Blue Thread Issue 15 by Blue Thread

ISSUE 15

photographer Liam Davies | graphics Caro Botha

elcome to issue 15! Ah, Winston. In what acceptable reality would our furry addition to the family not claim the cover? He has certainly cemented himself in our hearts with considerable amounts of slobber and adorable napping poses within the past term. This issue we’re treating you to endless Winston photos for you to save, print and obsess over if you so wish. We got you. Issue 15 also boasts interviews with the Interschools cheerleaders, an inside look into 2019’s Grade eight orientation, we feature a documentary and a cause that is close to our hearts, as well as, providing you with a killer playlist to kick your holidays off with. Winter seems to have poked its head around the door a little earlier this year, so bundle yourself up, pour yourself a cup of tea and flip through the

digitalpages of the Blue Thread. Don’t forget to give yourself a mental pat on the shoulder, for surviving and excelling, at everything term one threw at you. You made it and you’re an absolute champion. Remember to rest properly this holiday. It’s easy to get caught up in making plans that we forget to leave some time for ourselves. Go out and take the world by storm. The Blue Thread will be here to welcome you home again next term.

Your Editor in Chief,

writer Nerise Malan | photographer Caitlin De Lange | designer Diana Millard

ALLURING ALLERS Faith, trust and a whole lot of coffee

any of us were very sad to hear that Mrs Allers was leaving Parel Vallei at the end of last year, but good news, her legacy lives on with the arrival of her very enthusiastic daughter. Miss Allers’s decision to teach maths at PV actually had almost nothing to do with the fact that her mother taught here. The major factor that led her to the PV family was actually number one in the magical trilogy – FAITH. When asked whether her mother contributed to her decision to teach at PV, she responded, “I would say that it did play a small role, in the sense that it enabled me to get to know all the lovely people in the mathematics department at PV, but no, it did not play a large role in my decision. I actually applied for teaching positions at many schools all over South Africa and even overseas; but I am a woman of faith and I felt that the Lord called me to teach at PV. It was my obedience to the Lord that was the largest factor in my decision.”

In my opinion, there are three main types of people: those that have always known what they want to do with their life, those that have a general idea and those that have no idea whatsoever. When you eventually do need to make your decision, the people belonging to the third category need a lot of TRUST. Luckily, for those of you who don’t know where you are going, Miss Allers was one of you and her story is a successful one.

When I asked her why she decided to become a teacher and what inspired her to teach for the rest of her life, she responded, “To be honest, I never really knew what I wanted to do with my life, and teaching was not at the top of my list. I knew I enjoyed maths and science, so I pursued a BSc. By the end of my first year of university, I started to understand why we do what we do in maths, and not just simply how we do it. It was then that I decided I wanted to help others also understand ‘the why’ behind the ‘how’ in mathematics. I, thus, decided to study abstract math, and in my third year, I tutored education students as part of my abstract maths project. It was through working with these students, that I realised how much I enjoyed passing on my love for maths, and the fact that they so appreciated my input inspired me to take up teaching as a career and essentially teach for the rest of my life.” Now Miss Allers is spreading her love for maths and enjoying her favourite part of teaching: getting to know all of her students as well as drinking delicious coffee in the staff room with all the other teachers.

writer Olivia Dawson | photographer Caitlin De Lange | designer Diana Millard

KARLSON FROM KZN One of the newest additions to the Parel Vallei Family is Mr Dave Karlson who is stepping in as PV’s very own head of cricket.

r Karlson, originally from KwaZulu-Natal, previously worked at Hilton College — South Africa’s most prestigious private boarding school for boys. Needless to say, he comes packed with experience and a vision. Mr Karlson believes in building character, dedication and making a difference. What more could we ask for in a mentor on the field? He aims to aid his teams in performing to the very best of their abilities while still promoting the importance of enthusiasm, energy and good old fun,

because at the end of the day, enjoying what you are doing is what makes a winner. And winning really is everything, isn’t it?

And so, we welcome Mr Karlson with open arms and look forward to many more victorious seasons under his expert guidance. For the time being we can all rest easy, our cricket teams are without a doubt in safe hands.

writer Rosalind Mitchell | photographer Caitlin De Lange | designer Diana Millard

LOVELY LE ROUX Baking, knitting, needle work and more baking — all things that Mrs le Roux does in her, supposed, free time.

oming from her previous teaching post at HH, Mrs le Roux is now one of the newest additions to the PV family. However, she’s actually not unknown to our grounds as she was a former student herself. Teaching was not the initial plan for Mrs le Roux. If she wasn’t a teacher she said she would have brushed up on her cooking skills and do cooking shows; maybe even become a full time student. “Maybe I would study as much as I possibly can, doing what— I don’t really know.” “I can’t really tell you what inspired me to become a teacher; I just thought I’d give it a shot. I cried the first six months but one year in I decided that this is it and ten years later I can’t see myself doing anything else.” When she was in high school she really aspired to be like her English teacher, Mrs Pienaar, Miss Pienaar’s mom, her Afrikaans teacher and her Life Science teacher. It’s because of them that we are lucky enough to have her at our school. “They were just amazing human beings, not to mention their phenomenal teaching abilities.” “Chaos and confusion, yet enjoyable,” were the words used to describe Mrs le Roux’s first week here at Parel Vallei. “It was weird

because I’m not new to this and getting back into the swing of being a register teacher was weird because I haven’t been a register teacher for a few years.” Back at HH, Mrs le Roux was a subject head and a grade head. With this in mind she says that she is mostly looking forward to being only a teacher and becoming herself again.

