2016 Call of the Gryphon

NEWSLETTER | 26 FEBRUARY 2016 | VOLUME 5
From the Headmaster
Barry Nieuwoudt
The Chesterhouse Family congratulates Barry and
Sonja Nieuwoudt on the birth of their son Ben-Luca
on Sunday 21 February.
All is well with Mom and Baby and they are at home
celebrating the start of the new addition to their
family. We wish Barry and Sonja much happiness,
joy and love as they embark on the wonderful
journey of parenthood.
With love from the Chesterhouse children and
staff."
“As we enter the twenty-first century, it is clear that education is, indeed, the best
investment that we can make, for an information economy depends upon a
knowledgeable, skilled, educated workforce. The better educated our students are, the
better we will perform economically.” - Bill Gates
We are at the busiest end of our term with many activities keeping our students occupied besides their
academics. We request that students work out an effective timetable at home to cope with all the
academic stress and co-curricular activities.
We would like to remind parents of a couple of very important requests at Chesterhouse:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Please label every item belonging to your child.
Please remind your child to look after all their personal belongings. Expensive/valuable items
(e.g. iPads, laptops, musical instruments, sports equipment) which require special care and
safekeeping.
You are reminded that the area in front of the school is a “drop-off and go zone”. Please
respect our neighbours and abide by the traffic laws.
Please drive slowly, carefully and politely.
Please treat our neighbours with respect and dignity.
Please reinforce our “greeting” and “anti-litter” philosophy at the school.
Our cultural department is rehearsing for our inter-house plays, as well as a gripping interpretation of
Romeo & Juliet. We can’t wait for both these events and look forward to magnificent support from all
our Chesterhouse parents and students.
EARLY YEARS
There was a build-up of great excitement in the Early Years in preparation for our Water Fun Day on
Friday and what fun we had! The day started with a parade for our parents to the Star Wars theme
song. Nursery kicked off the activities with a pool noodle race. The noodles were exchanged for a
kickboard and finally the race was on for the child who could collect the most pebbles and sea
creatures from the bottom of the pool. The emphasis was on participation and fun, to drive away the
fear of water and to cater for a wide range of developing swimming skills. After receiving a medal for
bravery and participation, classes rotated from the pool to various fun activities on the tennis court.
Six weeks into Term 1, our Early Years children have surprised me at how quickly they have adapted
and settled into their new routines. Not only do they have a new timetable and instructions to follow,
but are also taking on many new responsibilities and learning new life skills. Some of the important
skills they have been practising the past few weeks include looking after their belongings, packing and
unpacking their bags and getting dressed or undressed. For all of these they need good listening skills
and well developed fine motor control – the things we take for granted as adults.
PREPARATORY
One of the best parts of a parent’s day is going home and hearing what their children have to say
about their day at school. To hear the stories of games played at break time and the enjoyable and
exciting things done in class. Of course just as often you get the answer ‘we did nothing at school
today mom,’ and you know that to be a very inaccurate description of what was in actual fact a very
busy day!
Over the years I have come across many different and interesting ways of encouraging conversation
with your child which can come in handy on those busy evenings. However I am continually reminded
of the fact that it is often in these ‘innocent conversations’ that I have an opportunity to really teach my
children something. As difficult as it is to hear those sad stories or tales of an injustice that come home
occasionally, I have to remind myself that this is part of any childhood. Learning how to handle difficult
situations or conflicts among peers is part of growing up and preparing for a successful adulthood.
An innocent question or comment can often lead to a very in-depth discussion about what we believe,
how we treat other people and the values and morals that I would like to instil in my own children. We
are raising the next generation of South Africans - this is a rather daunting thought. Steve Maraboli
said: “What we instil in our children will be the foundation upon which they build their future.” From one
parent to another, I would like to encourage you, and remind myself, not to let these opportunities slip
past us. Let’s work together to instil in our children the values and morals that we know to be essential
to ensure a greater South Africa for all.
COLLEGE
We are holding an information evening for Grade 10s and their parents on Thursday 3rd March at
6.30pm. The purpose of the evening is to give Grade 10s information about the year ahead, practical
tips, examination information and subject-specific information.
We encourage all Grade 10 parents to attend in order to help your child prepare for their first set of
external examinations at the end of 2016.
In Monday’s assembly, Ms. Healey gave some words of wisdom to the College students. We have
chosen to include an extract here as it is certainly a pertinent message which applies to all of our
students, as well as to the world at large.
