WYNBERG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER

Also available on our website : www.wynghs.co.za FEBRUARY 2010

A new society has been started at WGHS – the Athena Society. Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, is an appropriate name for a society consisting of young women who are top academics. The thinking behind this new society is that WGHS offers a lot in the way of academic support but needs more opportunities for top achievers. The function of the society is to stimulate, extend and nourish our top 12 girls in Grades 11 and 12. The Grade 12's will be able to leave the group in the third term and be replaced by the top Grade 10's. Girls in Grade 11 who qualify in June will also be invited to join the group. At a later stage, a junior group - top Grade 8's and 9's will also be started.

The society's first meeting was run by Mr Neil Eddy of WBHS. He challenged the girls to think and also to think about their thinking. The society will be going to the opera 'Carmen' on Monday, 7 March. Before that, our very own trained opera singer, Ms Opperman, will speak to the girls about the opera and what to listen for in order to get as much out of the experience as possible. Congratulations to the very first members: Tarryn Beattie, Farha Cassim, Khadija Brey, Meghan Daniels, Saarah Coenraad, Christine Forbes, Julia Cosentino, Alexandra Hendricks, Nina Esterhuysen, Arifa Kamroodien, Nikita Hadskins, Melissa Kube, Katrina Lehmann-Grube, Kristin Niewenhuys, Laylah Ryklief, Kelsey Peters, Kim Schilder, Elaine Petersen, Kim van Aswegen, Tessa Suttle, Kristen van Graan, Ange Uwase, Nadine Veldsman, Leslene Wiseman.

athena society

Congratulations to Jaimie de Klerk and Ashley

Kay-Hards - the 2011 Hostel Head and Deputy.

hostel leaders 2011

Jaimie & Ashley

Dear Parents

I was fortunate to spend some time with the girls at the Grade 11 camp in Simon's Town and the Grade 9 camp at Grabouw, and was struck again by the emphasis on and importance of teamwork in the achievement of goals. Both camps have separate reports in this newsletter and both mention the learning experienced through being part of a team.

Teamwork exists in every part of WGHS, from the tutor group and house, to the sports, cultural, service and academic teams. There is no doubt that the team that obeys the rules of teamwork is the one that wins – not always coming first, but winning friends, a sense of belonging, self-esteem and pride. Here are some useful rules for teams:1. Help each other to be RIGHT - not wrong.2. Look for ways to make new ideas work - not for reasons

why they will not work.3. If in doubt - Check it Out. Don't make negative

assumptions about one another.4. Help each other Win and take pride in each other's successes. US, WE, OUR, TOGETHER, not they, them, their, those girls.5. Speak Positively about each other, help those who make

mistakes learn.6. Maintain a positive attitude. Work to improve the situation

no matter what that situation is.7. Act with initiative and courage as if everyone depends on

you.8. Do everything with Enthusiasm for nothing is as contagious

as success.9. Whenever you can, remember to Give things away rather

than take them away: Give Respect, Recognition, Power, Support, Compassion, Help.

10. Never give up.11. If you want to look good, forget about yourself and make

your teammates look good.

Well done to the Wynberg girls who have shown their commitment to these rules, at these camps and in the many other school teams. We are so proud of you – you are the winners! For those who did not always remember rules of teamwork – stop and think, learn from the experience, be positive, and next time, be the best team member you can possibly be.

Thank you to all the staff members who are part of these teams. We would not be able to enjoy these powerful learning occasions without them. Together, parents and teachers, let us continue to teach the rules of teamwork and encourage our girls at every opportunity to represent their family and school in an exemplary manner.

Warm regardsShirley Harding

Over 800 exhilarated learners and staff sang along and danced to renowned SA band, The Parlotones, in the school hall on Valentine's Day. As always the Parlotones’ performance was out-standing - a few of our junior school neighbours came across to see what all the excitement was about and left feeling rather jealous. The concert was followed by a much enjoyed autograph and picture session where Wynberg girls got to meet and chat to their music icons. The event raised funds for our music students to attend an inter-national music festival in Beijing later this year. Thank you organisers, and thank you PARLOTONES !

the parlotones !

Front: Ms B Franke, Stacey Walker, Tatum Fortune, Jaime Floris, Ye-Eun Jung, Sam Burnell, Helen Slater

Middle: Jessica Davids, Yeji Jung, Georgia Bailey, Mikayla Duminy, Robyn Lassen, Christine Forbes

Back: Glen Hudgson, Paul Hudgson, Kahn Morbee, Neil Pauw, Mr J Saayman

A very special event was organised for Grade 8 parents early in February. Rather than a meeting with speakers and presentations, it was BACK TO SCHOOL for them!

