WYNBERG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER Also available on our website : www.wynghs.co.za

OCTOBER 2012

We were privileged to have as our guest speaker, Ms Penny Vinjevold, Western Cape Head of Education, who spoke of the inestimable value of an excellent education.

Katrina Lehmann-Grube: 2nd in Grade 12

Pfeiffer-Ruperti Prize:For further study

Arderne Memorial Prize: English Home Language

Currie Prize: Physical Science

Saarah Coenraad: Grade 12 Dux EB Lyon Prize:

“...a broad-minded, bilingual South African, noted for erudition and love and sympathy with

fellow students”Annie Rees Bursary: For

further studyRose Davidowitz Prize: Afrikaans 1st Additional

LanguageHawkins Prize:

AccountingWynberg Prize: Afrikaans

Creative Writing

GRADE 12 PRIZE-GIVING

Khadija Brey: 3rd in Grade 12Abdurahman Cup:

Excellence in Sciences

Vos Prize: General Knowledge

Blumenfield Prize: Mathematics

Dear Parents

During this week we held a meeting for the Grade 7 learners who will attend Wynberg Girls’ High School in Grade 8 next year. It is a time when I always think of the new wealth of potential, of the new Grade 8’s ability to change and try new things at high school, to grow and become more independent and to take responsibility as is expected of young adults.

I am sure many of our current girls still remember that meeting when they looked at all the opportunities available to them. Perhaps, as we near the end of this year, it is important that they evaluate how many of the opportunities they have grasped in the years they have spent at Wynberg. It is never too late to make a change – 2013 is definitely another chance to embrace something new and to show these new Wynberg girls why WGHS is such a great place to be.

An area on which we place great emphasis is each girl’s responsibility to prepare well for the examinations and to acknowledge that the results they will achieve reflect the work they have done during the year. We ask parents to support them and to ensure they eat and sleep well and get some exercise to sharpen the brain. The rest of the work and responsibility is theirs and their attitude towards the task will determine the result.

“If you think you are beaten, you are;If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win, but think you can'tIt's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost,For out in the world we find

Success being with a fellow's will;It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are:You've got to think high to rise.

You've got to be sure of yourself beforeYou can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always goTo the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who winsIs the one who thinks he can.”

― Walter D. Wintle

Best wishes to all our girls in this last lap of 2012. We hope that the work they have done this year will reap the rewards they deserve.

RegardsShirley HardingPrincipal

GRADE 12 FULL COLOURSTarryn Beattie Khadija Brey

Saarah Coenraad Julia Cosentino Jessica Davids

Nina Esterhuysen Sian Ferguson

Nikita HadskinsKatrina Lehmann-Grube

Nastasja Pillay Kiara Ramklass Laylah Ryklief Kim Schilder

Kim van Aswegen Kristen van Graan Nadine Veldsman

Ashley Wilton

GRADE 12 HALF-COLOURSNanzi Bika

Preanka Gounden Hannah Cook T’nielle Haupt

Ye Ji JungAniqah Khatib

Nuha Lalla Thabile Myeza

Naadhira Parker Shannon Ronaldson

Jill Vermaak

Congratulations to the four girls who have com-pleted all 7 modules of the ICDL - the International Computer Drivers’ Licence. They are Khadija Brey , Robyn Walker, Shannon Smith and Caitlyn Foord.

PILLAR WINNERS TERM 3

Congratulations to Kiara Ramklass (Culture), Zahra Dollie (Sport), Laylah Ryklief (Service) and

Katrina Lehmann-Grube

(Academics), third term Pillar

Trophies winners.

