WYNBERG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER€¦ · The nature (inherited characteristics) vs nurture (what we teach our children) argument has raged for centuries and it is

WYNBERG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER

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

APRIL & MAY 2011

Mrs Harding,a very proud granny, with her brand new grandson, Luke.

They may not be royals, but their weddings were just as special. Ms Serfontein & Ms Dickerson each married their Prince Charming

wynberg weddings

during the holidays.

We all wish them many happy years together.

Wynberg Welcomes

Ms Noeline Fallerwho has joined the English Department.We wish her a longand happy stay here.

Mr & Mrs Furstenburg

Mr & Mrs Mostert

Dear Parents

A colleague recently gave me an article from The Independent (UK) of 6 May 2011. The article “The Truth about Talent” explores Matthew Syed's suggestion that we are foolish to believe that excellence is only for the few. Full article available at:

The nature (inherited characteristics) vs nurture (what we teach our children) argument has raged for centuries and it is not my intention to enter it. However, every article that gives cause for thought and reflection about how we can improve education at WGHS and support and encourage our girls at school and at home, has merit.

We often refer to a child as being talented: someone who excels in maths, sport, drama, music etc. because they are naturally talented in that area.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/the-truth-about-talent-can-genius-be-learned-or-is-it-preordained-2279690.html)

The article asks us to look at the other side of the coin – how much do we adults encourage or dampen a child's ability to achieve in any area, or do we, sometimes inadvertently, rob them of the incentive to work hard and the belief that everyone has the ability to be successful?

Particularly interesting, in the context of school, was the experiment which took place with a Maths test. Those who did well, were praised with: “ Wow, you must be really smart!”, while the others were praised for their effort: “Wow, you must be really hard-working!”. In further tests, the 'hard-working' group chose harder tests and succeeded in raising their scores, while the 'smart' learners, praised for their inherent intelligence, chose easier tests (to keep their high score) and, in the final equal standard test, scored less than those who were hard-working. It seemed in this experiment that praising intelligence can harm motivation and performance. It is possible that excellence in a field is not hard-wired in the brain – it emerges through practice and hard work.

With the second term examinations upon us, it is important to remember that we, teachers and parents, have the power to encourage excellence by allowing every child to believe that they can achieve, that hard work and practice always pay off. What your daughter believes about herself will influence almost everything she does. If she believes that success in the various facets of life is all about talent, possibly a talent she does not have, she will not be inspired to work hard and practice. However, if she knows that hard work and practice brings rewards, she will be inspired to reach for the stars.

An interesting article. An answer to the age old argument? No . . . but it makes us think, doesn't it?

Warm regardsShirley HardingPRINCIPAL

term 1 pillar awards

Congratulations to Ye Ji Jung (Culture), Jamie de Klerk (Academic),Sunel Groenewald (Sport) and Kiara Ramklass (Service) for winning these prestigious awards.

model bridge-building competition

Kristen Nieuwenhuys, Kiara Ramklass & Meghan Daniels represented WGHS at the annual bridge-building competition run by the SA Institution of Civil Engineering. They spent most of the day designing and build-ing a bridge out of long thin pieces of wood and then watching it buckle under the weights placed upon it. At the weigh-in, their bridge took 45 kg before it broke, putting them ahead of 7 other schools! Well done, girls.

kirsten - 1st term winners!

Kim Mentor,Head of Kirsten,with the House

Cup.

Congratulations to Kirsten - first term house cup winners.

Grade 10 dance

Choreography is an important part of the Dance syllabus. Here Natalie van der Merwe and Samantha de Kock can be seen working on their compositions.

tara notcutt excels again!

Tara Notcutt (ex-WGHS prize-winning theatre director) has done it again! She has been invited to the Lincoln Theatre Centre Directors’ Lab 2011 and will be jetting to New York for 3

St Cyprians, Herschel, Immaculata and Rustenburg joined Wynberg in a hotly contested Maths Relay on 10 May. Many thanks to AMESA for sponsoring the event which we hope will be the first of many. Congratulations to Herschel who were Grade 8, 9 and 10 winners, and to Wynberg’s victorious Grade 11's.

maths

weeks in June/July. annual event which runs 10am-10pm, six days a week, involving intense, collaborative workshops and rehearsals with 70 directors from around the world. Tara is only the 3rd South African and one of the youngest participants ever to have been invited! While she is away, three shows that she has directed will be heading to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

The Directors’ Lab is an

On 14 April, the annual UCT Mathematics Olympiad took place. Each year UCT invites

Jenna Busse, Ye Ji Yung,

Laylah Ryklief & Kiara

Ramklass.

