2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1 THE KINGFISHER GAZETTE · Cultural Events – Sporting Events ... (PTPI), assisted CANSA at the annual Shavathon, held at different shopping malls in the

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

PAGE 1

THE KINGFISHER

GAZETTE Cultural Events – Sporting Events – Creative Writing - Reviews

SMALL FISH IN THE

BIG OCEAN: FIRST DAY

OF SCHOOL

By: Alyssa Dennis and Tumelo Khathi

High school…a chapter in our lives like no

other. It is often portrayed as terrifying,

disastrous and melodramatic in movies.

You are no longer babysat, nor looked after.

Conforming to the “small fish in a big pond”

classic, you are tossed around in the corridor of

giants, trying to avoid the matriculants who are

ready to prey on innocent grade 8’s.The truth is

that high school could be much easier without

walking around carrying tons of books, having

to climb the strenuous stairs repeatedly whilst

traipsing from one lesson to another. Most of us

belonged in one of two categories when we

finished primary school. Firstly, the “it’s finally

over” category, for the people who celebrated

leaving childish endeavours behind, not

realizing what part of their life was gone forever.

Little did they know they were exiting the gates

of childhood to enter this intimidating mature

lifestyle.

The second being the “cried myself to sleep”

category for the people who wish that their lives

hadn’t changed so quickly, into the world where

‘chaos reigns’ as high school is predicted to be.

They didn’t realise what an adventure lay ahead

and all the opportunities that there were for

them. I, on the other hand, felt neutral until I

drove through the gates on the very first day of

the rest of my five years here at Hillcrest High

School. The emotions hit me like a brick wall. I

felt fear and curiosity in anticipation of what

lay ahead of me and sadness for what I had left

behind. Everything felt so different: the

uniforms, the school rules, the classrooms, the

teachers and the learners of Hillcrest High. The

first day of high school for the grade 8s of 2019

was very difficult, but we were unexpectedly

wrapped under the care of the welcoming

students and the remarkable staff of Hillcrest

High School. I suspected there to be a

hierarchy with the matrics ruling supreme over

the rest of the students, especially the grade

8’s. Their quad was the first place I located, a

place I would never venture into, unless I

wanted to face inevitable consequences, or

actions worthy of an embarrassing

performance.

The reality is that our fears of being mistreated

were put at ease as we got to learn and

understand more about the learners of Hillcrest

High. The higher grades are more

understanding and appreciative of the grade

8’s, which put our minds at rest, knowing that

we are under the guidance and good leadership

of the seniors of the school. The worst part is

that school seems to be a vicious cycle that

never ends. We were the seniors of

our primary school and the oldest, with the most

authority, but now we’re the ‘guppies in a vast

pond’. My opinion is that the fish pond quad was

intentionally named for this reason as it signifies

the younger grades in the school. We, are once

again, at the bottom of the food chain; fearing

the sharks, the top predators, lurking in deeper

waters.

We have become more mature, have the freedom

to express ourselves and have endless

opportunities to grow and develop as an

individual. It is daunting at times, contemplating

growth, but it will happen eventually and we

must enjoy our short time of high school while it

lasts.

Some enter this school not knowing a single

name, but we all get by as a unit working

towards our goal at the end of the day which is

getting to the end of the year stronger than

before. The grade 8s are taking it one day at a

time. We may miss our old friends and the

familiarity and comfort of primary school dearly,

but new friends will come our way, with all the

adventures and memories they will give us. We

feel pressurised to make the right decisions in

our lives no matter how small and we may find

ourselves wondering if it was the best one. We

all make mistakes but choosing Hillcrest High as

our high school was definitely not one of them.

Meadow Postman

and Maia

Klijnstra first day

of high school

It always seems impossible until it’s done – Nelson Mandela

Left: Natasja Degger

Right: Kayla Searle

PAGE 2

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

Cultural Events

The Angel Tea An annual fundraising event

By: Vachariya Naidoo

John Holmes once said, “There is no

exercise better for the heart than reaching

down and lifting people up.”

The Angel Fund is a small community of

learners, guided by selfless teachers, who

strive to help the members within the

Hillcrest High School family. Whether it is

financially or emotionally, our team does

their best to assist families and learners in

need. This is done by fundraising and

collecting groceries, school supplies and

providing for any other needs, in order for

our students to maximise their full

academic potential at school.

The Angel tea, which was held on the 9th

of March 2019, is The Angel Fund’s

biggest annual fundraiser. Our team spent

weeks planning the décor, food

arrangements and selling tickets prior to

this very important event.

