WYNBERG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER

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

OCTOBER 2011

At the Achievers' Dinner at Simons restaurant on 27 September, guest speaker, Cathryn Treasure, Head Girl in 1992, handed over the very prestigious 125th Wynberg Old Girls Union Pillar Trophies. These are awarded to the top achiever within each pillar. This year trophies went to: Meghan Daniels – Culture, Quanita Bobbs - Sport, Kristin Nieuwenhuys - Service, and Christine Forbes - Academics.

ACHIEVERS’ DINNER

PILLAR AWARDS

Quanita, Kristin, Cathryn Treasure, Meghan & Christine

Congratulations to the winners of the third term Pillar awards.Melissa Kube - Academics; Meghan

Daniels - Culture; and Yumna Isaac - Sport.Arifa Kamroodien - Service;

Yumna, Arifa, Meghan & Melissa

It has never happened before that one house has won the House Cup every single term - and now Kirsten has done it!!! Many, many congratulations to them - they were announced as winners at the Grade 12 prize-giving. What a wonderful achievement and what a challenge to the other houses for 2012! Well done to Mrs Smith, Kim Mentor and everyone in Kirsten House.

CONGRATULATIONS TO KIRSTEN

The beginning of the last term of school is a time to remind learners that the last few weeks of the academic year require commitment to the task at hand. I warned them in the first assembly of the term that we could run out of time to score the points as the Springboks did in their RWC quarter-final match or we could rely on the efforts of others to succeed as the Bafana team did in their quest to be part of AFCON. Both these scenarios can be avoided by ensuring that girls work consistently and don't run out of time in their exam preparation, and that they check that they have all their books and that notes are up to date so that they do not have to rely on others closer to the time – no learner wants to lend a book or notes, even to a friend, when the examination is imminent.

The other important part of this first week of term are the final goodbyes to the graduating class of matrics. Sometimes emotional, sometimes pure joy for the girls, this is a rite of passage that holds great significance in the lives of these learners who started their final examinations on 17 October. The last minutes of the valedictory service mark the divide between being learners and being young women, no longer protected by the routine of school and family and taking the first steps of embarking on a new course which will determine their future success. I am sure you join me in wishing our 137 matrics all the best for their examina-tions. We hope that the work they have put in during the year will be rewarded with the marks they deserve and the life's lessons they have learnt while at school will guide their decision-making in the future.

The Grade 11's feel really ‘in charge’ and it is time to remind them that, along with the pride of now being the seniors of the school, there are also many responsibilities - to behave in keeping with the motto “Honours before Honours”, to ensure that their appearance is always impeccable, to involve themselves fully in the activities of the school, and to make sure that their work ethic serves as an example for those in the other grades.

We are looking forward to a wonderful year with our new school leaders and seniors. They have great talent and we are certain that they will add wonderful value to our school during their matric year.

Kind regardsShirley HardingPRINCIPAL

Back: F Cassim, M Abrahams, R Smith, C Forbes, T Suttle, L Wiseman, M Kube

Front: A Uwase, K Nieuwenhuys, A Kamroodien, A Hendricks, E Petersen

Back: V Cole, J de Klerk, A ConradFront: Y Garach, A van der Westhuizen,

T-J Spike, A Kay-Hards

ACADEMIC COLOURS

GRADE 12

Full Colours

Half Colours

CONSUMER STUDIES OLYMPIAD CERTIFICATE WINNERS

Congratulations to Kelsey Peters who finished in the top 100.

Front: H Smith, H Parker, M Eddy,

M Rawat, J VermaakNext: T Ventura, C Skoti, T Higgs,

E Bergstedt, T Bailey, N Veldsman, T Beattie,

K Dean, H Brice, K Van Graan

Back: G Prior, C Prior, N Hadskins, S Smith,

R LudenAbsent: R Smith,

N Stassen, A Giacobbi, C Smith,

Q Saterdien, T Van Blerck

INFORMAL VALEDICTORY

Over the course of five years students attend many weekly assemblies, annual prize-givings and other termly school events. The valedictory assembly marks the end of a phase in each student's life and acknowledges some of the highlights of that time. Their final day commences with the tradition of the matrics dressing up in fun costumes and running an informal assembly. After messages of gratitude to the teachers, the matrics sang their farewell song to the school. The Grade 11's and teachers replied before the closing event: a trip down memory lane for the matrics, with a series of pictures taken throughout their five years at the school. This aspect of valedictory is a tradition that allows the matrics to say goodbye to the rest of the school in a light hearted and memorable way.