Upon their arrival, parents were registered and given timetables and maps. During their ‘day’, they had an assembly, two lessons and a house meeting. At their assembly, they were told a little about each of the four pillars, and were encouraged to join a brand new society. Then they learnt a war-cry and were sent off to lessons: English, Afrikaans, Maths, ICDL, Ballet, History and Art among others. They moved swiftly from one lesson to the next, collecting merits and demerits along the way. Finally, at their house meetings, they were given guidelines to "surviving high school" and fridge magnets with important phone numbers.

Certainly the ‘Back to school’ evening provides parents with a clearer idea of some of the transitions their daughters have had to make. Information and fun at the same time - perfect.

back to school for grade 8 parents

Congratulations to new Grade 8 RCL members: Ashleigh Thompson, Sara Bell and Saabira Swart.

grade 8 rclms pienaar gets married

Wynberg was approached by Nina Zani from the Nina Zani Found-ation to perform at the V&A Waterfront, with Heathfield High, Alexander Sinton and Bergvliet High, the other schools going to Beijing. Each school had 15 minutes to perform the same pieces that they will be performing in Beijing. Wynberg’s

Flute & String trios, the Sax Quartet and the Vocal Ensemble performed.

wynberg at the waterfront

Ms Annique Pienaar married Michael Dabrowski on Satur-day 5 February at St Georges Cathedral. WGHS was well represented amongst the wedding guests and by the choir, who, conducted by Ms Opperman, sang beautifully for the young couple. All at Wynberg wish them much happiness and a long and happy life together.

Luli Callinicos is credited with putting forward the often neglected history of 'ordinary' South Africans. In 1992, she was commissioned to write Oliver Tambo’s biography, which was published as Oliver Tambo: Beyond the Engeli Mountains. Callinicos has also written The World that made Mandela (2000), which identifies the people and places that shaped this iconic figure. Callinicos has been involved in a number of committees that made decisions about changing the names of places in South Africa after 1994.

The Grade 12 History classes at Wynberg are doing a Heritage Project on changing the street names in Cape Town. They were privileged to meet Luli Callinicos, the well-known social historian, who made a special trip from Johannesburg to come to speak to, interact with, inspire and motivate the girls. Ms Barbara Johannesson, one of our history teachers, worked with Luli on the development of the new history curriculum for schools, to be introduced next year. The girls raised many pertinent and nuanced questions, and Luli was impressed with the level of their historical critical skills.

history

On the 9 February the Grade 11’s set out on their long awaited and much anticipated Grade 11

Camp. Starting off with an amazing drumming workshop, energies were high when we finally

drove off to our destination: Rocklands, Simon’s Town. What happened at the camp was a

mixture of teamwork activities and leadership sessions. Both incorporated a sense of fun which

allowed us to bond as a grade. The highlight was the performance of the house plays. Our

enthusiasm plus the theme “Discovery”, lead to creative and sometimes crazy ideas. The night

was very entertaining, filled with laughter and unforgettable characters. The “Best Play Award”

went to Constantia for a creative, funny play. We were exhausted but extremely content on the

bus ride home, knowing that this camp will be one we will always remember.

Laylah Ryklief

grade 11 camp

grade 9 camp9–11 February : Back2Basics, Grabouw

3 days, 72 hours, 195 Grade 9 girls, 6 teachers + loads of fun

The Grade 9's of 2011 really showed everyone how to have a good time, whilst competing to see which team would be the overall winner. Teamwork and communication were vital for the girls to complete all the rotations, many of which were extremely physically challenging. Encouragement was needed, and was heard in the form of team war cries which echoed throughout the campsite all the time. The heat made some tasks even more difficult, but water fights and cloudbursts of rain cooled things down and made life bearable. All in all, Grade 9 Camp 2011 was a truly memorable experience, with girls achieving things that they initially thought were impossible. They made many new friends and learnt new skills. However, none of it would have been possible without the support of our amazing teachers and the camp facilitators.Vega de Vries, Laura Martin and Delia Rutherfoord-Jones

As a result of y husband, Greg, is a C5/C6 quadraplegic, which means that he is paralysed from the chest down. He has use of his arms and limited use of his hands. In June 2010, I had a call from Grant, an old school friend of Greg’s, who wanted to know if I thought Greg would manage to swim the Midmar Mile. Grant made sure that someone with such a severe disability would be allowed to enter and we checked with Greg’s doctors. All gave the go-ahead and the excitement began.

a motor vehicle accident 12 years ago, m

greg’s midmar mileas told by his wife, Ms glover

Virgin Active sponsored Greg while he train-ed. Temba, a Navy Diver swam with him two or three times a week, and by January he was comfortably swimming 1300 metres.