Test 5

Khadija Brey 12 93Jenna Roll 10 90Nuhaa Lalla 12 88Zahra Ebrahim 12 87Lauren Gildenhuys 11 87Jaime Floris 12 86Preanka Goundon 12 86T'nielle Haupt 12 86Kathryn Peart 12 86Michelle Lee 11 86Grace Steel 11 85Kaylin Jacobs 10 85Sakhe Mbuyisa 11 85Leandre Kleynhans 10 84Katrina Lehmann-Grube 12 84Carmel Absolon 11 83Amalia De Abreu 11 83Kate Bell 11 83Gabriella Barries 10 82Tamar Kendon 9 82Shannon Ronaldson 12 82Thaakiyah Ryklief 10 82Kaelin Stemmet 11 82Yumna Parker 10 82Kiara Ramklass 12 82Lauren Goliath 10 81Laura Martin 10 81Martine Leukes 11 81Kaylyn Henkel 11 81Tayla Van Blerk 12 81Lauren Wiemers 8 81Thenesia Govender 9 81Sinako Rooiland 12 80Francis Morris 8 80Shannon Smith 12 80Chelsea Tuck 11 80Jessie Van Zyl 10 80Nicole Wentzel 9 80Ruqaya Gabier 11 80Ashley Wilton 12 80Lauren Gilbert 9 80Gabriella Schiava 9 80

GRADE %

LICENSED TO DRIVE!

Kiara, Zahra, Laylah & Katrina

ACADEMIC COLOURS

House Results: 1st=Constantia, 2nd=Silverlea, 3rd=Cavanagh, 4th=Apsley & Kirsten, 6th=Waterloo, 7th=Copenhagen & 8th=Wellesley.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Individual Results in the last exam:Caitlyn Foord: IT Theory 86%, Databases 83%

Victoria Ross: PowerPoint 89%, Internet & Email 83%

Zinzi Simayile: Internet & Email 75%Kaylyn Henkel: PowerPoint 83%

Unathi Mzobotshi: PowerPoint 81%, Internet & Email 75%

Paige Rossouw: PowerPoint 81%, Internet & Email 78%

Anelisa May: PowerPoint 81%, Internet & Email 81%

Monique Ewen: Word 78%Amy Peacock: PowerPoint 78%

Courtney Fritz: PowerPoint 78%, Internet & Email 86%

Angela Bailey: File Management 81%Jamie Jacobs: File Management 83%,

Internet & Email 100%Tess Petersen: File Management 75%

A WARM WYNBERG WELCOME

Wynberg is delighted to welcome Ms Lilly Teggin to the Counselling Department while Mrs Jawaahier Petersen is on maternity leave. Ms Teggin is a healthcare practitioner, specialising as a Social Worker. We hope that she will be very happy during her time at Wynberg.

WYNBERG

WELCOMES

Wynberg warmly welcomes Mrs Britt Williams who fills the position of Bursar. She isalready hard at work playing her part in the day-to-day running of the school. We hope that she has a long and happy stay at WGHS.

Cato de Vos, our new GAP student, from

Hilversum in Holland.

Cato will be staying with Robyn

Luden’s family at first, and then in the hostel. Robyn will be going to Cato’s school in the Netherlands as a GAP while Cato is here.

STOP PRESSWynberg is delighted towelcome young masterRaadhi Petersen-Damoninto the extended Wynberg family. His proud parents are enjoying this quality time with him, although we do hope that Jo comes to show him off quite soon.Watch this space!

MATRIC VALEDICTORY & PRIZE-GIVING

In the Matric Formal Valedictory Service and Prizegiving we say farewell to our Matrics and honour their achievements. Staff, guests and students were formally welcomed by Mr Andrew Dean, Chairperson of the Governing Body, and speeches by Rayne Callaghan, Head of School, and Principal, Mrs Harding, described some of the highlights of the year and paid tribute to the significant achievements of this group of girls.