The theme for this year was “Keen for

Green” and the ladies left no stone

unturned displaying their amazing outfits.

With the help of our very generous sponsor,

Dis-Chem the entire day was dedicated to

listening to empowering speeches from

successful woman, giveaway hampers

provided by Dis-Chem, raffles, pampering

and spoiling the lovely ladies in our

community.

The day was an absolute success, and all

the funds raised from this event will go

towards aiding the families in our school

community. Many forms of gratitude go to

our main sponsor Dis-Chem, the teachers

who co-ordinated the event, the girls of The

Angel Fund Committee and to the people

who contributed to the execution of this

phenomenal event.

By: Sayitha Jugdaw and Tyla De Waal

“Today, more people are living after a cancer

diagnosis than dying from it.” says the Cancer

Association of South Africa (CANSA). Every

year, CANSA spreads awareness and hope by

hosting a ‘Shavathon’ at various places around

the country.

On the first Saturday of March, Hillcrest High

School students, including members of People

to People International (PTPI), assisted CANSA

at the annual Shavathon, held at different

shopping malls in the Hillcrest area. The event

involved shaving and spray-painting hair at a

cost of R50 for adults and R25 for children

under the age of twelve. All proceeds were

considered donations.

“You get to meet many people and especially

those who have beaten cancer and are there to

support anyone who is going through the same

journey as them.” says Dani Jansen van

Rensburg, one of the volunteers. From just

supporting the well-known organisation to

sharing their own personal cancer survivor

stories, people were drawn to this event, aiming

to bring about change. You get to experience

each story as it is told and see the strength

present in people who have previously beaten

cancer. With each individual, you get a new and

different story, which really makes volunteering

at such events so worthwhile and rewarding.

Amahle Mgobhozi says, “It was my second

Shavathon and it is always such an amazing

experience. I really love volunteering, in so

doing this brought the same feelings of warmth

and pride to me.” Another Grade 12 learner,

Alida Bevis adds, “It was a humbling

experience and I’m glad I did it.”

The benefits of volunteering are endless, not

only for your community but also for yourself.

It is up to you to determine whether you want to

be apart of something greater and take action.

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Attendees listening to a talk

Snacks provided at the event

The Hillcrest High School hall set up

before the Angel Tea.

Hillcrest High School volunteers

at Watercrest Mall

Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better – Jim Rohn

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2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

Matric Dance Build-Up By: Sayitha Jugdaw and Shae Muchna

This is A milestone event to celebrate the final year of high school and the beginning of new endeavours. Grade 12 students of Hillcrest High

School eagerly prepare for their matric dance, scheduled to be held on the 6th of April 2019. One can only imagine the excitement that starts to

build up before this date. From dress and shoe shopping to finding the perfect way to ask your date. Despite this pressure and their busy lives, a

number of matriculants gave up their time to sit down and give an insight on how they are currently feeling.

“I have always pictured my matric dance to be one of a kind – a matric dance so special that it can be a story to tell my children one day. From

the outfit, to the venue, the car, but most importantly sharing the night with someone special.” says Head Boy, Themba Mzobe. To ensure that

the night is just as special as the matriculants are dreaming about, the matric dance committee consisting of Grade 11 students, has set out to

coordinate a surprise theme and a magnificently decorated hall. Matric pupils have already started to guess what the theme for this year might

be as the matric dance begins to occupy their attention. Kyle Buick hopes it is “something vintage and old school”, whereas Amahle Mgobhozi

and Priyashnee Reddy want a theme that is “timeless and classic like retro Hollywood”.

Although we live in an ever-changing world, there is often still the stereotype that you need a date to attend such events. However, Julia

Douglas does not feel complied to conform to this stereotype and explains, “I’m not really going with a date, I’m going with friends, which

makes me feel very relieved I’m going with the people who make me feel comfortable. And when I look back at the dance, it won’t be photos

of me with a boy I barely knew because I felt the pressure of needing a date.”

The matric dance is more than just dressing up, taking pictures and dancing the night away. It can also be very informative, in the sense that

every attendee learns how to apply their good manners on formal setting etiquette. As well as a time for self-expression and self-confidence,

which shines through their style. Head girl, Ayla Nuttall says, “The matric dance for many is the highlight of their matric year for various

reasons. For me, I’m most looking forward to spending the day with my friends, have a good laugh and purely just unwinding a bit before term

two comes at me with full force.” Most importantly, the matric dance is about spending time with your loved ones and making memories that

will last a lifetime.

