Southern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross Schools Weekly Newsletter 21 of 2011Weekly Newsletter 21 of 2011Weekly Newsletter 21 of 2011Weekly Newsletter 21 of 2011

SCS Exchange Group Arrives in Germany

Southern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross Schools PO Box 116PO Box 116PO Box 116PO Box 116 HoedspruitHoedspruitHoedspruitHoedspruit 1380138013801380 Phone: 015 793 0590Phone: 015 793 0590Phone: 015 793 0590Phone: 015 793 0590 EEEE----mail: raptor@scschools.co.zamail: raptor@scschools.co.zamail: raptor@scschools.co.zamail: raptor@scschools.co.za

Special Edition-Week 1 of July 2011 School for the PlanetSchool for the PlanetSchool for the PlanetSchool for the Planet

Important Dates:

SCS / Rhön Exchange

Group head off on

bike rides in Rhön

Biosphere Reserve.

08

July

SCS / Rhön Exchange

Group fly from Frank-

furt back to South

Africa.

21

July

SCS learners partici-

pate in Tritech compe-

tition in Tzaneen.

22

July

Boarders return from

15h00.

24

July

An SCS team will be

participating in the

Hip2Bsquare competi-

tion in Tzaneen.

26

July

First day of lessons of

Term 3 from 07h15.

24

July

Germany Exchange

Group returns to SA.

22

July

A Peek at Last Week …

• SCS academic progress reports

were ready for collection from

the school’s front office at

15h00 on Tuesday 28 June.

• E-mail copies of reports were

sent to boarder parents and

those parents who requested

copies by e-mail.

• The Germany Exchange Group

from SCS departed from OR

Tambo Airport at 18h45 on

Saturday 2 July.

• The Germany Exchange Group

arrived safely at Frankfurt

Airport on Sunday 3 July.

• Clearing of our new sports fields

got underway on Monday 4 July.

with all concerned. Everyone socialized over dinner and got to know each other a little better. Some basic information about the next day was shared with the group after which everyone went home with their hosts.

After a long overnight flight from OR Tambo Airport to Frankfurt Airport, our exchange group arrived in Ger-many early on Sunday 3 July. The group was met by Mr Michael Dohrmann, the representative of the Rhön Bio-sphere and Mr Friedrich Steigerwald, the Headmaster of Martin Pollich Gymnasium. The two hour trip to Mellrich-stadt started with excited chatter as everyone took in the German landscape for the first time and then slowly faded

Warm Welcome in Cold Germany

Despite the cold weather on arrival in Germany, the SCS group was warmly wel-comed by their hosts. After spending the af-ternoon at their new temporary homes and catching up on some much needed sleep, everyone met at one of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve venues. A “braai” German-style was dinner which went down extremely well

Rekindled Friendships

There was great joy and laughter as Hannah Sopp and the

Southern Cross learners met in the

car park of the Martin Pollich Gym-

nasium. Hannah spent three

months at SCS in 2010. She was a

great ambassador for her school

and her country while she was in

South Africa. In the photo left Lau-

ren Dold, Emma Smith and Precious

Ratshana can be seen with Hannah

shortly after arriving in Germany.

into silence as the long trip took its toll and everyone nodded off to sleep. A certain amount of apprehension permeated the atmosphere on arrival at our host school. This soon disappeared as each learner’s host family intro-duced themselves with friendly smiles, handshakes and hugs. Soon everyone had been whisked away to the homes of their hosts and were experiencing firsthand various aspects of German culture and lifestyle. Exciting

times, indeed.

Southern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross SchoolsSouthern Cross Schools PO Box 116

Hoedspruit

Limpopo

1380

Phone: 015 793 0590

Fax: 086 530 5153

E-mail: raptor@scschools.co.za

STEPPING THROUGH THE “IRON CURTAIN”

Standing at the site where East and West Germany were divided

by the “Iron Curtain” during the Cold War was a humbling ex-

perience. In the photographs one of the East German guard

towers, that dotted the entire border separating the country, can be seen. On the right Lauren, Mat-

thew, Nick and Dylan pose alongside a border marker. These markers were set up about thirty metres

from the fence and anyone coming as close as the markers was arrested and potentially imprisoned.

School for the Planet School for the Planet School for the Planet School for the Planet ---- Being Introduced to the Rhön Biosphere Reserve Being Introduced to the Rhön Biosphere Reserve Being Introduced to the Rhön Biosphere Reserve Being Introduced to the Rhön Biosphere Reserve

www.southe

rncros

sschoo

ls.co.za

Remnants of a Nazi Work Camp In the core zone of the Rhön Bio-sphere Reserve there are remnants of a Nazi Work Camp. These camps were established in various places around Germany during Nazi rule and young people were required to spend time in these camps doing work for the state. In this particular area young men worked at clearing fields of basalt rocks and planting spruce trees as wind breaks around the cleared fields. The government envisaged planting grain crops in the area, but the project failed because the higher altitude meant colder average temperatures and so the crops failed. The picture shows a side entrance to the camp that has since disappeared.

Thank You:

The SCS staff and learners

on exchange in Germany are

extremely grateful to all the

people who are hosting them

in Germany. Their hospitality

and kindness has been truly

overwhelming. We trust that

there will be an opportunity

to reciprocate in the near

future.

On Monday 4 July the SCS Exchange Group accompanied

by their hosts went to one of the information centres of

the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. At the centre Mr Michael

Dohrmann gave them important and interesting informa-

tion about the biosphere. This was followed by a trip to the

core zone of the biosphere where the group spent the

morning playing a variety of games which were aimed at

everyone getting to know each other better. By lunch time

everyone was well acquainted and ready for nourishment.

SCS PA Events:

The SCS Parent Association

has a number of fundraising

events lined up:

• 5 August - Night of a Hun-

dred Lots;

• 26 August - Spring Walk;

• 30 Sept to 2 Oct - Sustain-

able Living Festival;

• 12 Nov - SCS Golf Day

Support our PA in these fun

events to raise funds for

school development projects.