Rayne CallaghanRotary Good Fellowship Award:“...in an unobtrusive mannerserves the school best”; promoting harmony & good will among her fellows.Harewood Cup: Service

Laylah RykliefWOGU Prize:

Service & Fellowship:voted for by Grades 9-12

Sue Gow Trophy:Service to the School

Capt TTC Purland Prize: Geography

Jade MarxWOGU Prize:Service & Fellowship:voted for by Grades 9-122001 Matric Cup:For Spirit & Enthusiasm

Kiara RamklassWOBU Centenary Trophy:All-round Achievement in two different fields and in

top 20 academicallyLander Prize:

Commitment & Service

Thabile MyezaAndrea Meyer Trophy:Most valuable contribution to the RCLGladys Lazarus Memorial Prize: “...her careful speech and courteous ways make her a credit to the school”.

Lizl EvertsIllse Davids Trophy:

Outstanding Sportswoman of the Year

Jill Cubie Cup:Outstanding all-round

achievementThelland Squash Trophy:Squash Player of the Year

Waterpolo Trophy:Most outstanding player

Ye Ji JungSuttle Trophy:

Service to the Cultural PillarSforzando Trophy:

Overall contribution in the Music department

Judd Memorial Prize: Music Wynberg Prize: Afrikaans: most improved Immigrant

Meagan EddyPast Pupils’ Prize:Awarded to daughter, granddaughter or niece of past pupil: a student of impeccable character.Bisset Prize: Consumer Studies

Sinako Rooiland1987 Auxiliaries Cup:For Participation &

EnthusiamXhosa Society Trophy:Promotion of Cultural

Harmony

Samantha BurnellCopenhagen Cup:

Sportsmanship

Amy MacintoshShena Wells Prize: Service to the Library

When the Matrics say goodbye to the school at their informal Valedictory assembly, they do it in a spirit of fun, and dressing up forms part of the entertainment. Songs were sung by the Matrics, the Grade 11's and the Teachers and,this year, by the Choir. It’s a last occasion to ‘play’ together, but it comes with the recognition that everything is changing.

INFORMAL VALEDICTORY

SOME OF THE

SPECIAL AWARDS

On 15 September, International Coastal Cleanup Day, the enviro girls had a beach cleanup on Muizenberg beach. The girls picked up lots of litter and also had fun in the sun.

ENVIROCLUB BEACH CLEAN-UP

On Monday 24 September, a party of 11 people (including Cato, our new Dutch Gap studen), hiked part of the Panorama Route in Jonkershoek, outside Stellenbosch. After an early start, setting off at 06:30, we ascended from the base of the mountains through mist and cloud. There were crashing waterfalls

JONKERSHOEK HIKEMr P Bodenstein, Michael Saharan, Robyn Luden, Cato de Vos

(Gap student), Kim van Aswegen, Jenna Busse, Thabile Myeza,

Mymoena Davids, Gaby Jacobs, Kgori Moghatle, Mr P Schutte.

everywhere and it was incredibly beautiful, even if it was hard work. The brunch stop was at a high point, surrounded by mountain peaks, with a fantastic view which included the source of three rivers, including the Berg and Eerste rivers. After an encounter with a Berg adder, we descended via the steep and difficult Kurktrekker route, crossing 2 fast-flowing rivers in the process - very exciting. All in all,one of the tougher hikes we have done but very beautiful and well worth the effort!

SMALL CHANGE - BIG DIFFERENCE

The ‘Small Change Big Difference’ Challenge culminated at the end of last term when a mountain of jars of money was handed in. Some staff members volunteered to count the coins over the school holidays not realising the magnitude of the task. After hours of counting and frequent visits to banks for even more bank bags, the counting is finally complete. The money has been banked and we are proud to say that your small change, really did make a BIG difference. This year we have raised almost R19,000 which is an increase on last year's R16,000. As this was a house challenge - it would be remiss not to mention the top three houses. First with R 3 093 - Kirsten, 2nd with R 3 066 - Waterloo, and 3rd with R2 999 - Silverlea. A HUGE thank you to everyone - why not start collecting for next year right now!