MATRIC VALEDICTORY & PRIZE-GIVING

Tessa Suttle* Annie Rees Bursary:Top scholastic award

* Margaretha van der Spuy Prize:Dux student

* Rotary Good Fellowship Award”“..outstanding ability to promote

goodwill, harmony and fair play...”* WOBU Centenary Cup: All-round achievement

Christine Forbes

* Sue Gow Trophy: Service to the school

Elaine Petersen

Meghan DanielsWOGU Prize: Service & Fellowship

Raeesa Brey

Kristin Nieuwenhuys

* Pfeiffer-Ruperti Bursary: 2nd top scholastic award

2nd on year’s work

: 3rd on year’s work

EB Lyon Prize: “a broadminded South African, noted for her erudtion and love and sympathy for fellow pupils”

Andrea Meyer Trophy: Most valuable contribution to RCL

Harewood Cup: Service Yashna Garach

Vos Prize: General KnowledgeShena Wells Prize:

Service to the LibraryGail Astwood Literary Award

SPECIAL PRIZES

TESSA

CH

RIST

INE

ELAINE

MEGHAN

RAEESA

KRISTIN

ADRIA QUANITA

Teachers, parents, invited guests, valedictorians gathered to celebrate the valedictory assembly and prize-giving. Mr Andrew Dean, Governing Body Chairman, gave good advice about the importance of making full use of opportunities, and the guest speaker, Ms Viola Manuel, the first female executive director of the Cape Chamber of Commerce, gave many practical suggestions to the departing matrics in relating her

Grade 11's and

experiences and the career moves which led to her holding such a prestigious position. Ms Manuel was an engaging speaker who touched the audience with her simple yet

evidently effective approach to life and success:pursue your dreams, look for opportunities to improve your community, and, memorably, "Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get to your destination".

This was followed by the prize-giving ceremony. These awards are the culmination of five years work and ranged from academic, cultural, sporting and service achievements, to awards relating to the calibre and character of these Wynberg girls.

Tessa Suttle delivered an emotional farewell speech to the matrics, crediting the effort and support of teachers and parents. She perfectly described their excitement and anticipation as they prepare to leave the secure environment of high school to move into university or the workplace. Mrs Harding also addressed the matrics for the last time and shared her own words of wisdom. Then the leaders of 2011 were formally honoured as they handed over their badges and crossed the

Mr Andrew DeanGoverning Body Chair

Ms Viola ManuelGuest Speaker

stage for the last time, signifying their completion of a year's service to the school.

Adria BurrowsCopenhagen Cup for Sportsmanship

Mymoenah Gamiet & Quanita BobbsIlse Davids Trophy:

Most outstanding Sportswoman

In conclusion, the matrics sang their farewell song which caused tears to flow amongst students and their parents, and then, for the very last time as students, the matrics proudly sang the school song. Then tears were wiped away, excitement edged to the fore, and they stepped out into their future.

YASHNA

MYMOENAH

Miengah AbrahamsCapt TTC Purland Prize:

GeographyBukho Dem

isiXhosa 1st LanguageAlexandra Hendricks

Pat Stewart Smythe Prize: History

Nadine Staggie Creative Writing Afrikaans

Sive Tom Most Improved in Grade 12Amy van der Westhuizen

Blumenfeld Prize: Mathematical Literacy

Leslene Wiseman Hawkins Prize: CAT

Meghan Daniels Art: Practical Work

Dawe-Emary Prize: Art Jaimie de Klerk

Alfred Friedlander Prize: History

Life OrientationKelsey Peters Taylor Prize:

Consumer Studies theoryBisset Prize:

Consumer Studies practical

SUBJECT PRIZES Christine Forbes Accounting PrizeBlumenfeld Prize:

MathematicsElaine Petersen

Rose Davidowitz Prize: Afrikaans 1st Language

Judd Prize: MusicShelley Prize:

English Creative WritingTessa Suttle

Arderne Prize: English Currie Prize: Physical Science

Silberbauer Prize: Life SciencesDulcie Howes Prize: Dance

RYLA CAMP

RYLA stands for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards which take place all over the world annually. In the Western Cape, they hold a camp for 70 students who have shown leadership skills in their Interact Clubs. The Rotaract Club of Wynberg sponsored Jade Marx to attend this camp - she represented all

of the Interact clubs which form part of the Wynberg area. The camp took place in Franschoek from 29 September to 2 October. Jade obviously made a very good impression at the camp because she was chosen to be the guest speaker on the final evening. Well done, Jade! Wynberg is very proud of you!

