Issue 21 12 July 2019
12 July 2019 21
Welcome back from the cosiness of a decidedly wet winter’s break to the vibrancy of Term 3.
I spoke to the high school in assembly this week about GRIT – and I wasn’t talking about the uniform suppliers, although one can see why that company is so named. Grit is the perseverance and passion to achieve long–term goals. Sometimes you will hear grit referred to as mental toughness. Angela Duckworth, a researcher at the University
of Pennsylvania, suggests that grit is a strong predictor of success and ability to reach one's goals.
Most things worth achieving involve huge effort and the tenacity and steadfast determination that is understood by the term ‘grit’: the ballerina who dances on bleeding toes; the
Comrades athlete who forges through the agony of cramp s and blisters; the astronaut who spends decades preparing for a single mission, only to spend most of his time upside down, while his teammates walk on the moon: these know that it is grit that sees them through.
History’s heroes overcame often insurmountable odds to succeed in the face of adversity: the prisoners who endured the quarries and torments of Robben Island in order to birth our nation; the Mother Theresa’s of this world who work with the poor and rejected; the cleansing surrender of Ramadan; Christ crucified.
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FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GRIT Courage Conscientiousness Perseverance
Resilience Passion
So we exhort our learners to leave their winter nest and take on the term with Grit: PLEASE DIARISE!
Tuesday, 16 July Grade 8 & 9 Parent Evening Tuesday, 23 July
Grade 10 & 11 Parent Evening
Wednesday, 24 July
PAC Elections
Saturday, 27 July
OPEN DAY! You’ll never make history in your comfort zone! Tuesday, 30 July
Grade 9 Subject Choice evening Saturday, 24 August
Fives Futbol Festival
Regards
Mrs Bentley
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FIND YOUR SPARK
Welcome back to the exciting third term. This term is always a busy one with plenty of activities to be involved in. As each term starts it is always good to reflect on what worked or didn’t work in the past to ensure that progress is made. This is something we want each learner to do with their academics and set benchmarks to achieve throughout the term.
Whilst academics is always a focus and ultimately the purpose of schooling, I need to highlight the importance of the extra-curricular programme. Through sport, culture and clubs, learners develop skills which they learn and grow through activities whilst having fun. These areas are key for the development of a learner and should be encouraged. It also allows those who may not be as academically gifted to shine in different areas.
From this past holiday the experience and life lessons that many of our learners achieved where incredible. It is hard work and commitment that gets these learners to where they are and as a fledgling high school I think the level of achievement that our number of learners excelled is testimony to the passion and commitment of the teachers involved.
• Firstly to our U18 Soccer boys who travelled to Johannesburg to compete in the Curro Nationals. With an average age in the team of 15 years, we knocked off the older opposition and brought home the Curro Nationals Trophy. • Onye Benjamin (u15 boys captain), Jordan Baartman (U15 girls) and Jarred Hendricks (u17) represented Curro and Hellenic for the Regional SAFA competition. • Errin Leak, Jarred Hendricks and Caleb Avontuur representing Hellenic Football Club on their Knysna tour. • Chadley Rosevear represented South Africa in Juniors tennis, beating Slovakia and Czech Republic. • Thyra Aberdein competed in Hungary in the Komarom FCI CACIB International Dog Shows and The Hungarian National Championship Poodle Show. • Mika Noble and Anovuyo Blom selected to represent Century City in the Curro Create Concert this weekend, where professional singers and performers train and develop skills during rehearsals. • Vuyo Kwakweni selected to perform at the Stellenbosch Music Programme. • Makaira Govender Competed in Talent America representing RSA, she competed in two categories and placed second in Vocal Gospel and 3rd Runner up in Vocal Pop.
• Our boys competed in Pretoria North at the Zambezi Arena for WP Action Cricket. The team placed 5th overall. The 12 -man squad is made up of 7 of Century City’s players. • Rajveer Jolly received a bursary to attend Space Camp in Florida, he spent a week exploring and training to be an astronaut. Stimulating Science, Engineering and Mathematics and ultimately gaining one step closer to his dream of travelling to Mars. • Tylana Russell is competing in Miss Teen RSA and needs as many votes as possible. Please SMS ‘vote tylana’ to 39945 to assist her reaching her dream!
There may be many more achievements from our talented learners and I hope to hear of them soon. But to think that this is some of the things that are happening within our school is an incredible achievement. I cannot wait to see what else we all can be involved in. Let’s go out, challenge ourselves and find our spark.... You can do it.