This is milestone event to celebrate the final year of high school and the beginning of new endeavours. Grade 12 students of Hillcrest High School

eagerly prepared for their matric dance, scheduled to be held on the 6th of April 2019. One can only imagine the excitement that started to build up

before this date. From dress and shoe shopping to finding the perfect way to ask your date to accompany you. Despite this pressure and their busy

lives, a number of matriculants gave up their time to sit down and give us a glimpse about how they were feeling.

“I have always pictured my matric dance to be one of a kind – a matric dance so special that it can be a story to tell my children one day. From the

outfit, to the venue, the car, but most importantly sharing the night with someone special,” says Head Boy, Themba Mzobe. To ensure that the night is

just as special as the matriculants have dreamt about, the matric dance committee consisting of Grade 11 students, set out to coordinate a surprise

theme and a magnificently decorated hall. Matric pupils already started to guess what the theme for this year might be as the matric dance began to

occupy their attention. Kyle Buick hoped it would be “something vintage and old school”, whereas Amahle Mgobhozi and Priyashnee Reddy wanted a

theme that was “timeless and classic like retro Hollywood.” Although we live in an ever-changing world, there is often still the stereotype that you

need a date to attend such events. However, Julia Douglas does not feel compelled to conform to this stereotype and explains, “I’m not really going

with a date, I’m going with friends, which makes me feel very relieved. I’m going with the people who make me feel comfortable and when I look

back at the dance, it won’t be photos of me with a boy I barely knew because I felt the pressure of needing a date.”

The matric dance is more than just dressing up, taking pictures and dancing the night away. It can also be very informative, in the sense that every

attendee learns how to apply their good manners with regared to formal etiquette. This is also a time for self-expression and self-confidence, which

shines through in their style. Head girl, Ayla Nuttall said, “The matric dance for many is the highlight of their matric year for various reasons. I’m

looking forward to spending the day with my friends, having a good laugh and purely just unwinding a bit before term two comes at me with full

force.” Most importantly, the matric dance is about spending time with your loved ones and making memories that will last a lifetime.

The Career Fair

By Tyla De Waal and Sayitha Jugdaw

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have

to work a day in your life.” – Confucius.

Career Fair! Two simple words that can create a

feeling of uncertainty, but also two words that

can spark ideas and hopes for the future.

When heading off to university, students often

feel overwhelmed with the pressure of choosing

a career path they wish to pursue. As a result of

this being a hard and stressful task, the fear of

not making the right decision lingers. Therefore,

events such as the Career Fair are a great way by

which prospective students can ask questions

about their fields of interest. They may also use

this as an opportunity to discover which career

paths they will not like.

On the 7th of March 2019, Hillcrest High School

was privileged enough to host a very successful

career fair, where more than 20 professional

institutions attended to showcase what they have

to offer. These included local institutions, such

as Varsity College, NewBridge, Pearson

Institute of Higher Education, Durban

University of Technology, Unisa, Embury and

Mancosa, as well as international institutions

such as the University of Adelaide, located in

Australia, and the Rotary Youth Exchange.

Not a single institution failed to bring about

joy to whomever was interested in listening to

what they had to say. Every institution had

many people surrounding them asking

questions and discovering new things.

The Career Fair brings people together from

diverse professional backgrounds, so that

students have the chance to explore different

careers and gain knowledge on furthering their

education. Learners from many high schools

attended this event. With a wide variety of

institutions offering study paths, ranging from

medicine to the performing arts, to

engineering, media, cooking, entrepreneurship

and many more - students were able to be

involved in thought-provoking discussions

with fellow pupils and experts from the

institutions. If studying straight after school is

not an option, there were also professionals

that

enlightened students on taking a gap year,

where they can travel, au pair and visit new and

interesting places around the world, as they

save up to fund their education later in life.

Your final year of school can be challenging

and stressful with the amount of work and

studying you are required to complete. The

Career Fair helps you worry about one less

thing as you take on your matric year, or

perhaps something new will grab your attention

as a younger student. It is not only a great way

to learn about tertiary studies, but as a student

you are able to seek guidance in a personal and

direct way.

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing – Walt Disney

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2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

SPORTING EVENTS

DND GALA

Christina Leigh

The Hillcrest High School students recently participated in the inter-

schools annual Durban and District swimming gala. Our swimmers

achieved predictably impressive results and had lots of fun

participating. “Galas like these are honestly the best. They are so

engaging; we get to show how many talented, dedicated swimmers

there are in our school and we can show how hard we've worked

through our results. We really come together as a team, forget all of

our drama and support each other through it all. The best part is that

we all share the same passion for swimming, and at the end of the

day at these galas, that’s really what shines through and brings us all

together. It motivates us to do our best.” Seth Ryan, a member of the

Hillcrest High School swimming team, explained when I asked him

about how it feels to be competing against so many different schools.

