CIRCULAR NO. 8

12 March 2015

Dear Parents

“YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE,

BUT WHAT YOU THINK … YOU ARE.”

Various photos taken today include the colours of our logo.

1) ACADEMICS

This term appears to be passing by quite rapidly as we have 13 school days before the term comes to an end. Term 1 has certainly been a rewarding one in many ways. Details of our accomplishments will appear in the last circular of this term.

Fairmont School Governing Body Elections for parent governors

On Tuesday evening, 10 March 2015, an election meeting for parent representatives of the SGB was held at school.

The S.A. School’s Act requires that 15% of the parent body be present to vote, if necessary, at the meeting.

Our required quorum of 325 parents was not met which now results in a second election meeting that will need to take place.

This meeting will take place next Wednesday, 18 March 2015, at 18h00 for 18h30. The election meeting will be followed by the Summer Sport Awards function in the Clive Wigg Hall.

We kindly ask parents to support this second meeting.

Tomorrow night we will be entertained by the much awaited Mr and Miss FHS show, and we wish all contestants everything of the best.

Our Prefects leave for their Prefect Camp this coming Saturday and will return on Monday.

Next Friday, the first of our 4 Grade 8 camps leave for Rawsonville. We wish them well as they share the fun and work that they will experience.

Thank you to our staff and camp leader, Miss Hancock and our parents, for making these worthwhile camps possible.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This morning, a near tragedy was witnessed on the way to school.

In Hillrise Crescent a well-meaning parent stopped to allow 2 boys to cross the road. The boys were thankful and were indicating this to the driver whilst crossing.

At the last second they happened to look left and narrowly missed being run over by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. The boys went on their toes and had to lean backwards to avoid being hit.

For the safety of our learners, PLEASE do not stop in the roads surrounding the school in the morning. There are cars behind you as well as coming from the opposite direction and, although your intentions are good, not everyone is thinking the same way and it could end in tragedy.

Some important tests and exams still remain to be completed and we ask all pupils to keep focused until the term ends.

We still have a number of activities going forward:

Friday, 13 March - Mr & Miss FHS

Saturday, 14 March - Prefect Camp (14 – 16 Mar)

- Parent Forum Bench-building

Wednesday, 18 March - SGB Elections (2nd date)

- Summer Sport Awards

Friday, 20 March - Gr. 8 Camp A commences (20 – 22 Mar)

- Boys’ Holland Hockey Tour

Saturday, 21 March - Public Holiday

Sunday, 22 March - Gr. 8 Camp B commences (22 – 24 Mar)

Tuesday, 24 March - Gr. 8 Camp C commences (24 – 26 Mar)

Thursday, 26 March - Gr. 8 Camp D commences (26 – 28 Mar)

Friday, 27 March - Brackenfell Sport Day

Saturday, 28 March - Brackenfell Sport Day

Monday, 30 March - Gr. 8 – 12 English – Paper 3 Exam

Tuesday, 31 March - Gr. 8 – 12 Afrikaans – Paper 3 Exam

Wednesday, 1 April - School closes

We thank our Teachers, Pupils and Parents for their support this term.

2) MATRIC FOCUS

87 TEACHING DAYS

School Holidays

Public Holidays

Matrics writing exams

2015 January

February

March (13 Days)

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 2 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

29 30 31

April (14 Days)

May (19 Days)

June (2 Days)

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 2 3 4

1 2

1 2 3 4 5 6

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

26 27 28 29 30

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

28 29 30

July (10 Days)

August (19 Days)

September (3 Days)

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 2 3 4

1

1 2 3 4 5

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

26 27 28 29 30 31

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

27 28 29 30

30 31

October (7 Days)

November

December

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 2 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

29 30

27 28 29 30 31

3) IMPORTANT NOTICE : TEST CALENDAR UNTIL END OF 1ST TERM

MARCH

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

15 16 TEST 17 18 19 TEST 20 21

8 – Creative Arts 11 – IT Prac 8 – EMS 10 – Maths

9 – EMS 11 – Phy. Sci. 9 – Technology 11 – CAT Prac.

10 – Life Sciences (Evening) 10 – Consumer St.