Kind regards
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SINGING AT TALENT AMERICA
Makaira Govender took part in the Talent America Competition held in New York these pa st holidays. She competed against participants from Connecticut, Colorado, Washington, Alabama, New York and South Africa. She received 2nd place in her age category in the vocal gospel category and 3rd runner up in her age category for the vocal pop category.
The categories were vocals, instruments, acting and dancing. We congratulate Makaira on her results and are proud of how she is positively representing our school and our country!
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SPACE CAMP IN FLORIDA
Huntsville, AL – I recently attended Advanced Space Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre, home of Space Camp®, Space Camp®
Robotics™, Aviation Challenge®, U.S. Cyber Camp® and NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre’s Official Visitor Centre. The weeklong educational
program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students and with hands-on activities and missions
based on teamwork, leadership and problem solving. This program is specifically designed for trainees who have a passion for space exploration. I spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated space mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon or Mars. The crew participated in experiments and successfully completed an extra-vehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk. My crew and I returned to earth in time to graduate with honours. Space Camp operates year-round in Huntsville, Alabama, and uses
astronaut training techniques to engage trainees in real-world applications of STEM subjects. Students sleep in quarters designed to resemble the ISS and
train in simulators like those used by NASA.
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SPACE CAMP IN FLORIDA
Coincidentally I got the opportunity to watch a Falcon Heavy launch by SpaceX. Falcon Heavy is the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two. The launch made me emotional because the sight was beautiful. I watched It with my mentor, Julia Bergeron, who I cannot thank enough for everything she has done during my stay at Florida. What a memorable experience!
Earlier this year when I received the news that I was awarded a full tuition leadership scholarship, I was tremendously excited and honoured that I was chosen out of 470 children all around the world. To be honest though, within a few minutes I became worried and somewhat uncertain on how I will get to the US. I knew it was possible, but I didn’t know if I would be able to acquire the financial support. I started a fundraiser campaign and reached out to the community to crowdfund my tickets to the US To my surprise, within a matter of 2 weeks I was able to reach my goal of R28 000 which proved to me that no matter what I do, my family, friends and supporters always have my back . The experiences that I got from Space Camp and my visit are truly priceless. How did this all happen? It all happened because of your support. I want to thank everyone who supported me in embarking on this journey. I am truly grateful, and I will remember you throughout the adventures and journeys I commence ❤ Because of you, I was able to reach new heights. Because of you, I got a step closer to reaching my Mars.
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DOG SHOWING IN HUNGARY
Thyra Aberdein went to Hungary to attend the Komarom FCI CACIB
International Dog Shows and the Hungarian National Championship Poodle Show. She placed 2nd and 3rd in many of the categories. Thyra also went to Austria for a learning and show experience at the European Dog Show 2019
where she showed a Giant Schnauzer, Long haired Dachshund, and a Boston Terrier. When Thyra was not showing she was grooming dogs.
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ACCOUNTING OLYMPIAD
We would like to congratulate Adam Crafford who qualified for the second round of the Poverto Accounting Olympiad which will be held on 31 July.
He also partook in the Business Studies and Economics Olympiad and despite our school not offering Economics as a subject, Adam received
67% for the Olympiad. Well done!
CHADLEY’S EUROPEAN TOUR
Chadley Rosevear represented South Africa in a recent European Tennis Tour. Well done for
representing our school and country so well! He won all his games against Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Well done, Chadley!
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CONCEPT LOUNGE – HOURS AND SELECTED SATURDAY
See below trading hours and select Saturdays that the Grit Concept Lounge will be open in Term 3.
MONDAYOn a side-note – all13:00 learners – 18:00 should be in full winter school uniform with a tie and blazer.
TUESDAY 08:00 – 09:00 / 12:00 – 15:00
WEDNESDAY 13:00 – 18:00
THURSDAY 08:00 – 09:00 / 12:00 – 15:00
28 July, 24 August, 14 September SATURDAY
MANDELA DAY OUTREACH
Mandela Day is a call to action that encourages us all to make a difference in our community and our world. As Nelson Mandela spent 67 years fighting for social justice, on 18 July we will honour him by spending 67 minutes in service to our community.
This year our school will be supporting Iris House Children’s Hospice in Stikland. At Iris House, care is given to special needs children with life threatening illnesses and/or life limiting conditions. Holistic support is also provided for the families of these children.
In addition to a team of our teachers spending 67 minutes at Iris House this Mandela Day, we will also be collecting much needed items to donate to this incredible non-profit organisation. Please consider supporting our
Mandela Day outreach by sending items on the list below to school no later than Friday 12 July.
