Irish Minister The Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charlie Flanagan, and a delegation from Enterprise Ireland and representatives from ICDL South Africa visited Rustenburg High School for Girls on 29 May. We showcased how the ICDL programme has been successfully implemented.

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Nagy identifies important factors associated with increased creativity: deliberately breaking patterns and not falling into routines, being receptive to the unfamiliar, travelling and exploring new environments, physical movement, and taking sufficient naps! Furthermore “a whopping 35% of respondents also said that the most important quality in a creative person is a willingness to kill ideas they love.” These are the challenges which face teachers within the Faculty of the Arts. It falls to them to inspire and to promote unconventional thinking. Creative teachers support learners individually in the development of multiple ideas. These original suggestions then are reconsidered and refined before, after a good sleep (it must be assumed), many are discarded. What a precarious, emotional, sensitive and intimate process creativity actually is! Joining the promotion of creativity this year was Ms Cooper, who replaced Ms Karen Cronje as the teacherin-charge of Photography within the Visual Arts and Design Department. Ms Cooper’s own talent as a photographer and specialist teacher deeply inspired the learners of one of the fastest growing subjects at Rustenburg. She impressed all with her unflappable approach and warm personality. The school welcomed friendly Ms Leonie Oram in the History department during Term 1 while Mr van Dyk was on leave. Our Head of History returned refreshed, with even more energy and enthusiasm than is already associated with his personality. The intense creativity of Ms Dernier, a stalwart of the Music Department, unfortunately cannot be captured within the confines of this section. A proper and fitting tribute to this Rustenburg legend, who retired at the end of 2015, is featured on pages 63 and 64.

Dance The Grade 8 and 9 Dance Workshops have accommodated the curriculum requirements for the subject, but have also catered to the creative freedom of teaching dance in a lively environment with outstanding facilitators. Mr Elvis Sebeko, from Jazzart Dance Theatre, returned for his second year as one of the coordinators. Once again he proved to be a superb teacher in all genres of dance. Both grades were taught traditional dances, namely gumboot and uMzanzi, an indigenous Zulu style. Mr Sebeko also supervised contemporary and conditioning classes.

Faculty of the Arts Faculty Head: Mr Adrian Skelly Subject Heads: Ms Roxy Levy (Dance), Mr Adrian Skelly (Dramatic Arts), Mr Cedric van Dyk (History), Ms Elizabeth Sole (Music), Ms Jackie Chambers (Visual Arts and Design)

Recent academic studies prove that creativity can be taught. Previously it was assumed that creativity was an innate ability, a kind of gift bestowed incidentally at birth. The research of Evie Nagy (2014) now reveals that creativity is a skill which can be nurtured.

In Term 3 the dancers were privileged to receive mentorship from three talented dancers from the Netherlands, who also taught a fusion of hip hop and contemporary dance. Ms Caely-Jo Levy visited to instruct in musical theatre, specifically a piece from “Hairspray.” Her energy soon seemed to rub off on the learners. Jazzart performers also shared their skills by running a seminar. In all workshops learners were involved in developing their own dance compositions inspired by various stimuli. The DVD of “Revelations” by the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, which dealt with themes of suppression and oppression, served as a springboard for the Grade 9 dancers to develop original choreography. The girls, many of whom have little formal dance training, produced highly innovative and dynamic work. Safe dance practice was emphasised during each class. This includes: warming up and cooling down the body, developing fitness in order to prevent injuries, and dance techniques to understand posture, alignment and core stability. Learners were given an opportunity to reflect upon their newly acquired skills in task books, and regularly added to their developing dance glossaries. Theory tests assessed the knowledge which they had gained. The practical assessments incorporated process marks as well as the end product. While some dancers succeeded in hip hop, others excelled in musical theatre, and the result was that marks were quite varied. Regardless, that every learner was engaged physically was in itself no mean feat. The facilitators offered high praise to those girls who so proudly took ownership of their own work.

Dramatic Arts 2015 began with a celebration of the achievements of the year before. In the 2014 NSC examinations, headgirl Samantha Culligan received the highest overall result, an outstanding 90%. The actress who most impressed the panel of four performance examiners was, however, Shannon Hochfelden, who had everyone in stitches with her beauty queen parody, Miss North-Eastern Transvaal. The 2014 Grade 12 class average for Dramatic Arts was 86%. The start of 2015 also saw a tremendous intake of Grade 8 actresses, so much that the numbers resulted in three full classes, the most that Rustenburg has seen. Most of the girls rose admirably to the challenges of high school drama, which contains a demanding theatre history component. Their thoroughly unconventional interpretation of Shakespeare’s “All the world’s a stage” had many reconsidering any preconceptions which they had held from junior school. In the midyear examinations there were no fewer than 16 who achieved aggregates of above 90%. Their talent bodes well for the future of the subject at the school. For the first time Rustenburg actresses entered the Cape Town Speech and Drama Eisteddfod. Credit goes to Nicole Smith (A1), Hannah Reynders (A2), Gabriella Sancho (A6), Maria Parolis (A2), Rachel van Greunen (A2), Shea-Lee Tzamtzis (A6), Anne Williams (B6) and Martha Ruider (B3) for their achievements. A new Dramatic Arts Curriculum Advisor, Ms Liezl Clark, brought some changes to the performance requirements at Grade 12 level, however we remain grateful that she took time out of her demanding schedule to introduce herself personally to our Matric actresses and critique the progress of their three theme programmes: “Act your Age” (aging), “For Love or Money” (romance versus finance) and “H2 Oh-Oh” (water, in all its manifestations). Ms Clark impressed with the energy and warmth she exhibited during the two-hour workshop held in Rustenburg’s Drama Studio. All felt confident afterwards that the future of theatre studies in RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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Bottome row, from left: Lauren Abbott (Grade 12), Megan Teubes (Grade 12), Shannon Sissons (Grade 12), Holly Rowe (Grade 10) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

the province is in good hands. The Grade 12 actresses were also treated to an afternoon with professional performer, Mr Aidan Whytock, who inspired with entertaining anecdotes from his career. The Grade 11s rose to the challenge of postmodern theatre, a new component of the curriculum, and will be the first class to study Caryl Churchill’s script “Top Girls” for their NSC examinations in 2016. The Decades of Difference: Best Actress project required students to compare the roles played by accomplished, professional performers, before presenting an Oscar-winning monologue themselves. As always, there were countless excursions to enjoy live theatre. One particular highlight was Ms Jenny Reznick’s inspiring Physical Theatre piece entitled, “I turned away and she was gone.” The title of this seems apt when considering the Grade 12 tears which flowed so freely in the Drama Studio upon the end of the successful run of “A Murder is Announced.” This was their last show on the Kemp Hall stage.

History Grade 8: Grade 8 memories of History should include: discussions on the plight of migrant workers; role-playing child labourers in the sweat, soot, damp and dangers of industrial Britain; slicing of the African cake in the Scramble for Africa; and commemorating the roles played by women in World War One. Hopefully, they will also remember being guided by Ms Scharneck to write carefully structured paragraphs on the Mineral Revolution and to use the traditional “essay sandwich” lesson to build their essay writing skills for 2016. Grade 9: The chorus of “When I was your man” (Bruno Mars) filtered through the corridors all day. This was a real tribute to the exceptional Grade 9 Human Rights Day Assembly organised by Ms Scharneck and the form captains. The collaboration with Mr Leslie Elderkin’s Music Department, learners provided a first-ever 21-piece backing orchestra for the theme song. However, there is no doubt that Chloe Melville’s evocative video on this year’s theme of domestic abuse had a lasting impact on all. Grade 10: The talented Grade 10s rose to the challenge by responding creatively to their experiences at the Iziko Slave Lodge. The high quality of their poetry, song, art and film was evident in their exhibition commemorating the role played by Cape Slaves and in their contributions to the Heritage Day Assembly. In addition, they also developed skills of constructive criticism and report writing in their evaluations of the exhibitions at the Slave Lodge. Grade 11: The collaboration of the French, History and German departments in their visit to the Holocaust Centre had a lasting impact which was echoed in their wide range of responses to the theme of Resisting Injustice, which were exhibited in the Kemp Hall foyer. Their understanding of the importance of celebrating Heritage Day in South Africa echoed in the posters on display and through Tracy Sikenjana’s inspiring speech and Hannah Lambe’s song. Grade 12: The E15s excelled in the Holocaust Centre’s Senior White Rose Project. Shannon Lorimer and Ursula Hardie were joint winners of the Art Prize. Kirsten Pienaar’s song “Paint” won the Writing prize. From the candlelit “Wathintha’ bafazi”, the Senior marimbas’ “Dance of the Roses”, the rallying speech for Rustybugs to become actively involved in the transformation of attitudes towards women, the spirited tribute to Maya Angelou, Jabulani’s bouncy “Women’s Medley”, and finally, to the clincher, the E15’s angelic chorus: “If you try to strike us, this is our reply: You will be crushed, so don’t even try”, it was clear: Rustenburg really knows how to celebrate Women’s Day.

Visual Arts and Design Each year the Visual Arts and Design Department hosts exciting events which are critical to the development of the learners. 2015 was no exception. Photographer Jean Brundritt, visual artist Manfred Zylla, ideas engineer Karen Stewart and conceptual artist Jo O’Connor, blew the Grade 10, 11 and 12 pupils away with their passion and variety of work at the Art and Design Seminar. Mural artist, Ricky Lee Gordon, otherwise known as Freddy Sam, inspired all with his words of wisdom at the Art and Design Awards. Whilst working as one department, Photography, Design and Visual Arts have their own specific focuses on teaching creativity. Ms Cooper on teaching photography: “Photography has always been my way of exploring and making sense of the world and I love sharing this with others. My interest lies in combining traditional photographic mediums and processes with digital capture and editing software. For example the Grade 10s experienced both the old and new when we explored traditional ways of working with photographs: collage, photomontage, manipulating the surface of images with a variety of media and then extending this project into creating digital double exposures and collages – working into the virtual surface. I believe in encouraging learners to develop their own visual language and to maintain an attitude of curiosity towards the creative process. Creative, critical thinking and self-reflection are skills that extend far beyond the art room.” Ms Simpson on teaching Design: “When asked to comment on the Design Subject for 2015, I asked girls who take Design as a subject to write anonymous responses to the questions: What Design has meant to them. How has it manifested itself in their lives? The answers speak to the power of the subject: ‘Design has inspired me to work harder and to manage my time more wisely.’ ‘It has improved my drawing skills and my creativity.’ ‘Design helps me learn things about the world. It makes me think differently and informs me about where things come from.’ ‘Design stresses me out but it’s worth it as it has shown me what I am capable of.’ ‘I have learnt many new skills and how to turn old objects into a totally new design.’ ‘Design is not only about aesthetics, it has meaning and purpose. We create things that are useful and can change people’s lives for the better.” “Design is current!’ ‘We have learnt about sustainability, GMO and fracking AND we know what these mean! To top it all, we have looked at Thomas Heatherwick’s Design for the Cape Town Silos – google it! We visited the site. Construction is already underway for the first ever all African Art Gallery: the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary African Art) due for completion in 2017.’” Ms Chambers on teaching Visual Arts: “Henri Matisse believed ‘creativity takes courage’ and Duane Hanson said, ‘Art doesn’t have to be pretty. It has to be meaningful.’ Inspired by these quotes, Visual Arts learners are encouraged to explore and experiment with materials, techniques and concepts. In doing so, learners develop their own uniquely individual style and form of expression, that at the same time challenges expectations of the creative process.”

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From the director of “A Murder is

Announced” CAST Ms Letitia Black: Julia Holzberg Ms Jane Marple: Lauren Pienaar Ms Dora Bunner: Chloë Venter Emily Simmons: Alex Jeaven Patrick Simmons: Duncan Reid (SACS) Inspector Craddock: Alexander Gloor (SACS) Sergeant Fletcher: Bryony Bosman Mitzi: Lauren Solomon Ms Phillipa Haymes: Catherine Sonnenberg Ms Violet Swettenham: Amy Kunz Rose Swettenham: Bronwyn Kruger Frau Schvitz: Gillian Williams CREW Pupil Producer: René Zinn Backstage: Mikayla Lodder, Jamie van Niekerk Directors: Mr Adrian Skelly and Ms Carey Hickson-Mahony Producer: Ms Judith Herbig Set painting: Ms Chambers and Art Department Photographers: Ms Cooper and team (photo call images), VIP catering: Ms Marshall and Ms Mallon AVT: Mr Francis Vogts and Ms Trishanta Naidu

While it is difficult to quantify the overall success of a theatre production, “A Murder is Announced” could well go down in Rustenburg history as one of the most popular shows which the school has presented. Only a handful of tickets during the run were left unsold, and on certain nights additional guests had to be accommodated. The nature of the script, an exciting whodunit created by crime writer extraordinaire, Agatha Christie, meant that there was mass buy in, also from members of the Cape Town theatre industry. It was perhaps with tonguein-cheek intent that one keen pupil reviewer wrote, “The cast of Murder killed it!” “A Murder is Announced” was the result of months of hard work, careful budget planning and strategic marketing. From a financial perspective, the show not only exceeded targets, but secured a strong profit. This is an almost unheard of achievement for an amateur high school production. In almost every respect, “A Murder is Announced” was an immense labour of love and the source of intense pride. To be cast in the school production can be compared to earning a position in any of the school’s 1st sports teams. To be selected to perform publicly and carry the name of the school in drama is a tremendous achievement. The girls of the school remained the core consideration when it came to selecting a script. Almost everyone grew up playing the board game Cluedo and wondering if it had perhaps either been Miss Scarlet or Reverend Plum, with the candlestick, in the conservatory. This meant that there was an immediate and accessible point of reference. A crime fiction reading project set by the English Department also meant that the murder mystery genre became a topic of conversation not just in the Kemp Hall, but in the classrooms too. “A Murder is Announced” was featured in the newspaper, on television and on radio in the build-up to opening night. A dynamic Facebook Events Group allowed cast and crew members to engage interactively with those who sought to secure tickets. There were regularly updates, including posts from in the wings and blooper videos made during rehearsals. For those who unfortunately missed the production, beware of the spoiler alert. Few members of the audience managed to predict the startling conclusion. To clarify: Julia Holzberg (as Ms Black) shot Gillian Williams (as Frau Schvitz) in the back, in the dark and nicked her own earlobe with a pair of scissors to make it seem that she was the intended victim of an attack. To prevent the truth from surfacing, Julia then poisoned her best friend, Chloe Venter (as Dora Bunner). Of course, a number of red herrings along the way helped to distract attention from what really happened. Such remains Agatha Christie’s craftsmanship that the audience was kept guessing until the final 10 minutes of the closing scene. Moments of great humour and unexpected one-liners helped to punctuate the dramatic tension. The cast entirely deserved each round of thunderous applause and the standing ovations which they received. At the post-production party, for all involved, in the Drama Studio on 22 August tears flowed freely. For the Matrics (Julia Holzberg, Chloe Venter, Amy Kunz, Gillian Williams, Rene Zinn) “Murder” marked the end of five years of performing and dedication to theatre studies at Rustenburg. Many Grade 12 Drama parents also expressed heartbreak that 2015 would be the last year they spent time as members of the extended Dramatic Arts Department family. They were assured that this was not the case. In the audience of opening night sat almost an entire row of Rustenburg Old Girls, from as far back as 2004. That they chose to return to their school, years and years after matriculating, to show support speaks dividends. The memories which Rustenburg actresses share bond them closely in a manner which extends far beyond their school days.

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A Murder is Announced

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Autumn This is it. My new home – and almost definitely, my last home. The establishment is a square, one-storey building with walls coated with peeling yellow paint and broken green shutters covering the windows. In front of this, is what I imagine is supposed to be the ‘tranquil and lush garden’ promised on the brochure, but is in reality, a bench sprinkled with splinters and a tree that barely reaches four feet. Large black letters above the sliding door proclaiming it to be the ‘Waterstone Retirement Home’ are cracked and jaded. My son, Jake, wheels me carelessly over the threshold and into the reception. I’m hit with what can only be described as the stench of death – or disinfectant and adult diapers; they’re indistinguishable. Jake pushes my wheelchair into the centre of the room and saunters towards the reception desk. The receptionist is a middle-aged woman with frizzy blonde hair, a five-inch layer of makeup and a cellphone seemingly super glued to her ear. She’s leaning lazily on her hand with her elbow propped up on the desk and prattling through the phone, but kindly stops to look up with disdain as my son approaches. As Jake begins the long and tedious process of checking me in – and undoubtedly asking if it would be possible to slip a cyanide pill in my morning meal – I wheel myself through the oak double doors into what seems like the recreation room. It’s a large space with orange carpets and mustard yellow walls. In the farthest corner, a bookshelf stuffed with weathered books reaches the ceiling. It is surrounded by the upright wooden chairs and coffee tables. Two women sit on these chairs facing each other; two large books lying opened and forgotten on an end table between them. Even from where I sit, I can hear them squealing over their talented grandchildren and the tinkling of bangles lining their arms as they gesticulate grandly. Before even saying hello, I have discovered that Rosemary’s “very very clever” granddaughter came twentieth in her school spelling bee and that Betty really just misses the good old days. Couches with fraying cushions and a TV that looks as if it were stolen from the 1950s, dominate the centre of the room. A group of old men sit upright in front of the TV, their blank eyes fixed on black and white cricket, their mouths hanging slightly ajar. On the right hand side of the room stands a Ping-Pong table, its legs wrapped in masking tape and its surface scratched and dented.

CREATIVE WRITING In 2015, Rustenburg’s English Department entered many pieces of learners’ work into “English Alive”, an annually published anthology of excellent English high school writing in South Africa. The following essays were all selected for publication in the 2015 edition.

My eyes wander over the walls that are covered with a range of motivational posters and adverts for various medicines. Colorful abominations that assure me that these are my “golden years” and the “best years of my life!” One such banner pictures a woman with few laughter lines wrinkling her face, snowy white hair and sparkling teeth posed upright on a bed of sun-silvered leaves. The phrase “It’s the autumn of your life” is splashed across the bottom. I cringe at the load of drivel the posters are spewing and start wheeling my way back to my son. Retirement is greying hair, dentures, broken hips and failing joints. It’s the end of autumn, an inevitable yet somewhat slow descent into eternal winter. Jemma Charnley (Grade 12)

There is more than one kind of enemy One, two, three periods go by and it’s time for lunch. White bread sandwiches and sugar-filled coke; all I have is a skinny white tablet. The long-legged girls whisper when they walk past – I generally make people feel uncomfortable. I hear “attention seeker” and “barf bag” under their breaths but I still look up to admire their distinct collar bones and slender wrists. Mother always says that I shouldn’t let girls like them into my head. She said that I shouldn’t look at glossypaged magazines filled with ‘tips and tricks on how to lose those last five kilograms’ and beautifully lean models mocking me or Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. She said they are the enemies that I need to get the better of. Four, five, six periods go by and the passages stretch on eternally. The stares of previous friends stab my back as I walk past. I hear the same cruel, criticizing whispers but I can tolerate this. This isn’t as bad as what’s to come. Seven, eight and it’s three o’ clock. Nausea washes over me as I sink into the front seat of the bus, dreading arriving home. Another enemy starts whispering but this one does not stop when I’m alone, in fact, it gets louder as I enter my room, shouts at me when I look into the mirror. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t obesity. How are those fat rolls today? I bet you regret eating yesterday. No one wants to be friends with a heavy girl.” I undress in front of the mirror and the voice laughs. I stand in my underwear, afraid to look at the stretch marks and wobbling thighs. Four, five, sick o’ clock and I don’t want to eat supper. I feel sick looking at the food, sicker feeling it slide down my throat. The voice keeps laughing while I hold back the tears that threaten to spill over. Seven, eight, nine o’ clock and I sit beside the toilet, waiting for it to come up. The emotions spill out of me slowly and then all at once. The voice finally falls silent and I’m left to think about my enemies. An enemy is generally a person who is actively opposed or hostile to another. People forget that there is more than one kind of enemy, that your worst enemy can be yourself and the thoughts that swim around in your head. Ten, eleven, twelve o’ clock, my enemy gets into bed with me.

From top: Tara Panton (Grade 11), Jenna Swart (Grade 10), Julie Ziegenhardt (Grade 10)

Aaliyah Davids (Grade 12) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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The Waiting Room As we sit we drown. What is it about a Waiting Room that wraps its silent fingers around our throats and urges us not to speak? All you can hear are the hands of the clock softly ticking, the dim rustle of newspaper, the low shllp of magazine pages being idly turned. And then – horror of horrors! – someone’s phone will ching and we will all glance around nervously as if the invisible code of conduct which binds us to our silence has been terribly interfered with. Imagine if people spoke in Waiting Rooms. Imagine how many relationships would be formed. Why, the wonders of the waiting room could form the bases of marriages! True, it’s not the most interesting of rooms, the pale mustard walls and the low couches and the ‘The Dentist Will Not See You Unless Your Teeth Are SuperClean’ sign hanging on the wall, but I see potential in this space. We are all here, doing nothing but the mundane chore of waiting and flicking through magazines we have no interest in, so why not just turn to the poor chap next to you and ask him how his day is going? Sure, maybe he will fidget nervously with his fingers, or break out into a sweat, or wonder what this insane person is doing – talking in the waiting room! – but he could turn out to be your very best friend or at least a useful contact. I understand if you will not converse in a doctor’s waiting room what with all the sneezing-wheezing-coughing people sitting around feeling sorry for themselves, not even I would dare open my mouth. But the dentist? Or the psychiatrist? Or even the baby clinic? People. Conversation. Ideas. Opportunity. The way I see it, we set ourselves certain boundaries and, once we near the edge of that boundary, we stay put. Think about all the new people you could have met if you had just taken one step over that line. I see it now – ‘long lost mother and daughter reunited in Waiting Room’, ‘Waiting Room proudly responsible for wedding of happy couple’, ‘Now a world famous singer, scouted in Waiting Room’.