Wynberg’s Winning Grade 11's

maths relay

15 students from each grade at each school to take part in the Olympiad either in pairs or individually: this year 75 Wynberg girls took part. We hope they all do well. Melissa Kube

pizza & movie evening

The money collected from this fund-raiser will go towards the swimming-pool/ waterpolo pool conversion.

grade 8 market day

Each year the Grade 8's get the amazing opportunity to incorporate school work with making money! The Grade 8 Market Day is combined with an U13 hockey tournament for the top girls' schools in the area. The Grade 8's have to present a business plan, plus a list of assets, liabilities and other miscellaneous things that a true business entrepreneur needs. The girls then sell their goods on Market Day, which tests whether their idea was economically viable. It also provides the girls with a wonderful opportunity to learn outside of the classroom, something that Wynberg holds very dear to its heart. This year the jazz and marimba bands provided wonderful entertainment while the noise of the market reminded one of the hustle and bustle of the real economic environment.

general knowledge quiz

NAME GRADE %Yashna Garach 12 90Raeesa Brey 12 86Katrina Lehmann-Grube 11 85Khadija Brey 11 85Sambesiwe Mbatsha 12 85Alecs Besier 12 83T’Nielle Haupt 11 83Melissa Dixon 12 83Lauren Gildenhuys 10 83Gabriella Barries 9 82Claudia Harrison 10 82Ashleigh Thompson 8 82Ameera Conrad 12 82Gabrielle Jacobs 10 81Leandre Kleynhans 9 81Melandri Naidoo 11 81Jasmine Kilpatrick 11 81Shannon Smith 11 80Emma Blencowe 10 80Zola Mbinda 12 80Sinako Bovana 11 80

Constantia 1st, Cavanagh 2nd, Apsley 3rd

us graduates

Congratulations to these past pupils who have recently graduated at

Stellenbosch University: Mary Hartley (’00) MA

Anya Hendricks (’05) BCom Hons Liandi Badenhorst (’06) BAcc Hons

Haanim Ely (’06) BACindy Lewis (’06) BA Hons Yolandi Botha (’07) BAcc

Katherine Poole (’07) BSc Sport Sc Judith Roberts (’07) BA

debatingOn Monday 9 May, Wynberg’s Senior and Junior debating teams were in action against Plumstead High School in the third preliminary round of the Rotary Competition. Each team won their debate and was congratulated on the high standard of their debating. Well done to Thaakiyah Wentzel-Ryklief (junior) and Melandri Naidoo (senior) who were each awarded Best Speaker. Sian Ferguson

fashion show success

The Wynberg Girls' High School Fashion Show 'Diamonds in the Dust' took place in April in the school hall and was a resounding success! The hard work put in by ‘models’ and organiser, Ms de Mink, really paid off. It showcased over 16 fashion houses and was sold out on Friday and Saturday! Everyone was very impressed by the professionalism shown by all concerned: the stage set up, sound, lighting and choreography. Well done, girls!

Peer Guides

On Saturday 14 May, Wynberg hosted a Mothers' Day Breakfast, celebrating mothers who always have a great impact on who we become, and who shape our communities. Mothers, daughters, aunts, sisters and grandmothers attended the event in our beautifully decorated school hall and enjoyed a scrumptious continental breakfast. Each guest received a goody bag filled with super gifts and were given the chance to win prizes such as perfume and jewellery hampers and restaurant vouchers.

mothers’ day breakfast

During the breakfast, guests were entertained with wonderful performances by our school choir, vocal ensemble and flute ensemble. In addition, mothers were also given the opportunity to relax and be pampered with hand, neck and back massages in the school tuckshop, while listening to tranquil background music.

grade 10 braai

Kayla Abrahams, Carryn Peregrino, Donne Daniels & Vicky Rosswith Betty, Ms Franke’s dog, at the Grade 10 braai.

In the Big Sister, Little Sister programme, each Wynberg Grade 11 or 12 Peer Guide is teamed up with one of the WGJS learners. They meet once a week for a fun session of learning activities, the aim being to help them help them-selves navigate their way through any difficult circumstance they may be facing. Together they undertook a special Easter project. First they had loads of fun creating Easter-egg baskets for the patients at Maitland Cottage Home. They produced beautiful baskets filled with chocolates, Easter eggs and toys, with their own notes to the patients.Then, later on in April, they visited Maitland Cottage and really enjoyed giving the baskets to the patients. A great deal of care and kindness was shown by the young sisters and a sense of appreciation and joy filled the wards. Everyone left happy, blessed and very thankful for everything they have in their lives.