“Mr Mandela was a great speaker but he was also a savvy listener. He chose his moments wisely, he
also chose his words carefully. When he wanted to say something of importance even if it was
negating the person in front of him he did it with respect and honesty. So, in a world where our
education system teaches us all the academic elements we must also remember to choose and use
our words wisely. Words are our power and when the doctors, mine managers and presidents of
corporations and countries talk to each other they get their point across with decency and astuteness.
Speaking ill of other people does not do anyone any favours and mostly establishes the person using
their words for belittling purposes as a coward or bully or both”.
At Chesterhouse, we strive to create a family environment in which any form of discrimination is
intolerable. Let us all work together to make the school a safe place for all individuals who do not have
to fear bullying and victimisation.
WORDS OF WISDOM
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
― Winston S. Churchill
TODAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2016, IN HISTORY
1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the Island of Elba. He then began his second conquest of
France.
1848 - The second French Republic was proclaimed.
1863 - U.S. President Lincoln signed the National Currency Act.
1916 - Mutual signed Charlie Chaplin to a film contract.
1930 - New York City installed traffic lights.
1952 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed an atomic bomb.
1987 - The Tower Commission rebuked U.S. President Reagan for failing to control his national
security staff in the wake of the Iran-Contra affair.
1987 - The U.S.S.R. conducted its first nuclear weapons test after a 19-month moratorium period.
1993 - Six people were killed and more than a thousand injured when a van exploded in the parking
garage beneath the World Trade Center in New York City. The bomb had been built by Islamic
extremists.
1998 - In Oregon, a health panel ruled that taxpayers must help to pay for doctor-assisted suicides.
2002 - In Rome, Italy, a bomb exploded near the Interior Ministry. No injuries were reported.
2009 - The Pentagon reversed its 18-year policy of not allowing media to cover returning war dead.
The reversal allowed some media coverage with family approval.
INTERACT
Our Interact assembly takes place on the 29th of February, when our Interact
members will be inducted. Parents of the inducted students are welcome to attend
the assembly and join us for refreshments afterwards.
Our Interacts club is working on numerous projects this term.
Our main project is collecting marshmallow Easter eggs for underprivileged farm schools in our area.
All Easter eggs are welcome and can be placed in the biology lab. The tutor group who brings the
most Easter eggs will be awarded a pizza party, so be sure to write your grade and tutor’s name in the
packet or box you bring the Easter eggs in.
We are also doing a stationery drive which will take place throughout the year. Any new or second
hand stationery (still useable) would be much appreciated. This stationery will be distributed to children
without these privileges, allowing them to write, draw and do school work.
As well as our stationery drive we will be having an art supplies and paint drive for our friends in the
quadriplegic home, of whom many rely on selling their paintings to make a living. The quadriplegic
home also has their own fundraiser called the 500 fundraising were you donate a minimum of R50 and
are then placed in a draw. If you would like to take part of this fundraiser you may contact our Interact
club who will email you the fundraising sheet which you can then email to one of the quadriplegic
home’s tenants.
We will be starting a water drive. As many of you know our country is struggling with a drought. Our
school will now be a drop off point for water any 1.5L or larger to help support our neighbours in the
country through this tough time.
There is now a signup sheet to become a blood donor, understandably there are various requirements,
for example you must be at least 16 years old as well as weighing more than 45kg. You can sign up on
our Interact board upstairs at school to be updated on donation dates and times.
Interact Club
CULTURE
ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Gina Wilkinson
Grade 10
MUSICIAN OF THE WEEK
Caitlin Hayton
Grade 12
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK
Nikayla Burger
Grade 8
WRITER OF THE WEEK
The town in the morning - By Matt Kruger (Grade 8)
I've never been to a first world city before. All my life I've lived in a rural village as a
teacher. So when I set out early in the morning to get to my morning shift at the
factory, I had no idea what to expect. When I lived in the village, I liked to get up early
to go outside and do my daily prayers, as the sun rises from the horizon and blesses
me with the chance to steal its early morning rays. I always find that the sun’s rays
are always more golden in the morning.
The village was generally a late riser. I was often alone in the morning, save a few
children running after a chicken so they could eat it for lunch.
Walking into the town square I could not believe my eyes. The whole city must have been up! Giant,
shining red buses picked up eager tourists to take them away on some sort of adventure I imagine.