The Gatekeeper

He sits, lantern on his knee, an oily, eerie light in the dark of his soul, And he watches as lives, laughs, lies, years, pass him by. The hours grow long, and his body grows old, But his eyes stay sharp as the Devil’s cold, And he sits, belonging nowhere, knowing everywhere, ‘cause while all else sleeps the Gatekeeper keeps. Tamsin Metelerkamp (Grade 12) Top: Julie Ziegenhardt (Grade 11) Bottom from left: Adrienne Clynick (Grade 10), Alexandra Smith (Grade 10)

The truth is, life is like a giant waiting room. We get on with our lives, wake up every morning, grow older, maybe fall in love, but what we are really doing is waiting for things to happen. Are you ready to make them happen? Julie Ziegenhardt (Grade11)

Science Has Spoiled My Supper It’s his fault. He kick-started this obsession into motion. I was perfectly happy before. I didn’t have a care in the world. I looked forward to supper times, as the steaming plate of carbohydrates was set in front of me. My salivary glands would begin to get excited as I inhaled a deep breath of the aromas that occupied the kitchen. They were good memories that I shall treasure forever. Good memories of the times before my dad bought the book – the book that would change the world as I knew it. “The Real Meal Revolution.” We had adopted Tim Noakes into our family, whether I liked it or not. With his dramatic entrance came the heart-wrenching exit of all carbohydrates, including the pasta. My relationship with pasta was a simple and uncomplicated one. I loved eating it and it loved clinging to my hips and thighs. So to have my long time friend ripped from my world was tough, some would even say unjust. But, nevertheless, Prof. Noakes was here to stay and, along with him, zucchinis and cauliflower mash. Yes, supper had become healthier and, yes, I could finally fit comfortably into those jeans that had once made breathing impossible without hitting someone in the eye with a button. But I longed for comfort food. Macaroni and cheese, baked potatoes with crispy skin, and, of course, an old time friend – the peanut butter and golden syrup sandwich. It was hard having my happiness seized from my helpless hands but as long as I lived under my parents’ roof I was theirs to torture with blanched vegetables and lentil stews. Maybe it was the healthier option, but I am still contemplating whether it was the happier one. Alright, it’s confession time. I do feel less of a need to stuff my face with the nearest item of food and the love handles have decreased in size. These may just be the rants of an overly-dramatic teenage girl but, Prof Noakes, the next time you decide to write a book, make sure that the fine print states that teenagers are allowed to have a croissant or three without having invisible fire balls fired at them from the eyes of those around the supper table. Liezl Cloete (Grade 12)

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Top row, from left: Caitlin Truter (Grade 12), Daniella Attfield (Grade 10), Jessica Walters (Grade 12) Second row, from left: Julia Darke (Grade 12), Kelly Bang (Grade 11), Kerry-Ann Couperthwaite (Grade 12) Third row, from left: Macarron Halfpenny (Grade 12), Shameez Phillips (Grade 12), Talia Novella (Grade 10) Fourth row, from left: Ursula Hardie (Grade 12), Wen-ching Chang (Grade 10), Zubeida Waggie (Grade 12)

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Top row, from left: Amy Kunz (Grade 12), ChloĂŤ Venter (Grade 12), Hannah Steyn (Grade 11) Second row, from left: Jana van der Merwe (Grade 11), Jessica Slater (Grade 11), Kelly Bang (Grade 11) Third row, from left: Kerry-Ann Couperthwaite (Grade 12), Megan Teubes (Grade 12), Olivia Bloomer (Grade 12) Fourth row, from left: Olivia Bloomer (Grade 12), Phumzile Konile (Grade 11), Samantha Pelteret (Grade 12)

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Top row, from left: Amy Kunz (Grade 12), Caitlin Truter (Grade 12), Hannah Nassen (Grade 12) Second row, from left: Hannah Wilson (Grade 12), Julia Darke (Grade 12), Julie Chandler (Grade 12) Third row, from left: Lily van Rensburg (Grade 11), Olivia Bloomer (Grade 12), Rachel Edwards (Grade 11) Fourth row, from left: Saiyuree Sewchuran (Grade 10), Sarah Gerber (Grade 11), Ursula Hardie (Grade 12)

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Top row, from left: Aaliyah Meredith (Grade 10), Amy Kunz (Grade 12), Chloe Zinn (Grade 11) Second row, from left: Hannah Wilson (Grade 12), Jessica Walters (Grade 12), Jodi Rogerson (Grade 11) Third row, from left: Julie Chandler (Grade 12), Megan Teubes (Grade 12), Nina Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Andrea (Grade 10) Fourth row, from left: Shameez Phillips (Grade 12), Ursula Hardie (Grade 12), Ursula Hardie (Grade 12)

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Top row, from left: Abigail Baker (Grade 12), Abigail Tudge (Grade 12), Asiphe Sinari (Grade 11) Second row, from left: Athraa Fakier (Grade 12), Caitlin Truter (Grade 12), Michaela Flanders (Grade 10) Third row, from left: Francesca Cassar (Grade 11), Top: Gillian Williams (Grade 12), Bottom: Chelsea Prodehl (Grade 10) Fourth row, from left: Natalie Davidson (Grade 12), Roxi Francke (Grade 11), Ursula Hardie (Grade 12)

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Top row, from left: Asiphe Sinari (Grade 11), Chloe Zinn (Grade 11), Gia Aitken (Grade 11) Second row, from left: Jade Chase (Grade 11), Jessica Vlok (Grade 11), Julie Ziegenhardt (Grade 11) Third row, from left: Michaela Eley (Grade 11), Sarah Byren (Grade 11), Tara Panton (Grade 11)

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Top row, from left: Chloë Venter (Grade 12), Chloé Zinn (Grade 11), Chloé Zinn (Grade 11) Second row, from left: Daniella Attfield (Grade 10), Jamie van Niekerk (Grade 10), Jamie van Niekerk (Grade 10) Third row, from left: Julia Darke (Grade 12), Kerry-Ann Couperthwaite (Grade 12), Megan Kode (Grade 11) Fourth row, from left: Olivia Bloomer (Grade 12), Olivia Bloomer (Grade 12), Ursula Hardie (Grade 12)

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“Peace with our colleagues, with our families, and even with our world – may be as close as the nearest library!” So suggested Sarah Kovac, writing for Project Literacy. “Reading a book can help us love our fellow humans! Dr Gregory S. Berns, after leading a 2013 study about reading and its impact on our brains, found that stories, especially when experienced through the written word, have the ability to move us so deeply that they can actually rewire our brains … Schoolchildren exposed to stories that focus on the minds of characters, as well as on their relationships, were better able to infer the emotions of other people.”

From the medIa Centre Teacher-in-charge: Ms Marilyn Peters Head Monitress: Fei Susan Wu Deputy Head Monitress: Isabella Meyer Secretary: Annie Ou Yang Social Secretary: Jarita Kassen Media Monitresses: Raeesah Shaik, Mila Truter, Shafeeqah Modack, Laila Korowlay, Daniella Attfield, Kauthar Parker, Evashna Pillay, Bianca Rijkmans, Sabrina-Belle Roberts, Caitlin Starke, Tatenda Dandara, Raeesa Kazi, Haseena Moolla 2015 new Media Montiresses: Caitlin Millard, Chi Ying Joycelyn Ng, Olivia Pearson, Piper Turner, Thameenah Dhansay, Lydia Hardie, Faatimah Leonard, Daniela Schutte.

Our unwavering aim: to produce life-long learners, discerning enquirers and honest digital citizens.

Reporting research results of Emanuele Castano and David Kidd for Scientific American, Julianne Chiaet compounded this further with the headline: “Novel finding: reading literary fiction improves empathy… a valuable socialising influence which could inform debates over how much fiction should be included in educational curricula and whether reading programs should be implemented in prisons!” We are understandably happy that our statistics show the reading habit (and seemingly by default, empathy!) is alive and well – in fact thriving – at Rustenburg; the number of items issued continues to climb each year. Competence in handling the busy daily operation of this hub of the school is only made possible by the dedicated and enthusiastic efficiency of our monitress team. Saying farewell to exemplary team leader Fei Susan Wu and her wonderful Matric crew was the only low point in what was a year full of growth and satisfaction. The new head, Raeesah Shaik, will surely have a rewarding year in office with her deputy Mila Truter, Secretary Shafeeqah Modack and Social Secretary Laila Korowlay. The growth referred to earlier came when we extended the capacity of the library by installing a mezzanine floor in our workroom. This plan took on a new urgency when it became evident whilst doing the 2014 stocktake that shelf-space had run out. How satisfying it is to know now we can continue to grow our collection comfortably (in 2014 we accessioned over 700 items of various media types). Community-wise, monitress visits to our sister-library in Vrygrond continue to be gleefully welcomed by the librarian Ms Jane Sylvester and her young patrons. The fruits of our Civvies Day in March enabled us once again to sponsor their annual December holiday camp for 50 children; this time for four days in the Sunbird Nature Reserve. Satisfaction of a resolution made last year came when we installed our own Little Free Library outside our entrance. We have also posted one in the hostel common room for the boarders to enjoy. Life-members too are our treasured volunteer library angels: loyal Ms Sally Michell and Ms Judy Paul and more recently-acquired Ms Dee Penny. Absolute “essentials”, they enthusiastically donate generous hours and effort during the annual stocktake and with general library-processing. There have been many predictions of the demise of the book. An excellent example comes to mind with Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”. BrainPickings’ Maria Popova declared it “one of the most important books ever written.” Titled after the temperature at which book paper catches fire and burns, it was first published in 1953 when the author was only 33.This dystopian novel and literary classic grimly concerns the compulsory burning of all books. On a more elevating note however: in our recently acquired “The End of Your Life Book Club” (a beautiful book about a bond with a mother and son through books), author Will Schwalbe makes a wonderful observation: “One of the many things I love about books is their sheer physicality. Electronic books live out of sight and out of mind. But printed books have body, presence. I often seek electronic books, but they never come after me. They make me feel, but I can’t feel them. They are all soul with no flesh, no texture and no weight.” In closing we would like to record our deep sadness in bidding our champion, Laura Bekker, farewell. Throughout her eight years here, she never missed an opportunity to proclaim to one and all our library’s excellence and persistently to emphasise the importance of reading. Her enthusiastic support has been invaluable. Stephen Fry: “A book is no more threatened by Kindle than stairs are threatened by elevators!”

The tender for construction of our own “Human Bird-feeder” (or Little Library) was awarded to Mark Bedford and his excellent cabinet-maker, Angelo Newman. Mr Bedford insisted however that it was to be a donation signifying his commitment to spreading literacy and supporting the school’s library projects. Mr Bedford has been made a life-member of the Rustenburg Media Centre. RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

ACADEMIC

It is our goal that as well informed and well educated, each girl will leave Rustenburg with an accomplished ability to use computers and achieve the recognition of the ICDL certificate as a means to show their computer literacy. As a result of this, the course has also changed with the times, one of these newer avenues is Online Collaboration. This involves online integrated storage, file sharing and cloud functionality. This requires the internet and adds pressure to an already limited and quite costly resource. We were faced early on with issues of bandwidth, not only from a school needs perspective, but also evolving demand or need for content, resources and networking. The clouding and integration requirement means greater support than what we had originally.

From the IT Manager Mr Francis Vogts: Dip. IT

2015 was a highly rewarding but busy year. Rustenburg High School for Girls strives to give each and every young learner the best and most capable educational experience it can. One of these is the continued support and integration of the ICDL programme

We started the year off to a large challenge: Telkom and our service providers had a tough time of keeping the circuits up and running, Neotel didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have capacity and there were limited or no real options to address this in Term 1. We had Telkom and ISPs deal with the various minor issues and things progressed. Later in the year we lost access to telecommunications as a pickaxe was driven into and through our Telkom inbound cable. This was later resolved but took much effort and time to restore. Towards the end of Term 2, Neotel was able to facilitate our anticipated upgrade to a managed service capable of supporting our current strategy and high bandwidth needs. The much anticipated rollout of the PWAN (Broadband Provincial Network dedicated to education by the WCED) was significantly delayed. We, like many schools, were contemplating the adoption of a managed and high bandwidth broadband connection. The use of ADSL as a primary connection has simply not been a reality for schools or organizations with the number of users concurrently connecting as we have. Also the need for greater access internet speeds adds more pressure to upgrade. By the time you read this, it is anticipated that the WCED will have completed the deployment of their connection. It is an independently managed service through SITA and as such policies and services are managed separately to that of the school. The ICT staff has maintained and supported the needs of the school, the learners and staff in addressing the many issues and helpdesk queries any other institution has. We have had great interactions with all being able to share new skills and functionality with the learners and staff. We continued to support access for BYOD within subjects, learning areas and for special needs as we continue to support the growth of our network and capacity to integrate learners and devices eventually within the school as a whole. The school is still developing a final strategy for the use of end user devices, but recognises the need for a purpose driven process that will enhance learning and teaching and not try to replace the teachers, rather than just following examples. As a school, we want to enhance and extend, not lose, the value we have in a strong curriculum. We are very proud of our learners and their successes. Continued investment in the physical ICT infrastructure of the school has allowed for upgrades to the teachersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working environments and allowed the learners to appreciate the newer computers and networking speeds as we enhanced the teaching spaces in support our curriculum needs. We have adopted a staged programme to rejuvenate and expand function at the school. We continued with modular upgrades to our infrastructure. That required dedicated work and commitment to ensure all schedules were met. At this point we have upgraded the core network, expanded Wi-Fi capacity, given teachers new PCs, monitors, and projectors to enhance the performance and quality of the teaching at the school. We have implemented better solutions around security and protection from our firewalls, access point all the way to the end point with anti-virus protection.

Computer Monitresses

Back row: from left: Taskeen Parker, Yusraa Moosa, Amy Long, Samantha Pelteret, Tayla Anthony, Isabella Meyer, Farheen Mahmood, Revana Pillay Third row, from left: Imaan Allie, Athraa Fakier, Azrah Bassier, Kerry-Ann Couperthwaite, Couthar Sakir, Zahraa Badat, Sharfaa Kalam Second row, from left: Yonela Katsha, Annie Ou Yang, Santhuri Pillai, Eva Presence, Quratul-Ain Parker, Sahaar Takay, Fei Susan Wu, Sarah Dalvie Front row, from left: Zubeida Waggie, Anika Ebrahim, Tiana Hansraj (Head), Ms Janine Myers, Nabeelah Mahatey (Deputy Head), Kauthar Achmat, Ziyanah Fredericks

Over the last few years we have implemented new strategies to grow capacity in support of digital technologies in the classroom. This meant a lot of research and planning to have infrastructure and capacity in place, but also to modernise and renew old installation ahead of failure and need. Whether we use smart technologies, interactive whiteboards and documents cameras, most of these strategies require capacity, training and growth in infrastructure. The problems faced along the way have been challenging but have shown great change and interest among the learners and staff. Staff development around integrated technologies is growing both within our school and schools in general. We are fortunate to have a number of educators who have keen interest in bringing new ideas and technologies into the classroom. As part of this process, we asked those who were willing to share their insight, research and ideas on how technology may enhance learning and teaching at our school. This was a truly rewarding development and we look forward to an engagement to see how we turn this into beneficial techniques and process to enhance the learning at Rustenburg. RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

MUSIC

Celebrating at the start, the successes of our 14 subject Music Grade 12s of 2014, with nine A aggregates, four achieving above 90%, we set forth into the new year inspired by our slogan, “The art of learning music is a reward in itself”, and remembered, amongst others, the birth of Billie Holiday 100 years ago and the Russian composer, Alexander Scriabin, who died 100 years ago. This year, our senior piano and subject Music teacher, Ms Judith Dernier, retired after 32 years of legendary service to the Rustenburg Music Department. This year too, our indefatigable administrative assistant, our lifeblood, Ms Sue Hoffmann, chose to retire, to spend more time with her husband, John, on his field research expeditions, with her grandchildren, or on the tennis court and in her beloved garden. Ms Hoffmann has been associated with Rustenburg for 20 years, having worked full-time in the front office for 12 years and, since 2009, with the Music Department in a part-time capacity. Her untiring efficiency and selfless devotion kept us sane, and we wish her a long and happy retirement. On 28 February, we set off on our annual Choir/Orchestra Camp with Rondebosch and SACS to the wellequipped Manyano Centre in Paarl, to prepare for the combined choral event. This year it was the beautiful setting of John Rutter’s “Requiem”. Ms Olivia Herrendoerfer and Ms Maria Raynham rehearsed the strings, while the choral directors from all three schools rehearsed the choral parts. Dr Steven van der Merwe was the guest speaker, discussing the compositional features of Rutter’s setting and referring to his own setting of a Requiem commemorating the end of WWI. Our annual Cape Philharmonic Orchestra outing to the Cape Town City Hall took place early in March. All subject Music students attended. Symphonic concerts are so accessible and yet, sadly, so far from the life experience of many of our pupils and we encourage as many young musicians as possible to attend these performances on a regular basis. This year, we were able to introduce our musicians to Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto and Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” overture conducted by Martin Panteleev, with the piano soloist, Derek Han.

From the Head of the Music

Department

Celebrating Scriabin, Martinů and South African composers at the Piano Festival this year, guest speaker Dr Martin Watt, Senior Lecturer in Music Analysis and Composition at the South African College of Music, UCT, introduced us to his “Four Nocturnes” for piano. Hannah Clayton, Samantha Carletti and Kaitlin Downie performed works by Arnold van Wyk and Scriabin. The Music Spotlight concerts followed, offering all our young musicians the opportunity of performing in a solo item or small ensemble and in September, we presented our Annual Music concert featuring the best of our ensembles, bands and choirs. It was, as always, a jampacked programme with good support from our parents and friends. The Jazz Band performed at the V&A High School Band Slam to a large and supportive audience, with the added enthusiasm of the Rustenburg Cheer Leaders and MC, Yonela Katsha. They were subsequently invited to perform at the Ubuntu Festival in aid of the Amy Biehl Foundation at Maynardville on Human Rights Day, with a line-up including Jimmy Nevis and Mi Casa, and performed to much acclaim at the Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival on 5 June in the Baxter Theatre. Eight of our players were selected to attend the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown in July, accompanied by Ms Jan Thorne and Jazz Band director, Mr Leslie Elderkin.

Ms Elizabeth Sole: BMus, MA, TLD

2015 was a big year for the Music Department.

The Music Department always participates actively in the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod and Rustenburg hosted the Junior and Senior String and Vocal sections. The Jazz Band, String Ensemble and Orchestra participated in the Orchestral and Ensembles’ Section held in the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium (just two days after the Rutter!). The Jazz Band achieved Hoogste Lof and the Orchestra and String Ensemble followed closely with Lof++ awards. Various individual players and singers received medals: Silver Medals were awarded to Samantha Carletti and Kaitlin Downie (Senior Piano Duet), Kerryn Duff (Recorder 15-16 year/Concerto), Nicola McLachlan (Senior Strings Concerto), Kirsten Pienaar (Senior Vocal), Kirsten Pienaar and Tamsin Metelerkamp (Senior Vocal Duet), Catherine Smith (Recorder 17-18 years) and Gold Medals to Kerryn Duff (Senior Recorder), Kirsten Pienaar (Senior Vocal). This year Rustenburg also held three full days of TCL examinations and the number of our ABRSM Theory entries was still the largest in the country. Rustenburg musicians participated in several competitions and other special events, including the first round of the Hugo Lambrechts Concerto Competition with Kerryn Duff (recorder) and Stéphanie Lawrenson (violin). Stéphanie and Kerryn also auditioned in the first round of the Pieter Kooij Music Competition as well as Kirsten Pienaar (voice). The Jazz Band and the Orchestra entered the FACETS Competition. The Chamber Choir sang the ripieno chorales in Barry Smith’s farewell performance of JS Bach’s “St Matthew Passion” in the Bishops Chapel on Good Friday and participated in the All Girls’ Schools’ Choir Festival in St George’s Cathedral on 28 September. We are proud of several of our musicians involved in the Beau Soleil Gala concert held in the City Hall, including Stéphanie Lawrenson, Kirsten Buchanan and Nicola McLachlan, who also participated in the National Ensemble competition.

Farewell, Ms Hoffmann Ms Sue Hoffmann retired at the end of 2015, after having been associated with Rustenburg for 20 years. She worked in the Front Office for 12 years as a full-time administrative assistant and since 2009, with the Music Department in a part-time capacity.

The Music Awards ceremony allowed the presentation of the eisteddfod certificates, school awards and the announcement of the new heads and deputies of our musical groups. The guest speaker was the vibrant Professor Dizu Plaatjies from the Department of Ethnomusicology at the South African College of Music, UCT. A final word from Leonard Bernstein, the composer of “West Side Story”: “Life without music is unthinkable. Life without music is academic. That is why my contact with music is a total embrace.”

