WYNBERG GIRLS’
NEWSLETTER Also available on our website : www.wynghs.co.za
Dear Parents
HIGH SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2015
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PILLAR AWARDS: TERM 3
The management team were joined by several staff members last weekend as we continued our planning for 2016. The first session looked at the difficulties of leadership, especially for those who carry full teaching loads and play an important role in the leadership of the school. Balancing life and work, and having time for others while living up to expectations is always a challenge – in teaching or any other job. During the course of the weekend we were reminded of two important slogans to live by and realise that they have bearing on whoever we are, in whatever position we find ourselves. 1. “Just for Today”. It is very difficult to change what we do – to become more positive, not to procrastinate, to be kind to people who are difficult, to begin to study/do the homework, etc. Trying to start afresh and aiming to be this new and better person for the rest of life is very hard. However, if we can start each day by making a positive change – “Just for Today”, it can become more manageable and if we repeat this each day, we can build new and better habits. 2. The second: “Be the change you want to see”. We are so often critical of others and seldom turn our eyes inward to examine how we are seen by others. If we want good relationships with others, we need first to be kind, open and encouraging. If we want others to help us, we should first be helpful towards others, and show the behaviour we would like others to have towards us. “Be the change you want to see” – it may astound us that by changing our behaviour and perceptions, we invite others also to change and, therefore, we will build better places – schools, places of employment, community groups, etc. These two slogans have challenged me, each day, to do something “Just for Today” and to evaluate myself before evaluating others. I hope it is a challenge you are willing to try.
Congratulations to the winners of the Pillar Trophies at the end of term 3. Jamie Southgate - Sport; Tamar Kendon - Academic; Chelsea Terry - Service; Natalie Winter - Culture.
CONSTANTIA WIN THE CUP!
The Constantia Matric leaders celebrate their winning of the House Cup at the end of term 3. Seana Scheepers, Ra’eesah Dalvie, Casey Homan (Head of House), Gabriella Espin & Lauren Gilbert.
ACHIEVERS’ DINNER
Warm regards Shirley Harding PRINCIPAL
125 PAST PUPILS’ PILLAR TROPHY WINNERS On 1 October, teachers and girls assembled at Simon's at Groot Nicole Wentzel: Academic, Melissa Guthrie: Service, Nadine Eddy: Constantia for the Achievers' Dinner. Wynberg’s top achievers are Culture, Sasha Sivertsen: Sport, Ms T le Roux: Guest Speaker invited - achievements in the four pillars. The guest speaker, this year, was past pupil Ms Theresa le Roux, Head of Business Development at Beautiful Gate SA, an organisation committed to improving the quality of life of children and families in Africa. One of her important messages was that we should discover the opportunities in the challenges that we face. Ms le Roux then awarded the prestigious 125th Past Pupils Pillar Trophies which this year went to: Nicole Wentzel - Academic; Melissa Guthrie - Service; Nadine Eddy - Service; Sasha Sivertsen - Sport. We congratulate these girls on this fine achievement!
Nicole Wentzel Prize for Advanced Programme Mathematics Rose Davidowitz Prize: Afrikaans 1st Additional Language Shelley Memorial Prize: English Creative Writing Arderne Memorial Prize: English Home Language Patricia Stewart Smythe Prize: History Ashleigh Thompson Prize for Life Orientation Afrikaans Creative Writing Prize Silberbauer Prize: Life Sciences Alfred Friedlander Memorial Prize: History Blumenfeld Prize: Mathematics 1967 Std 10 Cup: Public Speaking Currie Prize: Physical Science 2nd in Grade 12 Abdurahman Cup: Excellence in the Sciences Rupert Pfeiffer Bursary: for further study Margaretha van der Spuy Prize: 1st in September Phillips Prize: 1st in Grade 12 E B Lyon Prize: “to a broad-minded, bilingual South African, noted for her erudition and her love and sympathy for fellow pupils.” Natalie Winter Suretha Bouwer Trophy: Most promising Vocalist Lauren Jonathan Norris Cup: Music performance Jill Cubie Trophy: All-round W.O.B.U. Centenary Trophy: achievement in Sport All-round Achievement Wynberg Cup: Cross-country Melissa Guthrie Wynberg Old Girls' Union Prize: Service & Fellowship Harewood Cup: Service Kayla Arnold Gail Astwood Literary Award : “an insatiable love of the written word...” Lander Prize : Service to the school Beth Petersen Suttle Trophy: Service to the Cultural Pillar Courtney Clarke Cup: Courtesy & Deportment
Nokubonga Fatman isiXhosa 1st Additional Language Mabel Fanana-Mpambo Trophy: WGHS Xhosa Society Trophy Valeshka Harkhu Copenhagen Cup: Sportsmanship
Caitlin Hurry Hawkins Prize: Accounting Pricewaterhouse Coopers Prize: Accounting & Mathematics
Tamsyn Gaynor Taylor Prize: Consumer Studies 3rd position in Grade 12 Rotary Good Fellowship Award: “...promoting goodwill, harmony & fairplay ...”