‘Big Sisters’ Hannah Brice, Farha Cassim, Amy vd Westhuizen and Crystal Smith with their ‘little sisters’ from WGJS.

spreading easter joy

Wgjs EQ Workshop

Wynberg girls who work in the Big Sister/Little Sister programme, were invited to take part in the Wynberg Girls’ Junior Emotional Intelligence Week. The workshop ran from 17-20 May and each grade set up a

display, highlighting a particular area awareness of one’s emotions. The Peer Guides’ display was well-received: everyone enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading our ‘Tips to Raise Self-Esteem in Children'.

related to the raising of

The best part of the morning was a personalised video taken of some of the learners present, sharing why they loved and appreciated their mothers. Many thanks to Mrs Chikte for organising this very enjoyable event.

Geography field trips

GRADE 10'S

The Grade 10 geographers went to Signal Hill, Green Point, Sea Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay. At each stop they looked at the geomorphology of the area so that they now have a better understanding of the underlying geology of Cape Town. The highlight was the lunch break on Camps Bay beach. The Grade 11 geographers’ planned beach clean-up at Hout Bay unfortunately had to be cut short due to heavy rainfall. Their highlight was the boat trip to Seal Island in fairly rough seas and rain. The Grade 11's learnt about Hout Bay's economy and the ocean food chain and ecosystem. The Grade 12 geographers visited the weather office at Cape Town International Airport where they attended a very inform-ative lecture about South Africa's weather. Outside, near the runway, we were shown how a weather balloon is prepared and sent into the atmosphere, and how the computers pick up the information via satellites. The Grade 12's should now have a much better understanding of climatology.

GRADE 11'S

The WGHS hockey teams started the season really well by winning all their matches against Settlers High. 1st Xl 2-0, 2nd Xl 2-1, U16A 2-1, U16B 1-0, U16C 1-0, U14A 2-0, U14B 1-0. Against DF Malan, Wynberg came up against much stronger opposition and this is reflected in their results: 1st XI 0-0, 2nd XI 0-0, 3rd XI 0-5, U16A 0-3, U16B 1-2, U16C 2-0, U14A 2-0, U14B 1-1.In their latest match, the 1st Hockey team had a very good game against Fairmont, who they beat 4-0.

hockey

Kim, Lizl and Quanitataking a corner.

wbhs choir festival

On 12 May, many school choirs - junior and high schools - sang at the Wynberg Boys’ High Choir Festival. Also taking part were the Welsh Male Voice Choir and the surprise choir of WBH teachers. Each choir sang a few of their own songs and then took part in a mass choir item at the end. The Wynberg campuses also sang a combined item. Wynberg Girls' choir performed two items - The Click Song and Dancing Queen - and didn’t they do well! Afterwards Ms Opperman gave them her trademark approval signature: four snaps in a Z formation!!. It was a rewarding evening and even though it only ended at 23:00, everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.

boarders visit the national gallery

interhouse gala

Back: Siphokazi Mcinziba, Jenna Busse, Tahlia Petersen, Faith Mdoda, Thabile Myeza

Front: Boarder Mistress Dorcas Anguria & Nwabisa Mgquba

INDIVIDUAL RESULTSU14 50m freestyle: Jessica Mesham 50m breaststroke: Sunel Groenewald

50m backstroke: Sunel Groenewald

U16 50m freestyle: Ashleigh Samuels50m breaststroke: Storm Homan50m backstroke: Josie McCann

U19 50m freestyle: Sharne Dicks50m breaststroke: Sharne Dicks50m backstroke: Sharne Dicks

The Interhouse Gala was held on the last day of the term e

or part of it was as half way through it was stopped because of bad weather. This did not put a damper on the spirit shown by the spectators and they were all in fine voice! The results as they stood when ‘rain stopped play’

were as follows: Wellesley 1st 89,

ven though it was cold and looked like rain . . .

Apsley 2nd 88, Constantia 3rd 84, Kirsten & Silverlea tied 4th 67, Cavanagh 6th 58, Copenhagen 7th 52 and Waterloo 8th 35.