Mrs le Roux doesn’t just have a sweet heart but she has a sweet tooth as well. “I just love anything sweet.” And if you are so lucky to be in her class here’s a tip; she despises bad hand writing — even though she can decipher mostly anything — as well as being interrupted. You may be teaching the same book year after year and doing the same grammar work because “language is language is language”, but the interaction between a teacher and a child is always different, as the children grow up and new children enter the classroom. “I enjoy the different reactions that people have to the same things and I enjoy marking, weirdly enough.” “Create expectations by living expectations; be the example and be the best example of what a human is supposed to be.” - Mrs le Roux

writer Elizma van Geest | photographer Caitlin De Lange | designer Diana Millard

WELKOM MNR. DU PLOOY PV, passop! Meneer Du Plooy is reg om sy professionale passie op te skop.

a 9 jaar van studeer, hard oefen en lang ure werk in Virgin Active, is meneer Du Plooi weer tuis by PV en hier om ‘n verskil te maak.

Vandat hy gebore is, het mnr. Jacques sy passie op die sportvelde begin uitleef. Eers in Pretoria, toe Laerskool Stellenbosch en uiteindelik as leerling in Parel Vallei. Of dit nou op die rugby veld of die atletiekbaan was, as jy hom sou soek sou jy hom maklik kry. Deesdae rig hy hokkie, krieket, rugby, hamergooi en selfs netbal spanne af! Steeds kom hy elke dag met n glimlag op sy gesig by die skool aan. Sy geheim? Hy onderskei 'n werk met 'n loopbaan. Daar is mos nie baie erger dinge as om 10 ure n dag, 5 dae ‘n week vir 4050 jaar iets te doen wat jy háát nie. Maak die somme: dis 2 600 uur ‘n jaar en 130 000 uur of

7 800 000 sekondes van jou lewe wat jy net so gemors het. Jy moet dus ‘n werk kies waar dit nie vir jou voel of jy werk nie. Vir mnr. Du Ploy is dit die energie van die leerders en die gees in die skool wat dit die moeite werd maak. Die ure wat hy nie by die skool deurbring nie, sal jy hom vind langs 'n braaivleisvuur, visvangdam of waar hy tag-rugby speel met vriende. Hy het egter baie planne vir die skool self: Om n gimnasium op die skoolgronde te hê sodat ons rugby-manne daagliks kan oefen en om 'n koshuis oop te maak om leerders uit die binneland en ander provinsies te betrek.

writer Amelia van Heerden | photographer Caitlin De Lange | designer Diana Millard

AHOY MEVROU DU TOIT PV se sintuie word geprikkel met juffrou du Toit se verbruikersliefde.

ev. Du Toit is Parel Vallei se nuwe Verbruikerstudie juffrou. Met treffende potblou oë, ‘n strengmaar-gaaf persoonlikheid, is Mev. Du Toit die perfekte bestandeel vir ons PV-dis. Mev. Du Toit kom van Stutterheim, ‘n klein dorpie in die Oos-Kaap. Sy het ‘n gelukkige kinderlewe gehad waar sy op ‘n plaas groot geword het. Sy het n liefde vir die natuur daar ontwikkel. Mev. Du Toit het die vier lekkerste jaar van haar lewe aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch spandeer, waar sy haar B.Ed Huishoudkunde ontvang het. Ná Stellenbosch het sy vir twee jaar by Hoërskool George Hofmeyer op Standerton skool gegee, daarna is sy vir 19 jaar by Botavia in Claremont, toe 6 jaar by Hoërskool De Kuilen. Mev. Du Toit het al van tevore by Parel Vallei vir 4 maande afgelos, so sy het geweet wat om van ons skool te verwag. Haar eerste indruk van Parel Vallei was dat ons ‘n veelsydige skool is wat elke leerder die geleentheid gee om hul talente en

passies uit te leef. Volgens haar skep ons ‘n trotse beeld. Sy was mal oor ons skoolklere. Sy sien die meeste uit daarna om voort te gaan by ons met die nalatenskappe van haar vorige skool. Hulle was 2017 se Nasionale wenners van Skole Kook en sy wil graag daardie liefde en passie kweek vir Verbruikerstudies as ‘n vak. Sy glo Verbruikerstudie is baie belangrik, want dit leer die leerders soveel lewensvaardighede wat hulle kan gebruik, maak nie saak wat hulle na skool doen nie. Wat is jou gunsteling TV -reeks? This is Us en Survivor.

writer Annegrethe Scholtz | photographer Caitlin De Lange | designer Diana Millard

MARVELLOUS MISS MOCKEY We say hello to our stunning new English teacher, Miss Mockey.

think it’s safe to say that most of us can describe our first day of high school as daunting. You don’t know what to expect, except that you’re expected to know everything. It’s easy to forget that our teachers may feel the same way. Miss Mockey found her first day of teaching at high school as nerve wracking as we found attending it. Similarly, to our grade 8 selves, as the days have passed she has settled nicely and is warmly welcomed into our PV family. Miss Mockey studied at Stellenbosch University and she described her student life as; fun, scary, hardworking and a beautiful adventure of self-discovery. The numerous sleepless nights and copious coffee consumption definitely paid off as she walked out of university with her BA in Humanities, Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Honours in Translation Studies, straight into our hearts here at PV. She has wanted to be a teacher ever

since she could remember. Throughout high school, inspiring and passionate teachers made her decision that much easier. She hopes that her love for language will inspire us to love it just as much.