Tamar Kendon Caxton Books Literary Award: Dawe-Emary Prize: Visual Arts Gladys Lazarus Memorial Prize: “careful speech & courteous ways have made her a credit to the school” Nadine Eddy Helen Slater Trophy: Best Saxophonist Sforzando Trophy: Participation & contribution in the Music Department
Rifqah Francis Computer Applications Technology prize Sue Gow Floating Trophy: Service to the school Jessie Leverzencie Andrea Meyer Trophy: Most valuable contribution to the RCL Ashleigh Dreyer Trofeo Flautista Judd Memorial Prize: Music
Andria McMinn Past Pupils' Bursary: to the daughter, granddaughter or niece of an old girl character is the most important critereon.
Layla Omar Mingay Cup: Music 1987 Auxiliaries Trophy: Participation & enthusiasm
ACADEMIC COLOURS FULL COLOURS Kayla Arnold Roxanne Douglas Ashleigh Dreyer Caitlin Hurry Tamar Kendon Michelle Mitchell Catherine Nothling Layla Omar Lynn-Leigh Plaatjies Clara Stassen Zayaan Stegmann Saabira Swart Ashleigh Thompson Natalie Winter
COLOURS AWARDS
WINTER SPORTS’ COLOURS
PROTEA COLOURS
CROSS COUNTRY FULL COLOURS Lauren Jonathan HOCKEY FULL COLOURS Chelsea Manoek Jamie Southgate Stephanie Lopes-Stuart Sasha Sivertsen Valeshka Harkhu HALF COLOURS Amina Williams Katherine Nicholls Amber Bailey
Tamsyn Gaynor (Academic), Nicole Wentzel (Academic), Natalie Winter (Culture)
HALF COLOURS Michelle Langeveld Zimasa Mamani Carla Mathyse Beth Petersen Jaime Philander Veronique Reagon Gabriella Schiava Anastasia Solomons ACADEMIC FULL COLOURS Front: Kayla Arnold, Layla Omar, Roxanne Douglas, Natalie Winter, Tamar Kendon, Ashleigh Thompson, Caitlin Hurry Back: Catherine Nothling, Clara Stassen, Ashleigh Dreyer, Zayaan Stegmann Absent: Michelle Mitchell, Lynn-Leigh Plaatjies, Saabira Swart
SQUASH FULL COLOURS Demi Steenkamp HALF COLOURS Isobel Evans Nhadia Gustavo JUNIOR CERTIFICATES Aaminah Domingo Hockey Zeta Gertson Hockey Raniya Khan Hockey Kayla Morgan Hockey Maree Petersen Hockey Inge Tripod Squash
CULTURAL COLOURS DRAMA FULL COLOURS Jordan King DANCE FULL COLOURS Tarynn Bester Veronique Reagon MUSIC FULL COLOURS Ra'eesah Dalvie Ashleigh Dreyer Nadine Eddy Andria McMinn Layla Omar Beth Petersen Cara White-Phillips Julia White-Phillips HALF COLOURS Saskia de Villiers Amy Gribble
SERVICE COLOURS
SERVICE FULL COLOURS Kayla Arnold, Melissa Guthrie, Rifqah Francis
FULL COLOURS Kayla Arnold Rifqah Francis Melissa Guthrie SPORTS’ FULL COLOURS Demi Steenkamp, Sasha Sivertsen, Chelsea Manoek, Jamie Southgate, Lauren Jonathan, Valeshka Harkhu Absent: Stephanie LopesStuart
HALF COLOURS Jamie-Lee Benjamin Emily Danielz Jeanne-Marie Giles Casey Homan Raadhiyah Jacobs Tamar Kendon Philasande Mzalisi Lynn-Leigh Plaatjies Nicole Wentzel GOLD CERTIFICATE Saleehah Domingo Michelle Langeveld Ashleigh Thompson Nabeelah Valley
CULTURAL FULL COLOURS Front: Andrea McMinn, Cara White-Phillips, Beth Petersen, Layla Omar, Nadine Eddy, Natalie Winter, Veronique Reagon Back: Ra'eesah Dalvie, Ashleigh Dreyer, Julia White-Phillips
PHOTOGRAPHY EISTEDDFOD On 15 September, Photography Society members, mentored by photography teacher Ms Valentina Nicol and Ms Orpen, submitted 13 entries into the Cape Town Photography Eisteddfod. We are very proud to announce the following results: Grade 11: Ceara Mullins - 1 Diploma & a 1st place award of R450; Tyralee Nel - 1 Diploma & a 2nd place award of R400; Nastar Abdulla - 2 Honours & 1 Merit Grade 9: Laila Manie - 2 Diplomas & a 2nd place award of R350 Grade 8: Emma Mullins - 1 Diploma; Megan Farquhar - 1 Honours & 1 Merit; Aasiyah Saffodien, Agape Thamar & Cheyenne Britten - 1 Merit each. At the prize-giving held at Sweet Valley Primary School, the girls were amazed at the excellent standard of photography. They have done exceptionally well and we are very proud of their results. Ceara Mullins Ceara Mullins’ 1st prize-winning photograph: “Thinking out Loud”