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Having been appointed by Ms Josephine McIntyre in April 1983, she arrived as a single mother with two young sons, Sarel and Gert, from the School for Art, Ballet and Music in Pretoria, where she had worked mainly as a piano accompanist. She came armed with a BMus and an HED from UNISA, a UPLM, UTLM and an LRSM in piano teaching and performing, having trained with one of the most prestigious piano teachers in the country, Professor Joseph Stanford from the University of Pretoria. She was appointed to teach piano, subject and class music, and piano accompaniment, besides doing some social swimming (in the good old days). She subsequently developed her skills in piano teaching, to become one of the most sought-after piano teachers in the Western Cape, achieving great success with individual students in external examinations ranging from beginners to post-Grade 8. She produced an array of winners in competitions, including the Johann Vos Piano Competition, with Betty Yu-Chih Chen (c.2000), Vickie Wei (second prize, 2002), Coila Enderstein (2006) and Yohan Chun (2012), who also won the Pieter Kooij Music Competition in the same year. The organisers of this year’s Johann Vos Piano Competition invited her to be one of their adjudicators, amongst other piano pedagogues, in their 25th anniversary year, in recognition of her considerable involvement and success with contestants in the past. Ms Dernier has also consistently achieved an aggregate of over 80% for the Grade 12 subject Music NSC examinations for many years, besides having individual candidates in the top five positions, including Betty Yu-Chih Chen who was placed first in Music in the Western Cape in 2001. While employed at Rustenburg, Ms Dernier completed a part-time BA though UNISA, majoring in English and Sociology, obtained a BEd degree at UCT and qualified in a two-year course in Holistic Massage and Aromatherapy. (She is also a skilled seamstress and a qualified Nursing Sister, obtained in a previous life, no doubt!)

Farewell to Ms Judith Dernier Ms Judith Dernier: BA, BEd, BMus, LSRM, UPLM, UTLM

As an accompanist for the Chamber Choir, she was the rehearsal pianist for many choral events and the pianist/harpsichordist in a number of musical productions at Rustenburg, including Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”, “Top Hat and Tails”, “Rustenburg on Broadway”,”www@e.com”, “Showtime”, “Animal Farm”. Ms Dernier also played the first piano part in four separate performances of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” in the City Hall, with pianists, Alan van der Merwe, Veranza Joubert, Tertia Downie and most recently in 2014, with her past pupil, Yohan Chun, who is currently studying Music at the South African College of Music. The purchase of the Kawai Baby Grand Piano at Charlie’s Hope and the recent refurbishment of the 1927 Steinway & Sons Model D Concert Grand Piano in the Kemp Hall by the Hamburg Steinway specialist, Johannes Mayer, are monuments, amongst other improvements in our department, to Ms Dernier’s forward thinking and care of our precious resources. She has also been responsible for the Music Technology programme for subject Music in Grades 11 and 12 and acquired the Sibelius and Cubase programmes and the necessary hardware for the Technology assessment tasks, with outstanding results. We salute Ms Judith Dernier for her exemplary work at Rustenburg over the past 32 years, always challenging, creative, innovative, dedicated, knowledgeable, fiery, and totally devoted to her beloved art form. A true legacy remains and a hard act to follow.

2015 was indeed a big year. Ms Judith Dernier, our senior piano and subject Music teacher extraordinaire, reached retirement age after 32 years of legendary service in the Music Department at Rustenburg.

Ms Judith Dernier with her two sons, Sarel and Gert.

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I recall Judith’s great integrity and how this was manifested in her dedication to her work and especially to the progress of her pupils – and the intensity, feeling and skill with which she played the piano on all occasions from assemblies to major concerts, usually as a wonderfully sensitive, generous and supportive accompanist. Judith and I shared a lot of laughter – we would be sitting in the office, discussing a problem, but she would be able to see the funny side and we would both enjoy a good laugh. What a great sense of humour she has! Ms Mary van Blerk (Principal 1991-1999)

Rustenburg has indeed been fortunate to have Ms Dernier in the Music department and the school. The quality and professionalism of the girls who were tutored by her was truly outstanding, not least due to her constant demand for the highest standards. Judith’s contribution to the life of the school through music has been exceptional and will be hard to equal. May her retirement include the leisure to enjoy the music she loves. I salute you! Dr Elizabeth Fullard (Principal 1999 – 2006)

Ms Dernier, is an incredible piano teacher. I remember during one break time, I was having an extra piano lesson with Ms Dernier and I was playing through a scale while she looked out of the window. Even though she wasn’t looking at me, she could somehow hear that I was using the wrong fingering and corrected me! I was highly impressed with this extraordinary skill of hers. Monique Hellenberg (E2000, Jazz vocalist)

Tributes to Ms Judith Dernier

When I arrived at Rustenburg, I wasn’t all that interested in music. I played the piano and mostly found it fun, but it wasn’t something I imagined myself pursuing after school. Ms Sole was my teacher in Grade 8, but there was a point at which Ms Sole saw in me potential which she felt would be better harnessed by Ms Dernier. She transferred me with urgency, though I seem to recall Ms D not being so convinced by the whole affair. Yet, as I progressed through high school and apparently showed increasing promise I felt she became one of my musical parents, so to speak. Every year I played Eisteddfods in cold halls, I was entered into competitions, I was involved in ensembles, I was picked up and taken to the City Hall to watch Olga Kern or another international artist. Despite almost rebelling and studying engineering, to Ms Dernier’s relief I went on to study music. I didn’t really understand what her actions meant until a few years after leaving school. Particularly since having some of my own piano students I’ve been able to appreciate the value of the time and effort this wonderfully quirky woman invested in my education. Judith, I am deeply grateful for what you gave to me and I wish you the utmost joy and comfort in the next chapter of your life. Coila-Leah Enderstein (E2008, Concert pianist)

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Rutter Requiem The annual combined choral event this year was, as usual, a phenomenal success. Musicians and singers from Rondebosch Boys’, Rustenburg and the South African College High Schools teamed up to perform John Rutter’s “Requiem”.

Under the guidance of our teachers and our outstanding conductor, Alexander Fokkens, the Choir and Orchestra rehearsed the challenging music with great enthusiasm and dedication. After six months of rehearsing and practising, with mounting excitement, the performance took place in the grand old City Hall on 3 and 4 August. The Concert Band opened the performance with Jim Curnow’s “Seacliffe Overture,” conducted by Mr Levi Alexander from SACS. The magnificent sound and musicality of the Concert Band was showcased further with two exciting excerpts from “The Planets” by Gustav Holst “Mars (The Bringer of War)” and “Jupiter (The Bringer of Jollity),” under the direction of Mr Terrence Scarr, Head of Music at Rondebosch. The “Hymn to the Fallen”, a sombre, haunting piece from the film “Saving Private Ryan” composed by John Williams, brought the Choir and the Concert Band together in a memorable and moving performance. The talent of soloists from Rondebosch, the hosts on this occasion, was displayed in Vivaldi’s Concerto in B-flat Major, which showcased the violinist, Nicholas Bruiners and cellist, In-Woo Jun. The virtuosity of the soloists, the beautiful sound of the String Ensemble and the energy of conductor, Alexander Fokkens had the audience – and the choir members – enthralled. After the interval, the Choir and the Orchestra began the deeply heart-rending “Requiem.” The performers felt the power of the music and the joy of creating it through their singing and playing, and a feeling of awe filled each one as they progressed through the work. The soaring, mellifluous voice of the soprano soloist, Goitsemang Lehobye, entranced the audience and choir members alike. Mr Fokkens’ tireless vigour and enthusiasm were a great encouragement to the performers, which demanded a superlative performance and extreme concentration from all performers – although one or two young singers fell off the stage towards the end of the work, at the first performance, possibly from excitement or nerves or the heat of the moment! The two performances were a great success and left many an audience member in tears. The final bows were met with a standing ovation and roaring applause from a most appreciative audience. The singers and players from all three schools expressed their deepest gratitude to their teachers for their commitment and dedication in conveying the beauty and the depth of the music and their relentless pursuit in inspiring their passion within each young performer.

In Memoriam It is appropriate here to celebrate the life of the legendary choir director and piano teacher at Rustenburg, Ms Ruth Dosé, who died at the age of 93 this year. Together with, Dr Patrick Wise at Rondebosch, they established the combined schools’ choral tradition, beginning with a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in 1968 in the Memorial Hall at Rondebosch under the baton of Dr Wise. She was appointed in Term 4 of 1947 and lasted 29 Carol Services, and so much more, before moving on to the Teachers’ Training College in Mowbray. “The end of an era,” to quote past pupil and choral director, Vetta Wise, “words cannot say how sad I am, and how much I owe her.”

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MUSIC

Dernier/Sole Prize Hannah Clayton, a Grade 11 subject Music pupil was the second recipient of the Dernier/Sole Prize for Outstanding Progress in Piano awarded in 2015. She holds Full Colours for Music, having achieved distinctions in 2014 for the Grade 7 TCL piano and the Grade 6 Theory examinations, 98% in subject Music in June 2015 and, at the time of writing, was confident of success in the October Grade 8 TCL piano examination. Hannah performed in a piano duet by Arnold van Wyk with Samantha Carletti at the Piano Festival hosted by Rustenburg in April 2015 and achieved a Lof+ award for her Romantic Piano solo in the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod. She joined the Rustenburg Jazz Band in 2015 and attended the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown during the July vacation. She was also a member of the Chamber Choir, Flute Ensemble, Orchestra and Wind Band.

Elizabeth Sole Cup and Lisa Hellenberg Music Bursary

Music Special Awards Back row, from left: Marianne Schwellnus Front row, from left: Hannah Clayton, Kirsten Pienaar, Catherine Smith, Stéphanie Lawrenson, Kirsten Buchanan

Kirsten Pienaar was the recipient of both the Elizabeth Sole Cup for Singing and the Lisa Hellenberg Music Bursary in 2015. She served as the Head of the Chamber Choir in 2015 and in the same year, achieved three Hoogste Lof awards, a Gold Diploma, Silver Medal and the Gold Medal in the Senior Vocal Section at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod. Kirsten achieved a distinction for the Grade 6 TCL singing and clarinet examinations in 2014 and was preparing for her Grade 7 TCL singing examination and the Grade 6 TCL Theory examination in October. She sang several solos with the school’s Chamber Choir, auditioned in the first round of the Pieter Kooij Music Competition in 2014 and 2015, and was awarded first prize in the White Rose Art and Writing Project at the Cape Town Holocaust Centre for her song “Paint”. Kirsten holds Full Colours for Music and was also an active and dedicated member of Berocca G, the Clarinet Ensemble, Orchestra and the Wind Band, and she served on the Music Society committee. She is planning to pursue her studies in voice at the tertiary level in 2016.

Ivan Kilian Book Prize The Ivan Kilian Book Prize for Commitment, Dedication and Service to Music was jointly awarded to Kirsten Buchanan and Catherine Smith in 2015. Kirsten holds Full Colours for Music and served as Head of the Music Society, Deputy of the Orchestra and was a member of the String Ensemble. Kirsten achieved a distinction for her ABRSM violin examination and was preparing for her Grade 7 TCL piano examination in October 2015. She also achieved a Hoogste Lof in the 2015 Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod piano duet section. Catherine holds Full Colours or Music and served as the Head of Berocca G, Brass and Recorder Ensembles, was a member of the Chamber Choir of five years standing and joined the Jazz Band in 2013. She holds a Grade 7 TCL recorder and trombone certificate and was preparing to play her TCL Grade 8 recorder examination in October. She achieved three Hoogste Lof awards and a Silver medal in the recorder section at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod. Catherine intends to continue her studies in trombone and recorder at the tertiary level in 2016.

Janet Kirk Cup The Janet Kirk Cup for Service and Dedication to the Orchestra was jointly awarded to Marianne Schwellnus and Kirsten Buchanan in 2015. Marianne, a clarinettist and pianist, was elected the Head of the Orchestra for 2015 having been a member since her Grade 8 year. She holds Grade 8 TCL certificates in piano and clarinet, achieved Hoogste Lof in the piano section at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod in 2015 and a Merit certificate for the Grade 7 TCL Theory examination. Kirsten, a violinist and pianist, holds distinctions in both instruments for the Grade 7 ABRSM and TCL examinations respectively, was elected the Deputy of the Orchestra for 2015 having served as a member for four years. Both girls hold Full Colours for Music and are members of several other music ensembles and the Music Society committee. Marianne also plays the alto saxophone in the Jazz Band and sings in the Chamber Choir.

Music Scholarship Stéphanie Lawrenson was awarded a music scholarship in 2011 at Rustenburg for the duration of her high school years. As a Grade 12 subject Music pupil, she holds Full Colours for Music and served as the Head of the String Ensemble and the Jazz Band and the Leader of the Orchestra. She achieved distinctions for her Grade 8 ABRSM violin and Grade 7 TCL saxophone examinations and was preparing to play her Grade 8 TCL saxophone examination in October. In 2015, she attended the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown during the July vacation. Besides her involvement at Rustenburg, she played the violin in the Beau Soleil Senior String Ensemble, the viola in a String Quartet at Beau Soleil and was a member of the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Stéphanie is planning to pursue her studies in music at the tertiary level in 2016.

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

MUSIC

General Choir

Back row, from left: Paige Rutherford, Olivia Stanton, Fozia Hendricks, Sarah Tough, Katia Devoti, Caroline Schreiber, Siphosihle Zola, Baheya Dramat, Natasha Espag, Chi Ying Joycelyn Ng, Melissa Rossouw Six row, from left: Eden Isaacs, Sifumene Naka, Kim Lothaller, Georgia Dugmore, Shannon McGaughey, Martha Muye Ruider, Jamie Kirton, Sarah Gerber, Cassidy Bhoopchand, Alicia Howe, Erin Marsberg, Nina Stodel, Bryony Bosman, Saiyuree Sewchuran Fifth row, from left: Kendi Kane-Berman, Michelle Mouton, Thalia Bardien, Megan Kode, Caitlyn Abdoll, Lungelo Mashaba, Victoria King, Bianca Cilliers, Adwoa Danso, Morgan Prins, Lerato Ntsime, Caitlin October, Adrienne Golden, Alice von Zeil, Mushira Obaray Fourth row, from left: Courtney Carelse, Thameenah Daniels, Carla Daniels, Megan Pettie, Ye Won Anna Choi, Lara Cattermole, Madison Gilowey, Leah Mann, Caitlynn Yeo, Geena Polzin, Zahrah Allie, Alexandra Austin, Jordan Selous, Lukho Dladla, Erin Hector Third row, from left: Zahra Mohamed, Ilhaam Khalfe, Morgan Ribbonaar, Da-Eun Lee, Kelly Bang, Caitlin Reinecke, Leah Abdullah, Chloe Whitton, Ameryn Peters, Jiyoon Jeon, Rebecca Plaatjies, Andrea Pienaar, Gabriella Sancho, Tenille Cannon, Kia Arendse Second row, from left: Isabella Gloor, Maxine Dos Reis, Tumelo Nkgudi, Ye Eun Chung, Alexandra Müller, Chloë Swartz, Ayla Macedo, Jodi Rogerson, Avantika Naidoo, Kim-Joy Damon, Cynthia Augustine, Mushfiqah Salie, Kimlyn Smart, Erin Steyn Front row, from left: Chelsea Samaai, Tayla McGregor, Estine Everson, Yonela Katsha, Claire Denny, Shameez Phillips, Ms Maileen Jamey (Accompanist), Emily O’Ryan (Head), Ms Elizabeth Sole (Director), Annemieke Lourens (Deputy), Musa Makhoba, Hannah Abdoll, Ashleigh Barnard, Orissa Ramesar, Thandi Mettler Absent: Kerry-Ann Couperthwaite, Linomtha Damone, Sahlah Davids, Kelly De Lucchi, Paige Rutherford, Sanjana Sewchuran, Talitha Wyne

Chamber Choir

Back row, from left: Mikayla Shaw, Brittany du Preez, Amy Long, Nina Beckurts, Imke Mühr, Caitlin Fleming, Sasha Marais, Phumzile Konile Third row, from left: Grace Crocker, Mila Truter, Kerryn Duff, Hannah Clayton, Nicola McLachlan, Katrin van der Merwe, Sesethu Mdlungu, Hannah Móre O’Ferrall, Mishka Sooful Second row, from left: Ashleigh Madell, Erica Whittal, Irene Nolte, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Samantha Carletti, Alexa Rabeling, Cara Whittal, Sheree Stewart Front row, from left: Ashleigh Curtis, Zarah Mitchell, Hannah Abrahams-Crocker (Deputy Head), Ms Judith Dernier (Accompanist), Kirsten Pienaar (Head), Ms Elizabeth Sole (Director), Samantha McCrindle, Marianne Schwellnus, Catherine Smith

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Jazz Band

Back row, from left: Hannah Clayton, Catherine Smith, Megan Denny, Lauren Pienaar, Imke Mühr, Caitlyn Abdoll Second row, from left: Ayla Macedo, Neo Ramagaga, Claire Denny, Olivia Pearson, Andrea Pienaar, Jodi Rogerson Front row, from left: Pauline Shrosbree, Thandi Mettler, Stéphanie Lawrenson (Head), Mr Leslie Elderkin (Director), Jaime Newdigate (Deputy Head), Marianne Schwellnus, Kerryn Duff Absent: Taylor Hall

Orchestra

Back row, from left: Ashleigh Barnard, Megan Frost, Samantha Ma, Nina Beckhurts, Imke Mühr, Megan Denny, Walda van der Merwe, Lauren Pienaar, Kirsten Pienaar Fourth row, from left: Hannah Clayton, Olivia Stanton, Alexandra Wittenberg-Scott, Jenna Frost, Kaitlin Downie, Daniellé Lund, Wen-Ching Chang, Kerryn Duff Third row, from left: Neo Ramagaga, Nureen Mahmood, Rebecca Terry, Jordan Philander, Stephanie Keyser, Katrin van der Merwe, Irena Nolte, Gina Wright, Claire Denny Second row, from left: Nokukhanya Zondi, Jodi Rogerson, Bethany Rumble, Jessica McLachlan, Da Eun Lee, Bronwen Barratt, Jiyoon Jeon, Andrea Pienaar, Daniella Freitas, Ashleigh Joubert Front row, from left: Jaime Newdigate, Thandi Mettler, Stéphanie Lawrenson, Marianne Schwellnus, Ms Olivia Herrendoerfer (Conductor), Kirsten Buchanan (Head), Nicola McLachlan, Catherine Smith, Caitlin October

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Small Ensembles Our Small Ensembles programme continues to offer much variety and opportunity for our instrumentalists, from Baroque to African, Jazz to Contemporary, silver flute to saxophone and trumpet to tuba, with 2015 being the year in which the Rustenburg Music Department acquired its first tuba.

Berocca G and the Recorder Ensemble were involved in masterclasses at the 10th Recorder Symposium hosted by Rustenburg in association with Trinity Guildhall and the Stellenbosch Music Department in March, with Early Music specialists, Charlotte Berger and Erik Dippenaar and Old Girl, Nicola van Zyl Smit. Both ensembles were awarded Hoogste Lof certificates at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod, with Berocca G achieving a Gold Medal and performing “Esurientes implevit bonis” from JS Bach’s Magnificat in D Major in the Prestige Concert, with Catherine Smith (Head) and Kerryn Duff on recorders, Kirsten Pienaar (mezzosoprano), Stephanie Keyser and Nicola McLachlan on continuo. Other members are Irena Nolte (Leader), Alexandra Wittenberg-Scott and Kaitlin Downie on strings. The Brass Ensemble, expanding continually, gave a lively performance at the Junior Music Spotlight concert and in the Annual Music concert directed by the ever-enthusiastic, Ms Davis. One of our biggest challenges is to encourage more girls to play brass instruments, as brass players fill such a vital role in an orchestra, jazz and wind ensemble. The Clarinet and Saxophone Ensembles participated in the Junior Music Spotlight concert and are crucial in the development of our Wind Band, as are our flute players. The Flute Ensemble (Junior and Senior) showed their colours at the Junior Music Spotlight concert and continue to grow and develop with younger players joining the ranks. They performed at both the Spotlight and the Annual Music concerts directed by Ms Herrendoerfer. Our Guitar and Keyboard Ensembles have been equally active under the leadership of Ms Jamey, with both ensembles performing in the Spotlight and the Annual Music concerts and providing musical enjoyment for the residents in Frail Care at Huis Lückhoff. With Mr David West’s appointment as a full-time staff member at Beau Soleil, he has incorporated our subject Music percussionists into the Beau Soleil programme, with the result that they have had a number of additional performing opportunities in their end-of-term programmes. Our percussionists also provide the essential percussion accompaniments in our orchestra and ensembles. Savuyisa Senior and Junior continue to be particularly active and perform each year in the Marimba Festival at the Baxter Theatre in April. Always a popular event, it attracts marimba bands throughout the Cape Peninsula. Both groups also perform at Open Days, Jabulani concerts, the Annual Music concert and at other events, such as the Art Awards and the Sun Run. We are fortunate to have Grant Adams and Gavin Bolton as directors, who continue to inspire our enthusiastic players. Finally, our String Ensemble, under the directorship of Ms Maria Raynham, were fortunate in attending a twoday String Symposium with Louise Lansdown, recently appointed Head of Strings at the Music Conservatoire in Birmingham. Having obtained her undergraduate training at the University of Stellenbosch, she enrolled for postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and was appointed senior lecturer there in 2001. She is keen to establish links with music schools in South Africa and we anticipate several Skype interviews and masterclasses in the forthcoming years.

