Values YEARBOOK• Excellence 2015 • Compassion • Accountability • Integrity • Diversity • Respect1860 RHENISH GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL Phone: (021) 887 6807 Fax: (021) 887 8090 email: [email protected] or [email protected] Address: Koch Street, Stellenbosch 7599 website: www.rhenish.co.za Rhenish Girls’ High School aims to provide its learners with an education of the highest quality and is committed to providing an environment that is conducive to effective teaching and learning. All learners, regardless of their intellectual abilities, social backgrounds and academic aspirations, are encouraged to develop their full potential, to strive for excellence in all they do, and to become responsible, caring and productive citizens. Contents Acknowledgements Leaders ...................................................................................................2 Editor Hostel News ............................................................................. 14 Mrs Sharon Hershaw Academic ...................................................................................... 17 In-house Photography RGHS Class of 2015 ..................................................... 36 Mrs Francoise Arzul Creative Expressions ................................................. 55 Group Photographs Inter-House ............................................................................... 62 Mr Julian Kruger of Fokus Photography Sport ...................................................................................................... 65 Arrangements of Landing Page Clubs and Societies .................................................... 89 Photographs Social Responsibility ................................................. 99 Mrs Elmarie Mouton PTA ........................................................................................................104 ROGU ................................................................................................107 Design and Layout Prize Winners ......................................................................109 Mrs Lee-ann Harris of Purple Design Distinguished Old Girl .......................................117 Printing Valedictory .............................................................................118 RSA Litho Dedication On 9 July 2015 Rhenishers lost one of their sisters with the tragic death of Chantalle di Stefano, Class of 2015. This yearbook is dedicated to the memory of Chantalle, who will be forever young. On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates, through confidence, have devolved on us the task of a double living. That we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend’s life also, in our own, to the world. -- Henry David Thoreau 1 Leaders Principal’s Report LEADERS American author and educator John that the greatest triumph is the one that Holt says, “Since we can’t know what follows a defeat? knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in When I look at our diverse group of advance. Instead, we should try to turn Grade 12s and how we have worked with out people who love learning so much and every single one of them over their five learn so well that they will be able to learn years at Rhenish to ensure that they can whatever needs to be learned.” be their best possible selves, I am proud to say that not one teacher ever gave up In an article entitled, “When everything on them! I believe that if we educate changes: Succeeding in disruptive times” our girls to be confident, independent, Graeme Codrington, a South African creative thinkers, rather than focusing on leadership of Mrs Lizl Hobson also plays author, futurist and strategy consultant, simply preparing them for end-of-the-year a crucial role in the life of our school. says, “The evidence is all around us: examinations, the results will speak for This group of parents is responsible for we’re not just going through a time of themselves. organising much-needed fundraising change; we’re at a moment in history events, and is dedicated to beautifying when the ways in which we live and work To be successful, we need all the our school. Thank you, John, for always are being disrupted. We’re living at a time stakeholders to take hands and work advising me when I do not have answers – when we need to accept new rules, new towards the same goal. I am grateful to I really value your guidance and support, ways of living and new ways of working. all the stakeholders: these are the people and Lizl and the PTA, thank you for As the global market place is constantly that ensure that Rhenish is a school that always going the extra mile – your hard changing, we can no longer only educate functions well, a school of which we can work is much appreciated. tomorrow’s leaders and workforce for all be very proud. specific occupations.” Our Rhenish Old Girls’ Union – The Rhenish Staff – The teaching staff, Deborah Flannery and her committee It is clear that in order for our girls and administrative staff, support staff and the are a huge asset to Rhenish. It is so young women to be successful, we hostel staff are a diverse group of very wonderful to know that they want to must educate them to be innovative interesting people. I do not think parents support their alma mater and want every and creative. Being innovative is about fully appreciate how the dynamics of this old girl to be current with events at looking beyond what we currently group of people affects the school. If we Rhenish and to be as involved as they can do well, identifying the great ideas of do not work together it impacts negatively be with the school. We always value the tomorrow, and putting them into practice. on the whole school. But, as every single input from our Old Girls and are thrilled member of the staff will tell you, the that their active involvement in the school Learning and improvement filters priority for every member of staff is the is growing. The cocktail function that the through the culture of our school – that girls of Rhenish Girls’ High, and nothing committee organised this year was most is why, at Rhenish, we celebrate not just else. I want to thank the Rhenish staff for successful in drawing young Old Girls achievement, but also progress. Our their on-going support and dedication, and back to the school and we want to thank enduring aim is to provide each girl for being so passionate about our school. them for this initiative. A few Old Girls with a tailored education within a caring Your commitment to Rhenish is much are also sponsoring some of our current community so that she can maximize appreciated. learners – we are extremely grateful to her abilities and achieve her personal them for giving back to Rhenish in this objectives – be they academic, cultural, Our Governing Body and PTA – we way. sporting or other forms of excellence. We are very fortunate to have a group of are ambitious for every learner and want parents who, in addition to caring for Highlights in 2015 each Rhenisher to have the confidence their families and holding down day jobs, One of the many highlights at Rhenish and desire to be ambitious for herself. also want to help and support the school. this year was when the MEC of the Under the leadership of Mr John Thöle, Western Cape Education Department, Mrs Rhenish is different. We aim to make our the SGB is a very functional body that Schӓfer, visited the school on 16 March learners free-thinking, independent adults, devotes a great deal of time and energy to open the new facilities (Ebenezer Hall, not mere “machines”. We believe, for to serving Rhenish. The PTA under the new cloakrooms and new classrooms) example that they need to learn to manage officially. The WCED provided the adversity, and to cope with failure. By funding for these developments and not sheltering them from adversity, we obviously needed to see how their money help them to grow in character and to It is clear that in order for our had been spent. I am happy to report that develop perseverance and resilience. Mrs Schӓfer was extremely impressed Children need the opportunity to learn girls and young women to with the buildings. She also showed a that failure often teaches us more than be successful, we must keen interest in our pioneering ELearning success does. Everyone goes through programme because, as most of us difficult times, and these can be crucial educate them to be know, the Department has developed an for the development of children’s moral ELearning policy for all schools in the characters. How else will they learn innovative and creative. province. 3 The Grade 9s were exposed to infrastructure for ELearning is in place for days and it seems as if the girls and staff ELearning this year. We decided the whole school. We have also appointed enjoyed the experience tremendously. to not dive into this unknown a full-time technician to help with any Next year the hockey and netball girls will territory, but to introduce it technological issues. have the opportunity to travel to Malaysia. LEADERS slowly and to train our teachers properly and I am proud to say Another highlight this year was the Plans for the future that the route we have taken opening of our Letitia Snyman Astro The SGB and staff are in the process of has had very positive outcomes. in January. It is indeed an asset and we finalising a priority list for the next three The Grade 9s brought tablets to cannot wait to use our Astro for more years. At this moment, we believe the school instead of textbooks, and home games in the future. The highlight upgrading of the Science lab is imperative the staff underwent many training of the afternoon was definitely the and we are thrilled to have received sessions on “Google Classroom” presence of Ms Snyman to cut the ribbon, R100 000 towards this project from a to be able to use the internet and the motivational speeches made by very generous donor. We also feel that and tablets as effective tools to two past Rhenishers who had represented the tennis and netball courts need to be enhance teaching in the classroom. This their country at hockey, Mrs Rennie Ross- re-surfaced. Many will ask why we are year we used the tablets mainly for the Innes and Ms Kathleen Taylor.