The Captains of the swimming team are Dylan Smith and Tanith

Loader, and the coaches of the team are Mr Surgeon, Mr Farquhar

and Mr White. “We departed shortly after first break, which was

roughly around 10:45am and we arrived at the venue at around

12:00pm. We began our warm up shortly after that, with nerves

building quickly and adrenaline running high.” reported Seth.

The results that were achieved in this gala were outstanding and each

member of the swimming team that participated is congratulated on

their hard work. Without leaving you in any further unnecessary

suspense, here were the results: Hillcrest High School came first out of all of the public schools that

participated. Overall, Hillcrest High School came 7th, with Curro leading in

1st place. The swimming team had a wonderful time, enjoying a

lovely treat at McDonald’s after the gala and only ended up arriving

home, exhausted but satisfied with their hard work, at 05:00pm.

There is no shortcuts to any place worth going – Beverly Sills

PAGE 5

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

REVIEWS

Restaurant Review

Frenchies Comfort Café

Tyla De Waal, Courtney Smith and

Warren Searle

It may look like your average local café but

Frenchies Comfort Café, in Fields Centre, is

everything but that!

We were greeted in a friendly manner by the

staff who welcomed us in and guided us to

our table. We were overwhelmed by the

aroma of coffee emanating from the café.

The theme transported us to a vintage café

in France. From the French landscape

wallpapers to the rustic French flag painted

on the wall and a mellow atmosphere, it

gave the feeling of being in the city of love.

The menu was simple and straight forward

yet decorated with lovely elements of

France. French was incorporated into the

options with English descriptions. Just the

accommodating menu alone gave an insight

on French culture. The decisions, on the

menu, were difficult to come by as a result

of every option captivating our taste buds.

No items exceeded the price of R100 which

implies that you get your money’s worth.

The manner in which the options were laid

out was perfect, enticing us even further.

By the time we received our meals we had

barely made a dent in our drinks. The staff

were very knowledgeable of the menu and

were willing and able to recommend items

on it. We were regularly checked on and

offered assistance.

We were taken aback by the fantastically

executed presentation. Just laying eyes on

the burgers, made our mouths water. The

taste of the burger mixed with the sauces,

was packed with flavours that

complemented each other. The coffee and

iced drinks definitely quenched our thirst.

The food was very affordable, and a good

value for money.

The café however is not very well known

due to its location in the shopping centre

and inadequate advertising. With that being

said, we can conclude that we thoroughly

enjoyed dining in Kloof’s little bit of

France.

This is the best place visit for an opportunity

to relax and talk with friends. Highly

recommended.

Book Review

Divergent

James Geldart

Veronica Roth’s debut book, Divergent, was

the reason she became a “No. 1 NY bestselling

author”. I, however, believe the title bestowed

to be undeserving. Here’s why:

It is extremely poorly written. At times, it did

not make much sense and left a considerable

number of gaping plot-holes that are never even

explained. I was left wondering what was

happening at the end of each chapter. Sadly, as

a product of this poor writing, the characters

shone of mediocrity.

In the novel, we don't ever really seem to get to

know any of their personalities and therefore

we become unable to develop the essential

emotional connection required to understand

and sympathise with any of the characters. I am

beginning to believe that the majority of the

characters have only been included in the book

to aid Tris (the protagonist) in performing her

dramatic antics. Three of the main characters

stood out for me the most; Tris, Caleb and Four.

I found it increasingly difficult to gain a liking

for any of them. Caleb, Tris’ brother, makes it

extremely difficult to look further than his

annoying traits. He only seems to care for

himself and he ultimately caused his parents’

death. The worst part, however, is that Tris

forgives him even though he left her for dead.

Throughout the entire book, Four is abusive

towards Tris. He humiliates her in front of

everyone without fail and assaults her during

their training. The only thing adding to my

frustration is that Tris still falls in love with

him. Not once in the book was I fooled to

believe that they had a genuinely healthy

romantic relationship.

Let’s now guide our focus onto Tris. She

displays infuriatingly whiny and desensitized

feelings, which are not accurate. She is meant to

be a strong female leader showing traits of

bravery, compassion and courage.

