Weekly Newsletter: 18 November

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PREVIOUS WEEK

ACADEMIC
TRINITY EXAM RESULT
Huge congratulations to past pupil Amy Campbell, who has continued her vocal training with Suretha van Bergen at Wynberg Girls’ High, and who obtained 93% for her Grade Eight Trinity exam (Vocal) – reportedly the highest mark ever to have been obtained.

RETURN OF TEXT BOOKS
Girls are reminded that the returning of textbooks is staggered: books on returned on the day on which the subject pertaining to it is written. In other words, on the day in which English is written, the textbook is due.

READING DURING THE HOLIDAYS: FET ENGLISH
Girls are reminded that all prescribed literature for English needs to have been read by the first day of the term next year. For Grade Tens this means Animal Farm and Much Ado about Nothing; for Grade Elevens this means Macbeth and Dancing in the Dust ; for AS Levels girls, Equus and Henry IV, Part 1 and for Grade Twelves, Othello and The Great Gatsby.

FILM STUDY
The study of film is included in the English course, and the school makes provision for this by making the film accessible to the girls by putting it onto the network for academic research. Girls are asked to note that it is an infringement of copyright laws to copy the entire film or sections of it unless it is for the purposes of academic commentary. We cannot assist the girls by making the films available to them if they are going to abuse the situation. The English Department will be sending a document home with the girls on Monday, which required them to acknowledge that they understand that piracy is a criminal offence, and prosecutable by the law.

CULTURE
DEBATING
A number of our girls participated in a friendly debating tournament against Bishops on Friday 11 November. The topics were “This house would support Walmart’s Entry into South Africa” and “This house would propose a system in which fathers are given the same parental leave rights as mothers”. We entered three teams, comprised of actual team members as well as some of our society members, debating for the first time at this level. We are very proud to announce that Wynberg Girls’ won all three of their debates! Sian Ferguson, Thaakiyah Wenzel-Ryklief and Thandi Wiltshire all won best speakers. Well done to all involved.

SERVICE
COMMUNITY CHEST YOUTH AWARD
Kristin Nieuwenhuys was nominated for the Community Chest Youth Award, and her mother privileged to attend the meeting in her daughter’s stead and to receive an award in her Honour. She reports:

On the 13 October, we met at the Care Craft Workshop, in Lansdowne,(Epilepsy South Africa), where we were greeted by Miss Amelia Jones (CEO) who extended a warm welcome to all present, especially those who travelled long distances, to be present at the 82nd Annual General Meeting. The Annual Awards Celebration is held to honour the work of High School students who have significantly to a cause, and shown leadership in community service projects in respect of social development initiatives. A Youth Award is given to students meeting this criterion.

The Award proceedings were conducted by The Chairperson, Prof. B O’Connell (Chairperson) who presented the awards to the candidates or their respective representatives, in their absence. He was so moved by a number of issues discussed on the day, including the fact that these young people have committed themselves to the cause so passionately. He offered each of them a cheque to the value R1000, to be donated to a Charity of their choice and to top that, for the first time since this award had been known, he gave each candidate another cheque to the value of R1000, for their own personal use.

We congratulate Kristin on this very fine achievement!

SPORT
WATERPOLO
Final clash of the season vs. Springfield:
These matches are the last for the season and Wynberg wanted to end their last games on a high note. The 2nd team played first and what better way to start than with a goal? An amazing goal scored by Natasha Amodio. Although the score was close, they lost by only 2 goals. Next to play were the u16As. They had a rough start and had to fight hard in the first chukka, but made it through a goal ahead of Springfield. In the end, they lost by 3 goals. Last to play was the 1st team. From the start they looked as though they were about to play the match of their lives. The game started strong with a goal from Mymoena Gemiet in the first 10 seconds. By the end of the first chukka, the team was ahead by 3 goals. Chelsea Lassen started the second chukka with a brilliant drive for Wynberg and a very close almost goal. She was one of many who had a great game. Caitlin Coetzee was another one to have a great game. Finally to end the game, Lauren Footman, shot two very sneaky goals made possible by her incredible team. Our first team won the game 8-2.

The team would like to thank Mymoena Gemiet for her amazing contribution to Wynberg Water Polo over the 5 years she has played. She has been an incredible member of the 1st team and an inspiring team mate to play with. She will be missed and we wish her well for her Water Polo in the future. We are certain that she will continue to make us proud in that Number 3 cap.

ACHIEVEMENT
The Bookmarks Awards are to advertising what the Oscars are to movies. The recongise the very best in digital advertising. Sarah Manners, class of ’98, and Mrs Manners’ daughter, won the Bookmarks Prize for best copywriter on 10 November. Quirk, the company she works for, won the best agency award. Well done Sarah!

FUNDRAISING
Enter the In It to Win It Raffle and help us to raise funds for Wynberg Girls’ High at R20 per ticket. Participants stand a chance to win one of these fantastic prizes:
• First Prize : Apple iPad 2 16GB Wifi PLUS a 500GB Toshiba External Hardrive
• Second Prize: Bed & Breakfast Voucher for 2 at Greenways Hotel
• Third Prize: Elephant Sanctuary “Trunk-in-hand Walk” PLUS a Luxury Hamper

Winners will be contacted after the final draw which will take place during our school’s final assembly on Friday 9 December.