11 – CAT Theory 11 – Accounting

12 – IT Theory 12 – Life Sciences

22 23 TEST 24 25 26 TEST 27 28

8 – Camp 8 – Camp 10 – Geog. Excursion

9 – English 9 – Maths

11 – Camp 10 – IT Theory

12 – Geo / Music/ 11 – Camp

Design

29 30 PRE-EXAM 31 PRE-EXAM 1 April

Gr. 8 – 12 English Gr. 8 – 12 Afr. SCHOOL

Paper 3 (June) Paper 3 (June) CLOSES

URGENT NOTICE FOR ALL PUPILS

NO pupils will be allowed to go home early on any day or after a test without a written letter from the parent requesting this. No emails!

Permission for going home early will only be allowed for emergencies.

If a pupil is too sick to stay for the full day after a test, then they must not come to school to write, but must provide the school with a medical certificate.

PLEASE NOTE!

All pupils are required to be at school at the regular time - 07h55 - even if they are not writing a test. This time will be used for consolidation or tasks organized by various subject departments.

All parents are asked to please be aware that when your child misses a Monday or a Thursday test, a relevant chemist slip (the date on the slip must pertain to the pupil’s absenteeism and medication bought), a certificate from the clinic or a doctor’s certificate is required. A medical certificate from either the clinic or the doctor is applicable for missing any exam. A note from you excusing your child from school for the days missed is also required.

Grade 9 and Matric pupils must produce a doctor’s certificate for tests and exams missed as these are the two exit phases and their marks are externally moderated by the Education Department.

Learners are not allowed to go home immediately after a test if they are ill. They have to stay until first break. If they are ill, then they should not come to school. A doctor’s certificate will be required.

4) PARENT FORUM

Parent Forum – Annual Art Exhibition

Saturday, 14 March : Fairmont Family Workparty

Calling all Monty Families!

We are holding a work party on Saturday, 14 March 2015, from 09h00, in the Grade 9 Quad. These work parties end at approximately 14h00 with a bring-and-braai. Mr and Mrs Dingley will be joining us on this occasion. We will be building new table-benches for the quads. The working

teams will consist of a bench assembly team, a paint and spray team, a bench repair team, and a general clean-up team.

Please come along: join the fun and make new friends, while doing something practical to improve our children’s school!

Bring along any woodworking power tools you may have such as drills, sanders, screwdrivers, saws, etc., including extension cords, sandpaper and sandpaper blocks. Please also remember your cooler box with some meat to braai and some drinks.

ONE DIRECTION FAIRMONT FUNDRAISER

We are giving away 3 sets of double tickets for the One Direction Concert in Cape Town on Wednesday, 1 April 2015! Stand a chance to win these tickets by entering our Competition for R20-00 in one of two easy ways:

SMS ‘MONTY’ and your ‘NAME’, followed by the answer to the question ‘How many guys make up One Direction?’ to 40131.

OR

Buy your competition entry ticket from Parent Forum / RCL members outside Cafe Monty at 1st break, from Monday to Friday next week,16 – 20 March.

All entries - SMS or School ticket – cost R20-00, and entries are unlimited.

One Direction Mugs and mouse pads to be won by lucky entrants.

Big Draw takes place on Friday 27 March.

Competition rules at: Whatsonatfairmont.co.za

To Special Fairmont Families

We owe a special THANKYOU this week to generous and committed Fairmont parents who have made donations or secured sponsorship for the school. The Pretorius and Makin families have each donated two One Direction tickets which the Parent Forum is using to raise funds for the school through a competition. Ilza Makin has also secured sponsorship of several exciting One Direction goodies such as mugs

and mouse pads as extra prizes to be won during the One Direction Ticket Competition.

Peter Gdanis has sponsored the printing of our promotional material for the One Direction Competition. THANK YOU!

Thank you, Rene Herbst, for your kind donation of wine for parents at the glamorous Mr & Ms FHS function this Friday evening, following on from Manny da Silva of Eaglevlei’s donation of wines for our Meet the Parent Forum and Teacher Evening in February.

Parents Mario Fernandez of Lumar Foods, Bryan Devine of Strange Foods cc and Inge Demasius have made contact with the school with a view to being involved with the school to address various catering needs in the future. We thank them for their interest and look forward to their involvement in the school.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPEAL

A reminder that the Fairmont Music Department is still looking for a saxophone and a trumpet or other percussion instruments for its band. If any Fairmont Families have instruments at home that they no longer use and which they would be willing to sell, donate or lend to the school, we would be grateful if you would contact us.