Now, at the start of a year filled with endless possibilities and opportunities, we hope to get to know more than just the superficial things — such as her favourite series being Outlander and Bates Motel — and to grow alongside Miss Mockey as we make this year the best one yet.

writer Katya van Drimmelen | photographer Mieke de Wet | designer Diana Millard

NAMIB-LIEFDE Van kleins af fantaseer ‘n meisie oor haar eerste soen, eerste kêrel en die ontmoeting van haar toekomstige lewensmaat.

lmal van ons het spesifieke scenario’s geskep van hoe dit gaan afspeel. Nooit het juffrou Alberts verwag dat Facebook deel gaan wees van haar fantasie nie. Bring die blomme en strooi die konfettie! Julle het reggeraai. Juffrou Alberts gaan trou. Die opwinding loop hoog vir die lang, talentvolle netbalafrigter en haar namibiese verloofde. Van kosmarkte besoek en resepte uit toets, tot by familie avonture na die onbekende, is daar baie om na uit te sien in die sprankelende verhouding. Universiteits maats was hulle gewees toe hulle mekaar vir die eerste keer leer ken het. In daardie tyd was trou nog net in hulle agterkoppe. Nadat hulle paadjies geskei het en hulle albei die duine van die lewe moes uitklim, het hulle weer ‘n ontmoeting in hulle latere lewens. Nie omdat hulle mekaar raakgeloop het in die strate nie, maar omdat Facebook hulle toevallig weer bymekaar gebring het. ‘n Groot aanhanger van Facebook is juffrou Alberts nou nie juis nie, maar volgens haar is haar verloofde haar eerste en enigste thumbsup. Hoe romanties! Vir juffrou Alberts was dit nou nogal ‘n random verrassing gewees toe haar kêrel ‘n ring uit die kar gaan haal het in plaas van ‘n baadjie teen die koue wind. Aangenaam was sy natuurlik verras en

op die sandduine van die Namibiëwoestyn het die woorde “jy is so random, ja” oor die sand ge-eggo. Hier speel die alombekende opposites attract ‘n groot rol, want volgens juffrou Alberts is haar verloofde vreeslik ewekansig waar sy meer daarvan hou om dinge gestruktureerd te handhaaf. Hierdie Namib-liefde is iets wat enige meisie en vrou opgewonde sal maak oor hulle spesiale dag. Ons, as die Parel Vallei familie, wens juffrou Alberts alle geluk, vreugde en blydskap in haar pad vorentoe en meisies, julle weet nooit, dalk is julle sjarmante prins ook eendag julle eerste Facebook thumbsup.

When you focus on the good, the good gets b e t t e r

CURA TE IPSUM Take care of your own self

designer Michelle Lourens

c l u b s.

blue thread.

writer Katya van Drimmelen

- Wat die meeste mense soms moeilik vind om te verstaan is hoe baie moeite daar ingesit word om op die ou end ‘n eindproduk te kan hê wat nooit teleurstel nie.

Nog ryp in sy eerste dekade, streef die Blue Thread na uitnemendheid in ‘n veranderende wêreld. Met vele geleenthede wat die tydskrif vir ons jongklomp aanbied is daar verbasend min mense wat eintlik weet wat die Blue Thread is en wat alles agter die skerms van hierdie wondertydskrif gebeur.

en trane van kinders en onderwysers wat nooit van ‘n uitdaging wegskrum nie. Fotograwe, ontwerpers, skrywers en kunstenaars. Almal van die hoogste gehalte, gekies met ‘n leierspan wat seker maak dat alles in toom gehou word.

In die verkose redaksiespan glo elkeen van ons in ons eie unieke talente en in mekaar s’n. Waar ieder en elk hulle professionele passie kan uitleef, stel ons leerders van Parel Vallei bloot deur hulle kreatiwiteit, kunstigheid en persoonlike vaardighede te ondersoek. Nie net kry ons die kans om vir die buitewêreld te wys waarnatoe ons in staat is nie, maar dit motiveer ons om buite die boks te dink.

“My persoonlike visie sal wees dat die tydskrif en al sy skrywers, fotograwe en ontwerpers die skip vat en self bestuur. Dat ons volwasse genoeg sal wees om die tydskrif self te kan hardloop, maar nooit afdwaal van die feit dat dit ‘n skoolgebaseerde tydskrif is nie,” – Lucia Niland, hoofredakteur.

Om deel van die redaksiespan te wees, verg nie net harde werk en toewyding nie. Die doel van Die eerste uitgawe van die Blue Thread tydskrif die Blue Thread gaan mos juis oor daardie is al in 2015 gepubliseer. Alhoewel dit maar nog konneksie wat jou verbind aan jou medeleerders en dit is presies dié konneksie ‘n kleuter is in vergelyking met ander wat loop regdeur die redaksiefamilie. Ons almal skooltydskrifte, het dit ‘n eksponensiële groei beleef die laaste paar jaar. Om deel te wees van lewe vir daardie Donderdagaand atmosfeer so ‘n projek is werklik ‘n ervaring en ek is trots waar almal in die laat aand idees rondgooi en later begin kougom deel en filosofeer oor wat om te sien hoe dit elke jaar nader kom aan ‘n die lewe nou eintlik is – net in die Blue Thread. baie blink toekoms.

Die sperdatum is hier en dit is duidelik dat die Blue Thread nie net ‘n normale tydskrif is nie. Dit is kontemporêr, oorspronklik en reguit op Wat meeste mense soms moeilik vind om te pad na ‘n blinker toekoms. Die Blue Thread laat verstaan is hoe baie moeite daar ingesit word om op die ou end ‘n eind produk te kan hê wat ons tieners tiek! nooit teleurstel nie. Ure en dae se bloed, sweet

writer Rosalind Mitchell

- The best camera you have is the one you have in your hands, so get creating The film club is where students who love the artistic and creative side of film-making can come together to create and share. It’s all about the appreciation and love of film. Every year, each member is called on to make a short film of his or her own and to take it upon themselves to film life at Parel Vallei. At the beginning of every year, there is a chance to join the film club and to sign up to create your short film, which you have the whole year to work on. If you missed the sign up at the beginning of the year, don’t fret, it is still possible for you to sign up, you will just have less time to work on your film. If you want advice on what to do, Mrs Yoko’s door is always open. Every Thursday, at second break, the club meets in room 742, Mrs Yoko’s class, to discuss the roster for various events that need to be filmed for the school, as well as,

the members’ progress in their own short films. Different workshops take place throughout the year, so those dates are also discussed. Something exciting to look forward to is the termly film report that the club is filming. They are trying to catch the ‘hustle and bustle’ of everything that is going on at Parel Vallei every term so I encourage you to keep smiling because you might just see yourself on the big screen.