In the October holidays, Jessica Bothma and Andra Hoole attended the Young Biologist Course at the Two Oceans Aquarium. “We spent the first three days in intense lectures with amazing lecturers who instilled their passion for all things marine into all 50 of us there. We had assessments each day and on Thursday we presented orals and then slept in front of the Predators Tank. The next morning, we were whisked off to Soetwater Environmental Education Centre in Kommetjie, and spent the rest of the weekend hiking, snorkel-ing, exploring the rocky shores, and learning how to become more environ-mentally-friendly. The course was one of the highlights of our high school careers and we encourage all to apply, if given the chance!

YOUNG

BIOLOGISTJessica Andra

Jade

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Lauren & Kelley

Between 5 & 7 October, five of our top Public Speakers took part in the National Championships at Bishops. They performed very creditably with Lauren Gildenhuys & Kelley-Beth Oliphant reaching the finals of the Interpretive Reading section. Lauren was placed 11th overall in the competition, which meant she was just one place short of being selected for the National team to take part in the World Championships next year! Well done to our Public Speakers!

HOSTEL

LEADERS

2012

Congratulations to the 2012 Head of Hostel, Thabile Myeza, and Deputy Head, Jenna Busse.

SMALL CHANGE CHALLENGE

Thank you to all who participated in the Small Change for Big Difference Fundraising project. In total R15,800 was raised and we saw some amazing jar decorations. Congratulations to Kirsten House for collecting the most money.

CONGRATULATIONS,

MR CLAASEN!

WE HAVE SPLASH-DOWN!

Thank you to everyone who has supported the various pool fund-raisers, in particular, the Buy-a-Brick campaign. We hope you will continue to support our fund-raising initiatives.

TENNIS

ANYONE!

As the Matric final examsare beingwritten in the Ballet Hall, dance classes have taken to the tennis courts!

On 29 September the Music Department and Photography Society hosted a soirée which featured the Beijing Tour group, the Jazz Band and a Guest performers included our Music teachers, Clinton Claasen on the Piano, Justin Carter on the Clarinet and former students, Jess van der Merwe and Amy Campbell both of whom are studying music at UCT. Some of the most inspirational performances the school has heard were performed on this occasion. Congratulations to all who were involved.

n exhibition by the Photography Society.

We congratulate Mr Clinton Claasen - WGHS piano teacher and SA College of Music Masters student - who performed his final MMus piano recital on 19 October in the Baxter Concert Hall, for which he obtained a distinction. Well done, sir!

MASTER CLASS

Some of the Grade 11 Consumer Studies girls were lucky enough to attend a class by master chocolate chef, Alfred Henry, from the Capsicum Culinary Studio where he runs a chocolatier course.

Grade 11 Dancers

MATRIC ART EXHIBITION

SACEE LANGUAGE CHALLENGE

In 2011, 41 487 students from 96 schools participated. Grade 8: Tamar Kendon 77% R150 voucher Stefanie Simon 77% R150 voucherGrade 9: Megan Deneys 82% R150 voucher 2ndGrade 10: Lauren Gildenhuys 79% R100 voucherGrade 11: Khadija Brey 83% R100 voucher

} tied 2nd

tied 3rd

tied 3rd

On 12 October, Wynberg’s team which consisted of Brey, Sian Ferguson, Lauren Gildenhuys and Gabby Jacobs, participated in the Varsity College General Knowledge Quiz hosted by SACS. A total of 35 teams took part and Wynberg came 7th – top position for an all-girls' school. Jan van Riebeeck were worthy champions: they took the lead immediately and, in spite of very stiff competition, stayed ahead of the pack.

Khadija

VARSITY COLLEGE QUIZ

PEER GUIDES

The Big Sister/Little Sister to say good-bye to the Matrics, took place on

11 October.

party

Mrs Pelser & special guest,

Marilyn Martin

The official opening of the Matric Art exhibition

as on 21 October She had nothing but praise for the excellent work that has been produced by our girls and their teacher. She commented that quite often the influence of the teacher is evident in the work produced by students but that Mrs Pelser had enabled her students to find their own voices. She said that it was clear that they had

She said that she had been “deeply moved” by some of the work that was on display.

by Marilyn Martin, Director of Art Collections at the Iziko Museums, w

learned from other artists but had also worked through their own personal and political values in producing their work.