Sarah McDonald, Chelsea Manoek, Genevieve Moss, Michelle Lee, Sarah Curry, Amalia de Abreu

Last Friday, the Waterloo tutor groups put their helping hands together and, with the energy of Santa's magic elves, handed in 14 gift boxes for the Santa Shoebox initiative. Every year there are thousands of children who don't get to feel the magic of Christmas, so the

SECRET SANTA SHOEBOXES

Back: Reizenburg, Juanita Nunes, Amy George, Katso Otukile, Caitlin de

Oliviera, Caitlin Leatherby, Mr P Bodenstein, Tammy Kriel

Middle: Kelly Phiri, Lindsay Powell,

Front: Tiffany Hager, Jessica Randall, Kagiso Jantjies, Ms S de Mink, Emily Williams, Amy Dearden, Erin Slater

Ms S Ferguson-Brown, Jamie

Kiara Moodley, Sarah Hardie

Santa Shoebox initiative ensures that over 100,000 children get the opportunity to feel special. Waterloo’s wonderful students brought the toys, educational supplies and clothes to fill a shoebox for either a boy or girl. They were excited to give back to their community and to start the Christmas cheer.

WINNERS OF THE HOUSE CUP

First it was Silverlea’s turn to cheer as Sinako Rooiland (Head of House) joyfully accepted the House Cup at the end of term 3.

Then, at the Matric Prize-giving, the final house positions for the year in the competition to be top house were announced. And the winner was . . . . Kirsten! A delighted Kristen van Graan (Head of House) received the cup to the cheers of the Kirsten girls!

Valedictory and

On 19 October, the Wynberg Vocal Ensemble performed at the Tygerberg International Eisteddfod’s prize-winner’s concert. (They were placed first in the choral section of the Tygerberg Eisteddfod.) They were enthusiastically applauded for their rendition of 'Turn the beat around'. It was a spectacular evening, and a great achievement for our choir (and school) to be asked to perform at such a prestigious event.

Lisa Abrahams was award-ed a sponsorship from Wynberg Rotaract to attend the Rotary Youth Leader-ship Awards camp in September. RYLA’s aim is to take students from a

RYLA LEADERSHIP CAMP

variety of backgrounds and bring out their leadership potentia. Lisa felt that the camp completely changed her perspective of what true leadership is: it is nerve-wrecking, exciting, a huge responsibility and also one the most rewarding things you will ever do!

VOCAL ENSEMBLE SHINES AGAIN!

Back: Robyn Burrows, Rachel Suttle, Georgia Bailey, Saskia de Villiers, Anna Jacobs

Middle: Stephanie Barwise, Elsa Nel, Jaime Floris, Robyn Williams, Natalie Winter, Tatum Fortune

Front: Lara Bredeveld, Cara Clayton, Simone Daniels, Shana-Joy Jansen, Jessica Davids

SACCEE LANGUAGE CHALLENGE

Eighty-two schools participated in this year’s language challenge and, as usual, Wynberg has done really well. Natalie Winter came joint 2nd in the Grade 9 group with 92%, Laura Martin 3rd in the Grade 10 group with 93%, and Kate Bell 1st in the Grade 11 group with 92%. Very, very well done, girls!

RHIANNON WINS AT THE

CAPE TOWN EISTEDDFOD !

Congratulations to Rhiannon Murray who has once again taken 1st place in the Photography section of the Cape Town Eisteddfod. she is seen here with two pictures in her Meerkat series.

Natalie, Laura & Kate

On 16 October, our Senior Marimba Band and the Ubuntu Choir performed at Bishops at the Starfish Benefit Concert. The concert raised funds towards the school fees of children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Our Ubuntu girls filled the theatre with harmonies and our Marimba band got toes tapping: both groups received huge rounds of applause as they finished their sets. The evening raised R 12 000 which brings the total of all their fundraisers to over R60,000! It was a privilege for Wynberg to have been a part of this concert and to enable us to contribute to such an important cause.