film club.

photography club.

writer Lienke Frylinck

- mik en druk -

Ons is ‘n fantastiese skool, omdat elkeen sy deel doen. Die fotografieklub is net een van baie wat ‘n wonderlike diens aan ons skool lewer, deurdat elke lid eenvoudig net hul ongelooflike talente gebruik. Die fotografieklub werk reg deur die jaar en staan ure langs die veld, meestal in die wind en weer, om daardie wenaksiefoto te neem. Die opoffering werp vrugte af, want hulle bring jaarliks ATKV-pryse huis toe. Die fotograwe neem ook deel teen Pearson deur 20 van hulle

topfoto’s in te skryf. Ek weet elke Pearsondeelnemer weet dat hulle met sterk kompetiesie te doen het. Parel Vallei se webblad en Instagram word ook versier deur die fotograwe se merkwaardige foto’s. Dit speel sekerlik ‘n rol in ons skool se gewildheid. Die trofeekaste wag in spanning om weer ATKV-pryse uit te stal!

TANNED NERVOUS AND UNABLE TO SPEAK THE SOLE LANGUAGE OF

ometimes I find myself pathetically scrolling through the Snapchat memories of my exchange and tearing up for the millionth time as all the memories flash through my mind. I think of everyone in France, whom I left behind and may never see again. Well, at least not in person. Then my phone buzzes with a snap from them, probably in la cantine or hanging out in the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lounge. I try to keep in touch with all of them via snap streaks, of course. That is the beauty that many people fail to see in our overwhelmingly powerful technology and the ingenious invention of social media: staying in touch is as easy as sending each other a photo every day.

writer Natasha Schmidt | photographer Natasha Schmidt | designer Danielle Kleyn

I arrived in Paris at the beginning of last December, tanned, nervous and unable to speak the sole language of communication. I just remember finally meeting my host family and stumbling as much over my feet as over my extremely limited arsenal of words. My main reason for going on this exchange was to learn to speak French, but that’s just me. All of the other exchange students from Cape Town were going for the ‘cultural experience’ a.k.a. living in Europe. By that time, I’d already had three years’ worth of French lessons. “I’ll be fine,” I thought. I thought wrong. The reality was that I had never even had a real conversation in French before diving in head first. So now it was time to swim. Nearly every morning I woke up at 6:00am, went to school with my host sister, and all around amazing person, Méline. School finished at 6:00pm and we would then take the bus and walk the rest of the way to her home in the countryside. At night, everyone ate together, showered and more or less made their way to bed. Every day I picked up more and more French like puzzle pieces to an enormous Jigsaw Puzzle. If I heard something a lot, I wrote it down and worked it into my vocabulary.

Eventually I became comfortable around all Méline’s friends and I could understand what people were saying for the most part. Then one day, as I was sitting in History class and really making an effort to understand what the professeur was saying, I just clicked. I was following every word he was saying and making detailed notes with indexes and everything. Needless to say, I was giddy for the rest of the day. I am the kind of person who always needs to be doing new and difficult things. I need to be outside of my comfort zone and testing my limits. That’s simply who I am. That’s one of the many reasons this short-term Rotary exchange was for me. Seven weeks after that dazed and confused girl stumbled out of the plane, she had to catch her flight home. She stood in the queue at passport control and made easy conversation with French-speakers and she went back with no tan, a lot of new friends and even more memories made, both real life and the Snapchat kind.

FINDING THE FIDDLER Without Without traditions, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof!

V has many traditions that tighten the knot of the blue thread in each of us. One that could arguably be the most important is the musical that PV puts on every four years. This year, under the new leadership of Mr Spijkers, PV will be doing Fiddler on the Roof. Fiddler is the touching story about Tevye, a poor milkman, and his family. The story is mainly wrapped around the external conflict that the little Jewish village of Anatevka faces from the increasing anti-semitism — the discrimination against Jews — of Tzarist Russia, as well as, the internal conflict Tevye faces when his three eldest daughters continuously test his faith and tradition. Anatevka is less like a community and more like a family and I do feel that Mr Spijkers is trying to make our cast more like a family too, with teambuilding workshops, camps, outings and not to mention that special bond that is created between sweaty cast members after rehearsing for 5 hours. There are many theories as to why there is a fiddler playing on a roof that only Tevye can see, here is Danielle Kock’s — the fiddler’s — take on the matter,” Life in Anatevka is very difficult. The fiddler is a way for the main character to get reminded of the fun and relaxing things in life. Music and dancing is

very important in the Jewish community and is a form of relaxation. The fiddler reminds the mainstream character to let go of the struggles of the day and relax. The fiddler appears mainly in the evening, which is the time for relaxing, dance and music. When the fiddler appears in the morning, the fiddler is a way of encouraging the main character to enjoy the day.”

Danielle has been playing the violin for six years and music is just as important to her as tradition is to Tevye. Music forms part of her daily life, she loves music and it has a way of making her relaxed and as happy as we are to have a fiddler that can fiddle. Danielle is moving to England soon after the show ends and we will miss her dearly. She is not only an important part of the play but also an important part in many of our lives. Griffin Poole is our Tevye and he is extremely excited to jump into this production and his character of a loving father. Griffin says that he can relate his life to that of Tevye’s in that he also has had his conflicts with his family and God, but in the end it all turns out fine. Griffin has already fallen in love with his character, as I’m sure every audience member will too. He says that the most difficult part about playing Tevye is that he will be leaving the character at the end of the year.

writer Nerise Malan | designer Diana Millard

When asked why people should come see the show, he responded, “It is an amazing portrayal of an amazing point in history. The external and internal conflicts within the play are amazing and it’s great to see it all unfold.”