Tanya Burness 082 6587587 burnessb@iafrica.com

Colleen Wilson 082 7819887 CWilson@metropolitan.co.za

5) INTERACT SERVICE WEEKEND

RAPE / CHILD ABUSE FOCUS – FRIDAY, 6 MARCH 2015

80 Interactors attended a workshop on child abuse and rape. The Interactors made their voices heard by speaking out against rape by making 100 care packs that will be delivered to the local police station. Each care pack was carefully put together to include a facecloth, deodorant, energy bar and a handmade token ring to encourage the rape survivor.

LUCKY LUCY FOUNDATION

Interactors visited the animals at Lucky Lucy to help walk the dogs and provide much needed “tlc” to the cats. We wish to thank Kids Can Pre-Primary for collecting donations for this organisation that cares for stray, lost and abandoned pets.

ARGUS CYCLE TOUR

A group of ten Interactors helped to hand out medals at the finishing line of the Argus Cycle Tour. This was very rewarding as many cyclists completed the cycle tour in aid of charity. The focus of this year’s ride was to support and show solidarity to the Volunteer Firefighters who worked tirelessly to put out the raging veld fires in our surrounding mountains.

Well done Interact Society – we are proud of you.

6) INTERACT SERVICE WEEKEND

7) PUBLIC SPEAKING SOCIETY

Fairmont High School’s Junior and Senior Debating Teams participated in the first round of The Rotary Debating Competition this week Monday, 09 March 2015. Our very first opponents were the respective teams from The Settlers High School and after the Spirit Trophy which went to them for the Athletics we certainly had a score to settle.

The Junior motion was THIS HOUSE WOULD LEGALISE PROSTITUTION. Fairmont proposed the motion and succeeded to convince the adjudicators of the validity of their arguments. Not only was the debate awarded to Fairmont, but Justin Waddy, in his first official debate, was awarded BEST SPEAKER. We would like to congratulate Ilse Harmse, Justin Waddy and Celine Gravenor on their first victory.

The Senior motion was THIS HOUSE WOULD LEGALISE RECREATIONAL DRUGS. Fairmont successfully opposed the motion and was awarded the debate. Joshua Sampson was granted BEST SPEAKER. We would like to congratulate Kayla Gordon-Hogg, Joshua Sampson and Matthew Hill on their closely contested success.

Ms Piek, teacher-in-charge of the Public Speaking Society, is very motivated about the new influx of learners who signed up to join the society this year. A number of promising speakers have been identified and have experienced the New Schools Style of Debating.

8) MOTHERS WHO PRAY

CALLING ALL MOTHERS!

A very warm welcome is extended to all moms

wishing to join our “Mothers Who Pray” group.

We meet every Wednesday, at 07h30,

in the Boardroom of Fairmont High School.

Please come and join us, or contact Amanda (072 072 1047

9) WON LIFE : VOLUNTEER AT OUR LITERACY CENTRE

The Literacy Centre, run in Fisantekraal, is a volunteer-driven organization that relies on willing members of the public to volunteer their time reading with those learners eager to learn this very important milestone.

With each volunteer, Won Life is able to extend their reach and really make a difference in the community of Fisantekraal. If you can spare an hour or two each week, please email Won Life on:

info@wonlife.org.za

Watching the faces of these children as they reach each small milestone will give you a great sense of reward.

10) LIBRARIAN’S CHOICE

FIXING DELILAH by SARAH OCKLER

Things in Delilah Hannaford’s life have a tendency to fall

apart. She used to be a good student, but she can’t seem to

keep it together anymore. Her “boyfriend” isn’t much of a

boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that

divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a

Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and

moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and

daughters, Delilah must face her family’s painful past. Can even

her most shattered relationships be pieced back together again?