While business men and women head underground to catch a train to wherever busy people go to and
come from. Children whizzed around on gleaming bicycles of all shapes and sizes, wearing worn out
and tatty backpacks, others showing off their newest toys. Before their school gates open - they are
taught how to be the next generation of business men and women.
The air was very cold today; it froze your breath mid-air before it could dissolve into the atmosphere.
This didn't stop the children from laughing or the tourists from chatting or the business men and
women from bickering. This has always amazed me about humanity, no matter how much we
complain about it, the weather never stops us.
With the wind whipping around me it brought with it the aroma of warm and inviting coffee and hot
chocolate. I now fancied myself a coffee before work.
Entering the much warmer and cosy coffee shop, I got my beverage and returned outside, only to find
the city empty.
Congratulations to our awesome Culture Vultures who have committed to the 2016 Eisteddfods. The
Grade 8s have come out in full force this year, which is fantastic! We’ve managed to enter a total of 15
Eisteddfods with three new categories namely Poetry Writing, Afrikaans Creative Writing and Public
Speaking. The majority of the Eisteddfods will take place in the Third Term and we wish our students
all the best with their preparation.
Grade 8:
Caroline Butler
Zanita Volschenck
Ciara van Niekerk
Hannah Ledgerwood
Matt Kruger
Anais Wentzel
Paige Forrester
Liza Jooste
Carla Mohammed
Stephan Maree
Keenan Kapnias
Danielle Alves
Daniela Wencke
Anna Chen
I-Hsin Wu
Matthew Herbert
Grade 9:
Alexis Rossouw
Gabby Festus
Luc Strydom
Cassidy Forsyth
Kayleigh Moldenhauer
Nikita Stock
Alicia Bekker
Grade 10:
Caley Morgan
Caitlin Devenish
Daena Petersen
Gina Wilkinson
Jade Ing Robinson
Camryn Ferns
Andrew Ingle
Tara Hall
Grade 11:
Michelle van der Linde
Rebekah Beelders
Mihlali Ralarala
Ali-Imraan Hassiem
Vida Madighi-Oghu
Claudia Becker
Jessica Damon
Jae Park
Savanna Stock
Grade 12:
Margot Wentzel
Monica Boje
Caitlin Hayton
Kerryann Collier
Head of Culture
GRADE 12 OUTING
Grade 12 visit to Stellenbosch University Medical Museum
On Monday 22nd February our Grade 12 Matric Biology class attended an outing where we visited the
Stellenbosh - Tygerberg Medical campus. During our visit we were able to view and touch a cadaver.
To those who are unaware this is a preserved donated body, which is either donated when a person is
unclaimed for a certain amount of time or given by the family.
We were able to experience the surprising textures and obtain an in depth knowledge of the placement
of the body’s parts. We also learned about the inconsistency of body 'norms' that occurs from body to
body. Our class all held their stomachs and were intrigued to learn more. Our entire tour was guided
by a current medical student.
After visiting the dissection of the cadaver our
class ventured through to the museum. We were
exposed to organs that had various diseases
including the consequences of drug, alcohol abuse
and smoking. We were able to view the effect of
haemorrhages, tumours and strokes on the brain.
Many of the pupils found the growth of foetuses
very interesting and the development of the baby
inside the womb, especially the growth of bones
and the brain. We were also able to see the effect
of different diseases on foetuses, including
microcephaly a disease that is currently a huge
problem in South America from the Zika virus. With
such a variety and wide exhibition there was
something for everyone, including animal
enthusiasts who could observe the living pythons
or bone structures of the many different animals.
Savannah Stock
Grade 12
CHESTERHOUSE MUSIC SCHOOL
CMS: UNISA HENNIE JOUBERT MERIT PRIZE
UNISA awards Hennie Joubert Merit Prizes annually to the top two candidates in
each Theory of Music grade for each examination session. Jenna Rapson (Grade 7)
wrote the Grade 3 examination in October 2015, and scored 100%! She receives a
monetary prize and will appear in UNISA’s music journal. ‘Musicus’. What a
spectacular achievement! Well done, Jenna
Manina Pretorius
Deputy Head of CMS (Chesterhouse Music School)
Head of Music: College
SPORT
SPORTS STAR OF THE WEEK -
Werner Hugo
Grade 9
SPORTS TEAM OF THE WEEK
1st Team Softball
Levannah Kitshoff, Nothemba Zwane, Christina Spanellis, Aimee Unger, Kelly Lin, Nikita Stock
S’bahle Mgijima, Gabby Iacovou, Carli Oliphant, Megan Art
Sian Moore, Taryn Bruintjies, Chelsea Yiatses, Allashay Hurn
College Softball
On Thursday 18 February, the 1st Team Softball Girls played against Table View at Table View. The
girls secured an impressive win of 10-4 against their opponents. It was a real team effort with
everyone contributing to the win. With good batting from the junior players and the good pitchingcatching by the senior players, the team kept the opposing side from making runs and on the defence.