Now a few words from our outstanding director — Mr Spijkers — whom has gained some experience in the musical through playing the fiddler at an Artscape production of Fiddler on the Roof. Why did you choose Fiddler on the Roof? ” We discussed many musicals and they were all very different, from Newsies to Grease to Shrek, all with different requirements and feelings. We decided on Fiddler on the Roof because it was the one that would lend itself more to the leads we found. When you watch the production, you will meet Tevye, his lovely wife Golde and his lovely daughters and we actually found these characters during the audition process. There is a wonderful philosophy in high school education that says follow the child and you will find the best path. Another reason is that there are five or six big chorus pieces and it also helps us to build our choir.” Why, in your opinion, should people come watch Fiddler? “People should come watch Fiddler on the Roof because even though it is an old musical that people have seen many times and your parents know the music, it is still relevant today.

Today in the world there are people crossing borders and being shot for that. There are politicians that are trying or threatening to start wars and this musical shows the effect of war and racism. In it the Jewish people are put down by the Russians and they are constantly being threatened. They are living in small villages. I think that this musical will teach you to be grateful for what you have, that life is precious and that there is so much joy in it. The musical sounds quite depressing but there’s lots of fun actually, there’s a big funny character called Yente, the matchmaker and there’s also a beautiful wedding scene with lots of energy and a famous bottle dance. Aside from a gripping drama about a father and his daughters, there is also comedy and wonderful dance numbers. I would say that it is a classic, that there is something in it for everyone and we hope to see you all there.” If you aren’t already convinced to come and support this amazing production, then maybe this will change your mind, we have an amazing cast including; Griffin Poole, Lucia Niland, Mia van der Merwe, Danielle Kock and many more. There are many fantastic dance numbers, scenes that will make you laugh and scenes that will make you cry and let’s not forget that most of us have to speak with a Yiddish accent. If you’re asking yourself, What on Earth is a Yiddish accent? Then I have only one more thing to say, tickets go on sale on April 31st.

INTERHOUSE GALA Welcome to the life of water, I hope you have your goggles are on because Nassau made waves this year at the Interhouse gala, winning with a total of 287 points. In second place, we had Abby with 271 points and Stella in third place with 219 points.

writer Rosalind Mitchell | photographer Various | designer Danielle Kleyn

ogether with the hard working cheerleaders, the drumline and the swimmers, the gees was held high and an exciting and encouraging atmosphere was created by everyone in the stands. Dané de Villiers said, “My favourite part was actually finishing my race and that feeling of relief that I had actually made it and everyone was there to encourage and congratulate me at the end.”

It can be quite stressful and nerve racking to swim, especially if you haven’t swam in a long time. Dané de Villiers said,” I was extremely nervous because I haven’t swum in so long and I was scared that my goggles were going to fall off if I dove in and I couldn’t really remember how to dive.” Even if you have been training, it can still be stressful. Lerize de Villiers said, “There are always nerves.”

A smiling Lerize de Villiers ran up to stage to collect her trophy as she had just won Junior Victrix Ludorum. Lerize said, “It felt amazing to win. It is just a satisfying feeling. The gala itself was just such a wonderful experience and I will definitely do it again.”

If you want to start swimming you can go to Mrs Kuhn’s to get some more information. There is also non-team swimming for students who are just beginning. Angelique Filter said, ”Non-team swimming is for those who want to get fit or better at swimming in a non-competitive way; it’s a more relaxed environment.”

The water may have been cold, but all the brave swimmers still dove in so that they could get their house points. Isabella Booyens was one of these swimmers and her stunning performance in the water earned her the Senior Victrix Ludorum. Senior Victor Ludorum went to Jarryd Konkol, who is also a District Prestige Swimming Gala participant. Junior Victor Ludorum went to Henno Swanepoel who swam his heart out in every single one of his races.

So to all those swimmers who are going to be swimming in the galas to come, keep swimming like a shark is chasing you.

BRAVEHEART Dis korrek; hulle is die wonderlike groep energieke mense, wat onse skool gaan lei tot die oorwinning van die gees-beker by hierdie jaar se Interskole! Na ons jaarlikse Interhuis-atletiek kompetisie, was 8 rasieleiers uit ons Huis -spanne – Aberdeen, Stella en Nassau – gekies om leiding te neem by ons bekende Baadjie -formasie teen Hoërskool Strand en Hoërskool Hottentots Holland. Ek het die eer gehad om kort onderhoude met elke rasieleier te voer. Ek het die kans aangegryp om bietjie meer oor hulle uit te vind en te hoor hoe hulle voel oor die feit dat hulle as rasieleiers gekies is.

writer Anke Tough | photographer Carlton Kok and Adam Fredricks | designer Brigit Burger

What was going through your head when you heard that you were chosen to be a cheerleader for Interschools? For a second I froze. Then I felt so excited, jumped up and I couldn't stop smiling. I thought that all the hard work was finally worth it!

When you were chosen as a cheerleader, was it difficult to come to terms with the fact that other Interhouse cheerleaders – friends perhaps – weren’t part of the lucky few ? Yes, it was quite difficult. I know a few of them were really hoping to make it, but unfortunately didn’t. They're part of the optog now, so I'm happy that they're still involved.

Where do you get your costumes? The teachers showed us what the cheerleaders should look like. We had to organise those costumes ourselves, by making or buying them. All the cheerleaders have to look the same, so we bought the material and made the costumes ourselves. The dancers and performers, on the other hand, are given costumes, as theirs don't have to be as specific as the cheerleaders.

Do you have any advice for aspiring cheerleaders? Be prepared to work behind the scenes. Become a hype person. Coffee.

In your opinion, how would you get people with little spirit hyped up? Who are the geniuses behind your awesome dance routines and what about those who can’t dance? Thankfully we have a few cheerleaders – such as Tyrique, Ian, Minseok and Keanu – who are addicted to dancing and music, so it is easy for them to practise, teach and help us come up the dance.

We try to keep the songs as simple and catchy as possible. I believe that everyone has the potential to get hyped, but often they are just shy and don't know how to bring the excitement. It is our job to draw that potential out of them, so I try to stay positive and consistent.