Unfortunately only the opposite of that proves

to be true. She is weak, needs help from all of

her friends and family and dominantly relies on

Four for everything. The disappointment with

Tris’ character definitely ties in to the mediocre

plot. Taking a small jump into the next book of

the Divergent series, Allegiant, I only found

one notable aspect of the entire series. I find it

quite comical to think that the only relieving

part of the series was Tris’ death. I felt no

remorse towards her death, in fact, the only

thing I have to say is that I wish it had

happened sooner; it was way too prolonged.

I've cried countless times over the deaths of

characters that I've loved who have died in

books, but in this novel I felt no remorse at all.

Overall, I do not recommend this book for

anyone looking for a good novel with a juicy

storyline, strong characters or an interesting

plot. If you are looking for this then Veronica

Roth’s debut novel, filled with plot-holes,

misogynistic characters and an overall

satisfactory vibe, is not the book for you.

Restaurant in Fields Centre in Kloof.

Menu at Frenchies Comfort Café

Left to Right:

Courtney Smith, Staff

member at Frenchies Comfort

Café, Tyla De Waal and

Warren Searle.

Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do – John Wooden

PAGE 6

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

Film Reviews

Bohemian Rhapsody

Anastasia Stenos

Bohemian Rhapsody was, in my opinion, a

riveting and sensational movie based on the

1970/80’s famous band Queen.

The movie is about how Farrokh Bulsara

became Freddie Mercury, his background and

how he never really fitted in. His father was

constantly telling him to become more than just

a good for nothing man and he did, he became

one of the most inspirational beings to many

teenagers. With fellow members Brian May,

Roger Taylor and a forever changing bassist,

Freddie Mercury made many albums with

revolutionary songs such as Killer Queen,

Don’t stop me now, We are the champions and

obviously Bohemian Rhapsody.

The movie portrays the struggles of the band

in the early days of discovery and how Freddie

never gave into the pressure of the “You’re not

good enough” speeches. The movie shows the

attempted solo career of Freddie which made

him fall into bad habits and horrible

circumstances of him doubting himself. It also

shows his flamboyant persona on stage - no

matter what he faced and how he had to accept

the fact that he was living with HIV alongside

his partner and best friends.

His life was lived to the edge of

experimentation and even though he lived a

short life, it was prosperous with many

achievements. He was a very proud bisexual

man who lived a glorious life filled with love

and music.

A Star is born

James Geldart

Bradley Cooper has done it again, and better

than ever. He has produced a modern work of

art, which will surely be seen as a classic. A

solid five stars! The film admittedly was flawed

at times but that was quickly covered by the in-

depth detail, the developing plot and the breath-

taking characters.

Everyone is aware of Bradley Cooper’s acting,

courtesy of films such as American Sniper and

American Hustle. Not only did he perfect the

role of his character, but he added another spark

of brilliance by directing and co-producing the

film as well. He executed it very well and I,

along with the majority of his fans, am excited

to discover what other talents he might

spontaneously reveal.

Moving onto our leading lady, with no

hesitation, who allowed herself to shine

brighter and brighter through the progression

of the film, I refer to the talented Lady Gaga.

If you thought that Bradley was the only star

of the film, think again. Lady Gaga blew me

away the minute she appeared on screen. A

well-developed, easily relatable and inspiring

story of a woman chasing her dreams, lead me

to fall more and more in love with her

character.

Both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were

nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress at

the Academy Awards, which ultimately ties

the deal. Alongside their touching, comedic

and riveting performances is Sam Elliot’s

supporting role, elevating the film to achieve

an even higher standard.

There are so many great things to discuss; the

clever use of foreshadowing, the themes, the

stunning film direction and cinematography

and, of course, the mind-blowing

performances. However, flaws are essentially

inevitable. Ali can occasionally appear to be

too unrealistic. I feel that in many situations

she overreacted. At times it felt as though I

was watching Lady Gaga herself, particularly

during Ali’s ‘pop-modern’ phase of her career.

Still it was a power-house performance that

blew my mind.

Something of brilliance from the film and a

complete gem is the original song. ‘Shallow.’

This absolutely stole my heart and connected

me to Ali’s journey. The soundtrack

complemented the plot and without a doubt

improved the film considerably.

To bring it all together, having been nominated

for 7 Oscars, A Star Is Born has made an

impact on everyone and will not be easily

forgotten. The beautiful storyline and gorgeous

visuals make it one of the best films of 2018.