SACCEE RESULTS The Language Challenges started in 1991 as an initiative to provide an English Language bench-marking service to schools. Over the past 25 years this has been expanded and they are now serving schools in all 9 provinces of South Africa. Congratulations to the following Wynberg girls who have done impressively well: In Grade 11, Aai’sha Dout tied in 1st place with 96% and won R300; Kaylee Marshall tied 3rd and won R200. In Grade 10, Rebecca Bredekamp came first with 93% and won R300; Kristen Niekerk and Katherine Nicholls tied 2nd and won R250. In Grade 8, Tali Sulcas tied in 2nd place and won R250. Well done, girls!
CONGRATULATIONS, BIANCA! Congratulations to Bianca Basset who achieved the following results in the Cape Town Eisteddfod Ballet: 13 years Demi Character: Diploma and finals winner. She also won a diploma and made the finals in each of these: the Amateur Classical Set, Classical Own Choice, Amateur Classical Duet and Amateur Classical Quartet. In the 16 years and Over Amateur Group, Bianca won Diploma and was the finals winner. In the Modern Eisteddfod 13 years section, Bianca won Honours in Modern Straight; she won a Diploma and won the finals in Modern Character; won Diploma in Modern Duet; won the Duet Finals; and won Diploma in Small Group. In the 20 years and over Large Group, Bianca and the group won a Diploma and the finals. In the TDA Eisteddfod, competing mainly in the 13-14 age group, Bianca acheived the following: Ballet Repertoire: Honours and placed 2nd overall Gold Ballet Quartet: Diploma and overall winners. Gold Tap Set Solo: Diploma - placed 3rd Tap Own Choice: Honours - placed 2nd Gold Tap Group: Honours In the 15 – 16 Gold Tap Group section, she won Honours and the group were overall winners. Gold Modern Set: Honours - placed 3rd Gold Modern Group: Diploma Gold Modern Group: Honours Well done, Bianca, on these outstanding results!
DRAMA EXAMS
DANCE SOCIETY SHOWCASE The evening showcased the great diversity of dance genres that the girls are exposed to, including hip-hop, contemporary, jazz and belly dancing. The majority of the pieces were choreographed by the dance society girls which gave them the opportunity of following through with a real choreographic process and experiencing their creation being performed to a paying audience. Guest teachers have guided us through this processes and our teacher, Lauren HamblyWise, choreographed several numbers and helped us considerably with her polishing-skills and direction. Overall the evening was a success. We poured our hearts out to our audience and did what we aimed to do: we gave our dancers the opportunity to perform and we showed the audience why we dance. And we had fun! We look forward to next year’s showcase - watch this space! Tasha Ainsworth
Juliette Austin, Juliet Stromin, Ms Penny Glover, Ms Carlien Reynecke (examiner) & Savannah Steyn It was exam day for some of Ms Glover’s Drama girls when South African Drama College examiner, Ms Carlien Reynecke, was at school to administer the theoretical part of the exam and then to adjudicate the performance component. Juliette and Juliet performed a poem and monologue in their Senior Grade 3 exam, while Savannah performed a verse, monologue and prose piece in her Senior Grade 4 exam.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ 5 Top Girls Quiz 5 Frances Morris Kaley Appleton Kirsten Cay Jennifer Ely Nicole Wentzel Isobel Evans Rebekah Nathan Beth Petersen Zara Wichman
% 82 81 80 78 76 76 75 75 75
House Results 1st Constantia 2nd Waterloo 3rd Kirsten 4th Apsley 5th Silverlea 6th Wellesley 7th Copenhagen 8th Cavanagh
BLOOD DONORS’ CLINIC 50 new blood donors! The WP Blood Transfusion held a clinic at Wynberg on 19 October - 64 people attended and 24 full units of blood were collected. Over 50 of these were new donors which shows how many learners are eager to help others. Hopefully they will all be back donating blood at the next clinic. The nurses, as usual, were helpful and caring and accommodating to the needs of the donors. Congratulations, Wynberg, you have helped to save approximately 72 lives.