INTERSCHOOLS

MATRIC PICNIC Every matric year has a moment. A moment when sudden realisation hits and for a second the only thing going through our minds is “This is it. We’re almost there.” One defining moment that makes the dwindling number of days that we have left in high school a reality.

writer Olivia Dawson & Lucia Niland | photographer Various | designer Lucia Niland & Olivia Impson

very matric year has a moment. A moment when sudden realisation hits and for a second the only thing going through our minds is “This is it. We’re almost there.” One defining moment that makes the dwindling number of days that we have left in high school a reality. For many of us, The Matric Picnic was that moment. Organised by the RCL members, the event was an unquestionable success. Upon entry, the Gr 12’s were greeted by teachers in costume too. Next, laid out on top of a table, was a white cloth. Bottles of paint, brushes and water were standing ready. With unbridled excitement and enthusiasm, hands were painted, prints were made and names were written. As silly as it sounds, it felt like we were immortalising ourselves. It was something with our names written all over it with handprints to match. It was something to be remembered — to last. The excitement really started in the days prior to the event as everyone scrambled for costume ideas that matched the theme: heroes and villains. The theme was interpreted differently by many with a few surprise costumes, namely Joseph Stalin — the Original Villain — who won the prize for best costume and who seemed to stay in character the entire night. Initially taking place on the matric lawn while a cricket game concluded, the hordes arrived at golden hour and quickly took to taking

tons of photographs before settling down to picnic. Having consumed mountains of food in less than an hour, the group migrated from the lawn to the field as the music started up and the dancing commenced. For what felt like the first time, social groups meant nothing. People who would otherwise never interact were playing friendly games of volleyball while others kicked a soccer ball or played ultimate frisbee, danced or sat around merely enjoying the occasion. As a grade we had never been closer – and it was positively brilliant. And then YMCA came on the loudspeakers. As though a switch had been flicked, every single person sprinted to the dance area and it can be truthfully stated that never before has the YMCA been performed with such gusto. Nothing compares to dancing with absolute abandon, a grin stretching from ear to ear and pure adrenalin flooding your veins, surrounded by friends feeling the same rush you are. It was fantastic. We started this year counting the lasts: the last first day, the last first assembly and the last Interhouse, but that night was a first. It was palpable and everyone knew it. From the second we walked in to singing Don’t Stop Believing at the top of our lungs during clean up, we knew that it was times like these we would not be forgetting — the laughter, the sokkie-ing — all of it. It was our defining moment.

NEW BLOOD On the 5 th of January 2019 hoards of wide -eyed Grade 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s walked into the gates for the first time as Parel Vallei students. As bra kkies. There was a symbolic separation as Grade 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turned left to line up next to the tennis courts and the parents were directed to continue straight to the front office, heading to the hall. There were many tear -filled eyes, hurried hugs and nervous good -byes all-round, mainly from the moms and dads.

writer Lucia Niland | photographer Caro Botha | designer Charlotte Lay

he next three days of orientation were a blur of activities. From ice breakers with their prefects, making tinfoil hats to prevent the brakkies from extra-terrestrial mind control and learning to sing the school song with pride, to getting tours of the school grounds and learning their Grade 8 dance. All the while they also had to be ready to drop to the ground at the call “Zero Gravity”, run around the nearest prefect at “Space Orbit” or run to find their specific prefect at “Grab Your Leash”. At 6am on Friday the 10th of January, five massive buses were loaded, first with luggage and then fourteen-year-olds and so they set off for Tulbagh. From the moment the Grade 8’s arrived at the camp the Lead for Life team, with the help of the prefects, immediately engaged with the kids, keeping them busy from 7am to

10 pm with team building exercises and tasks so that by bedtime, everyone climbed into bed exhausted and content. We departed camp on Sunday with heavy hearts and made the journey home. Monday brought the blazer ceremony, where our beloved brakkies were accepted as full Parel Vallei Bulldogs. One cannot accurately describe the pride each prefect felt watching their Grade 8’s cross the stage and put on their several-sizestoo-large blazers. Having the opportunity to witness the way they each came out of their shells, found their niches and built new friendships was the greatest honour. And thus, we welcome the Matrics of 2023.

stylist Natasha Schmidt | photographer Asher Adams & Mieke de Wet | designer Charlotte Lay

modelled by | Leriche Fourie & Joshua Burger

Alexia wears: body suit - Forever 21 jeans - Cotton On, R250

Annalet wears: shirt - Primark, R120 skirt - Factorie, R350 modelled by | Annalet de Vries & Alexia Pillay

Joshua wears: chequered shirt - Jeep grey t-shirt - Mountain life shorts - H&M

Annalet wears: t-shirt - Factorie, R70

pants - Mr Price, R160

Joshua wears: t-shirt - Aerospace bracelet - Woolworths, R70

Leriche wears: t-shirt -Tommy Hilfiger, R250 jeans - Woolworths, R600

photographer Asher Adams | designer Charlotte Lay

CAMPUS QUOTES

Physics Class Tydens Saal

The name’s Bond. Atomic Bond.

Persoon : Hoe vat drama so baie tyd? Persoon 2: Ja-nee, ek vat nie eers drama nie en dit vat al my tyd!

Matric Lawn She’s like the colour beige. Bland.

Wiskunde Klas Meisie 1: Oe! Het ek vir jou gesê, ek het ‘n date dié naweek? Meisie 2: OMW wat?!

Math Class Teacher *Switches off lights*

Boy: “Oof, setting the mood!”

Meisie 1: Ja, ‘n date met die antwoord reeks.

Afrikaans Class 300 Passage Octopuses are just wet spiders.

Oh no! Liberalism!