PAGE 7

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

Creative writing

The cool evening stretched before us like an invitation

By: Samuel Haug

Immediately, as he entered the warm bar, Oleg felt a gentle glow begin to melt the small specks of frost on his face – the roaring fire illuminated the

entire room – contrasting the dull, blank landscape of ice and sleet outside. The bar was filled with loud laughter and voices raised in cheer ; glasses of

vodka and ale warmed the patrons’ stomachs and “reddened” their faces as they celebrated the abrupt end of a successful trapping season.

Suddenly, the sharp ringing of a landline telephone resounded throughout the log cabin ; immediately, there was a solemn silence as a stone-faced man

answered the telephone.

Yelena explained to them in a hurried, desperate manner – her situation was looking very bad. First of all, her leg had become infected and was

bleeding freely now – she had managed to stop the bleeding for a few hours, however, without proper treatment she would surely die. Stationed at an

outpost in rural, Siberia, Yelena had been tasked with studying life in the Artic circle ; while coming back from a research mission, her colleagues had

been butchered by a large pack of wolves- the sole survivor, Yelena had managed to find safety within the outpost. Bitten by a wolf, she had only days

to live before she gave in to her injury.

The cold evening seemed to call to him and Oleg peered out at the distant horizon. His eight dogs barked happily in anticipation of the journey ahead.

None of the other trappers and hunters were prepared to risk their lives in order to deliver supplies to a lone scientist, stranded and injured at her

outpost.

As far as they were concerned, anyone who attempted the perilous journey through Siberian wasteland was suicidal – the below-freezing temperatures

cause by the on-going blizzard would kill any man within hours. However, Oleg was eager to prove himself as a man of determination and willpower -

making it back alive would guarantee his status as a respected trapper and outdoorsman.

Oleg and his dogs were approximately two hours into their five hour journey ; matters seemed better than first assumed. However, the temperature was

dropping rapidly as nightfall neared and Oleg had already lost one dog to a broken leg. He regretted putting it down and burying it, he should have fed

it to the other dogs – at least it would nourish the seven remaining.

He heard a harsh, high pitched squeal from one of his dogs as the ground collapsed in front of them, sending three of his Huskies tumbling into the

“snow ravine" – a large opening in the Earth covered by a deceptively-thin layer of ice. Instantly, Oleg reached for his knife and cut the bonds of the

Huskies loose – those who were hanging by their harnesses fell, squealing, into the void below. He could not risk losing anymore dogs – if anything,

the weight of those dogs could have dragged the supplies (and himself) along with them into the depths.

After many painful hours, Oleg and his remaining two dogs were nearing their destination . Oleg's hands had begun to succumb to frostbite, their food

supplies had started to run dangerously low – if they did not reach the outpost within the next hour, they too, would perish from the cold.

Bright lights began to shine through the never-ending blizzard – Oleg squinted in confusion and then joy as he recognised the shape of a building in

the distance, the outpost was finally within his reach. Picturing his triumphant return to the bar, Oleg set his face in stone and pushed onwards.

Shoving his considerable bulk against the door, Oleg managed to enter the outpost and drag his sled of supplies inside. Almost collapsing with the

effort, he unloaded his supplies and took off his gloves. His hands were almost black with frostbite and it pained him to walk – he wondered if he

could make the journey back alive.

Venturing through the outpost, he finally came to the living quarters – entering the room, the sight he saw left his whole body trembling. There, lying

motionless on the floor, was the body of the scientist – her leg lay in a pool of her own blood. Oleg stood there, staring in disbelief, at the scene before

him.

The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well – John D. Rockefeller

PAGE 8

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

Message in the street

By: Ross Blackbeard

He lies, perched like an eagle on the rooftop. He looks down from the heavens, vigilant and ready

to rain righteous execution on all who dare oppose him.

He cradles his weapon, an intimate love affair between man and machine. The gun appears to be

almost an extension of his limbs.

Below him, his brothers-in-arms trickle through the streets. They move like a colony of ants

through the winding passage and take up position in front of the compound. The air is dry and

corrosive on his coarse flesh. Days spent at the mercy of the sun’s rays have sucked the moisture

from his calloused fingers. All is still and all is quiet.

The colossal gates to the compound drag open. The ear-splitting squeals of unoiled hinges send

shockwaves through his brain and break his silent concentration. In the frame of the massive

gateway stands a small girl who begins to edge forward towards the startled soldier.

He swiftly moves to the ready and steadies himself. Peering through the scope, he identifies the

unmistakeable look of pure terror on the child’s face. She is clothed in traditional tapestry and

stumbles forward, arms firmly crossed.

For a moment, he is transported home. Memories of his own child play out like a movie in his

mind. The radiant, youthful image of his son juxtaposes with the sombre fear in the young girl’s

expression.