11) SPORT RESULTS

SPORT DAY DATE TEAM OPPONENT RESULTS

Basketball Boys’ Mon 9 Mar U14 Protea Heights Academy Drew 4 : 4

Basketball Girls’ Mon 9 Mar U14 Protea Heights Academy Lost 8 : 10

Cricket Sat 07-Mar 1st De Kuilen (Away) See report

2nd El Shadai (Home) See report

U15A Brackenfell (Away) See report

U14A Monument Park (Home) See report

Wed 11-Mar 1st Tygerberg H.S. (Home) See report

2nd Tygerberg H.S. (Away) See report

U15A Tygerberg H.S. (Home) See report

U14A Tygerberg H.S. (Away) See report

Indoor Hockey Wed 11-Mar 1st Rustenburg H.S. (Home) Drew 1 : 1

3rd Fish Hoek 1 (Away) Lost 1 : 2

5th Rustenburg H.S. 4

(Home) Lost 1 : 4

6th Fish Hoek 2 (Away) Lost 1 : 3

7th Fish Hoek 3 (Away) Lost 0 : 1

8th Fish Hoek 4 (Away) Won 4 : 0

Softball Thu 05-Mar 1st Milnerton (Home) Won 10 : 6

2nd Milnerton (Home) Lost 5 : 10

3rd Edgemead (Away) Won 12 : 0

Tennis Thu 05-Mar Boys 2nd Settlers (Away) Won 12 : 1

1ST TEAM BOYS’ TENNIS

Fairmont High School was privileged to participate in the annual Tjaart Vorster Tennis tournament in Cradock. This prestigious event took place on the 26 – 28 February 2015.

The boys stayed in the well renowned Tuishuise, and played their matches on Marlow Agricultural School’s courts. There were 10 boys’ and 8 girls’ teams. Fairmont fared very well and ended in 7th Place.

The boys had a super time. After very strong tennis in extreme heat, they spent some time floating on tubes on the Fish River. They were also taught by Afrikaans girls how to “sokkie” during one of the social events.

On our return, we were fortunate to see two lions walking in the Bergkwagga National Park.

Well done boys, and we look forward to seeing your growth at the next annual event.

HOCKEY REPORT

Last week, Wednesday, our Indoor Girls took a trip through to the Southern Suburbs to take on Herschel. It was a tough day for all our indoor teams but, like they always say, more is learnt in defeat than in victory.

Results vs Herschel

1st Team Lost 2 : 4

2nd Team Lost 1 : 6

3rd Team Lost 1 : 11

4th Team Lost 0 : 11

5th Team Lost 1 : 12

6th Team Lost 1 : 2

7th Team Lost 0 : 11

8th Team Lost 1 : 6

On a more positive note, our 1st Team girls squad had a sensational hockey camp at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport this past weekend. A high performance weekend filled with team building, training and a match vs Rhenish saw this talented group of young ladies become a team. A special thanks to the team at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport for making the weekend a huge success.

Our boys 1st Team and our U/16 A team played their first pre-season matches against Paarl Boys’ High.

The results were as follows

1st team Won 3 : 0

U16A Lost 2 : 3

All the best for a great season boys!

A reminder to all to please follow Fairmont Hockey on Twitter (@FairmontHockey) for news, information and results surrounding our boys and girls hockey. Please tag this account as well as use #GreenMachine when tweeting about hockey at Fairmont.

Good luck to our 30 boys and 4 management staff going to Holland on Friday, 20 March. We hope you have the most amazing time and make lifelong memories.

Don't forget to get down to Hartleyvale on Saturday and Sunday to watch the World Hockey League Semi-Finals and Finals. Please also come down to the Wynberg Astro on Saturday morning as our 1st Team Girls’ take on Bergvliet at 08h30 in the first round of the SPAR Knock Out Tournament.

All hockey players are reminded to keep checking the hockey notice board.

Finally, congratulations to the following girls who have made it through the 3rd round of Western Province trials:

U/18

Cayley Jones

Courtney Clother-Sinclair

Julia Masureik

Candice Earley

Teagan Crament

U/16

Jessica Rossouw

SWIMMING

On Friday, 27 February 2015, our Championships Gala was held at the Kenridge Primary School pool. Seen here are Michaela Anderson & Tugcan Yildirim receiving their trophies from Mr Dingley, and a number of swimmers in action during the gala.

Trophy winners were:

U14 Victor Laudorum Callum Marté

Victrix Laudorum Megan Lawson

U16 Victor Laudorum Dante de Frey

Victrix Laudorum Kelly Vroon

U19 Victor Laudorum Tugcan Yildirim

Victrix Laudorum Michaela Anderson

12) LOVE IN THE TIME OF CONTEMPT by JACANA MEDIA

Westerford High School and Jacana Media invite you to celebrate the launch of

With perhaps the most apt title out of any work about teens ever written, the book beautifully elucidates the challenges, heartbreak and hysteria of losing our babies and enduring their awkward metamorphosis to adulthood. Kerri Sackville – Author, Columnist, Speaker

Listen to Joanne Fedler’s witty, wise and humorous account of what it truly means to be a parent of a teenager.