From the get-go it was clear that this book wouldn ’t be falling into any of the clichés and tropes of its genre.

eaders helplessly watch as the socalled American Dream dissolves before the eyes of Fabiola, a teenage girl from Haiti, who has left her whole life behind without a second thought. Fabiola and her mother were forcibly separated while attempting to cross over onto American soil. Seeing as Fabiola was permitted to enter, she went to live with her aunt and cousins in Detroit, while her mother was initially detained and deported. What makes this book truly unique is the authenticity with which the Haitian-American author, Ibi Zoboi, tells her and Fabiola’s story, as she had also immigrated to America as a child. My first thought after reading the novel, once my heart rate had slowed, was that the biggest cause of grand -scale xenophobia and fear of immigrants is our inability or even unwillingness to see things from their perspective. Stepping out from behind her perspective, after 334 pages, you are able to feel and understand her pain and suffering. At one point, Fabiola sums it all up beautifully in this one liner: “So trying to come to America from the wrong country is a crime?” There is obviously a lot more going on in this brilliant novel and it’s not all doom and gloom. There is an adorable love story for Fabiola, endearing and complex characters and an unlikely double-ending that really triggered my allergies. One thing that really struck me was how Fabiola, or Fabulous as she was renamed, knew that she was supposed to be eternally grateful to have ended up in the land of milk and honey itself. Gradually, however, it becomes apparent that she had been much happier and safer in her country than in America, almost as if it had all been a sick joke played on her and all the others that came before. On the corner of American and Joy Street, Detroit, there isn’t even grass that could be greener, just a sidewalk covered in blood.

writer Natasha Schmidt | photo via Unsplash | designer Charlotte Lay

GALAXY COFFEE CO. Wie sou ooit kon droom dat onnies en skoolkinders hulle daaglikse koffie -fix op hul voorstoep kon kry? Te danke aan Ga la xy Coffee is hierdie droom bewaarheid. Hulle koffie is, wel, out of this world en selfs die sterre kan nie vergelyk met diĂŠ hemelse smake nie.

writer Mieke De Wet | photographer Mieke De Wet | designer Luke Bardenhorst

Wat het jou laat besluit op ‘n koffie-besigheid?

Wat is julle droom vir julle brand?

Ek het 8 jaar gelede 'n passie vir koffie ontwikkel en van toe af besluit om die industrie te betree. Hoe meer ek met koffie gewerk het en die kultuur rondom dit ontdek het hoe groter het my passie geword. Ek het 'n passie vir mense, en mense hou van koffie - 'n wen-wen situasie.

Ons droom is om die mense in ons gemeenskap te seën met 'n besonderse koppie koffie. Ons doen baie graag troues en funksies ook.

Hoe het jy op die naam Galaxy Coffee gekom?

Ek was nog altyd mal oor die sterre en sterrestelsels. So het ek aanklank gevind met die naam Galaxy Coffee.

Sal julle graag julle brand wil versprei en dalk ‘n winkel oopmaak? Ons fokus is in die detail en om die beste te wees in wat ons doen. Ons wil net 'n lekker tyd hê saam met enigeiemand wat by ons Tuk -Tuk stop. In die toekoms sal ons definitief nog 'n paar TukTuks wil aanskaf asook miskien ons eie koffiewinkel, wie weet the sky isn't the limit.

Van waar af kom julle? Ek kom oorspronklik van Kwazulu-Natal af, en my vrou, Tana, van Gauteng af.

Wie het die ontwerp van die besigheid se logo gedoen? Vertel ons meer. Tana is 'n grafiese ontwerper en ons het saam gewerk daaraan om iets te ontwikkel wat nie net quirky en fun is nie, maar ook gesofistikeerd. Ons het vir lank eers gewerk aan 'n ander logo wat baie meer vervelig was en hierdie een was die laaste opsie, amper as 'n grap, en toe hou ons albei die meeste van hom. Niks te diep nie, dit is wat dit is en dit pas mooi by die naam.

CHASING CORAL

writer Olivia Dawson | designer Natasha Schmidt

magine a great expanse of colour. Towering sponges, swaying anemones and ferns drifting slowly back and forth in the current — all turning fluorescent shades of purple, blue and yellow in a lastditch effort before turning a stark white. As their flesh decays, tendrils of sludge drip from their skeletons. It sounds like something one might find on the science fiction shelf. However, in this Netflix Original Documentary — Chasing Coral — this is real life. This is an environmental tragedy entirely of our own making and no matter how much we want to, we can not simply close the book and slide it back onto the shelf. In 2016, 29% of the Great Barrier Reef disappeared in what was the worst global coral bleaching event to date. For the first time it was documented. Chasing Coral, Winner of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, follows the story of director Jeff Orlowski — Chasing Ice — and coral enthusiast, Andrew Ackerman, Founder of Ocean Agency, as well as, a team of photographers, scientists and divers as they attempt to reveal to the world the ravaging effect global warming has on coral reefs. The result is a heart-breaking film comprised of manually and meticulously acquired time lapse footage on reefs located in Hawaii, the

Caribbean and Australia.

The film first premiered in the USA on the 14th of July 2017 and has since been met with an abundance of positive feedback. The team is undeniably relatable — their love for what they do is infectious, making the hour and a half runtime completely worth every second. Additionally, the film manages to not only capture the devastation itself but also the toll it takes on the divers having to witness day-in and day-out the transformation of a healthy habitat teeming with life wither away into a deserted wasteland littered with the skeletal remains of what once was. Chasing Coral also brings to light the crucial role coral reefs play in the ocean ecosystem and the reality that three billion people are relying on the health of that ecosystem to survive. This film was an unnerving wake-up call to the unprecedented loss of life taking place in an area of the world that most of us will never have the chance to see. If the ocean dies, we die.