Clutching at her long robes, she wafts forward like a dark, diminutive phantom, becoming ever

closer to the soldier’s position. A crashing realisation of the imminent threat of the young child

stuns him. He trains his crosshairs on her puny chest and observes her movements. Suddenly,

metres from his brother’s post, she halts and rips off her robes, to reveal a primitive bomb strapped

to her small figure.

A thunderclap reverberates through the street. It strikes down the tiny insurgent and she folds like

cloth, landing in a heap on the ground.

A wave of chilling realisation washes over him. The pain he feels in his chest is not caused by the

vicious recoil of the firearm, but rather by the backlash of grotesque guilt.

War is where good men go to die. The image of the tiny, lifeless figure in the dust acts as a solemn

reminder of this tragic truth. However, to the perverse powers that fuel this war, she is nothing

more than a message in the street.

There are no traffic jams on the extra mile – Zig Ziglar

PAGE 9

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can – Arthur Ashe

Inheriting a family treasure

By Grace Lahner

“Captain!” my first mate bellowed as he clung to

the worn rat lines, “Captain, we've gone too far.

We have to go back! I fear we will soon become

part of the sea-bed!”, he cried.

“No" I thought as my red hair whipped across

my face with the gust of wind. I was the last

Cormac that knew where James Cormac (my

ancestor) had placed his treasure. If I did not

find the island, than the family secret would die

with me.

All members of the Cormacs had died at sea

looking for our family fortune. Except me, I

would not be a part of this family tradition.

The sea danced violently and scooped up our

vessel in its embrace. As it threw us back

down, I felt my stomach turn. “Crack!” the

thunder roared and an unexpected flash of

light followed, from that light I saw it …

Shutterstock Island.

“Onward, our destiny awaits!” I bawled. The

ship bobbed and crashed on top of the waves

as we headed towards the flickering light.

The ship docked upon the sand. The cloud

parted and I felt the rays warm my face. Hope

filled my heart, as I was the first Cormac to

have come this far besides my ancestor. I

dragged out my tattered map, given to me by

my father before his sudden disappearance. He

made an exact copy of the original, so I could

complete what he couldn’t if he did not return.

I followed every detail until I stood before a

rock carved with a skull and crossbones. I had

found it.

“Get the shovels boys and dog!” I ordered

Day had become dusk by the

time we heard the shovel hit

something. The men began to

dig faster, when finally a

wooden chest lay at my feet.

With shaking hands I picked

up my sword and slammed it

upon the lock. I lifted the lid

and shone my lit torch to find

… Nothing but a letter that

read, “Dear son the greatest

treasure is found within. Don’t

let greed destroy your life the

way it did mine. This is the

best inheritance I can leave

you,

Love your father

James Cormac.”

Valentine’s Day By: Anastasia Stenos

Valentine’s day is an opportunity to celebrate love and friendship and

the delight of having other people whom we cherish in our lives. It is a

day of flowers, confectionery and cards decorated with hearts. This

special day’s origin, however, is not so rosy.

There are various theories on how Valentine’s day began but the most

recorded one began in Rome in the year 268 AC. Emperor Claudius II

wanted a ferocious team of youthful men to brawl in his armies.

Word of Valentine’s secret spread to Claudius.The priest was found

and sentenced to death (rumour has it, on the 14th of February

thus, making Valentine’s day on the 14th every year).

No one knows exactly when St. Valentine’s day was first celebrated.

While Valentine was a Catholic Christian Saint, his death and the

traditions of love he ignited is honoured world-wide by people of all

religions and ethnicities.

He found that when adolescent men were in love or sharing their lives

with their wives and children, they tended to be more distracted in

battle. To gather large numbers of soldiers for his armies, Claudius

prohibited marriage for the young men. Naïve men fell in love with

women and Claudius could not extinguish the love between couples.

The young lovers wanted to be married in the eyes of the church. A

valiant priest named Saint Valentine believed that the law was unjust.

Putting his life in jeopardy, Valentine continued to perform marital

ceremonies, doing so in secrecy and hiding from the clutches of the

authorities.

PAGE 10

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

POEMS

An untitled poem By Anastasia Stenos

He is a delicate flower

But also a poisonous thorn

He is a blinding star

But also the demented darkness

He is the life-saving cure

But also the life-threatening

sickness

He is an extraordinary piece of art

But also a blank plain canvas

He is the best

But also the worse

He is sculpted

But also imperfect

In my heart

And in my eyes

He is damaged

But also he is a blessing

Underneath the African Sun

By Christina Leigh

Rising from the dusty plain,

With hope in every burst of rain.