HOSTEL NEWS On 14 October, the hostel Grade 11s hosted the event that they had planned so hard for - the hostel matric farewell dinner. The room was decorated with old photographs of the matrics and they were beautifully transformed, dressed in their matric dance dresses. The sense of sisterhood that evening was tangible. A wonderful meal had been prepared and the evening ended with all the hostel girls singing Lean on Me.
HOUSE CHALLENGES 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)
SANDWICH DRIVE Constantia 8029 Kirsten 7602 Cavanagh 5242 Silverlea 4350 Wellesley 3907 Waterloo 3774 Apsley 2694 Copenhagen 1716
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)
BREAD TAGS Copenhagen Apsley Silverlea Kirsten Wellesley Waterloo Constantia Cavanagh
CONSTANTIA OBSTACLE COURSE CHALLENGE On Friday 23 October, during break, Constantia House challenged the other houses to a Rush Obstacle Course. It consisted of 5 obstacles: hitting a target with a water balloon; catching a jelly tot in your mouth; showing off dance moves; and the “dizzy challenge”. It was a very enjoyable event and everyone involved encouraged their teams to do their best – one of the main purposes of the event. All in all, it was a great success and we look forward to participating in many more challenges to come in the future.
One of the great delights for a child is being offered an ice cream and it's not very different for high school girls. Feedem hired the Rock’n Roll Dream Machine Ice Cream Van - a 1969 hippy Kombi - and treated the boarders to a soft serve ice cream and a wonderful choice of toppings. Lucky girls!
GRADE 11 DANCE The Grade 11 Dance Study girls made an enormous effort to perform their Indigenous Dance assignment in style. Although their costumes were not Monique necessarily true Malander Zulu Reed Dance attire, the colours gave them a wonderfully African flavour.
Dayna Neethling
Catelin Marshall
Zhenya Pietersen
MATRIC ART EXHIBITION The Matric final art exhibition was opened by Andrew Putter on Wednesday 21 October. He commented on the very high standard and originality of their work. Visitors were impressed both by the skill on display and by the deep thought processes involved. Matric artists enjoyed showing off their artworks to family and friends. A sad note was that this is the last such event for art teacher, Mrs Tamar Pelser, who is leaving Wynberg at the end of the year. She spoke about what her years at Wynberg have meant to her. Alyssa Siepen
Mrs T Pelser & Mr Andrew Putter
Tammy Kriel
Bronwyn Collins Ellen Schwerdtfeger
Tamar Kendon
Naafi’ah Mayet
anderker
Shaa’ista B
Kelsey Neethling Adrienne Knight
MOOT COURT FINAL ROUNDS After coming 2nd in the provincial rounds, the next step was to make it through to the finals. Four schools from each of the 9 provinces were chosen to take part in the National Moot Court Oral Rounds in Pretoria on 7 October. On Thursday we took part in the Oral knockout rounds at the University of Pretoria, where we provided oral presentation from both the Respondent’s and Applicant’s view in front of lawyers and associates from various law firms in Johannesburg. 54 students were knocked out on this day. Eight schools made it through to the quarter finals. These eight schools included us! The quarter- and semi-finals took place on Friday. 4 schools were chosen to take part in the semi-finals. We were one of those 4 schools! But, unfortunately, we did not make it into the finals. On Saturday we received a talk from Justice Cameron, visited the Apartheid Museum and on Sunday we attended the Constitutional Court where the 2 finalists presented their arguments in front of Justices Matojane and Van der Westuizen, Constitutional Judges. Taking part in this competition was such an honour, and has introduced us to the Law profession and most importantly to a better knowledge of our Human Rights. Imaan Mothupi
Mikayla Visser
Imaan Mothupi, Ms J Kunze & Stacey Goliath at the Constitutional Court
GRADE 10 GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIP
On Thursday 1 October, the Grade 10 Geography girls were given the most beautiful, clear day to study the geomorphology of the Cape Town area. Having done some of the theory in class, a trip around the city gave us the opportunity to observe and experience the rocks and terrain in the field. Signal Hill allowed us to enjoy the most beautiful view whilst learning where the granite, sandstone and shale all fit together. A stop at the famous contact zone at Queens Beach made the understanding of this term a little clearer, and wind and sea erosion took on new meaning with our stop at Camps Bay. There is nothing like a field trip to make the theory more meaningful, and this certainly was the case on this most enjoyable day.