Writer Olivia Dawson | photo via Unsplash | designer Natasha Schmidt

MO’OREA CORAL GARDENERS W

e often read articles containing startling statistics concerning the state of our oceans. They fill us with dread and implore us to become part of the change. For the first time the majority is buying into it. Most people gaze up into space with wonder, yet we have this almost alien world right here under our noses — 95% of which remains unexplored. Without immediate human intervention the most underrated, virtually unexplored, beautiful and mesmerising environment on the planet will die. So, let’s intervene. Mo’orea Coral Gardeners is a wonderful organisation devoted to educating tourists and scholars alike based on the islands of Mo’orea and Tahiti in the French Polynesian archipelago of the South Pacific. In recent years the rapid increase in tourism as well as rising temperatures of the water itself has seen to the death of a significant section of the reefs surrounding the islands of French Polynesia.

. These reefs not only act as a tourist attraction but also as a shore break, a protector from monsoon waves and most importantly as an initial home for more than 25% of all marine life. Mo’orea Coral Gardeners offers a spectacular service — one of the first of its kind and internationally possible. Here is your chance to do something truly concrete, to make a physical difference. You can adopt a coral!

By simply visiting their website you can pick any type of coral to purchase. Once purchased your coral will be planted in the waters off the island and GPS coordinates as well as a certificate will be sent to you — just in case you want to visit. And voilà! Simple as that. We are witnessing the end of an era that has stood fast since the last ice age. It’s crumbling right in front of our eyes. It’s not too late for coral reefs, but it will be. This seems a small price to pay for saving the world.

You can visit their website www.coralgardeners.org to “adopt a coral” or to find out more about this initiative

FORGET NOT THAT THE EARTH DELIGHTS TO FEEL YOUR BARE FEET AND

THE WINDS LONG TO PLAY WITH YOUR HAIR

UNCLE SPIKE Uncle Spike: the very local, very quirky rock band we all didn’t know we needed. A fresh sound in the Stellenbosch music scene that still sounds familiar, Uncle Spike is a sevenpiece rock band that was formed back when the members attended Stellenbosch University at their residence, Wilgenhof. To say that they are only a rock band would be wholly inaccurate. With only one album released so far, they manage to hop from rock, to jazz, to alternative, to classical, sometimes in the span of one song. They truly are unique.

@VIVIANHOORN “Dutchie based in Cape Town” reads her Instagram bio. That is all that need be said, as her beautifully curated feed says everything else. A quick scroll through her feed reveals a very Vogue view of Cape Town that we’ve seen very little of on social media so far.

PHOTOMATH This app is for the 4 a.m. struggles before an important test and for those who easily get stuck with math homework and just need some helping along to fully understand it. Photomath is the app to use when you need to understand the methods and steps to the questions in a textbook that only have the answer at the back. We’ve all been there, haven’t we?

VOX Vox media is something between Crash Course and CNN. According to Google, Vox is an “American news and opinion website.” Vox has gained the most traction through their ingenious Youtube channel that has uploaded nearly 1 000 videos in the 4 years since it started. The videos and mini-series are on topics that you probably didn’t know existed and questions you’ll definitely want answered. Better yet, they are above using the Clickbait. In fact, the answers end up being even more interesting than the enticing headings would have you believe. You can find Vox videos on everything, from the origin of monogamy to the origin of the creepy clown craze.

Why am I like this? - Orla Gartland Sweet but phsyco - Ava Max 3 nights - Dominic Fike break up with your girlfriend , iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m bored Ariana Grande Harvest moon -

Poolside

My body - Young the Giant Starman - David Bowie All that and more (Sailboat) Rainbow Kitten Surprise Sucker - Jonas Brothers Smoke - Abbey Smith, Luke Levenson Hallucinogenics - Matt Maeson The Rush - Clara McHugh Check it out on Spotify: Blue Thread, ISSUE 15

the movement

writer Nicole Salguiro | designer Pia Cloete & Charlotte Lay

CARTOON â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

writer Olivia Dawson | photographer Liam Davies | designer Lucia Niland

OUR COVER Parel Vallei’s Golden Boy

Inston — named after the formidable and powerful Winston Churchill — is the newest member of the PV family. Born on the 6th of December 2018, Winston is a pure bundle of joy, stemming from South African Champion pedigree. He is playful, affectionate and just the right kind of plump. Furthermore, Winston is a proud resident of Ledbury and can be spotted spending his days

roaming the halls of the school in search of the best toys and treats. Winston is Parel Vallei’s very first living legacy. As each matric class graduates and each Grade 8 class enters, Winston will remain a constant connector — a physical embodiment of the blue thread running throughout Parel Vallei.

LUCIA NILAND – Editor in Chief KATYA VAN DRIMMELEN – Sub Editor ANNEGRETHE SCHOLTZ – Sub Editor OLIVIA IMPSON – Creative Director CARO BOTHA – Graphic Designer LIAM DAVIES – Head of Photography

ADRIANA VAN DER SPUY – Photographer ASHER ADAMS - Photographer ADAM FREDRICKS- Photographer CARLTON KOK – Photographer CONNOR PERFETT – Photographer CAITLIN DE LANGE - Photographer HELENE VILJOEN – Photographer MARI DIEDERIKS – Photographer JAMIE-LEIGH JOB – Photographer MIEKE DE WET – Photographer AMELIA VAN HEERDEN - W riter ANKE TOUGH - W riter ELIZMA VAN GEEST - W riter LIENKE FRYLINCK - W riter NATASHA SCHMIDT – Writer/Designer NERISE MALAN – Writer OLIVIA DAWSON – Writer SAMANTHA BICKNELL – Writer JADE COETZEE – Writer ROSALIND MITCHELL – Writer CHARLOTTE LAY – Designer/Writer DANIELLE KLEYN – Designer DIANA MILLARD – Designer MICHELLE LOURENS – Designer PIA CLOETE – Designer BRIGIT BURGER – Designer LUKE BADENHORST – Designer NICOLE SALGUEIRO – Cartoonist JOLINE STUBBE – Admin/Writer KAYLEIGH DE KOCK – Admin ALEXIA PILLAY – Model ANNALET DE VRIES – Model JOSHUA BURGER – Model LERICHE FOURIE – Model