This land of everlasting strife,

this Africa , our source of life.

Breaking out of rusty chains,

with wildness flowing in her veins.

This land where all creation roam,

this Africa, our common home.

Reaching out across the years,

with echoed genes and veils of tears.

This land of skulls and mystery,

this Africa, our history.

Forever feral, never tamed,

with restless destiny unnamed,

This land of the eternal child.

This Africa forever wild.

Failure is the opportunity to begin more intelligently – Henry Ford

PAGE 11

2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

A day in the life of a prefect

By Christina Leigh

There are currently many exciting and special events to look forward to for the students of Grade 11 in 2019. One of these is, however, is the selection

of members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)and other leadership positions for the matric year of 2020.

On Monday the 11th of March, the current matrics were privileged enough to visit The Playhouse in Durban to watch the famous Shakespearean play

‘Hamlet’. This gave the Grade 11’s the perfect opportunity to act as monitors for a day. This meant that all the Grade 11’s who are hoping to be

members of the SLT were strutting around, instructing people to behave, with their heads held high and their pride-inflated chests sporting a sticker

with the word ‘Monitor’ written on it in large, bold black letters.

The surprise came, however, when they began to realise that being a member of the SLT is not all that it appears to be. One has to try and correct those

students with a scruffy appearance, instruct them to put their phones away and there is absolutely no time for a bathroom-break. There is a

significantly amount of discipline and responsibility required, but this must be combined with respect and kindness; to carry out orders and enforce the

Hillcrest High School code of conduct. From my experience, all I can do is commend the current Senior Leadership Team and all matrics of 2019 on

the responsibility they have taken on and their willingness to always help others. It will be interesting to observe the members of the Senior Leadership

Team of 2020; one might simply say that it is the ‘survival of the fittest’.

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There is no substitute for hard work – Thomas Edison

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2019 / / APRIL / / ISSUE 1

NEWSPAPER

The Girl Behind The White Blazer

By Grace Lahner

We see a girl in a white blazer but the real

question is...Who is Ayla Nuttall really?

Whilst being the 2019 head girl, we still

wonder what is beneath all those accolades.

Why do you love Hillcrest high school?

I love the vibrant and lively atmosphere at our

school. There never seems to be a dull or

boring day as something is always happening.

I love the enthusiasm, as well as the

commitment of the teachers and other staff

members as well as the consistent shared

attitude of staff members and pupils to always

better the school in every way possible.

The love the support received from students

and the pride that is felt within the school.

There have many occasions, particularly

while I was on the sporting field, where I felt

this support and pride from students who were

watching and cheering the whole 40 minutes

of a netball game.

How are you feeling about the matric

dance?

Unprepared to say the least! I feel as though I

haven’t even had a chance to think of my

Matric Dance, but I’m really excited and

looking forward to it!

What are your dreams and plans for the

future?

If all goes according to plan, from next year

I’d like to be staying in Stellenbosch and be

studying medicine at the Tygerberg campus. I

dream of specializing in dermatology after

qualifying as a doctor but, for now, one step at

a time.

What is something that you have learnt in

high school that has changed your life?

I’ve learned many lessons in my short 4 years

at high school. The main lesson however is

how to deal with a variety of different people,

all with different views, opinions and

backgrounds in an empathetic, understanding

manner. I believe that these skills will benefit

me greatly in the workplace and career in the

future

Was it a dream or a goal of yours to be head

girl and is it all you thought it would be?

It was definitely a goal of mine. The moment I

heard the head girl, Micaela Groenewald speak

at our grade 8 parents information evening, I

was inspired to be in the same position that she

was in. Since then I worked hard towards my

goal, always trying to better myself and always

trying my best in all that I did.

The position is more overwhelming than I had

expected, however I had had previous SLT

members tell me how much work it would be…

I only quite realized when I was in the position

of head girl. Although it’s a big task to take on,

I have enjoyed every moment of it thus far. I

love the challenges this position presents me

with as it develops my problem-solving skills

and my ability to think on my feet. I look

forward to what it has in store.

What advice would you give to your grade 8

self?

“Reach for the moon, because even if you miss,

you’ll be amongst the stars. “

This quote is quite relevant to my life and I

wish I had known it sooner. Quite often people,

including myself, fear dreaming bigger because

of the possibility of failing. My advice is to just

go for it anyway!

What is a Quote you live by?

“There is no perfect, only practice.”

Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out – Robert Collier