GRADE 11 ADVENTURE DAY On Friday 16th October, the Grade 11s set off to SunScene Adventure Course in Scarborough where the girls spent a day of bonding and team-building while completing physical challenges. The day's activities were done in 6 groups in which girls from different classes and groups worked together. From zip-lining to paint-ball, archery and tyre racing, the girls thoroughly enjoyed the day and left in high spirits. The effort put in by the teachers to make the day a success is truly appreciated. It was a fantastic chance for the Grade 11s to reconnect before their last year of school, one which the girls really made the most of.
CHESS The WGHS Chess Team took part in a chess tournament at Wynberg Boys on 16 October. Wynberg entered 3 teams into the Blitz Doubles tournament: pairs of players help each other against their opponents while under a time constraint. This forces teams to play quickly and strategically. The tournament rules were new to most of our girls but despite this, they did well, winning some games and playing with great sportsmanship. The tournament taught them to work as a team and to support one another. It was an exciting new experience and motivated them to improve their chess skills.
INTERHOUSE HOCKEY & NETBALL
WATERPOLO Congratulations to the following girls who have been awarded their Western Province Colours: UNDER 16B UNDER 19C Brittany Gutuza Erin Slater Maryam Adams Kirsten Roodman Melissa Makinson
Brittany, Maryam, Melissa, Erin, Kirsten
The term ended with the playing of the interhouse hockey and netball games tournaments. Staff and students streamed out to the astroturf and netball courts to take part or to support their teams. The misty, cold weather did little to dampen their spirits. In Netball, the finalists were Constantia and Wellesley, while in Hockey, it was Apsley and Copenhagen battling it out for glory. In the end, Constantia and Copenhagen were crowned netball and hockey champions respectively! Well done to all players!
On Friday 16 October, the Wynberg’s waterpolo teams started the new season by playing against Reddam House. The U16As had a tough game. They were playing together as a team for the first time and although they were tenacious, they lost 0-15. The 1st Team played against the Reddam 2nds. This team has a new manager - Ms Faller - and coach - Mr Gavin Walker - and two new girls, Tyra Leigh Findlay and Amber Rose Bailey have been welcomed to the team. They lost 0-8 but the season has only just begun!
TENNIS
On Saturday 24 October, Wynberg played against Somerset College. Our U16A's swam out with a splash, winning their match 7-2. The 1st team were 3-3 at the end of the 3rd chukka but Somerset College end-ed strongly to win 7-4. Player of the match was Maryam Adams for her hard work, her fighting spirit and her good positional play. On Friday 23 October, Wynberg played against Rhenish. Although the 1st team lost 1-10, an increase in fitness was evident and a strong team structure has been put in place. The 2nd team drew 4 – 4, competing intensely throughout the game. The U16A team drew 5 -5. The girls played very well together and worked as a team. Almost all of the goals scored were scored through a team effort. The U16Bs lost 2-9: it was a challenging game but the girls are determined to improve. The 16Cs started the term on a very positive note, winning 9-6. This team has great potential.
On 23 October, the 2nd tennis team played against Rustenburg. Because they were placed 2nd in the 3rd league at the end of last season, this team has been moved up to the 2nd league, which means much tougher competition. Although they lost this match 0-6, some brilliant tennis was played and no point went uncontested. Special mention goes to Nkhensani Baloyi (left) for her wonderful fighting spirit! On Friday 23 October, the 1st team played against Herschel. Most of the individual matches were very close. The doubles were particularly tight: our first couple won 8-7 and our second couple lost 7-8. This was a well-contested, hardfought match which Wynberg ultimately lost 2-4!
1st Tennis Team: Savannah Wiegand, Isobel Evans, Dana Arries, Katherine Nicholls