Judith Dernier Tribute Concert At a tribute concert held on the 18th October, numerous past pupils returned to the school to perform in homage to their former teacher. In honour of the occasion, a short work for piano was commissioned by the Rustenburg Music Department, composed by Dr Martin Watt and performed on the night by CoilaLeah Enderstien (E2008). The piece comprised of two contrasting miniatures exploring small, melodic and harmonic motifs that ware organically expanded into larger units. Pictured here are Ms Elizabeth Sole, Ms Coila-Leah Enderstein, Ms Judith Dernier and Dr Martin Watt.

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

MUSIC

Berrocca G

Second row, from left: Irena Nolte, Stephanie Keyser, Alexandra Wittenberg-Scott, Kerryn Duff Front row, from left: Kirsten Pienaar, Catherine Smith (Head), Ms Elizabeth Sole, Stéphanie Lawrenson, Nicola McLachlan Absent: Kaitlin Downie

Brass Ensemble

Back row, from left: Jodi Rogerson, Jenna Davids, Kirsten van der Heyden, Pauline Shrosbree, Sarah Dudley, Jordan Philander, Gina Wright, Kaya Dube Front row, from left: Imke Mühr, Thandi Mettler, Catherine Smith (Head), Ms Rosemary Davis, Tumelo Nkgudi, Lungelo Mashaba, Lauren Pienaar

Flute Ensemble

Back row, from left: Da Eun Lee, Nina Beckurts, Jenna Frost, Marnie McGowan Second row, from left: Ye Eun Chung, Rebecca Terry, Maxine Dos Reis, Eden Isaacs, Hannah Clayton, Jiyoon Jeon Front row, from left: Daniellé Lund, Gabriella Sancho, Andrea Pienaar, Ms Olivia Herrendoerfer, Aerin Mc Cullum, Tumelo Nkgudi, Tanya van der Merwe Absent: Odelle Harold, Ashleigh Barnard RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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Clarinet Ensemble

Back row, from left: Jessica McLachlan, Sarah Tough, Cara Lothaller, Olivia Key, Sarah Dudley Front row, from left: Mia Salonen, Deaviah Moodley, Mr Leslie Elderkin (Director), Ameryn Peters, Daniella Freitas

Guitar Ensemble

Second row, from left: Tai-Li Lee, Savannah Meyer, Olivia Pearson Front row, from left: Ayla Macedo, Caitlyn Abdoll, Ms Maileen Jamey, Daniella Freitas, Kristen Naidoo

Percussion Ensemble

Second row, from left: Olivia Stanton, Olivia Pearson, Sarah Dudley Front row, from left: Taylor Hall, Neo Ramagaga. Bronwen Barratt Absent: Mr David West (Director) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

MUSIC

Recorder Ensemble

Second row, from left: Mishka Sooful, Bianca Cilliers Front row, from left: Catherine Smith (Head), Ms Elizabeth Sole, Kerryn Duff

Savuyisa Junior

Second row, from left: Muofhe Tshifularo, Daariah Arend, Chloë Mallows Front row, from left: Caroux de Lange, Daniellé Lund, Saiyuree Sewchuran, Olivia Stanton, Mr Gavin Bolton (Director) Absent: Nicola Baalbergen, Britney Price

Savuyisa Senior

Front row, from left: Sarah Dalvie, Azraa Kannemeyer, Rebecca Haines, Aaliyah Davids, Mr Grant Adams (Director), Chelsea Bam, Mubeenah Gangraker, Tasneem Bawa RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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Keyboard Ensemble

Back row, from left: Leila Diesel, Kim Lothaller Front row, from left: Adrienne Golden, Brittany du Preez, Ms Maileen Jamey, Sharna Naidoo, Lisa Harris

Saxophone Ensemble

Back row, from left: Tenille Cannon, Chelsea Prodehl, Andrea Walsh, Caroline Schreiber, Caitlin October, Mary-Kate Oosthuizen Front row, from left: Asemi Ntsokolo, Mikayla Shaw, Mr Leslie Elderkin (Director), Jade Lawson, Linomtha Damane Absent: Mushira Obaray

String Ensemble

Back row: from left: Shannon McGaughey, Imke Mühr, Saige King, Iman Cottle Third row, from left: Nureen Mahmood, Katrin van der Merwe, Siphosihle Zola, Kaitlin Downie, Wen-Ching Chang, Alexandra Wittenberg-Scott, Stephanie Keyser Second row, from left: Kimlyn Smart, Haneen Pohplonker, Erica Whittal, Jiyoon Jeon, Bethany Rumble, Ashleigh Madell Front row, from left: Mubeenah Gangraker, Rebecca Haines, Stéphanie Lawrenson (Head), Ms Maria Raynham (Director), Nicola McLachlan, Kirsten Buchanan, Irena Nolte RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

MUSIC

Music Society Head: Kirsten Buchanan Teacher-in-charge: Ms Maileen Jamey

Music connects people. The Music Society’s vision for 2015 was to unite all the girls in the school with music, whether they were studying music or not.

This year, the various events held on Wednesdays at second breaks included an “Amazing Race” where the new Grade 8 pupils followed a chain of clues around the school to become more acquainted with the music world; a jazz performance from Alessandra Abbondanza and Jacopo Ausili, two inspiring young Italian Jazz musicians, which was promoted by the SAJE; a spectacular drum clinic held by Mr David West, our part-time percussion teacher; a talk from the Barleycorn Music Club who support and promote original music in South Africa; a demonstration from the Big House Academy, a recording studio, who recorded a live cover of “Uptown Funk” for us; as well as performances from the Collegiate and Kingsmead Girls’ choirs. Our main event this year was the Rustenburg Open Mic. This event gave aspiring musicians the opportunity to perform covers or original compositions in a solo capacity or in a band. Our guest judge was Old Girl and past Head of the Chamber Choir, Amy Walton, who is currently studying Jazz at UCT and has achieved much acclaim for her live performances. This event was a great success and was enjoyed by both performers and audience alike. The Music Society continues to operate behind the scenes to ensure that the Music Department and all its events and rehearsals run smoothly.

Music Society Committee

Second row, from left: Kerryn Duff, Lauren Pienaar Front row, from left: Kirsten Pienaar, Marianne Schwellnus (Deputy Head), Ms Maileen Jamey, Kirsten Buchanan (Head), Samantha McCrindle RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

SPORT

The sport that I played at school formed the base of my sporting success later in life. Sport is a life skill and my belief is that it must be played by all school pupils in one form or another. It is key to creating well-rounded and responsible future leaders in our society. There appears to be a never-ending lease on life on the Rustenburg campus and the Astroturf is partly to thank for this. Hockey has really taken off as the girls appear to be so proud of their new Astroturf and simply love playing on it under the shadow of Table Mountain. I think that Rustenburg has the most beautiful setting of any Astroturf in Cape Town. Having our own Astroturf has really improved the quality of play as well as the quantity of hours spent playing the game of hockey. Proof of this was the first edition of the Champions Cup hockey and netball tournament that took place in May. This tournament started out as an SGB initiative. It will become an annual event for our U16 age-group. Teams from around the Peninsula and Boland areas represented their schools in this friendly, yet competitive tournament. Plans for the future do include an indoor sports facility and an indoor aquatics centre, albeit in the far future. I know how much these facilities will be appreciated by our swimmers, the waterpolo fraternity as well as our indoor hockey players. Once again, with the amount of talent within our girls, I know that in the future Rustenburg will be a force to be reckoned with in all sporting codes. There is so much talent, energy and commitment among the Rustenburg girls. The campus is abuzz with enthusiasm every afternoon as the girls change for their various sporting activities. There is much to get excited about as far as sport is concerned as we cater for our social and competitive sportswomen with an incredible variety of sports.

National Sport Achievers Adrienne Clynick

From the Sport Manager

Adrienne (Grade 10) has been doing Rhythmic Gymnastics at Dynamic club in Mowbray for five years. She was chosen along with four other gymnasts to represent her club and then Western Cape as a member of the Elite hoop group. In September 2014, they competed at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Nationals competition, held in Cape Town and won Gold. In December 2014, Adrienne and her teammates competed at the Elite level, which entitled them to represent South Africa at the Zone 6 Games held in Namibia, where they were placed a very close second and won Silver.

Renée Scott: BA (Phys Ed) HDE

The Sport Office at Rustenburg is a very busy place and the reason for this is quite simple: sport at Rustenburg is thriving. I took over the management of the Sport Office from Ms Williams at the beginning of Term 3 and she was kind enough to pop into the office to assist me with my queries and confusions whenever I needed her.

Séanne van Horsten In 2014, Séanne participated at the World Goju Kai Karate tournament in India. Séanne’s coach had the following to say about her: “Séanne lost in a very close final match and ended up placing second in the world. She is currently the best junior girl in the country and has graded to her black belt in Japan. She will be participating in the next World Tournament, which is held every four years, in Canada in 2017.” In 2015, Séanne participated in four divisions in the 40th Goju Kai Nationals held in Stellenbosch. She won a Gold medal, two Silvers and a Bronze medal.

Ms Zaandré Theron In February, Ms Theron was invited to join the Lady Blitzbokke Sevens training squad in preparation for the 2014/15 Women’s Sevens World Series in the hopes of qualifying for the Olympics in Rio 2016. Ms Theron trained with the squad on a trial basis which was very exciting. She was then selected for the Atlanta tour in March! In the USA, Ms Theron secured a spot in the starting line-up and ended up getting quite a lot of game time. South Africa played against USA, New Zealand and Russia. Unfortunately, our team did not place well in the tournament but left with a lot of positives to work from. Ms Theron was then chosen to travel with the team to London and Amsterdam at the end of May and she scored her first try against Fiji. The team also played Canada, England, Russia and Brazil (during which game she scored another try and the team won 14 -7). In September the South African Sevens National Sports Achievers Women’s team qualified for the 2016 Olympics and Ms Theron will be Back row, from left: Adrienne Clynick, Ms Zaandré Theron, working her hardest to be selected for the experience of a lifetime. Séanne van Horsten

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SPORTS Colours and Awards The Rustenburg Sports Awards Assembly was held on 30 September. The guest speaker, Kurt Cerfontyne, is currently serving as the senior national women’s assistant hockey coach. In his address, Mr Cerfontyne shared the opportunities that sport opened up to him and encouraged the girls to work to their full potential so that anything becomes possible if you ‘put yourself out there’.

Cricket Moraig McLeod Award, to the player who has shown enthusiasm and encouraged the game of cricket at Rustenburg: Megan Denny Full Colours: Megan Denny

Cross Country Best Senior Runner: Eden Paarwater Best Junior Runner: Thameenah Daniels

Hockey Tracey Hall trophy, to the most outstanding U14 player: Ashleigh Noyce Pietersen Hockey Trophy, to the player who displayed outstanding and consistent enthusiasm, reliability, loyalty and good sportsmanship: Tamarah Pike Lianne do Rego Goalkeeping Trophy: Caroline Schreiber Most Improved Hockey Player: Megan Denny Hockey Players of the Year: Haidee Davis, Michelle Winter

Half Colours: Megan Denny, Georgina Firth, Brittany Gouws, Gabriel-Fay Morgan, Kristen Naidoo, Stephanie Scriba, Casey Wheeler, Courtney Wheeler Full Colours: Haidee Davis, Kiera Maher, Tamarah Pike, Michelle Winter

Indoor Hockey Indoor Hockey Player of the Year: Michelle Winter Half Colours: Brittany Gouws Full Colours: Lauren Abbott, Haidee Davis, Kristen Naidoo, Michelle Winter

Netball Most Promising Junior Player: Eugenia Twumasi Baguley Trophy, for the most improved player: Lauren Hales Netball Player of the Year: Samantha McCrindle Shooter with the Best Goal Average: Lauren Hales

Squash Francois Botha Trophy, for the most enthusiasm for the game and has encouraged greater interest in the game at Rustenburg: Zarah Mitchell Best Squash Player: Alyssa Cummings

Swimming Most Promising Senior Swimmer: Kristin Bellingan Most Promising Junior Swimmer: Shannon Canter Barbara Marais Trophy, for the swimmer who has shown hard work and team spirit: Jessica Banks, Rebecca Haines Half Colours: Rebecca Haines, Alexandra Heiberg, Chelsea van Rensburg Full Colours: Kristin Bellingan, Caylan Bromley, Caitlin Truter

Tennis Best Senior Tennis Player: Kirstin Shaw Best Junior Tennis Player: Megan Davidson

Western Province Representatives

Half Colours: Emily Malherbe, Kirstin Shaw

Touch Rugby The player who has excelled, shown enthusiasm, loyalty and good sportsmanship in the game at Rustenburg: Ziyanah Fredericks, Elle Mouton Half Colours: Roxi Francke, Zoë Naude, Marianne Schwellnus Full Colours: Ziyanah Fredericks, Samantha McCrindle, Elle Mouton

Waterpolo Laura Barrett trophy, to the most passionate waterpolo player: Jessica Banks Lisa Stirrat trophy, to the most improved waterpolo player: Tamarah Pike Half Colours: Alina Schoenberger, Megan van Westenbrugge

Special Awards Nicola Barrett Cup Samantha McCrindle received the 2015 Nicola Barrett Cup for all-round sporting excellence, showing team loyalty and good sportsmanship. Samantha played in the school’s 1st Netball Team, 1st Touch Rugby Team and 1st Waterpolo Team.

Service to Sport Lauren Abbott was awarded the Service to Sport certificate for all-round excellent service to sport, showing team loyalty and good sportsmanship.

Rustenburg Team of the Year This year the Rustenburg Team of the Year Trophy was shared between the Swimming Team for winning the PGSGU trophy and the 1st Netball Team for becoming the first Southern suburbs school to win the Western Province 1st League Championship.

Back row, from left: Brittany Gouws (Indoor Hockey and Hockey), Kristin Belligan (Swimming and Surf Life Saving), Georgia Hill (Hockey), Natasha van Greunen (Surfing), Hannah Schaefer (Hockey) 5th row, from left: Roxi Francke (Touch Rugby), Kiera Maher (Hockey), Sarah Virgin (Touch Rugby), Leesha Melvill (Touch Rugby), Stephanie Scriba (Hockey), Caroline Schreiber (Indoor Hockey and Hockey), Adrienne Clynick (Rhythmic Gymnastics), Aaliyah Meredith (Waterpolo), Tamarah Pike (Hockey) 4th row, from left: Ashleigh Noyce (Indoor Hockey and Hockey), Shea-Lee Tzamtis (Horse Riding), Tristan Jones (Waterpolo), Casey Wheeler (Indoor Hockey and Hockey), Bianca Hill (Synchronised Ice-Skating), Michaela Hill (Synchronised Ice-skating), Tasmyn Baxter (Waterpolo), Britney Price (Touch Rugby), Caitlin October (Surfing), Shana Daniels (Indoor Hockey) 3rd row, from left: Mrs Vivienne Williams (Road Running), Emma Swart (Ice Hockey and Figure Skating), Ashley Howard (Waterpolo), Courtney Wheeler (Indoor Hockey and Hockey), Talia Botha (Indoor Netball), Sarah Firth (Hockey), Amber Jossie (Softball), Jacqueline Sissons (Indoor Hockey and Hockey), Daariah Arend (Touch Rugby), Jameela Rawoot (Touch Rugby), Ms Zaandré Theron (Sevens Rugby) 2nd row, from left: Angela Mibey (Touch Rugby), Sharna Naidoo (Indoor Hockey), Tamsin Metelerkamp (Debating), Georgia Dugmore (Indoor Hockey), Megan Denny (Cricket and Hockey), Megan Davidson (Tennis), Kayla Budge (Waterpolo), Séanne van Horsten (Karate), Kristen Naidoo (Indoor Hockey), Razaan Phillips (Touch Rugby) Front row, from left: Megan van Westenbrugge (Waterpolo), Michelle Winter (Hockey and Indoor Hockey), Elle Mouton (Touch Rugby), Samantha McCrindle (Touch Rugby), Mrs Renée Scott, Ziyanah Fredericks (Touch Rugby), Haidee Davis (Indoor Hockey and Hockey), Caitlin Truter (Swimming), Jessica Banks (Waterpolo) Absent: Sarah Sims (Indoor Hockey), Megan Tromp (Indoor Hockey), Zay-yaan Hamza (Indoor Hockey), Walda van der Merwe (Touch Rugby), Alina Schoenberger (Waterpolo), Caylan Bromley (Lifesaving) RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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Aquatics Teacher-in-charge: Ms Susan Viljoen Coach: Ms Vivienne Williams and Ms Susan Viljoen Captain: Jessica Banks Vice-captain: Rebecca Haines

Rustenburg’s swimming team started the season in full force, determined to bring home the trophies. Rustenburg hosted the first gala of the season, a co-ed relay gala, in October. We started the season off strongly by winning the meeting. The team swam incredibly well and placed first or second overall in all seven galas of the season. Rhenish remained the only swimming team which we did not manage to beat. The annual A-League Gala took place on 25 February at the Newlands pool. This was an exciting event for the Swimming Team and the Rustenburg supporters. The exuberant cheering from the Rustenburg crowd motivated the swimmers to perform outstandingly. Rustenburg placed a very close second behind Rhenish’s winning team. Mention must be made of our individual race winners: Daniella Solkow (U14 50m Breaststroke), Caitlin Truter (U19 50m Breaststroke), Caylan Bromley (U16 50m Backstroke), Shannon Canter (U14 50m Freestyle) and Jenna Currie, Daniella Solkow, Erin Hartzenberg, Shannon Canter (U14 Medley relay). The PGSGU Gala on 3 March was hosted by Rustenburg. The team swam brilliantly and brought home both the U14 and U19 age group trophies. Rustenburg repeated last year’s achievement and won the overall PGSGU swimming trophy. Our U14 team, Daniella Solkow, Jenna Currie, Shannon Canter and Erin Hartzenberg won both the freestyle and medley relays. The U19 team, Kristin Bellingan, Rebecca Haines, Caitlin Truter, Alexandra Heiberg and Chelsea van Rensburg also won both of their relays. The following swimmers came first in their individual races: Erin Hartzenberg (U14 50m Butterfly), Kristin Bellingan (U19 50m Butterfly), Daniella Solkow (U14 50m Breaststroke), Shannon Canter (U14 50m Freestyle) and Rebecca Haines (U19 50m Freestyle). A number of our swimmers excelled during the season, namely Caroux de Lange, Kristin Bellingan, Caitlin Truter and Caylan Bromley. In December, Caroux was selected to represent the Western Cape Schools Team which competed at the South African Schools Games at the University of Pretoria. At the Western Province Championships held during December, Kristin, Caroux, Caylan and Caitlin were all medalists in their various age groups. Kristin was selected to attend the Swimming South Africa Junior Training Camp in January in Mpumalanga. Kristin, Caitlin and Caylan qualified to participate in the Swimming South Africa Grand Prix Gala. This prestigious gala took place in Stellenbosch in February. Caylan also excelled at the South African Open Water Swimming Championships. She won gold in her age group in the 3km event and silver in the 5km event. Congratulations to Kristin, Caylan, Caroux and Caitlin who qualified to swim in the South African National Open Championships that were held at the end of April.

1st Team Aquatics

Third row, from left: Adrienne Clynick, Caylan Bromley, Kirstin Bellingan, Caitlin Truter, Chelsea van Rensburg Second row, from left: Sarah Tough, Jenna Currie, Caroux de Lange, Robyn Freeman, Shannon Canter, Olivia Key Front row, from left: Erin Hartzenberg, Alexandra Heiberg, Jessica Banks, Ms Susan Viljoen, Rebecca Haines, Saskia van der Merwe, Daniella Solkow

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Cricket Teacher-in-charge: Mr Graham Reggiori Coach: Mr Graham Reggiori Captain: Megan Denny Vice-captain: Tsepiso Seheri

The 2014/2015 cricket season was a developmental process during which the improvement and enthusiasm of new players was very encouraging. Over the course of the season only three matches were played out of a possible six, due to the withdrawal and cancellation of various teams that we were scheduled to play. Term 4 of 2014 was a transition period for the 1st Team, as the majority of the team had been in Matric and were therefore no longer playing. The 1st Team played a match against Parow High School and, although we lost the match, it was a great learning experience for the eight players on the team who had never played before. 2015 saw the arrival of a new coach and a new set of very enthusiastic Grade 8s and 9s to the team. The team was excited, worked hard and was eager to play matches. Our first match of the year was against Pinelands High School. Pinelands did not have enough players so a few Rustenburg girls showed their sportsmanship by playing in the Pinelands team so that it could be a fair game. Pinelands was no match for our bowling attack and they struggled, managing only 20 runs all out. All of our bowlers contributed by getting wickets and the fielders were excellent, taking all catches and not letting Pinelands score any runs off the bat. Megan Denny and Alida van der Merwe chased down the runs within five overs. Rustenburg won by 10 wickets. The last match of the season was played against Parow High School. This was a grudge match and the team was out to restore some pride for the school. Parow batted first and only managed to score 37 runs all out in 20 overs. Alida van der Merwe, Zoë Naude and Megan Denny each took three wickets. Rustenburg made the total with ease and won by nine wickets. Alida was the top scorer with 21 runs. This comprehensive win showed the vast improvement in our team over the course of the season. The girls were greatly inspired and encouraged by the passionate new coach, Mr Reggiori. With the great team spirit amongst the young set of talented players, the next cricket season is sure to be one of great fun and success. Congratulations to Megan Denny who represented Western Province in the U19 Girls Team.