Pasta and Pasta Tinned tuna Tea and Coffee Crackers Bathroom mats Pillows sauces (in water) Biscuits or Tinned corned Curry powder Peanut butter Duvet covers Rugs Rusks beef Breakfast cereal Fish paste Rice Tinned tomatoes Duvet inners Sheets Soup – canned Porridge or oats Jam Tinned fruit Face cloths Throws or packets Juice Tinned Baked Packets of Chips Salt and Pepper Pillow cases Towels concentrate Beans
Your assistance in making a difference in the lives of the children at Iris House as well as teaching our children the importance of compassion and kindness, is highly appreciated.
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DR JEDIDAH ISLER – ASTROPHYSICS
Astrophysicist Jedidah Isler is an award-winning researcher and TED fellow speaker, who advocates for women of colour in science. In 2014, she became the first African American woman to earn a PhD in astrophysics from Yale
University. She completed a study about blazars, particle jets from the center of supermassive, hyperactive black holes, which consume light thousands of times faster than an average black hole and can shoot out these particles at 99.99% of the speed of light. Now, she continues to study the origin of the energy from these powerful black holes, teaches, speaks about the importance of inclusiveness in STEM, and has even been invited to the White House. http://jedidahislerphd.com/about/ http://news.jane goodall.org/2018/03/08/5-powerful-women- stem-need- know/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedidah_Isler
We are looking forward to our learners becoming the next STEM champions!
EUPHEMIA LOFTON HAYNES – MATHEMATICIAN
Euphemia Lofton Haynes (1890-1980) earned a master’s degree in education, and then went on to earn a PhD in math in 1943, the first African American woman to do so. Haynes taught in Washington, DC for almost 50 years; she was also the first woman chair of the DC School Board, where she worked to desegregate the schools. She founded and then chaired the Math department at Miner Teacher's College. She was also heavily involved in community associations on local and national levels. There is a Euphemia Lofton Haynes Chair position in the Department of Education at her alma mater Catholic University, as well as a student loan fund, thanks to a donation she left the
school. The E.L. Haynes Public Charter School is named after her. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemia_Haynes https://guides.library.duq.edu/c.php?g=595421&p=4327917
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ROTARY INDUCTION FOR THE YEAR
2019-2020
We would like to congratulate Meinka Singh who was recently inducted by the Blouberg Rotary as Interact President for the year 2019-2020. We look forward to all the inspiring projects she will be running with the Interact Club in her year of leading!
Well done to both previous presidents Zoë-Jordan Nel
(2016-2018) and Vuyo Kwakweni (2018-2019) who received their citations from
Rotary International – this means that the Curro Century City Interact Club completed and succeeded in all the requ irements set for
an Interact Club.
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12 July 2019 21 HOCKEY GIRLS under 14 10 August InterCurro @ Hermanus AWAY
TBC Cannon’s Creek AWAY
st 1 Team 10 August InterCurro @ Hermanus AWAY
TBC Cannon’s Creek AWAY
SOCCER BOYS TABLE TENNIS st under 14 1 Team 16 July Meridian Pinehurst HOME 16 July Fairmont HS AWAY under 16 A 23 July The Settlers HS AWAY 18 July Maitland HS HOME 30 July Fairbairn College HOME st 6 August Fairmont HS HOME 1 Team 13 August JG Meiring HS AWAY 18 July Milnerton HS AWAY
nd 2 Team SOCCER GIRLS 16 July Edgemead HS AWAY 23 July Fairmont HS HOME under 15 30 July Brackenfell HOME 17 July Herzlia HS AWAY 6 August The Settlers HS AWAY 23 July St. Cyprians AWAY 13 August Elsies River AWAY
NETBALL
18 July Jan Kriel HOME 25 July Stellenberg HOME
NETBALL under 14 vs Westcliff HS CCC won the match 7 – 6 Player of the Match: Jaiden Benjamin under 17 vs Westcliff HS CCC lost the match 4 – 16
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WESTERN PROVINCE INDOOR CRICKET Well done to our boys who competed in Pretoria North at the th Zambezi Arena for WP Action Cricket. The team placed 5 overall. The 12-man squad is made up of 7 of Century City’s players.
SAFA PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT PLAYERS Congratulations to Onye Benjamin, Jarred Hendricks and Jordan Baartman for representing both Curro Century City and Hellenic at the SAFA Provincial Tournament. Onye captained the u15 winning side, Jarred scored no less than 6 goals and Jordan’s team took gold. Well done!
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SOCCER TEAM TAKE GOLD! Our u18 Soccer Boys placed first at the Curro National Tournament! Well done on this awesome achievement.
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sms
‘vote tylana’
to 39945
HOUSE POINTS CURRENT STANDINGS
1st 2nd 3rd
Centurion Socrates Plato 530 430 410
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