The Matric Art Exhibition was officially opened by Erica Elk, Executive Director of the Cape Craft & Design Institute, on 18 October. Addressing the Matrics of 2012, she made several key points. Firstly, Art is hard work involving head and heart, not simply the making of pretty pictures or objects.

MATRIC ART EXHIBITION

MATRIC ART CLASSBack: Hannah Cook, Meagan Eddy, Jenna Busse, Zaakiyah Allie, Karallee Kleinsmidt,

Hayley JonesNext: Jessica Deary, Chelsea Aspeling, Ciara Butterworth

Front: Jessica Luyt, Cleo Turner, Julia Cosentino, Tarryn

BydawellInserts: Crystal Smith,

Alexandra Fearon,

INTERACT CLEAN-UP

It was shocking to see the amount of litter Interact collected in Maynard-ville Park after only one and half hours. The afternoon was a wonderful way to engage in community service and to enjoy the natural beauty of the park. Well done, girls!

Secondly, the material is immaterial – it is a means to an end. Thirdly, people now talk about an art practice for a reason: it is about practising. Fourthly, the essence of being creative and innovative is about being open to failure. Finally, you need to recognise that there are many ways to make your way in the world as an artist, and that the challenge is to find your own way. What was obvious

about this exhibition, is that through the teaching of Mrs Tamar Pelser, the artists have been encouraged and enabled to find their way.

Han

nah

Co

ok

Ms Erika Elk

ASTROTURF UPDATESite preparation is well underway on the Wynberg Campus of Schools Astroturf

one of these by buying just 1 raffle ticket.

You gotta be In It to Win It

Gabriella Schiava, Jessie Leverzencie, Kauthar Taliep, Jamie-Lee Benjamin, Kirsten

Chetty, Tinita Flint, Jehan Galant, Kenda Jacobs, Catelin Marshall,

Chelsea Manoek

RELAY GALA

On Thursday 18 October, the first relay gala of the season was hosted by Wynberg. 13 schools competed at this festive occasion, with girls’ and boys’ schools swimming in alternate races. Rhenish and Rondebosch Boys’ were worthy winners.

On 24 October, match of the season against Norman Henshilwood. It was a good afternoon with everyone winning all their matches - singles and doubles. It was very windy but our team did not allow that to deter them. What a good start to the season!

Wynberg 1st team played their first away

TENNIS

We congratulate all of those involved in the event hosted by our Ubuntu Society. Participating schools included Wynberg Girls’ High, Wynberg Boys’ High, Bishops, Zimasa, SACS , Leap Science and Maths, Springfield Convent, Rhenish Girls’ High and Rondebosch Boys’ High. We are very proud of our Wynberg girls who were brilliant!

MY CULTURE, YOUR CULTURE

Thulani,Zizipho

& Asanda

On Wednesday 24 October, the WGHS Public Speaking Society hosted and organised its first independent Forum Discussion competition. The event, initiated by Lauren Gildenhuys and Mr Fernandez, was organised to promote Forum Discussion as a genre of public speaking, and give more junior society

FORUM DISCUSSION COMPETITION

THANK YOU, WYNBERG!After Mandela Day, Mrs Hartmann took cupcakes that had been made by Waterloo, and play dough made by Kirsten, to Nomzama Children's home. They were alsogiven a whole lot of beanies and jerseys from the ‘Wool for Wonders’ project. In their words: “A Huge thank-you from

‘Hands & Feet’, and ‘Nomzamo for your generous gifts.”

members the chance to test their skills. Forum discussions involve a group of four speakers and a chairperson speaking about a topic that they have been asked to discuss after ten minutes preparation. The topic is usually a controversial statement which must be thoroughly explored in the ten minutes the team have to perform. The discussion is not a debate, but rather a relaxed, intellectual conversation between friends. The aim is for the discussion to be as entertaining, insightful and energetic, with each team member contributing to it. The discussion needs to be interesting and grab the attention of the audience, leaving them to formulate their own opinion of the topic.