1st Cricket Team

Second row, from left: Carmen Wilson-Harris, Alexandria van Aarde, Zoë Naude, Tasneem Davids, Alida van der Merwe, Jemma Sage Front row, from left: Jade Lawson, Keely Londt, Megan Denny, Mr Graham Reggiori, Nishaat Hendricks, Stephané Hornsby, Yusra Sablay

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Running Club

Cross Country

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Helen Kleynhans, Ms Linda Mallon, Ms Stella Rossouw Captain: Ashleigh Barnard Vice-captain: Zubeida Waggie

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Helen Kleynhans and Ms Jane Behne Coach: Mr André Williams Captain: Amber Goldberg

Running in the shady parks around Rondebosch was something that many Rustenburg girls liked to do every Monday and Thursday afternoon.

Cross Country races took place every Wednesday in Term 2 and 3 at a variety of schools across the Peninsula.

The group was enthusiastic and very energetic and the girls were keen to run new and longer routes. Running Club consisted of a large number of girls who all ran a time trial around Rondebosch Common at the beginning of the year. This time trial was repeated at the end of Term 1 so that the girls could see how much they had improved. Running Club is a great way to get involved in school life by becoming part of a network of girls who support and encourage one another to reach their personal fitness goals.

The team travelled to more distant venues such as Table View, Fish Hoek, Camps Bay and Jan van Riebeeck and to others closer to home such as Rondebosch and SACS. Although the team was small, the regular runners were very enthusiastic and keen to do well. Participating in races was a good way to get fit, to get to know girls from other grades and form classes and to see parts of Cape Town that they might otherwise not have visited.

2015 Two Oceans Rustenburg Staff Results

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon held in Cape Town over the Easter weekend has become an internationally recognised race and one in which a number of Rustenburg staff participate every year. Results achieved by staff members were astounding, showing consistency, dedication and commitment. These are the values that we hope to instil in our younger runners. Congratulations to the following staff members who completed the race: Ms Linda Mallon: 06:34.17 (her 15th ultra-marathon) Ms Renée Scott: 01:38.36 (half-marathon) Mr Myles Siebrits: 02:27.42 (completed his 10th consecutive half- marathon) Ms Renée Fourie: 02:29.03 (completed her 16th Two Oceans half- marathon)

Running Club

Back row, from left: Isabelle Meyer, Jenna Frost, Jenna Mühlberg, Chelsea Burnell, Shannon McGaughey, Fareen Mahmood 4th row, from left: Megan Kode, Leila Diesel, Alexa Hall, Hannah Luxton, Kayleigh Beattie, Muofhe Tshifularo 3rd row, from left: Georgia Smith, Sarah Prutton, Tamara Engelbrecht, Michaela Feldon, Kate Lodwick, Kelly Bang, Jodi Rogerson 2nd row, from left: Jarita Kassen, Bridgette Bauer, Athraa Fakier, Kaylee Hudson, Rebecca Terry, Thameenah Daniels, Leah Mann, Shameez Phillips Front row, from left: Kimlyn Smart, Ms Linda Mallon, Zubeida Waggie (ViceCaptain), Mrs H. Kleynhans, Ashleigh Barnard (Captain), Ms Stella Roussouw, Zaina Abrahams RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

Runners who did well in the Southern Zone races were Zaina Abrahams, Thameenah Daniels, Jenna Frost, Kaylee Hudson, Kate Lodwick and Eden Paarwater. These girls qualified to run in the Western Province Schools Championships (Metro) at CPUT on a cold, damp Saturday morning in August and all showed determination to conquer a challenging, rather hilly course. Rustenburg had a full complement of runners at the PGSGU inter-schools race at St Cyprians on 28 August. The girls ran with determination and a sense of team. Congratulations to the following girls who were our top finishers in each age-group: Ashleigh Noyce placed fifth (U14), Emily Hobson placed fifth (U15), Caylan Bromley placed ninth (U16), Kristin Bellingan placed tenth (U17) and Samantha McCrindle placed fifth (U19). Special mention must be made of the Matrics who ran their last race for Rustenburg and ended up coming joint first in the U19 age-group. Rustenburg placed third overall.

1st Team Cross Country

Back row, from left: Alexa Hall, Sarah Prutton, Tamara Engelbrecht, Kate Lodwick, Ashleigh Barnard, Rebecca Mortley, Jenna Frost Second row, from left: Kathleen Holcroft, Zubeida Waggie, Kelly Bang, Thameenah Daniels, Hannah Luxton, Alexandra Wittenberg-Scott, Tessa Stephenson, Isabelle Vainio Front row, from left: Ardine van Zyl, Ms Helen Kleynhans, Amber Goldberg, Mr André Williams, Kaylee Hudson, Ms Renée Scott, Zaina Abrahams

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Hockey Teacher-in-charge: Mr Gian Marneweck Coach: Ms Daniela Bayman Captain: Haidee Davis Vice-captain: Michelle Winter

The 2015 hockey season was one filled with many exciting events and achievements. The level of hockey, in terms of skill and sportsmanship, was of a satisfyingly high standard, amongst all agegroups, as the girls really did Rustenburg proud. We were privileged to have Kurt Cerfontyne as a technical advisor this season. The season kicked off with the 1st Team attending the National Girls’ Schools’ Festival, in Bloemfontein, which was held at Meisieskool Oranje. We placed ninth out of 20 teams, which included some of the top schools in South Africa. Another successful event was the match against a team from Belgrano Athletic Club in Argentina, as a pre-season warm-up game. Our U16A team lost their match 1-4, however, our 1st Team won 2-1. After a wonderful afternoon of hockey all the teams proceeded to enjoy a post-match braai, where we were fortunate enough to get to know girls from another country who shared the same passion as us. The second tournament in which we participated was the U18 Cape Town Hockey Festival at the end of July. Our new Astroturf, which had recently been equipped with a dugout and technical table area, was used as one of the venues for this tournament. We played two home games and enjoyed the support we received when the Rustenburg girls were allowed out of class to come and support the 1st Team. We placed seventh out of 22 teams, which was once again a very rewarding result. The number of Rustenburg learners who represented provincial teams this year was outstanding. Michelle Winter and Haidee Davis were selected for the Western Province U18A Team. Unfortunately Haidee was injured but went along as the manager of the team. This team won the interprovincial tournament. Other provincial representatives were: Megan Denny, Kiera Maher, Tamarah Pike and Stephanie Scriba (U18 South Zone); Brittany Gouws and Courtney Wheeler (Western Province U16A); Casey Wheeler (Western Province U16B); Sarah Firth, Caroline Schreiber and Jacqueline Sissons (U16 South Zone) and Shana Daniels, Georgia Hill, Ashleigh Noyce, and Hannah Schaefer (U14 Central Zone). The PGSGU tournament took place on 11 and 12 September at the Wynberg Astroturfs under clear skies. All three of our age-group teams played some excellent and very entertaining hockey. The U16A team placed second and our U14A and U19A teams placed third. It was wonderful to see our Rustenburg girls socialising with the girls from other schools. The sense of fun and good clean sportsmanship were to be admired at a tournament such as this one. These are exciting times for hockey at Rustenburg as can be seen in the upcoming potential and talent, which is more than evident. There has also been an increase in the number of girls playing hockey since the opening of our own Astroturf, and we are confident that hockey at Rustenburg will continue to go from strength to strength.

1st Team Hockey

Back row, from left: Kristen Naidoo, Casey Wheeler, Stephanie Scriba, Brittany Gouws, Kelly van Vlaanderen, Lauren Abbott, Tamarah Pike, Gabriel-Fay Morgan Front row, from left: Megan Denny, Michelle Winter (Vice-Captain), Ms Daniela Bayman (Coach), Haidee Davis (Captain), Mr Gian Marneweck, Caroline Schreiber, Georgina Firth Absent: Zoë Naude

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Indoor Hockey Teacher-in-charge: Ms Jane Behne Coach: Ms Daniella Bayman Captain: Michelle Winter Vice-captain: Haidee Davis

Indoor Hockey training in Term 4 of 2014 saw the girls train as a group rather than in specific teams. The girls were encouraged to give of their best as team selection for 2015 would be based on their performance at practices. League games started in Term 1 of 2015 after team selections where finalised. The first match of the season was against Westerford. The 1st Team played hard and was rewarded with a win, a great way to start the season. Another highlight of the season was beating St Cyprians 5-0. The 1st Team put up a good fight this season with three wins, two losses and two draws. The team started to work really well together by the end of the season and played an excellent team game against Springfield, winning the match 4-3. Overall the 1st Team had a fantastic season, finishing fourth in the 1st League. The 2nd Team also did well in their league, keeping their spirits high the entire season. They won two of their matches and lost five. It was motivating to see the skill improvement but, more importantly, the air of confidence radiating from the girls. Congratulations to the following girls who represented teams at the Pro-series Indoor Tournament in December 2014: Brittany Gouws, Caroline Schreiber, Casey Wheeler and Courtney Wheeler (U16 Seals); Kristen Naidoo (U16 Barracudas); Haidee Davis and Michelle Winter (U18 Seals) and in March 2015: Shana Daniels and Ashleigh Noyce (U14 Seals); Brittany Gouws, Caroline Schreiber, Casey Wheeler and Courtney Wheeler (U16 Seals); Sharna Naidoo (U16 West Coast Baracudas); Georgia Dugmore (U16 West Coast Stingrays); Kristen Naidoo (U18 Barracudas) and Michelle Winter (U18 Seals). The PGSGU tournament took place on Wednesday 18 March at Herschel. Rustenburg beat St Cyprians 4-1, drew 0-0 with Springfield, drew 3-3 with Wynberg and lost to Herschel 1-3. Rustenburg placed fourth behind Herschel, Wynberg and Springfield. All in all, both teams were satisfied with their play during the season. It was incredible to see how Indoor Hockey has grown at Rustenburg. We look forward to many more successful years ahead.

1st Indoor Hockey Team

Second row, from left: Caroline Schreiber, Stephanie Scriba, Lauren Abbott, Brittany Gouws Front row, from left: Haidee Davis, Ms Daniella Bayman, Michelle Winter, Ms Jane Behne, Kirsten Naidoo

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Netball Teacher-in-charge: Ms Nolundi Blayi Coach: Ms Desree Neville Captain: Samantha McCrindle Vice-captain: Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba

The season started off with our 1st Team attending the National Girls’ Schools’ Festival hosted by Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein. The girls played nine tough matches in three days and grew immensely as individuals and a team. They returned, not only with many blisters, but with tons of experience and renewed determination for the season. The 1st Team had an incredible season, played phenomenal netball and ended up winning their league. They trained very hard this season and showed character, perseverance and excellent sportsmanship. A highlight of the season was their nail-biting match against Monument Park where they were down 7-2 after the first quarter, but picked themselves up and ended up winning the match 31-26. In August our U14A, U16A and U16B teams played matches against St Benedict’s, a touring team from the UK. A wonderful afternoon of netball was followed by a traditional South African braai where the girls entertained each other with songs and fun activities. Much swopping of contact details took place at the end of the evening. This year the annual PGSGU tournaments were hosted by both Rustenburg and Herschel. The U14 and U16 teams played at Rustenburg and the U19s played at Herschel. The 1st Team entered the tournament as the favourites but were unlucky when one of our players was injured in the first game. The 1st Team placed third. The U16A team, after having a challenging season, surprised everyone when they drew to Herschel and placed second overall. We were tremendously proud of the U14A Team who drew to Herschel and won all their other games. Herschel and Rustenburg finished the tournament with the same number of points, however, because of our substantial goal difference, our girls won the tournament and took home the trophy. Special mention must be made of our U14C team, coached by Ms Rebecca Goble, who won all of their matches and won their league. The season ended off on a high note as the U14C and 1st Team qualified for the Western Province High Schools netball league play-offs. The U14C team beat Fairmont in the quarter-finals but unfortunately lost to Manzomthomba B team in the semi-finals. The 1st Team won their semi-final against Stellenberg B team 22-13 and were victorious in the final beating Settlers 14-11.

1st Team Netball

Back row, from left: Alexandra Heiberg, Emma-Marie Strauss, Talia Botha Front row, from left: Jessica Slater, Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba, Ms Desreé Neville (Coach), Samantha McCrindle (Captain), Ms Nolundi Blayi, Lauren Hales, Caitlin Solomons

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Squash Teachers-in-charge: Ms Louise Lawrence and Mr William Haggard Coach: Mr Andre Naudé Captain: Zarah Mitchell

This season, we welcomed many new squash players to join our existing members. Together we had an excellent season, both in terms of results and in terms of fostering a love for the game. The girls played keenly and enthusiastically, and with the help of the coach Mr Andre Naude, their skills and game plan improved and developed pleasingly. We were very fortunate to have been able to use the squash courts at Kelvin Grove. With an abundance of courts and an active coach, we were able to place more emphasis on growing talent and necessary skills. Important too was the emphasis on paired-skills development where players of equal ability could work together. Likewise, we were able to encourage and facilitate development with girls of mixed abilities playing against one another. Our coach and teachers continuously supported and encouraged the team members to this end. This year we entered two teams into the league, namely U19A and U19B. Our U19A team worked diligently and won nearly all their matches in the league. The team comprised of Alyssa Cummings, Meg Wilson, Zarah Mitchell and Robyn Matthews. We were competitive against other schools which reflects of the growing culture of squash at Rustenburg. The U19B team welcomed a few new and enthusiastic players who have improved in leaps and bounds. The team consisted of Sabrina-Belle Roberts, Aaliyah Meredith, Stephanie Du and Gia Aitken. Our reserves were Ashleigh Prinsloo, Alice von Zeil and Sasha Marais. The squash season ended with the annual PGSGU tournament held at Western Province Cricket Club on Saturday 19 September. The tournament was extremely challenging as some of the girls’ schools enter their top teams into boys’ league and are therefore exposed to tougher competition throughout the season. Our girls fought hard and placed fourth. We are pleased to report that Alyssa Cummings played for the U19A Western Province team in the interprovincial tournament that was hosted in Cape Town in June. We look forward to the growth in squash next year, given this year’s level of commitment, dedication and above-average performances from the team members.

1st Team Squash

Back row, from left: Alyssa Cummings, Robyn Matthews, Meg Wilson Front row, from left: Ms Louise Lawrence, Zarah Mitchell (Captain), Mr Andre Naudé

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TENNIS Teacher-in-charge: Ms Lindy Waller Coach: Sinnet Tennis Academy and Ms Soussanna Coxson Captain: Georgina Firth Vice-captain: Kirstin Shaw

This year Rustenburg entered six teams into the senior south leagues. The season was filled with learning, enjoyment and success. We were fortunate to receive some good coaching from the Sinnet Tennis Academy. The girls’ enthusiasm and competitiveness was apparent in their matches. Their spirit and determination allowed them not only to win most of their matches, but also to learn more about themselves with each game they played. The Grade 8 tennis players were coached on Monday mornings. These sessions were well attended and we are grateful to Ms Soussanna Coxson for filling in to coach when needed. The junior league was disappointing as few schools participated. This resulted in few matches for our juniors, who then filled in and played in some senior matches. Rustenburg participated in the PGSGU Tennis Tournament which took place at Sans Souci on 7 March. The tournament consisted of the top tennis-playing girls’ schools in the Southern Suburbs. Rustenburg was well represented with three senior couples and two junior couples. Rustenburg’s Senior Team placed second overall and, in their respective sections, our couples did very well. The first couple (Kirstin Shaw and Georgina Firth) placed fourth; the second couple (Emily Malherbe and Justine CrookeMansour) placed second and the third couple (Kendra Saunders and Jessica Jamieson) placed second. Rustenburg’s Junior Team also placed second overall and each couple did well in its section. The first couple (Megan Davidson and Ashleigh Noyce) placed third and the second couple (Alida van der Merwe and Jemma Louther) placed second. Our girls played very well in the competitive environment and it was a morning enjoyed by players and spectators alike. Congratulations to Megan Davidson who was selected to represent Western Province in the U15A team. The tennis girls continued to improve their game and the juniors performed exceptionally well. Special mention must be made of the 2nd Team who remained unbeaten throughout the season.

1st Tennis Team

Second row, from left: Emily Malherbe, Megan Davidson Front row, from left: Georgina Firth, Ms Marieta Langenhoven, Kirstin Shaw

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Touch Rugby Teacher-in-charge: Ms Zaandré Theron Coach: Ms Zaandré Theron and Ms Aimee Barrett Captain: Ziyanah Fredericks Vice-captain: Elle Mouton

Touch Rugby is a very popular sport amongst our girls at Rustenburg. We had another successful season and entered four teams into the school’s league this year. The league was less competitive as we had fewer schools to compete against. This, however, did not stop the girls at Rustenburg from playing great touch and showing their commitment to their teams throughout the season. Special mention must be made of the many Rustenburg girls who represented various provincial teams at the Junior Interprovincial Tournament in Durban in September 2014. Samantha McCrindle and Elle Mouton (Captain) represented Western Province at U21 level. Daariah Arend, Talia Botha, Roxi Francke (Vicecaptain), Leesha Melvill, Hannah Nassen, Zoë Naude, Jameela Rawoot and Walda van der Merwe represented Western Province at U17 level, whilst Angela Mibey, Razaan Phillips, Britney Price (Captain) and Sarah Virgin represented Western Province at U15 level. Ziyanah Fredericks was part of the Western Cape U19 team which won the U19 division of the tournament. Rustenburg’s 1st Team welcomed only a few new members to the team this year and proved yet again to have the competitive edge. Unfortunately, due to the size of the school league, only a couple of friendly matches were played in Term 1 of 2015. Our 1st Team has proved to be in a league of its own and remained unbeaten for yet another year. On Friday 27 February, the 1st Team took part in the Century City Schools’ Touch Rugby tournament. Rustenburg was once again unbeaten. Their most convincing win was against Garlandale, which they won 8–1. Rustenburg played against Good Hope Seminary in the final. Good Hope Seminary scored first, but Rustenburg fought back and played brilliantly to win the game by two tries to one. The 1st Team has won this tournament for six consecutive years. Congratulations to Elle Mouton and Samantha McCrindle who represented Western Province in the Ladies team at the Senior Interprovincial Tournament in March 2015.

1st Touch Rugby Team

Second row, from left: Rebecca Plaatjies, Zoë Naude, Marianne Schwellnus, Hannah Nassen, Roxi Francke Front row, from left: Michelle Winter, Ziyanah Fredericks, Ms Gillian Blackshaw, Elle Mouton, Samantha McCrindle

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Waterpolo Teacher-in-charge: Mr Gian Marneweck Coach: Mr Nathan Perren Captain: Jessica Banks

The waterpolo season began with excitement and great expectation. Each team had up to three training sessions a week and practiced at either the Newlands Swimming pool or the Rustenburg pool. We were very fortunate to have dedicated coaches who were driven by enthusiasm and positivity, resulting in practices that were filled with hard work but also lots of laughter. Rustenburg entered six competitive teams into the various leagues. Matches were played on Fridays at different venues and we were very pleased with our results at the end of the season. The new Rustybugs arrived with copious amounts of energy and star players. The U14A team, coached by Mr Jacob Perren, participated in the Dave Pitcairn Cup held at Reddam House. The girls had an extremely successful tournament placing sixth overall. The U14A team also advanced to the semi-finals of the league, but unfortunately lost to Reddam House, who won the league. This team has great potential and had a fantastic season. The U16A team, coached by Mr Andre Williams, had a challenging season but learned many valuable skills and displayed wonderful sportsmanship. The 1st Team had the honour of representing Rustenburg at the largest girls’ waterpolo tournament in South Africa. The Old Petrian’s Tournament was held in Johannesburg at St Peters College. The girls were accompanied by their coach Mr Nathan Perren, manager Mr Gian Marneweck and their special supporter, Ms Laura Bekker. The team played eight matches over four days with the girls playing extremely well, placing 13th out of 28 schools overall. This was a great achievement and the 1st Team became a force to be reckoned with. Waterpolo is well supported at Rustenburg by the girls and their parents. The 1st Team also received a generous sponsorship from Blistex for their tour kit. We were very proud of our Provincial representatives who were chosen to compete at the National Waterpolo Championships in Johannesburg in December 2014. These girls were Jessica Banks (Boland U19), Megan van Westenbrugge (Boland U19), Ashley Howard (WP U16B), Alina Schönberger (WP U16B), Tasmyn Baxter (WP U15B), Tristan Jones (WP U15B) and Aaliyah Meredith (WP U15B).