During the first week of this term Miss Cowley and Mrs Lee were lucky enough to travel to WGHS's U.K. Afritwin partner school, Devonport High School for Girls, to visit. This trip was funded by the British Council and forms part of the year-long curriculum twinning WGHS has undertaken with DHSG. Miss Cowley and Mrs Lee learnt about life in the UK and the differences and similarities of DHSG compared with WGHS. Since the theme of our

AFRITWIN UK VISIT

curriculum sharing is the 2012 London Olympics, the teachers also went on a fascinating tour of the Olympic site in London and saw the beautiful newly-built Olympic stadium.

Mrs Harding

Z Omarjee,

C Kippie

J de Klerk, M Gamiet

K Layman, B Clark, B Plaatjies

S van Wyk, T Adams

F Mason, M Byram,

G Klopper, G Prior

A Sity

K Nieuwenhuys, M Daniels

F Styer, K Abnett

R Brey

with Master J Pelser

Mrs Lee & Ms Cowley in front of the Olympic 2012 Stadium

Interhouse Netball 1st Cavanagh2nd Waterloo3rd Silverlea Apsley5th Wellesley Constantia7th Copenhagen Kirsten

Interhouse Hockey:1st Copenhagen2nd Constantia3rd Kirsten Silverlea5th Apsley Wellesley7th Waterloo Cavanagh

On 17 September, Yumna competed at the WP Karate Association’s Children’s Tournament in 3 different categories and came 3rd in all 3 events, winning 3 Bronze Medals. She also qualified as part

INTERHOUSE NETBALL & HOCKEY

At the end of last term, the interhouse hockey and netball tournaments were held.

YUMNA ISAAC DOES IT AGAIN!

of the WP Team to compete at Nationals. This tournament was really challenging as all the Provinces were present and there was a large number of entries. Yumna reached the semi-finals and came 5th in her Individual Kata and Kumite. This is the last time Yumna competes in the Children’s Nationals - next year she will compete in the Cadet and Senior section. Well done, Yumna!

THE KON-TIKI EXPEDITION

On 21 September, the Athena Society had a visit from Mr Adhil Patel who is Head of Thought Leadership at TNS Research, Cape Town. Mr Patel told us about the Kon-Tiki Expedition. Kon-Tiki was the raft used by Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl, in his 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands. It was named after the Inca sun god, Viracocha, for whom "Kon-Tiki" was said to be an old name.

The trip began on April 28, 1947, and Heyerdahl and his companions sailed the raft -

for 101 days over 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean.

The Kon-Tiki voyage all began with a question something like this: “Could it be that aboriginal people from the Incan or Persian civilisations travelled across the Pacific Ocean to the Polynesian Islands on little more than wooden balsa rafts?” Mr Patel showed us a documentary that the six had made.

a wooden or cork-like structure reported in myths and legends of early civilisations -

Even more impressive was their decision to sail in spite of widespread condemnation. They kept records of their distances and direction using the wind, water and ingenious devices. At one time they even invented a sort of cage that allowed them to cool off in the ocean without the danger of being eaten by any of the many sharks. The original craft can now be seen in a museum in Norway. Julia Cosentino

To Fazlyn Rinquest, who applied for a job as a life-saver and got it! She will be working as a life-saver over week-

CONGRATULATIONS

Western Province Waterpolo trials were held recently and we are proud to announce that Mymoenah Gamiet once again made the U19A team, Liezl Everts the U19B team, Chelsea Lassen, Natalie Zeelie and Olivia Adams all made the U16B team, and Mishka Malgas the U14B team.Congratulations, girls!

WP WATERPOLO

Olivia Rodseth will be participating in the Indoor Hockey National Tournament in December as part of the Seals U18 team. Stephanie Lopez-Stuart and Cara Geere both made the U15 Seals team. Well done!

INDOOR HOCKEY

TENNIS

And to Shannon Wannenburghwho competed in the annual South African Irish Dance Championships in the holidays. Shannon came 4th overall (in SA) in her age group. She was also placed 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th in various sections.

The 1st tennis team drew with Springfield 3-3 in matches this past week. Olivia Rodseth won both her matches!

ends and during the school holidays, keeping us safe!

DATES TO DIARISE

COURTYARD CLEAN-UPThe ‘garden quad’ needed it’s annual spring-clean so some of the boarders donned their finest gardening clothes, armed themselves with brooms and spades, and set to work. The result? Beautiful!

Back: Philasande Mzalisi, Kertrice Maitisa, Ntando Omoding, Anita Myeki, Sudila Kasango, Amahle Cishe

Front: Shona-Beth Arnolds

HAPPY

BIRTHDAYS @ WGHS

KIRSTEN - WHAT A HOUSE!

Bed