Monday, 16 March 18:00 for 18:30 Westerford High School, The School Hall

Corner of Mount Road and Main Road Rondebosch

RSVP: Contact Tracy-Lee tracylee@jacana.co.za or 011 6283200. Please include the venue in the subject line of your email. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joanne-Fedler/156384901082945

13) SPORT FIXTURES UNTIL THE END OF TERM 1

SPORT DAY DATE TEAM OPPONENT

Softball Thu 12-Mar 1st Edgemead (Away)

2nd Parklands (Away)

3rd Elkanah House (Home)

Thu 19-Mar 1st Chesterhouse (Home)

2nd Chesterhouse (Home)

3rd Bye

Tennis Playoffs Tue 17-Mar 1st SACS (Home)

2nd SACS (Home)

14) MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD

27 learners were invited to write the South African Mathematics Olympiad.

15) INTERHOUSE BASKETBALL WINNERS : DALE HOUSE

The winners of the Interhouse Basketball competition, celebrating with a cookie.

16) U14 BASKETBALL BOYS’

The U14 basketball boys beat The Settlers in their last official match of the season.

17) CRICKET REPORT

1st Team (7 Mar) De Kuilen 185/10 (Liam Witten 4/41) Fairmont 131/10 (Kyle de Wet 43) Result: Fairmont lost by 64 runs

1st Team (11 Mar) H.S. Tygerberg 101/8 in their allotted overs Fairmont 116/10 (100 run opening partnership between

Jason Vermaak – 37 – and Kyle de Wet - 45)

Result: Fairmont won by 15 runs

2nd Team (7 Mar) El Shaddai 163/10 (Jason Thomas 3/20) Fairmont 124/10 (James Daly 26) Result: Fairmont lost by 39 runs

2nd Team (11 Mar) H.S. Tygerberg 129/8 Fairmont 107/10 Result: Fairmont lost by 22 runs

U15A (7 Mar) Curro 0/10 (Jarrod Grunewald 3-3-0-5 and UNBEATEN Gareth Jones 3-3-0-4) Fairmont 274/6 (Cameron Sinclair 69 retired and

Braydon Smits 66 retired) Result: Fairmont won by 274 runs

U15A (11 Mar) H.S. Tygerberg 65/10 (Matthew Nel 4/19, UNBEATEN Keenan Opperman 3/13) Fairmont 208/6 declared (Cameron Sinclair 105)

Result: Fairmont won by 143 runs

U14 (7 Mar) Monument Park 46/10 UNBEATEN Fairmont 48/2

Result: Fairmont won by 8 wickets

U14 (7 Mar) H.S. Tygerberg 112/6 in 30 overs UNBEATEN Fairmont 114/4 in 21 overs (Stuart Mellors 33 n.o.)

Result: Fairmont won by 6 wickets

18) WELL DONE

Daniel van der Walt (Gr. 8)

Daniel took part in the opening round of the South African Cup Series for Mountain Biking in Port Elizabeth.

On a technical and physically demanding course, Daniel ended in 1st Place.

He will be riding for the OMX Pro Bike team in Europe during 2015.

Daniel is the South African & African Continental Champion, and his goal is to emulate that again in Stellenbosch and Rwanda this year.

Houston Yu (Gr. 8)

Houston was selected to play in the 2015 WP Schools Chess Individual Tournament played at Wynberg Boys’ High School on 6 & 7 March 2015.

He won the bronze medal at 5 points out of 6 (the first 3 places had the same points) in the U/15 age group.

With this result, Houston has been selected to play in the 2015 Western Cape Schools’ Chess Tournament being held in Worcester in May 2015.

Congratulations, Houston!

Tristan Hamilton (Gr 12)

Tristan came 3rd in the Western Province Men’s Amateur U23 Championship that was played on Sunday, 8 March 2015. He takes confidence from this tournament going into the SA International Juniors Tournament being played from 9 - 12 March 2015.

19) PRINCIPAL

Details of the progress of the new Education / Aquatic Centre will be communicated to parents shortly.

The construction contractors will be on site soon to work on the pool and steel structure.

We are waiting for the Safety Officer to receive documentation from the contractors.

Following the lengthy paper process and administration that has been required, we are now ready to keep our parents up-to-date with the project as each phase commences.

Have a great weekend.

Yours sincerely

Mr R Dingley PRINCIPAL

Disclaimer: Fairmont High School does not necessarily endorse the products/services advertised in this circular.