1st Waterpolo Team

Third row, from left: Melissa Rossouw Second row, from left: Amy McConnell, Emily Hill, Tamarah Pike, Caitlin Solomons, Alina Schönberger, Kiera Maher Front row, from left: Séanne van Horsten, Ashley Howard, Mr Gian Marneweck, Jessica Banks, Mr Nathan Perren, Megan van Westenbrugge, Samantha McCrindle

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INTER-HOUSE EVENTS

Inter-house Drama Competition The theme of this year’s Inter-house Drama competition was Famous Fictional Detectives. Each house captain was to be responsible for writing, directing and producing a script of an original mystery which was to be solved by a selected famous fictional detective. The competition was held on 26 March, and we were privileged to have the expertise of two experienced adjudicators, Mr Vosloo and Mr Dilraj to accompany us. Cambridge House, ably directed by Amy Kunz, received the award for the Best Overall Play, “Green Girls”. With its amusing characters, appropriate décor, and disciplined composition in the weaving of the famous Hercule Poirot, garnered the house this particular award. Cambridge went on, too, to win the award for Best Script (co-written by Chloë Venter and Jaime Newdigate): its cheeky witticisms and layered plot line made for a most accessible play.

Best Supporting Actress

The quality of our actresses at Rustenburg cannot be overstated. Their willingness to engage audiences, project voices successfully, and become their roles so dynamically is impressive. The following specific actresses received special awards for their roles: The Best Parody of a TV Character went to Kirsten Pienaar (Marchand) for her delightful and nuanced role as Magnum P.I. Kirsten’s choice of costume and ability to capture the character of the screen hero-detective of the 80s contributed meaningfully to Marchand’s production, “The Director’s Final Cut”. Jessica Houliston (Bleby House) was awarded Best Supporting Actress as Poppie in the production, “Inspector Gadget and the Mystery of Corruption”. With her bright pink outfit, poise and well-articulated accent, Jessica captured meaningfully the tragi-comic dimensions of this hapless character. The award for Best Actress went to Marchand’s Sarah Prutton for her role as Martha in “The Director’s Final Cut”. Described as “fulfilling the dual roles required for this character”, and really being able to sustain a layered performance, Sarah clearly deserved this award. A really pleasing aspect of the culture of Drama that exists at Rustenburg lies in the way students are able to think creatively. Not one house attempted a linear interpretation of the theme, but rather chose interesting ways to approach the brief of Famous Fictional Detectives. Mention here must be made of Innes’ “The Eskom Files” (directed by Jarita Kassen) was a satirical response around political broadcasting yet still conformed to the subject of solving a crime. The play “Scarlett” (Michiel Vos) directed by Farheen Abdullah also developed the murder mystery concept soundly. Ultimately however, Bronwen Barratt of Marchand won the award of Best Director. The play, “The Director’s Final Cut”, cleverly incorporated a play-within-a-play vehicle, and the cast performed a polished and well-executed production. While the audience gets to view the final product that occurs on the stage, there is an immense level of crafting that occurs behind the scenes: organising the cast, sorting out the technical elements and work backstage all go together as seemingly invisible ingredients in a successful production. Moreover, in terms of production design, aspects of stage realism that complement the director’s intentions around a set motif need to be conceptualised. Nuraan Nicholas (Marchand) received both awards of Best Production Design and Best Producer. All the participants were congratulated on staging another successful Inter-house Drama Competition.

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Best Parody of a TV Character

Best Actress

INTER-HOUSE EVENTS

Inter-house Gala The annual Inter-house Gala was held on 6 February. The usual excitement starts building a few weeks before this event as the houses decide on their theme for the gala day and the swimmers get ready to swim. House themes are chosen by the house captains and, as usual, there was plenty effort and enthusiasm put into this year’s gala. Marchand won the Inter-house Gala

Marchand (yellow) chose ‘Bumble Bees’ as their theme. The Grade 8s dressed up as flowers, from where the bumble bees got their pollen. The Matric bumble bees looked resplendent wearing yellow tutus and yellow wings on their backs.

Michiel Vos (red) chose the ‘High School Musical’ theme. The Matric class of 2015 had campaigned for this theme since their Grade 9 year. Zaina Abrahams dressed up as Troy Bolton (Zac Effron), complete with mask! Innes (blue) came to the party as blue gnomes, led by their Matric fairies. The blue fairy gardeners cheered on their swimming flowers in the blue lane with plenty of enthusiam.

Cambridge won the Spirit Cup

Cambridge (green) chose ‘Jungle Fever’ as their theme. The Matrics wore leopard-print skirts and green tops while the rest of the house had T-shirts emblazoned with Jungle Fever. The girls waved green palm fronds and sang their hearts out. Lauren Abbott and Amy Kunz (House Captains) collected the trophy.

Bleby (pink), chose a ‘Diner Girls’ theme. The girls dressed up, wearing hats, neck scarves, aprons and ribbons. The Head of House, Ms Theron together with her sidekick Ms Capstick-Dale were convinced by the girls to dress up as milkshake mascots! These Pink Bleby Diner Girls served up some sweet competition.

The Inter-grade relay is a competitive event where eight girls from each grade swim 25m each in a relay format. There was much excitement going into this race, as the Grade 12s had won this relay since arriving at the school in Grade 8. They were clearly the favourites going in. The race was, however, won by the Grade 11s of 2015 in a new record time of 1.56.35

Individual overall positions:

The much anticipated (6 x 25m) relay which is swum with teams made up of teachers, prefects, sports captains and house captains was narrowly won by the teachers’ A team.

Final house positions 1st place: MARCHAND, with 93 points 2nd place: CAMBRIDGE, with 85 points 3rd place: BLEBY, with 84 points 4th place: MICHIEL VOS, with 78 points 5th place: INNES, with 67 points

Individual record breakers:

U14 50m Freestyle Shannon Canter 30.65 U19 50m Breastroke Caitlin Truter 36.69

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U14 Champion: Shannon Canter, 2nd Erin Hartzenberg, 3rd Daniella Solkow U16 Champion: Caroux de Lange, 2nd Caylan Bromley; 3rd Saskia van der Merwe U19 Champion: Kristin Bellingan, 2nd Caitlin Truter, 3rd Alexandra Heiberg

INTER-HOUSE EVENTS

Inter-house Forum Discussions Being a member of a forum discussion team engaged in a competition of this nature is both exciting and challenging. After preparing for 10 minutes only, the team members have to take to the floor in front of a large audience and launch forth. These discussions often take on lives of their own and it is only cohesive team work and slick manoeuvring by the chairperson that keeps the group on track, while allowing them to explore the outer reaches of their topic. The forum competition, held on a hot Friday, 6 February, was no different and the girls in both junior and senior groups did themselves proud in the 2015 competition.

Adjudicators of the Senior Forums:

Ms Linda Mallon (Chief Adjudicator), Ms Ingrid Weideman, Ms Renée Fourie, Ms Jackie Chambers

Adjudicators of the Junior Forums:

Ms Anita Pretorius (Chief Adjudicator), Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale, Ms Leonie Oram, Ms Tarin Scharneck The junior section of this competition is always particularly interesting because, most of the Grade 8 learners, who bravely put their names forward, have never observed a forum discussion before coming to senior school. It was a glimpse into the future of this art at Rustenburg and wonderful to see some strong young speakers launching themselves in something totally new. This year the overall winning team was the Marchand group, under the able chairmanship of Emma Sacco. They drew the topic: Age Restrictions are Absolutely Essential – Teenagers Must Wait Their Turn and Accept the Age Restrictions. Marchand worked through the topic systematically, sensibly and in a very entertaining manner. The rest of the Marchand group was made up of Thameenah Daniels, Bronwyn Kruger, Ashleigh Madell and Amy Harold. The houses ended in the following order:

1st place: MARCHAND, with 78 points 2nd place: INNES, with 72 points 3rd place: MICHIEL VOS, with 64 points 4th place: CAMBRIDGE, with 54 points 5th place: BLEBY, with 48 points Best Junior Chairperson: Zahra Mohamed of Innes. Best Individual Speaker: Ashleigh Madell of Marchand. Second Best individual Speaker: Sarah Grace of Michiel Vos.

The senior girls usually have a marginally tougher task because they have already experienced the occasion twice and are aware of the fiercely competitive nature of the day. This year it was Innes, with Jarita Kassen as chairperson and Brittany Gouws, Nicole Nel, Caitlin Millard and Daniellé Lund as team members, that took top honours. Their topic was: Of All Rages, Road Rage is the Most Excusable. The Senior Teams were hard on one another’s heels, ending in the following order:

1st place: INNES, with 85 points 2nd place: BLEBY, with 80 points 3rd place: MARCHAND, with 75 points 4th place: MICHIEL VOS, with 73 points 5th place: CAMBRIDGE, with 72 points Best Senior Chairperson:

Jarita Kassen of Innes and Tamsin

Metelerkamp of Michiel Vos.

Best Individual Speaker: Mila Truter of Michiel Vos. The Second Best Individual Speaker:

Alexa Rabeling of

Marchand and Nicole Nel of Innes.

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INTER-HOUSE EVENTS

Inter-house Cross Country The annual Inter-house Cross Country took place on a very cool and drizzly Thursday afternoon on 25 June. The first event was a competitive and timed 3km where the girls scored major points for their house. Each house had between five and 10 representatives per age group. The junior school selected runners per age group and joined the high school girls. The second race was also over a distance of 3km, however, the pupils were simply encouraged to walk, jog or run the distance in order to score a point for their house.

3km Race Top 20

Emily Hobson (Cambridge) Elle Mouton (Michiel Vos) Rebeca McConnell (Innes) Ylva Hultkrantz (Bleby) Ashleigh Noyce (Marchand) Saskia van der Merwe (Marchand) Samantha McCrindle (Bleby) Kristin Bellingan (Bleby) Alexandra Heiberg (Innes) Kayleigh Beattie (Bleby) Isabelle Vainio (Cambridge) Caylan Bromley (Bleby) Georgia Hill (Michiel Vos) Jenna Frost (Bleby) Aerin McCallum (Cambridge) Maxene Hollis (Innes) Alexandra Witttenberg-Scott (Innes) Rebecca Bysshe (Innes) Eden Paarwater (Cambridge) Emily Roberts (Cambridge)

16:18 16:54 16:33 16:34 16:34 16:36 17:06 17:07 17:23 17:28 17:29 17:31 17:33 17:46 17:48 17:49 17:49 17:53 17:58 17:74

Final house positions 1st place: BLEBY, with 237 points 2nd place: CAMBRIDGE, with 219 points 3rd place: INNES, with 169 points 4th place: MICHIEL VOS, with 165 points 5th place: MARCHAND, with 153 points

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INTER-HOUSE EVENTS

Inter-house Netball and Hockey The Inter-house Hockey and Netball was held on 1 October. Each house had to field both a hockey and netball team with mixed grades, which developed inter-grade relationships. School ended at 2 o’clock so that all girls could support their teams for at least an hour before leaving. On the second last day of Term 3, this was an excellent way for girls to get into the holiday mood and to build school spirit. There were some tightly contested matches in both the hockey and netball, and some real stars emerged. Marchand and Innes walked away champions by not losing a single match in their respective sporting code.

Inter-house Hockey results 1st place: MARCHAND, with 12 points 2nd place: CAMBRIDGE, with 7 points 3rd place: INNES, with 4 points

4th place: MICHIEL VOS, with 3 pts 5th place: BLEBY, with 1 point Inter-house Netball results 1st place: INNES, with 12 points 2nd place: CAMBRIDGE, with 9 points 3rd place: BLEBY, with 6 points 4th place: MICHIEL VOS, with 3 points 5th place: MARCHAND, with 0 points

Inter-house Riff Off The first ever Inter-house Riff Off in Term 2 was designed to give all Rustenburg learners the opportunity to have some fun and unwind after a long term of studying. The idea was that each house prepared a song for the whole house to sing. This also involved props and plenty of dancing. The prefects asked ladies from our cleaning staff, namely Ms Nomazizi Sapepa, Ms Agnes Ndyambo and Ms Nokuzola Ngxabani, to act as judges. In the weeks leading up to the big event, members of all the houses were making time to get together and practice their routines. The sight of large groups of learners jiving and mumbling lyrics in various corners of the school became an everyday occurrence. The day finally came and the school was buzzing with excitement. Bleby opened the floor with one of our favourites: Hannah Montana’s “Ice-cream Freeze”, complete with choreography, which was followed by Silento’s “Ne Ne Song”. Michiel Vos brought the classic “High School Musical” medley, resulting in the rest of the school joining in with “We’re All in This Together”. The camaraderie continued when Innes presented a humorous rendition

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of songs from “The Lion King”, with Emma-Marie Strauss playing the role of Simba with great enthusiasm. Cambridge’s performance of “Summer Loving” from “Grease” had the audience roaring with laughter at the female voices dipping into their lowest registers in an attempt to sound masculine. It was, however, Marchand’s medley of classic Broadway hits, such as “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from “Annie” and “Go Grease Lightning” from “Grease”, that took first place. The overall enthusiasm, house participation and dynamic dance-moves resulted in a fun and energetic performance. Our judges had a difficult job in choosing the winners. The final points were based on house participation, enthusiasm and “that extra sparkle”. Marchand came first, closely followed Innes and Cambridge. The Inter-house Riff Off was a roaring success and ended the term off on a pitch-perfect note.

RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

SOCIETIES AND EVENTS

Being intentional and relational, was the main focus for our Interact year, and we achieved our desire to build a relationship with one particular organisation by establishing a long-lasting connection with Place of Hope, a home for abused women and their children. We helped this organisation on a regular basis. This also allowed volunteers, to create friendships and connections with the people they visited, while investing in their lives. A number of Interact club members have volunteered their time to help out wherever needed. This year, we also set up the Rustenburg Interact club, which allows for all girls in the school to become club members and become involved. The Interact year started with the exciting annual Christmas party in December 2014, hosted to provide 100 children from Eldene Primary School with an afternoon filled with fun activities, music, food, entertainment from the School of Magic, and Christmas presents from Father Christmas. This year, we also organised our very own Stop Hunger Now event, where 45 Rustybugs volunteered their time to help pack nutritious meals, and we organised our annual Bandana civvies day to raise money and awareness for the Sunflower Fund. In Term 1, we had many outreach opportunities for selfless, willing volunteers from the school to get involved in. This included, helping the German School Interact KIDS beach day, visiting Lieliebloem Children’s Home for a Valentine’s Day Beauty Pageant, hosting a stall at Rotaract’s Fun Day, helping patients at Alexandria Physiatric Hospital’s One-To-One day event and serving the elderly at Rotaract’s Valentine’s Day lunch. Many different items of donations were collected to help others in various ways. Amongst these were supplies for the firefighters of the Lakeside Fire Station at the time of the urgent Cape fires, and sanitary items for our very own Double Up Campaign (set up to collect sanitary items for girls from Sinethemba School in Phillipi). Oatbix Cereal Boxes were also collected and donated to Eldene Primary School which fed the children with a substantial breakfast for a good couple weeks while over 300 second-hand books were donated to Silikamva High School’s library.

Interact Teacher-in-charge: Ms Monika Brandt Head: Julia Darke

Our Interact vision for 2015 was to continue striving to make Interact a service-centred, servanthearted and communitydriven organisation by upholding Rotary’s motto of “Service above Self”. The Interact 2015 team enthusiastically and diligently served others in many ways through various events, outreach opportunities and initiatives.

Rustenburg Interact has also always been generously sponsored by Kirstenbosch Rotary Club, and we made every effort to build relationships between our Interact club and our Rotary Club. Interactors helped our Rotary Club in the December holidays by getting involved in the Kirstenbosch Carols by Candlelight as well as volunteering their time at the Show You Care Ride Cape Cycle Tour. Interact committee and subcommittee members are also given an incredible opportunity, to attend a RYLA leadership camp, in both March and September. These camps were unforgettable experiences which taught Interactors invaluable skills and leadership lessons. Rustenburg Interact Club was also honoured to receive the Presidential Citation by Rotary International. We felt privileged to be recognised as a club worthy of such accolades. Interact Connect Night was an event held for different Interact clubs in the area to come together, encourage each other and share ideas about projects to promote collaboration between different schools’ Interact groups. On the last day of Term 2, Rustybugs got involved in Mandela Day by making sandwiches for 67 minutes. Music played and fun was had while spreading peanut butter and jam onto over 3000 sandwiches. These were all donated to a school and nearby mosque in the Khayalitsha area. We were also able to provide children from the St Andrews Church in Atlantis with a safe and fun playing environment by laying down new grass onto the sandy ground. In terms of fundraising events, this year we successfully organised and ran our biggest fundraising events: the Mother-Daughter Tea and the Sun Run. The Mother Daughter Tea successfully raised R14 000 for Sister’s Incorporated Safety Home, while providing Rustenburg girls and their mothers with a lovely morning filled with great prizes, entertainment, food and fellowship. The Sun Run 2015 was organised by representatives from Rustenburg, Rondebosch, Westerford and Herschel and was an afternoon filled with sunshine, friendship and fun. Participants from respective schools united to raise money and create awareness for blood-related diseases. Through serving others, we, as Interactors are humbled by what we have learnt, the people we have met and the difference we can all make in other peoples’ lives. This is the reason we continue passionately serving the community, always aiming to put service above self.

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SOCIETIES AND EVENTS

Bon Appetit

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Anita Marshall Head: Lwethu Dube

It feels as if time is passing faster and faster every year. One more year of catering for the Bon Appetit service club has passed. Learners worked for a minimum of 16 functions and gave between 50 and 100 hours of service to Rustenburg. The aching feet and warm faces made way for big happy smiles every time a task was completed and the delicious eats plated for serving. When there was a thank you on delivery, the team was filled with excitement and pride. This year started with a mammoth task. The Founder’s Day dinner doubled in numbers. We ran out of pots and containers and dealt with a few difficult and demanding requests. We did the tea for the Old Girls and welcome evening for the new parents. We were very privileged to prepare treats for our 80th reunion tea and Lwethu Dube and Julie Chandler were honoured to serve two beautiful Old Girls who arrived for this tea. The German Conference gave us a weekend of catering fun and proved we can cater in all languages. The Cultural Dinner was light and delicious and Bon Appetit produced the best flat bread ever. The girls got their fair share of praise and admiration while interacting with the different groups.

develop over the year and gain organisational skills and confidence with each function. Preparing rough puff pastry becomes as easy as making tea and coffee. But the best treat still is the toasties they prepare with coffee and tea at four every time they work, when they all feel the slump of the day. Toasties lift the spirit and boost the energy. Bon Appetit had 20 girls who regularly worked and spent many hours preparing all the lovely dishes and treats. They also spent time after the final exam to bake and package delicious biscuits for all the ground staff to thank them for their contribution to keeping our environment beautiful and clean. Bon Appetit cannot be successful without the good will of all the special young ladies, who year after year sign up to do this job, not for the glamour but for the fun and laughter we always have as a team, while getting the job done successfully and on time.

It is always a pleasure to see how the Bon Appetit members grow and

Habitat for Humanity

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Lorraine Gardiner Head: Haidee Davis

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which aims to eliminate substandard housing in South Africa. A branch of the larger organisation was founded between schools in the Southern Suburbs 10 years ago. The BRIC committee is headed by Rustenburg Girls’ High School, together with Bishops Diocesan College, Rondebosch Boys’ High School, Westerford High School and Herschel Girls’ High School. On 30 January 2015, the BRIC committee launched its 10th annual (and what would later prove the most successful) 25-Hour Cyclathon at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre. This was our main annual fundraiser with the collective goal of raising at least R50 000, the cost of building one house for the underprivileged. For the duration of the two days (this included our keenly-anticipated sleepover) there were eight stationary bicycles on the amphitheatre stage. Members RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

of the schools involved, the public, our many sponsors as well as celebrity cyclists paid for every 15 minutes cycled. They also took part in our hourly raffle draws, from which there was a litany of incredible prizes to be won. There were 12 live musical items from the likes of Majozi, Oxygen Thieves and The Natives. They really brought in the crowd! Our 10th 25-Hour Cyclathon brought in a whopping total of R77 490!

SOCIETIES AND EVENTS

2015 marked the achievement of our internationally recognized Green Flag, a progressive award focusing on sustainability and requiring a joint effort from all those at Rustenburg. This green flag is a Gold equivalent, having achieved our Bronze and Silver in the previous two years. The Eco-Schools ceremony took place at Lotus River Secondary School followed by a flag-raising ceremony some weeks later at school, so that Rustenburg could understand the achievement. Other exciting events: The Earth Children Committee and Society went on a lovely hike in Newlands forest on a Saturday morning during the time the Cape was ravaged by the raging fires. The girls met at the Fire Base and donated needed items to the firefighters before embarking on the hike. A well-supported beach clean-up took place at Milnerton. There was a turnout of 30 passionate eco-warriors ready to pick up all the fragments that endanger marine life. The Interact Society kindly allowed Earth Children to sell Proteas (donated from Sasha Marais’ farm) at the Mother-Daughter tea. The mums, grannies and girls were delighted at the bright pink flowers that they bought as gifts for each other on the day. The proceeds of this fundraiser went towards a future tree-planting venture. 2015 also marked a union between the Bishops Interact Society and Earth Children. The Bishops boys visited Rustenburg for a tour of our grounds led by our brilliant campus manager, Mr Siebrits. The boys were astounded at just how cleverly one can adapt a school to lessen the carbon footprint. Hopefully it served as inspiration for adaptations they can make at Bishops. The tour was followed by a Liesbeek River clean-up in which the boys and girls waded into the water to remove rubbish. This friendship between Bishops and Rustenburg continued in another river clean-up in which 35 black bags of rubbish were retrieved from the Black River! This fight isn’t a glamorous one but we do it with passion. The latest event was a healthy bake-sale as Earth Children is passionate about healthy living in all spheres of life. The delicacies included canapés, vegan brownies, gluten-free chocolate cake and veggie pasta. The sale was well-supported and R1100 profit was made in support of the SPCA.