Fielding was also on a high level in the game, with a triple play being made in the second quarter and
Taryn Bruintjies (Grade 9) continuously covering at first base. Well done on a great game and great
team effort!
Aimee Unger
(Grade 12)
College Cricket
CHESTERHOUSE VS EDGMEAD HIGH 20 February 2016
Edgmead High all out for 129
Chesterhouse all out for 127
Angelo Yiatses 32, Matthew Valentine 22, Drew Crastens19 (7balls)
Chesterhouse lost by 2 runs
On Saturday 20 February, the 1st team cricket boys played at Westerdale against Edgmead High
School. Edgmead went to bat first. After a good start from James Dodd (Grade 12) and Blake
Blumeris (Grade 10), the boys struggled to keep the momentum going. After a couple of dropped
catches and unfortunate events Chesterhouse eventually bowled Edgemead out for 129.
Chesterhouse then went to bat. Ronan Goulding (Grade 11) and Timothy Boyd (Grade 10) got us off
to a good start, Ronan then losing his wicket. Angelo Yiatses (Grade 12) was next and went on to
score 32 runs. Matthew Valentine (Grade 12) scored a decent 22 runs, and Drew Crastens (Grade
11) scoring a quick 19 runs off 7 balls. Chesterhouse then needing 6 runs off 18 overs with 4 wickets in
hand. Chesterhouse was then bowled out, which caused Chesterhouse to lose by 2 runs. With three
more fixtures to go, l know that we will do the team, coach and school proud!
Matthew Valentine
Captain
College Boys’ Tennis
Last week the boys’ tennis team played Fairbairn High School and won with a score of 8-4. They
played great tennis with Tyrone Nashandi (Grade 10) and Werner Hugo (Grade 9) winning their
singles matches. Werner Hugo and Ethan Blaine (Grade 10) won their doubles match 6-2. Andrew
Ingle (Grade 10) played very well for a new member to the team. Well done boys, keep up the good
results!
Laura Croxford
Boys Tennis Manager
Prep School U13 Cricket
On the 16th of February the Chesterhouse U13 team played against an English side. They had won
the toss and elected to bat first. After 10 overs they were 27-3 which was very good. Then they tried
to get their run rate up and managed to get 115 on the board. It was then our turn to bat and our
openers kept us going until they got the breakthrough. After 10 overs it was 27-1. We lost the game
but still all enjoyed it. At the end of the game, they said a big thank you and gave us a cap. They also
said that they would like to come back soon.
Malikah Hamza
Grade 6
SWIMMING
Kirsten Ahrends (Grade 8) competed at the recent WP Jack Curry Championship
held at UWC from the 5th to 7th February 2016.
She medalled in all the 8 events she entered, achieving gold in the 50 Back, 50 Free,
50 Fly, 100 Freestyle relay and 100 Medley Relay.
Silver in 100 back and 200 back and bronze in the 200 IM event.
Mariette Ahrends
Proud Mum
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR ALL YOUR SH'ZEN REQUIREMENTS, OR FOR ANY FURTHER INFO
REGARDING OUR WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS, PLEASE CONTACT JOAN
NORTON On 0837270005 OR VIA jnorton@xsinet.co.za
PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR ALL FEBRUARY SPECIALS www.shzen.co.za
TERM DATES
2016 TERM DATES
TERM
PERIOD
Term 1
Wednesday 20 January – Friday 18 March
Term 2
Monday 4 April – Friday 24 June
School holiday for all pupils – 5 May
Monday 18 July – Friday 23 September
Term 3
Term 4
***Wednesday 5 October – Wednesday 7 December
School holiday for all pupils – 12 October
***IGCSE and AS LEVEL Cambridge examinations
will commence on
3 October 2016
NEWSLETTER | 26 FEBRUARY 2016 | VOLUME 5