Our air tickets were booked. Greg was motivated and very excited at the prospect of swimming the Midmar Mile with his

Not a dry eye in the house when Greg and David meet!

Greg with his two buddies under the watch-ful eye of the Navy alsatian rescue dog!!

two best friends s. Then about four weeks before D-day, I had a call from David, Greg’s younger brother who lives in London. He wanted to swim the Midmar with Greg but wanted it to be a complete surprise. Many secret phone-calls and sms’s later, we had organised David’s entry into the swim, booked his accommodation and organised his flights to coincide with ours. It was all too good to be true. I was so anxious that the secret would get out or that flights would be delayed.

The day dawned. Our flight was on time and we arrived in Durban safely. Lie number 1: Greg Y and Grant are late - we’ll have to wait an extra hour for them. We had lunch and Greg kept commenting on how antsy I was. Lie number 2: I need to pop up to the “1 Time” office to check our return flight. I rushed off to meet my brother-in-law. I went ahead and his brother, David, walked up to Greg and said ”Are you ready for your swim?’ Greg froze in shock for about 20 seconds and then the brothers had a very emotional reunion.

What a wonderful weekend! The boys swam on Saturday morning and Greg completed his first Midmar Mile in 1 hour 16 minutes and 36 seconds, his two best friends and his beloved brother beside him all the way. He arrived at the finish to a heroes welcome with crowds chanting his name and Admiral Robert Higgs from the SA Navy giving him a personal welcome.

We wept, we laughed and we were surrounded by love. Only later did we realise just how massive and emotional our weekend had been. His brother had

from Potchefstroom Boys’ High days, Grant and Greg Youens

Admiral Robert Higgs, Greg & SUPER proud wife, Penny.

flown to South Africa for 48 hours, two old friends had proved what love and friendship is really about, and a man who twelve years ago (at the time a sub-mariner and Navy diver, super fit and healthy) was told he would never walk again, had swum a mile across a damn in the world’s biggest open water swim.

This year was the 38th Midmar Mile Event - the largest open water swimming event in the world. This was Mrs Bristow’s 37th “crossing”of the Midmar Dam, which is a record number of swims by any female. She missed just one year when having her son, Stuart. A total of over 15 000 swimmers took part this year, in many different categories. Mrs Bristow finished 2nd in her category, in a time of 25 minutes. She even managed to come in ahead of Charlene Wittstock, a former Olympic swimming Champion and the future Queen of Monaco. Mrs Bristow said: “ It was great to be part of a ‘royal’ event this year! I will return next year as it is such a fantastic event. I would encourage everyone to take up the challenge of swimming the Midmar Mile.

the midmar mile

Mrs Bristow with her medal

CONGRATULATIONS to the 1st Waterpolo team who, in a closely contested match last night, held off the much favoured Reddam team, beating them 6-5. This result, combined with their convincing win over Springfield earlier this term, shows just how much the team has grown under the guidance of Coach Alan Footman.

CONGRATULATIONS to these players who have been selected to attend WP U18 trials by participating in the WP Hockey Union's Pro-Series event throughout March 2011: Kim Mentor,

hockey waterpolo

Carli Alexander, Cassie Taylor, Quanita Bobbs, Belinda Plaatjies, Micaela Diedericks and Lizl Everts.

palmiet hikeMs O Petersen, Lihle Ndita, Robyn Luden, Mymoenah Davids, Revana Moodley, Josie McCann, Jenna Busse, Sarah-Lee de JonghFront: Thabile Myeza, Sara Abrahams

Matric class of 1982 30th Reunion

Date:- Friday 14th September 2012Venue:- Vineyard Hotel and SpaTime:- 18:00 – 20:30Menu:- Cocktail PartyPrice:- R250.00 (Includes venue hire, menu, tax, gratuity and wine and soft drinks)Contact:- Robyn van Oudtshoorn

021 657 4591robyn@vineyard.co.za Tel:

teachers fromour UK twin

school,DevonportSchool for

Girls and Boys, have been visiting

WGHS.

spirit team’s new look

Janet Rowbury & Elspeth Wiltshire,

devonportschool for

girls

Back: Bianca Okkers, Sinako Bovana, Chelsea Oliver, T’nielle Haupt, Tyla-Jade Spike, Maxine Marais, Alycia Pearson, Emma

Fairlie, BBianca Hey, Sstephanie Farmer, Morgan Farmer,

Belinda PlaatjiesFront: Kertrice Martisa, Cynthia

Arnold, Michaela Schiava

The Spirit Team wowed everyonewhen they appeared in theirnew outfits at the Interschools’swimming gala.

(Lab 2)