Earth Children

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Jackie Chambers Head: Jessica Smith

Earth Children had a fabulously productive 2015! Our goal for the year was to be a dripping tap at Rustenburg. This sounds ironic, coming from the Earth Children, but the thought was that we would be a consistent source of awareness for our school…and judging by all that we’ve accomplished in the year’s events, our dripping tap created a small river!

The weekly activities of Earth Children included a Tuesday meeting in which the Eco Reps and society met and shared ideas. This interaction resulted in each class receiving a class cactus, kindly donated by Alex van Niekerk’s father; this plant was gifted to create a sense of communal concern for plant life. Each cactus received a unique name and had to be looked after by the class (the idea is similar to a class pet). Mrs Heel, an eco-savvy art teacher, gave the girls a DIY workshop on upcycling everyday items into creative beautiful items. T-shirts were turned into scarves and bottles transformed into baskets and jewellery holders. In addition to the laminated reminders on every light switch in the school, signs were also placed on the paper towel dispensers in the bathroom. This was an effort to reduce girls wasting a valuable resource: our trees. More recycling bins were also placed all over the school. Tuesday meetings also prompted motivated Eco Reps to share lists they’d compiled of their favourite secondhand shops and ethical-food suppliers and other topics of interest. Bread tags continued to be collected for the wheel-chairs and cell phone battery collections were emphasised. It is vital to recycle batteries properly and safely because of their radioactive nature. The bottle top collection came to a close this year and the individually decorated bottle tops were used to enhance the entrance of the food garden. The Eco Reps wrote their environmental goal on a piece of scrap paper and enclosed it at the back of the bottle top. Rubbish can be used to beautify spaces if it is used creatively. The Earth Children Committee was proud of their consistency throughout 2015. We aimed to nourish the minds of the girls of Rustenburg. Our slow and steady presence definitely changed some blue wings green.

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SOCIETIES AND EVENTS

World Challenge Malaysia World Challenge 2015 saw 23 Grade 10 girls (in two teams) head off to Malaysia with Ms Ryan, Ms Capstick-Dale and Ms Viljoen during the June/July holiday. World Challenge aims to give students the opportunity to “hone teamwork and leadership skills, gain confidence and self-esteem, and become more globally aware.” This is done by travelling to a country with a very different culture, hiking in the wild, performing community service and taking turns to lead the group. Students are expected to manage the budget, organise transport and accommodation and keep the team unified. In Malaysia, the teams visited Kuala Lumpur, hiked through the Kenong Rimba National Park for three days and spent nights working for the Penyu Project which aims to conserve sea turtles in the Perhentian Islands area. Only the girls could explain what the experience meant to them: “I came on World Challenge because it seemed like the best way to experience a new country for the first time and exploring with all my friends was a huge bonus. I enjoyed interacting with the locals and not just living in tourist areas and going to tourist attractions, but getting a better idea of how the locals live.” – Brittany Du Preez “It was incredible to see the ways that the different cultures eat and live. I loved that we could experience not only the Malay culture but Indian as well. It was also beautiful to see the temples so decorated and so much effort put into building and painting it.” – Amber Keet “I learnt to be more observant and aware of others while I was on this expedition while also having to make decisions that everyone would agree with on my leadership day. And if I was given another opportunity to do World Challenge again, I would.” – Bronwyn Kode

“My favourite memories from Malaysia are of running into the warm sea at Bubbles, in the rain, fully-clothed with 11 other girls whom I had grown so much closer to during our rather daunting experiences in the jungle.” – Jennifer Darley-Waddilove “The best part of the trip was the community service phase at Bubbles. I became more environmentally aware and it felt good to be able to contribute towards the conservation of turtles. My favourite aspect of the community service was digging out the turtle eggs and the late nights on the beaches.” – Nokukhanya Zondi “It was interesting to learn more about my team in terms of their different strengths and weaknesses. I am proud of the kindness and thoughtfulness my team showed throughout the trip when someone in the team needed care in some form. A successful team is dependent on everyone carrying their weight, which my team certainly did.” – Stephanie Keyser “The best part of the trip for me was definitely on the island at the turtle sanctuary. I really enjoyed helping out and working hard knowing that our hard work was going to a good cause. Turtles are one of my favourite sea creatures and seeing them up close and personal was breathtaking” – Caylan Bromley And finally, all of the participants would have echoed these words: “World challenge is one of toughest trips you can ever embark on, but it is also the most rewarding. I have learnt things about myself that I never knew. I learnt valuable skills and have gained knowledge beyond value. I am so thankful for this experience and the people I got to experience it with.” – Leila Diesel

Syan O’Connell-Richards (Grade 10) entered the World Challenge Photo Competition and this image was one of just 12 selected to feature in the World Challenge calendar out of more than 400 entries from across the world. In 2014, Rachel England (now Grade 11) won the competition, so Rustenburg clearly has some budding travel photojournalists!

Arbor Month In recognition of Arbor Month, Rustenburg planted four more trees around the grounds. Each of the four trees was planted by the Eco Representatives of Grades 8 to 11 as the Matrics were writing Preliminary Examinations. Mr Myles Siebrits opened the proceedings by sharing that there are over 560 trees on the Rustenburg campus and that each tree has been mapped using their GPS co-ordinations on Google Earth. Information on all the trees on the campus (species, GPS co-ordinates and photographs) was also saved on the Shared Students computer drive, meaning that that the data

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is available at all times to the entire school. Members of the Ground Staff took each grade to their tree and gave the girls information on the species. This gave the pupils the opportunity to learn from our Grounds Staff and for the men to share the knowledge they had gained.

SOCIETIES AND EVENTS

Muslim Students’ Association

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Zargielay Rabeh Head: Zakiyyah Sablay

Alhamdulillah, 2015 has seen an exponential growth of the MSA. This year, we turned our annual Fun Day into a joint event run by the MSA, Ignition and Jabulani. Society members were invited to spend the morning of 28 March with 60 young children from various orphanages. The morning was filled with outside games and ended off with a braai for lunch. The MSA Thikr took place in May in the Thompson Hall, it was led by the group from Vision Child and Youth Care Centre and attended by society members from Rustenburg, Rondebosch, SACS, Wynberg Boys’ and Girls’. Our inter-schools MSA Iftaar was coordinated by the Grade 11 Committee members and took place in the Kemp Hall on 1 July. On 31 July, an “almost-sleepover” was held in Charlie’s Hope. The evening consisted of lots of laughter, hot chocolate, a Deen quiz and a talk followed by a personal reflections exercise. It was a lovely chance for society members to get to know one another better. During the June/July holidays, under the guidance of Sheikh Khalil and Sheikh Zakariyya from Darun Na’im, the MSAs of many schools came together and formed the MSA Schools of the Cape Union. The launch event was a conference that was held at the Islamia Hall on 16 August, attended by 1000 students from across the Cape. The conference (run by the youth, for the youth) addressed various, interesting topics about Islam. Regular society meetings took place in Ms Rabeh’s classroom and included videos and talks about Islam in the world today and its true essence, meaning and relevance. It really has been an incredible year for the MSA. JazakAllah Khair to all our wonderful society members for the continued support!

Ignition

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Lindy Waller Head: Megan Frost

In 2015, Ignition (Christian Union) held various events where we grew together as a society as well as in our faith. The committee was comprised of Megan Frost (head), Ashton Sims (deputy), Annemieke Lourens, Julia Darke, Keabetsoe Nchodu, Jessica Slater, Caitlin Flemming, Jordan Philander, Jenna Frost, Bianca Rijkmans, Lauren Shaefer and Alex Smith. Ms Waller, Ms Jamey, Ms Viljoen and Ms Brown were the teachers in charge of Ignition and provided a great deal of support for the committee and society as a whole over the course of the year. We held our annual RCU camp, combined with Rondebosch Boys’ High School and Bishops, at Rocklands Campsite in February. This was a fun-filled weekend where we developed friendships, had thought-provoking sermons and had the opportunity to attend workshops. Later in the Term 1, Ignition had the privilege of joining with MSA and Jabulani to host 150 children from different homes at the Rustenburg Fun Day. It was an enjoyable day of face painting, beading, soccer, musical chairs, jumping castles and delicious food. The Fun Day allowed us to develop friendships with people from different societies and to support and serve the children’s homes in our community. Ignition also hosted an Easter Egg Drive in Term 1. We received a great deal of support from the girls and donated the Easter eggs to Linawo Children’s Home, Little Lambs and Sammie Mommies (an organisation which distributes sandwiches to underprivileged areas). At the end of Term 2, Ignition hosted a movie evening. It was a lovely night of fellowship and a chance to relax after a busy term. We watched “God’s Not Dead”, an inspiring and encouraging movie. Each Thursday at second break, we were privileged to have speakers from various churches join us. Over the year, Ignition grew tremendously as a society, in number and in our friendships with each other.

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SOCIETIES AND EVENTS

Debating

Teachers-in-charge: Mr Cedric van Dyk and Ms Anita Pretorius Head: Tamsin Meterlekamp

Although the juniors only won two of their five Rotary League debates, two of their debates were split decisions. Sarah Grace and Mikayla Shaw were this year’s best speakers, with Sarah being judged best speaker on three occasions. Junior coach, Mr Jordan Pfotenhauer, must be commended for establishing an excellent foundation and maintaining the enthusiasm of all the juniors. The seniors, coached by Mr Daniel Corder and captained by Tamsin Metelerkamp, had a fair measure of success. A senior team won the FACETS competition at Sans Souci. The touring team (Sarah Grace, Jarita Kassen, Tamsin Metelerkamp and Raeesah Shaik) won five of their debates and placed sixth at the National Girls Schools Festival in Bloemfontein. At the Provincial Championships held at UCT, the seniors (Sarah, Jarita, Tamsin and Raeesah) finished fifth in the preliminary rounds but were knocked out in the quarter-finals. All was not lost because three members of the team finished among the top 20 speakers: Jarita placed 20th; Sarah fourth and Tamsin first. Both Tamsin and Sarah were selected for trials for the Western Cape teams for the second year in succession.

It was in the Rotary League that the seniors achieved their best results. After winning five of their six debates, they reached the octo-finals and progressed to the finals against Reddam College. In a tightly contested debate, the seniors lost on a split vote. On a personal level, Tamsin Metelerkamp, who represented the Western Cape team at the South African Schools Championships last year, was selected to represent South Africa at the Argo World Schools Debating championships in Romania in September. It was fitting that this exceptionally talented debater ended her school debating career on the winning side. Her South African A team remained undefeated throughout the tournament on their way to winning the final.

SACCEE Forum Discussion Competition Team Rustenburg (Tamsin Metelerkamp, Daniellé Lund, Kirsten Pienaar and Neo Ramagaga) was chaired by Jarita Kassen, whose relaxed and flowing style ensured that they explored a wide range of issues on the topic: the problem about bad government is that it can often result in a worse one succeeding it. Not only did we win the SACCEE shield and R1500 for the school library but Tamsin Metelerkamp won the Best Speaker’s Award for an unprecedented second year in a row.

Debating

Back row: Mikayla Shaw, Kate Lodwick, Katia da Silva Valente Middle row: Husna Owadally, Megan Pettie, Sarah Grace, Caitlin Millard, Muofhe Tshifularo, Simthandile Witbooi Front row, from left: Raeesah Shaik, Zahra Mohamed, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Ms Anita Pretorius, Jarita Kassen, Ilhaam Khalfe, Haneem Hendricks

Retro

Teacher-in-charge: Mr Cedric van Dyk Head: Jarita Kassen

Retro celebrates all elements of social history and members are encouraged to be inspired by the past and recognise the influence of the past in present events. The 2014/15 committee decided to delve into a few more elements of social history while still hosting some of the traditional Retro events. We celebrated film, fashion, feminism, South African history and music. Our first event, the annual Movie Day, was themed An Oldie but a Goodie in which we screened five action movies and, of course, Mr Bond featured amongst these. We held two fashion shoots entitled, Winter Look Book and Summer Daze, both of which were shot by Stéphanie Lawrenson directed by Aaliyah Vayez and styled by Ameena Mhatey. We decided to bring Feminism to Rustenburg and Jarita Kassen, Caitlin Luter and Ulriche Jantjes hosted four Friday break meetings where girls could come to discuss, celebrate and be enlightened by peers and UCT panelists.

Davidson, former UCT SRC Transformation Co-ordinator and Mandela Rhodes Scholar, Jessica Breakey, challenged the audience to contribute to much-needed transformation in South Africa. The finale, Yonela Katsha’s vibrant rendition of “I Believe”, inspired the rest of the school to dance and sing along. In Term 2, Retro collaborated with the Music Society committee to host an Open Mic Day to celebrate the talents we have at our school. More information about these exciting events can be found on the blog retrorghs.blogspot.com, which is full of interesting articles written by our blog committee headed up by Kauthar Achmat. Retro has grown tremendously over the past two years. We look forward to the challenges of 2016.

The theme of this year’s Youth Day Assembly was Celebrating and Empowering the Youth. In addition to inputs by Katherine and Natalie RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

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Afrikaans Vereeniging

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Norma Caesar Head: Marianne Schwellnus

Die Afrikaans-Vereniging was hierdie jaar druk aan die werk om die wonderlike Afrikaanse taal by RGHS te bevorder met ons Afrikaans-Dag, ‘n sokkieaand, tee met ons onnies en ons jaarlikse uitgawe van “Die Muggie”. Op 9 Maart het ons Afrikaans-Dag met verskeie aktiwiteite gevier. Ons het die dag afgeskop met ‘n Afrikaans-byeenkoms. Hier het ons gasspreker, Jelleke Wierenga, die leerders veral oor die geheime van die skryfproses ingelig. Wat veroorsaak dat jy ‘n goeie skrywer word? Wel, dalk sal sommige van die meisies wat aandagtig geluister het, ons toekomstige skrywers word! Gedurende die pouses is die meisies met ‘n pannekoekkompetisie en graad 8-speletjies vermaak. Ons het ook in die eerste kwartaal ons waardering vir die Afrikaansonderwyseresse gewys deur ‘n tee vir hulle te reël. Almal was gaande oor die verskillende soetighede, soutighede en die “photo booth”. Ons het selfs ons “verjaarsdagmeisie”, Me. Bekker, genooi om by ons te kom aansluit. Dit was ‘n vrolike geleentheid vir die onderwysers en hul leerders om saam

Jabulani

te sit en aan die lekkernye te smul. Die funksie van die tweede kwartaal was die sokkie. Hierdie jaar is die eerste keer dat die Hoër Meisieskool Rustenburg ‘n sokkie gereël het en dit was ‘n groot sukses! Rustenburgmeisies, Rondebosch-seuns en SACS-seuns het ‘n prettige aand van dans, heerlike kos en goeie geselskap gehad. Almal het dit terdeë geniet en ‘n paar matriekmeisies het selfs hul matriekafskeidmaats hier gevind! Te oulik! Die nuwe komitee van 2015 – 2016 het in kwartaal drie goed saamgewerk aan Die Muggie. Hulle het die geleentheid gebruik om hul leierskappotensiaal te toon en het met vlieënde vaandels geslaag. Lees gerus Die Muggie van 2015 en besluit self. Die jaar 2015 was ‘n interessante jaar en ons is baie trots op die Afrikaans-Vereniging by Rustenburg!

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Monelwa Mboma Head: Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba

The Jabulani Society is a society where girls come together to celebrate culture and tradition. 2015 was an exciting and productive year for the Jabulani Society. Term 1 commenced with weekly rehearsals of choir, dance and poetry. Jabulani Committee members took on the role of instructing the society girls in learning the different African inspired movements, songs and poems. On 5 March, the annual Jabulani and isiXhosa Assembly was held. The assembly highlighted the diversity of African languages at Rustenburg. This showed that there are many girls at Rustenburg who belong to the different ethnic groups of our diverse nation. Girls wore fashionable traditional attire which covered the isiXhosa, isiZulu, SiSwati, Ndebele, Setswana and Swahili cultures just to name a few. The Grade 8 girls performed gumboot and African dancing. The Jabulani Choir sang songs including a click song. On Saturday 28 March, the MSA, Jabulani and Ignition Fun Day took place. Children from Tenterden Child and Youth Care Centre, Vision Child and Youth Care Centre and Baphumelele Child and Youth Care Centre attended the event. The day consisted of fun activities, including face painting, craft-making, tug-of-war, pass the parcel and sports games which were enjoyed by all who attended. This was truly a unique event as all three societies united to celebrate the diversity of our nation. On Friday 8 May, the Jabulani evening took place in the Kemp Hall. The Jabulani Society girls opened the evening with a powerful poetry and song medley, which beautifully introduced the evening’s theme “Local is RGHS MAGAZINE 2014

Lekker”. The guest MC was Samantha “Sammy Sosa” Lehoko who is an Old Girl (E2009). Ms Lehoko is a Metro FM DJ, Vuzu TV presenter and Channel O presenter. It was truly special to have Ms Lehoko share her experiences at Rustenburg and she gave the audience good advice on life lessons she has learnt by being a media personality. She re-affirmed the ideal of appreciating our diverse nation and unique talents. Ms Lehoko also sang beautiful renditions of her songs “Love in the summer” and “Nguwe”. She also wore a designer outfit by another Old Girl, Rolivhuwa Madiba (E2013). Twelve neighbouring schools added to the evening by showcasing their talents in dance, song and poetry. There were also spot raffle prizes which added to the general fun of the evening. The Jabulani Matriculants bid farewell by doing Beyonce’s “7/11” dance routine. The Jabulani Society performed and supported the cultural evenings hosted by other neighbouring schools. These cultural evenings are an amazing way for the girls to network with the cultural society members from other schools. As the Jabulani Society continues to grow and flourish, it is truly hoped that the significance and importance of a diverse society continues to grow in the spirit of Rustenburg.

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Cultural Society

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Zélia Simpson Head: Jarita Kassen

The Cultural Society aims to educate and encourage the Rustenburg cultures that exist within our school. This is done through workshops and the annual Cultural Dinner. This year the dinner was held on 5 March and celebrated the Greek culture. To allow the girls to gain a greater knowledge of the culture, we hosted a Cultural Dinner Build-up Week; we hosted a Greek themed workshop where we taught the girls how to drape a toga, perform a traditional Greek dance and make laurel wreaths. All of these workshops could be used by the girls to make their outfits and enhance their experience at the dinner. Food is always a highlight at a cultural event – and this dinner was no different! Catered by Rustenburg’s very own, talented Bon Appetit Society it was guaranteed to be a success. The committee also invited guests of the cultural societies from other schools. This was done in an effort to broaden the network of Rustenburg’s Cultural Society. The dinner included

Afri-Twin

an impromptu fashion show, to show off the lovely outfits the girls had put together. To round off the dinner, we had everyone on their feet learning to do a Greek dance, while they spontaneously shouted “opa”, in true Greek fashion. During the remainder of the year, we hosted food workshops and cultural sharing circles, which aimed to give girls a platform to share their culture with their peers. The importance of culture in one’s life is often undermined and the Cultural Society aims to change this. One’s culture forms an integral part of one’s life as it governs the way we act, react and co-exist with others.

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Zuleigah Galer Head: Buhle-Bemvelo Zimba

In 2015, two teachers from Stroud Girls High in England visited Rustenburg. They observed lessons and explored our city’s landscape and culture. We had an opportunity to share information about our schools and brainstormed ideas to further strengthen the link between our schools. Ms Wills organised a social at Amadoda Restaurant in Woodstock for the AfriTwin members and Stroud visitors. We enjoyed African-themed cuisine (pap, chakalaka and meat), a first for many of us. It was an evening of sharing experiences, many laughs and great food, with tunes of kwaito in the background. It was evident that, despite the many differences, we share the same joys and challenges within the school environment. The bracelet project was launched at the end of 2014. Grade 8 to 11 form classes were encouraged to make bracelets. We collected and then posted 110 bracelets to Kirste Mambo High School in March 2015. We sent the bracelets as a gesture to welcome their learners and teachers to Afri-Twin and as a symbol of a new prospering relationship. We are excited for Rustenburg girls to share our school and country experiences with our new sister school. Stroud teachers brought a stack of letters from Stroud learners to make contact and connect with Rustenburg girls as future pen pals. Promoting friendships amongst the girls, across oceans, borders and cultures is a focus of Afri-Twin since its establishment. When Mrs Brandt had an opportunity to visit Stroud earlier this year, Rustenburg sent a batch of replies to Stroud girls. During July this year, Mr Wedmore Karuma, a teacher in charge of Afri-Twin at Kriste Mambo High School, visited us. Mr. Karuma (Music and Shona Teacher) observed lessons and was actively involved in the Music Department. We were all very privileged to hear him play a Zimbabwean musical instrument during our assembly. He shared with us the challenges in his country, and their limited access to resources. We plan to organise pen pal letters to the Kriste Mambo girls, to connect further with them. Earlier this

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year, we placed empty jars in all classrooms and appealed to girls to fill the jars with coins, to raise funds for Mfuleni High School, perhaps to plant trees. We hope to raise more funds with our next coin collection for Mfuleni and Kriste Mambo, to add to their limited resources. The Carbon Footprint project was to compare the different lifestyles of learners’ at all three schools and to determine the impact we may we have on the Earth and our environment. The Afri-Twin Committee designed an electronic survey which gave a basic outline of an individual and household carbon footprint. We sent the survey to all the learners at each school and will compile a report on the results once we receive the information from the other schools. We organised a ‘skype call’ with Stroud High School on Wednesday 25th March 2015, at 15h10. This gave us the opportunity to ‘meet’ and ‘engage’ with the girls and our pen pals, ‘face to face’. Prior to the skype chat each school prepared a set of questions. It was such fun to pose our questions to each other and to learn all this new, exciting information from each other. We are expecting a few Stroud girls and teachers to visit us early next year and we are making plans for us to visit Stroud mid-2016. Many thanks to the 2015 Grade 12s who are leaving us, especially to Buhle Zimba for her outstanding leadership and devotion to Afri-Twin. Thank you, Ms Galer for your unfailing support in all the Afri-Twin ventures.