Congratulations to Yumna Isaac, who has been selected to represent South Africa at the 7th Commonwealth Karate Champs in Melbourne, later this year.

karate

Congratulations to Jess Hawkridge who competed in and won a medal at the Level 1 and 2 Synchro championships, and to Sunel Groenewald who was in the WP Youth team which won the overall Provincial Trophy - the 1st time in 20 years that WP has won it. Past pupil, Emma Manners-Wood won the duet and team section at Nationals which secured her a place at the World Championships in China later this year.

synchro

Athletics:

Kamilla Johnson

Lauren Jonathan Indoor Hockey:

Quanita Bobbs Micaela Diedericks

Kim MentorBelinda PlaatjiesOlivia Rodseth

Swimming:Half ColoursSharne Dicks

Ashleigh SamuelsSynchro

Half ColoursJessica HawkridgeJunior Certificate

Sunel GroenewaldWaterpoloFull Colours

Mymoenah GamietHalf ColoursOlivia Adams

Lizl EvertsNatalie Zeelie

Half Colours

Junior Certificate

Half Colours

Congratulations to all these girls.

sports colours

WGHS is very proud to have no fewer than 13 hockey players who have been selected to represent various WP teams which will participate in various tournaments in the June/July holidays.

western province hockey

Back row: Stephanie Lopes-Stuart (U16 South), Olivia Rodseth (U16A), Quanita Bobbs (U18A), Zahra Dollie (U16A), Carly Alexander (U18B)

Front row: Chelsea Lassen (U16B), Zoe Woodman (U16B), Erin Prince (U16 South), Cara Geere (U16B), Kim Mentor (U18A), Micaela Diedericks

(U18B), Belinda Plaatjies (U18A) and Valeshka Harkhu (U14 South)

badminton

After winning Gold in the team event, Michelle Edwards, scooped another two Gold medals in the African Badminton Championships held in Morocco. In the team competition, she helped South Africa beat Nigeria 3-2 in a breathtaking final, and

wp netball

Huge congratulations to Anelisa May, who has been selected into the

Yeukai Chamba who has been selected into the WP

U16 Western Province Netball squad. Also to

U14 squad. Well done, girls!

in the individual event, she won both mixed and women's doubles titles. “I’m unsure how many titles I've won in this competition, but this was a fantastic win for South Africa over Nigeria in the team event. Coming back from being 2-1 down to win 3-2 makes the victory even sweeter,” said Ms Edwards when interviewed after the final.

On 29 March, the Interschools Diving competition was held at WGHS. Wynberg was represented by: Cailin Rice, Teneal Webb, Sarah Curry, Pia Sillifant and Tessa Suttle. Each diver had to perform 5 dives. Some of the dives the Wynberg girls performed were front tuck, inward tuck, back tuck, reverse tuck, back straight and forward 1 ½ somersault. The girls competed against divers from Herschel and Springfield. In the U15 Section, Teneal Webb was 3rd, Pia Sillifant 4th and Cailin Rice 5th; and in the U18 Section, Tessa Suttle was 5th and Sarah Curry 7th.

divingcricket

Congratulations to Grade 11 who has been selected to participate in the U19 Girls’ Cricket Winter Squad training.

Kamilla Johnson,

Anelisa and Yeukai

ynberg Girls’ High School’s Old Girls’ Union, Win partnership with the Constantiaberg Bulletin, is launching the “Wool for Wonders” jersey knitting challenge.

The aim is to produce as many jerseys as possible for the babies at Nazareth House. The campaign was officially launched at the WOGU AGM on Monday 23 and will run until the end of July - so plenty of time to knit during the holidays!

Jerseys can be delivered to Mrs le Roux in reception at Wynberg Girls’ High. For more information contact Jehan Chikte on 021 764 2200 or email [email protected]

wool for wonders

BABY JERSEY KNITTING CHALLENGE

Use approximately 2 balls of double knitting woolTight knitters use 5mm needles.

Loose knitters use 4.5mm needles

Cast on 44 stitches

Work 18 rows in Knit 2, Purl 2 = rib (i.e. 2 plain stitches followed by 2 purl stitches, repeated).

Work 30 rows stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl).

Cast on 20 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.At the same time, change to Knit 2, Purl 2 (rib) for the sleeves.

Rib 22 rows.

Next row: Rib 29 stitches, cast off 26 stitches, then Rib 29Next row: Rib 29 stitches, cast on 26 stitches and then Rib 29.

Work 22 rows in Rib.

Cast off 20 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows.

Work 30 rows stocking stitch.

Work 18 rows Purl 2, Knit 2 = Rib

Cast off in rib and sew together.