On 25 October, a mixture of senior, junior and society debaters argued the motion: “This House Would prohibit the international adoption of children.” The girls debated very well and the team proposing the motion won the debate.

DEBATING

The team: Anezwa, Robynne, Andy, Layla & Gaby

Rustenburg, Westerford, Bishops, Reddam House Constantia and Claremont High participated and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all. In the end it was a deserving Westerford who took first place, with Rustenburg coming second and Bishops third. The Wynberg team, however, did us proud and received high praise from the adjudicators. We congratulate them: Robynne Samuels (chairperson), Layla Kimmie, Andra Hoole, Anezwa Sibukwana and Gabi Jacobs, on their excellent performance.

Lauren welcoming everyone

PHENOMENAL PHYSICSOn 25 October, 10 girls attended the Phenomenal Physics seminar at UCT. They saw a professor pour liquid nitrogen over his head, a banana hammer a nail into wood and much more. The afternoon showed how phenomenal physics really is, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

AS LEVELS ENGLISH EXAMThe first AS levels exam of 2012 was written at El Shaddai on 25 October. The Grade 11 girls were required to write two essays in two hours, one descriptive/imaginative and one discursive/ argumentative essay. The topics were challenging and left room for creative interpretation.

ACADEMIC NEWS

On Sunday 30 September, a team of 5 Wynberg surfers competed in the Surf Emporium WP Interschools Surfing Championships. Four of the girls were competing in their first ever surfing contest and didn’t they do well! The girls placed 1st ahead of a strong mixed girls team; the International School came 3rd and St Cyprians 4th. All 5 girls received medals plus the team won a computer for the school. Well done, girls!!

On Friday 19 October, the ‘polo girls played against Rustenberg. This was a truly formidable event as they had to embrace the challenge of their opponents AND the very stormy weather - more suited to polar bears than waterpolo! Wynberg’s 1st’s won, the 2nd’s drew and the U16A’s and B’s both lost. The 1st team in particular had a very good game. The overall teamwork and the passing between Natalie Zeelie and Lizl Everts resulted in several goals. Congratulations to Sam Burnell who scored the first goal of her 1st team career!

Friday 12 October saw the Waterpolo matches of the season against huge rivals, Springfield Convent. The spirit was high on both sides, and you could see that both teams were ready for action. Springfield did well to win the 1st, 2nd and U16A matches; Wynberg’s U16B’s won their match. Although the matches are clearly the focus of the event, there was also great excitement when we tested our brand new scoreboard and clock system.

first

SURFING

Grace Steel also competed in the Hurley SA Junior Surfing Champs in Jefferys Bay during the holidays and is to be congratulated for making it through to the quarter finals.

Photo by Nik Bastings

Kelly Harrison, Courtney Wray, Anna Jacobs, Frances Housdon, Roxy, Grace Steel

WATERPOLO

HOCKEYOn Saturday 13 October, the U16A Hockey side played a match against St Trinnean's School from Argentina - a really enjoyable experience for both teams. The U16A Wynberg side dominated and won 7-0. Our first goal was scored by Luisa Schafer, our German Exchange Student, and then the rest of the goals just followed. They were scored by Tasneem Rawoot, Stephanie Lopes, Caitlen Paulsen, Jamie Southgate and Berzilee Pipes. There was a wonderful atmosphere at the field and the Argentinian boys on the sidelines provided much entertainment for girls and the parents!

The first ever WOGU hockey team are competing in the WP Women’s Hockey Summer League. They are managed and coached by former WGHS teacher, Ms Andi Bernstein. With a keen squad, many of whom are current or past WP players, plus two current Springboks, Illse Davids and Quanita Bobbs, they form a formidable team. Their results so far are: They beat Tash's Troops from Milnerton 7-0, beat Spartans, a much tougher team from UCT, 2-0, and beat WPCC 1st Team 4-0.

WOGU HOCKEY TEAM

WGHS & ST TRINNEANS’ U16A TEAMS