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“The Bug”

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale Head: Daniellé Lund

“The Bug” is the magazine produced each term for the girls, by the girls. This year was a particularly good year for “The Bug” as the number of students who wanted to become members of the committee grew tremendously owing to the popularity of 2014’s issues. Collaboration between the new Grade 10 members and the senior Grade 11 learners made for some exciting editions. The new committee took the brave decision to release two issues in Term 1, which had never been done before. The “New Year, New Me” and “Candyland” editions were big sellers, particularly because there were sweet prizes on offer with “Candyland”. June’s “Winter Wonderland” edition included ways to stay warm, have fun and keep busy during the June/July holidays. The Grade 11s’ final issue had a double theme: “Throwback Third Term / The Women’s Edition”. Teachers provided baby photos of themselves for the lucky-draw competition questions and the writers reflected on why it is wonderful to be a woman. Next year’s committee is ready to take on the challenge of producing more high-quality entertainment for the girls of Rustenburg.

Bug Committee

Back row, from left: Nabeelah Gangraker, Kristin Bellingan, Sabrina Roberts Row 2, from left: Grace Crocker, Jane Abrahams, Nina Stodel, Ms Sarah Capstick-Dale, Nicole Nel, Rebecca Plaatjies, Lisa Harris Front row, from left: Nishtha Naidoo, Jodi Rogerson, Jayshal Gajjar, Megan Kode (Deputy Head), Nureen Mahmood, Raeesah Shaik, Younsun Choi Absent: Daniellé Lund (Head)

Helen Keller

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Louise Lawrence Head: Julie Chandler

2015 was a wonderfully successful year for the 32 girls who regularly visited a number of elderly residents at the Hellen Keller Residence in Pinelands. Six of our committee members, under the auspices of the same programme, also visited residents at Huis Lückhoff, which is just around the corner from Rustenburg. Girls on this programme visit the residents at Helen Keller every second week and rely on their parents for transport to and from Pinelands. The girls interact with the residents either by reading to them, conversing, or playing cards with them. The residents thoroughly enjoy the fresh and vibrant atmosphere we bring to the residence each time we visit. We, on the other hand, appreciate what we can learn from our visits, the happy relationships we form and the fun we have. In her motivational letter to join the Society, Kerryn Duff wrote: “When I was little girl I spent a lot of quality time with my grandmothers. I enjoyed their company and loved them both dearly. Both my grandmothers have passed away and I miss the conversations I used to have with them about anything and everything. I want to be part of the Helen Keller Society because I enjoy listening to what people, especially grandmothers, have to

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say about the world we live in today compared to the world they grew up in and listening to the stories from their childhoods. I feel that if I were to adopt a ‘granny’, I would become a better person and learn a lot from someone who is wiser and more experienced than I am.” In May, Glenis du Toit came to address the assembly and make people more aware of who Helen Keller was and how the home operates. In June and July, we partnered with Interact and encouraged our adopted grannies to help knit squares for the blanket drive. They loved to be part of the project and generously contributed to the drive. In October, the residents organised the customary thank-you tea and we presented each of them with a gift. In November, the Helen Keller Society held a fete and our girls helped with serving tea and clearing tables. Julie Chandler received a special certificate of appreciation from the Helen Keller Society for four years of dedicated service.

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Peer Tutoring Teacher-in-charge: Ms Perdita Norval Head: Zubeida Waggie

Peer Tutoring is a body of compassionate girls who offer fellow pupils individual academic help with their subjects at Rustenburg. Any pupil can request a tutor which may be for a particular subject for a single session or for several. The committee will then allocate a suitable tutor to that pupil. Tutoring takes place at breaks or after school. This year the committee focused on improving the communication channels and helping the Grade 8s to manage high school responsibilities. A secondhand book sale was hosted, which was a convenient way for girls to sell and purchase used textbooks and study guides at very affordable rates.

Cheerleaders Back row: from left: Roxi Francke, Maria Cupido, Gillian Williams, Jenna Wood, Yonela Katsha, Tatum Skriker Front row, from left: Jessica Walters, Qawekazi Bakana, Musa Makhoba (Head), Ms Nolundi Blayi, Hannah AbrahamsCrocker (Deputy Head), Sheree Stewart, Ziyanah Fredricks

Tuckshop Back row, from left: Phumzile Konile, Rachel Edwards, Katherine Davidson, Mubeenah Gangraker, Alex Dill, Raeesa Mathews, Abigail Baker, Chelsea Bam, Yumnah Toefy Middle Row, from Left: Jamie van Niekerk, Michaela Flanders, SĂŠanne van Horsten, Tatum Skriker, Jemma Ellis, Ashleigh Wild, Nausheenah Parker, Quratul-Ain Parker Front row, from left: Mary-Kate Oosthuizen, Yonela Katsha, Nokukhanya Zondi, Ms Michelle Haylett, Tayla Mcgregor, Emily Roberts, Eva Presence

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The President’s Award

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Brigid Ryan

The President’s Award is an outside organisation whose mission, with the assistance of adult volunteer leaders, is to empower young people between the ages of 14 and 25, by providing a balanced, non-competitive framework for self-development that will increase their self-esteem and enhance their capacity to achieve in whatever context they find themselves: enabling them to become responsible active citizens within their communities. This year Rustenburg had a steady stream of applications at the Bronze level and many girls moving on to their Silver level. Yi Tin Michelle Yuan (E 2014), Phumzile Konile, Sasha Marais and Kelly Bang all attained their Silver Standard this year. This year Rustenburg had five girls who were part of the Western Cape Youth Committee: Kelly Bang, Phumzile Konile, Lily van Rensburg, Jenna Frost and Cassidy Boopchand. The committee organised various community service outings for participants to attend. On Sunday 15 March, The President’s Award Youth Committee and volunteers visited Maitland Cottage Home in Newlands, a paediatric orthopaedic hospital and convalescent care centre for children requiring surgery and/or care while they are unable to walk independently due to limb injuries and birth deformities. The girls entertained the children with nail painting, puzzle building and Marie biscuit decorating. On 28 March a beach clean-up organised by the Youth Committee took place at St James and Muizenberg beaches. Members of the committee were joined by a few volunteers and managed to fill seven black bags of rubbish.

Busty Bugs

Busty Bugs is a breast cancer awareness and fundraising campaign introduced to Rustenburg through The President’s Award Youth Committee. They are a group of girls from Grade 9 to 11, headed up by Alyssa Cummings and Phumzile Konile, whose mission it is to bring about breast cancer awareness and raise funds for a PBO called PinkDrive. Their vision is to save lives of breast cancer victims by promoting the detection of early stage breast cancer in both men and women. This innovative and energetic group have held various events such as a pink photo shoot and an outreach visit at CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation). The main fundrasing has been done through sale stalls at the Sun Run and K4K, a candy floss sale at the PGSGU inter-schools, protea sales at the Art and Design exhibition, several bake sales and a pink bands sale.

President’s Award

Back row: Kirsten Buchanan, Jenna Frost, Megan Denny, Cassidy Bhoopchand, Chelsea van Rensburg Front row, from left: Emily O’ Ryan, So-hyeon Kelly Bang, Ms Brigid Ryan (Award Leader), Lily van Rensburg, Phumzile Konile

Exchange to Germany Between 10 December 2014 and 10 January 2015 Emily O’Ryan took part in a cultural exchange program with FSA (Friends of South Africa) by travelling to Cologne, Germany. She shares her experience here: “It was fascinating and eye-opening to experience German snow, school, Christmas markets, skiing and traditional meals. It was also incredibly humbling to be part of building a relationship between Germany and South Africa. While I was absolutely in awe of their country, my host family was also interested to hear about life in South Africa and were very impressed by our school magazine and promotional video. It was an experience of a lifetime bringing unforgettable memories and friends.

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Between 31 July and 31 August I hosted Sarah Schlaier from Regensburg, Germany. She thoroughly enjoyed the different school environment, which included our Women’s Day assembly, Matric 40 Days and simply attending school in a uniform. Sarah was blown away by the beauty within and around our school, and felt welcomed and comfortable with our Rustenburg girls. This exchange was ultimately an enriching and confidence-building experience.” Adrienne Clynick and Emily Malherbe also took part in exchanges through FSA.

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First Aid

Teacher-in-charge: Mme Dominique Williams Head: Jehan Dominique Nothnagel

The First Aiders are very busy and lively behind the scenes and keep Rustenburg safe by providing first-responder medical care and providing medical kits to the members of staff. We started with 11 learners some three years ago with the idea of increasing our numbers of qualified First Aiders on the premises every year. There are now 35 First Aiders, all qualified (Level 1 and Level 3) and 20 qualified teachers. First Aid stations have been created in the various parts of the school and each station has one qualified educator responsible for it. The girls are also present at all functions, all sporting and cultural events, ready to act should the need arise and provide help with any injuries that pupils or anyone else may incur. For critical situations the school is linked to ADT and paramedics. The Rustenburg First Aiders also help with First Aid at our brother school Rondebosch during their rugby season. They are extremely appreciated and at the same time get valuable practice in injuries that they might not encounter in our school.

First Aid

Back row: Hannah Abrahams-Crocker Middle row: Maxine Wilcox, Jarita Kassen, Caroux de Lange, Tayla Anthony, Keabetsoe Nchodu, Liezl Cloete, Revana Pillay Front row, from left: Samantha Carletti, Zakiyyah Sablay, Jehan Dominique Nothnagel, Mme Dominique Williams, Nicole Nel, Michaela Madurai, Mia van Aardt

Blood Donor Clinic

Teacher-in-charge: Ms Perdita Norval Head: Megan Frost

This year the blood donor committee was comprised of Megan Frost (head), Farheen Mahmood (deputy), Abigail Tudge, Sarah Du Toit, Tayla Anthony and Jehan Dominique Nothnagel. Under the guidance of Ms Norval, we had the privilege of being a part of four blood donor clinics over the duration of our service. It was very encouraging to see so many Rustenburg girls, parents and staff members

willing to support this worthy cause by selflessly donating blood. Special thanks go to the WP Blood Transfusion Service for the ongoing support.

AVT

Back row, from left: Naima Dutton, Alice von Zeil, Hannah Lambe, Nabeelah Gangraker, Jessica Funston, Younsun Choi Front row, from left: Aidan Dette, Ursula Hardie (Head), Mr Francis Vogts, Amber Goldberg, Megan Lodder

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RUSTENBURG OLD GIRLS’ UNION

Founders’ Day Founders’ Day In attendance at Rustenburg’s Founders’ Day this year was the class of 1965, which included: Ms Lyndall Murray (née Andrews), Ms Janice Tandy (née Suckling), Ms Cyelle Pollock (née Wood), Ms Deborah Anne (née Davies), Ms Desiree Gordon, Ms Maryth de Goede (née Bevah), Ms Carolyn Rodger (née Bocock), Ms Pam Mills (née Piper), Ms Charmian Wightman (née Cullis), Ms Christelle Thorn (née Starke).

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I am thrilled to be here today. It’s an honour as an Old Girl to come back and address everyone on Founders’ Day. I have been where you are. In 1995, 20 years ago, in January I was sitting exactly where you are in, what we called, Std 6. I know what a prestigious day this is, so this really is a Full Circle Moment for me. I am a TV presenter on a daily breakfast TV show on kykNET, called Dagbreek. It’s on from 5.15 to 7.15 every morning, so we have to be at work at 4am every morning to be transformed from sleeping zombies (especially with a teething baby) to people who look presentable on television. I also work in radio and I have given these kinds of talks for a number of years. But nothing is more terrifying than speaking to a room full of high school girls! Rustenburg had a wonderful impact on my career and my life in general. Here, some of the best educators in the country are leading you on your journey through high school. I started at Rustenburg in 1995 from St Mary’s Primary, a very small Catholic primary school in Gardens. My mother’s first choice for me was Rustenburg High School for Girls. On the day of my interview, I knew that this was where I wanted to be. I was accepted to Rustenburg and I was hugely proud of myself – it was an astounding achievement to get in.

Founders’ Day Guest Speaker Rozanne McKenzie attended Rustenburg from 1995 - 1999

It was not always an easy journey, especially because my mother was single a parent. It was financially difficult for her, but she wanted me to come here because of the quality of education that I would receive. She wanted me to get the best education I possibly could and that is exactly what I got at Rustenburg. My mother worked two, sometimes three, jobs. She did all the extra nursing work that she could. At that stage, I realised that I could also do something to help. That one of the biggest lessons I learned at school: I could also contribute. I started working hard; I started to study harder; I became more involved and I managed to be awarded bursaries, which partially paid for my education. For me, coming back on Founders’ Day, the following rings true: This is a place of opportunity. This is a place where, when given a chance, you should grab it with both hands, take it and run. The only responsibility that all of you have is to give your best. You do not need to be better than the person next to you. You just need to be better today than the person you were yesterday. Whether it is in an academic subject, or in a cultural activity or sport, grab those opportunities and give your best. And if it is something you do not really like doing, give more than your best. I experienced so much at Rustenburg. I was lucky to be one of the first groups that took Drama as a subject. We had such a passionate teacher and she made me realise that drama was something that I wanted to take further and make part of my life. From Rustenburg, I went on to study at UCT and combined Drama with Media Studies for my undergraduate degree. But if I had not had such a dedicated teacher, I would never have ended up in the line of work that I am in. I would not be here. When I got to UCT, I was not completely overwhelmed, even though there were 40 000 students and lots of different lecturers, all with different styles. This is because Rustenburg taught me how to adapt so that I could function within any environment, no matter how challenging. Also, I had learnt that it is acceptable to put up your hand and say: “I need help” or “I don’t understand” or “This is a little bit difficult.” Another subject I was able to do at Rustenburg which enhanced my career, and life, was Afrikaans First Language. It is because of that, that I am able to work in Afrikaans. I worked on a magazine programme called Kwêla for over five years and one of the most incredible people I interviewed was Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. It was in 2011 and I had the opportunity to do his very first full-length Afrikaans interview. It was a wonderful moment in my life to meet someone who is revered around the world. I could have been overwhelmed by it, but I was not, because of the base of confidence that I found at Rustenburg. That is what Rustenburg teaches: you can be whatever you want to be and do whatever you want to do as long as you are prepared to work hard. That attitude of perseverance and hard work is something that you can take with you into any environment, whether it is corporate or creative. Anywhere. There is an anonymous quote that reads: “What it the difference between the master and the beginner? The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” It is your decision how you use all of the opportunities that you are given at Rustenburg. Do not take this school for granted because you are incredibly lucky.

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Ubuntu Award & OLD GIRLS’ NEWS

2015 Ubuntu Award The Ubuntu Award is presented annually to the girl who “shows awareness of and concern for the plight and needs of others and reacts compassionately and humanely to these needs”. The Ubuntu award was the idea of Charmian Plummer (née Marais) 1956 Headgirl and she, together with her classmates of E ‘56, donated the award to the school on the occasion of their 50th reunion. This year’s recipient was Grace Crocker, a Grade 11 student. She took part in many school charity drives and events, including Lerato’s Hope food drives, organising the 2015 Habitat for Humanity Cyclathon, mixing Rotary Christmas puddings, singing as part of the Chamber Choir for Huis Luckhoff residents and helping to build Rustenburg’s house for Habitat for Humanity. Despite a busy schedule and so much school charity involvement, Grace still finds time to do community work outside of school. She is a children’s Sunday school leader at her church and has been heavily involved in TWD (That Was Different), a community service project that is linked to Common Good. Grace collected clothing and blankets that were distributed to different homes and took part in two Stop Hunger Now events. She helped with the painting and restoration of the YMCA campsite. She is also involved in a programme called Saturday Sports which runs at Mokone Primary School. Grace is a true ambassador of Rustenburg High School for Girls with her spirit of concern and compassion for those less fortunate.

First Rhodes Scholarship winner from Rustenburg Sarah Westwood was the first Rustenburg Old Girl to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. In 2015 she was studying towards her Masters in Research Psychology at UCT, where she also completed her undergraduate degree. Her thesis is Grandparental Involvement in Adolescents’ Lives. Since she was four years old, Sarah had dreamt of going to Oxford, after hearing the stories that her grandfather Harold shared with her. Sarah said, “This is a dream come true for me. Most of my life, I wanted to go to Oxford and now I am going to live my dream. I look forward to the experience that attending such a prestigious university will offer me, the doors that will open to me as a Rhodes Scholar, as well as the interaction with students from all over the world.” She still continues to dance a few times a week and played the French Horn at City Hall, as well as participating in this year’s Rustenburg music evening. She is grateful for the teachers at Rustenburg who “encouraged academic excellence and were very committed”. Rustenburg brought out the best in her, taught her to work hard and to enjoy all her learning experiences. She took up her place at Oxford University in October 2015 and hopes to complete her second Master’s degree in higher education.

Rustenburg Old Girl, Janice Warman After a 39 year absence, Old Girl Janice Warman (E 1976) visited Rustenburg on 23 February. She discussed the two books she had authored on apartheid South Africa, “Class of ’79” and “The World Beneath”, and explained what it was like to attend Rustenburg during the height of Apartheid. Ms Warman matriculated in the year of the Soweto Uprising and it is this time that gave rise to both of her books. “Class of ‘79” is about three of her fellow Rhodes journalism students who were brave enough to risk their lives for The Struggle, and “The World Beneath” is a children’s book about a young boy growing up during that time – an imaginative treatment of the same theme. She remembered that at school teachers were not allowed to talk about politics at all. She said, “Our history class consisted of endless explorations of the Great Trek and not much else.” But Ms Warman remembers the teachers of Rustenburg also taught the girls to think for themselves, despite the censorship of information. She particularly remembered her History teacher, Ms Simpson, and English teacher, Ms Burton.

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Farewell to Ms Venelia Fritz Ms Venelia Fritz joined Rustenburg in May 1990 and resigned, for medical reasons, in December 2014. During her nearly 25 years of service, she quietly and efficiently provided the academic staff with daily refreshments in the staff room, cleaned all the administrative offices and assisted with general cleaning around the school. She had a wonderful disposition, making her loved by teachers, support staff and her colleagues alike. Venelia was always willing to go the extra mile and was a respected member of the Rustenburg family. Some reflections from Ms Denise Cowan: One of my outstanding memories of Venelia is her lovely smile. Whenever she came into the office or I saw her in the staffroom, she always had a beautiful smile on her face and an enthusiastic and heartfelt greeting for all. Venelia was an incredibly caring person. Even when she herself was not well, she showed concern for and kindness to all around her. Venelia’s love for and pride in her family was another wonderful attribute and we shared in her joy when her youngest daughter was awarded a prestigious bursary to further her studies in Art. Venelia also took great interest in the staff and their families, especially those who had daughters who had attended Rustenburg. Venelia was always interested to hear what the girls were doing in their life after school. Venelia’s infectious laugh could often be heard in the staffroom and around the school. Many of her stories about “the old days” and old staff members kept many younger staff members enthralled and entertained. Her efficient ways and friendly smile will be missed.

Old Girl Sport Stars Rustenburg is very proud of past pupils Ms Danielle Ferrar (E 2009) and Ms Neda Isaacs (E 2012) who represented South Africa in the Mixed Open Team at the Touch World Cup held in Coffs Harbour Australia from 29 April to 3 May 2015. The Mixed Open team had a tough competition and ﬁnished 11th out of 22 countries. Ms Ferrar’s highlight of the tournament was scoring a hat trick against Germany while Ms Isaacs said that the best part for her was meeting people from all over the world and scoring the most tries in her team. Ms Ferrar and Ms Isaacs started playing Touch during their time at Rustenburg and were both selected to represent Western Province in the Open Ladies Team in their Matric year. Rustenburg has a long history of past pupils playing Touch for South Africa with past pupils representing South Africa in every World Cup since 1999.

80 year reunion Greta Gericke and Billy Foster (E 1935) attended the Human Rights Day assembly and were very impressed by the extremely high standard of the assembly speakers, the video clips, prayers, music and singing. Both ladies, now 96 years old, enjoyed the special tea arranged for them, catered by Bon Appetit. They chatted with each other and all others present, and amazed everybody with their sharp memories of 1935 and the rest of their high school careers.

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Phone: (021) 686 4066 Fax: (021) 686 7114 E-mail: info@rghs.org.za Address: Camp Ground Road, Rondebosch, 7700

RUSTENBURG HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

RUSTENBURG HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 2015

2015 RGHS School Magazine

Articles inside

Earth Children & Eco-Schools Green Flag Award 2015

Farewell to Principal Ms Laura Bekker 2015