St Mary’s Matters

If she believes in herself…

she will fly.

Volume 11, Issue 5, 10 June 2011

From the Head’s desk

Simply extra-ordinary!

Fr AW Paterson, Head of School There is strong rumour in the Paterson family that reflect a huge step up in standard as we move from four grumpiness sets in at 50! I don’t think I’m a “grumpy old to eight teams in the higher league. It is so pleasing to man” but I was grumpy on Thursday morning. Perhaps see girls who are proud of how they played after a the fact that winter had set in during the concert at game; girls who know they have done their best. Cornwall Hill College on 25 May, and the plethora of meetings that dominated my life in that week gave me On Friday evening I attended the feedback presentation some excuse. But I wasn’t grumpy for long. of our China Tour with St Alban’s. By now I have learned that when it comes to public presentation, NOTHING I attended the dress rehearsal of the Foundation Phase play, and those little ones turned my day into a broad gets in the way of our girls. I have no anxiety; I simply and sustained smile. I believe the performance was wait to be delighted. Superbly edited films had been even better on Friday evening. If so it must have been prepared. Where presentation was verbal, our girls breathtaking. For the first ten minutes I was simply knew how to make an impact. 谢谢你，我特 别淑女 entranced. The rhythm, the confidence, the Xièxiè nǐ, wǒ tèbié shúnǚ. participation, the colours, the singing, the staging, the joy… it was incredible! Thank you my little angels. And then onto Saturday! Hundreds and hundreds of eager young hockey players crowded into DSG with But I must go back to Wednesday evening at Cornwall their supporters to play hundreds of games. There was Hill College. What a splendid evening! I was so proud of immaculate organisation, lots of food and refreshment, our orchestra, whose musicality, tempo, pitch and fantastic First Aid and lots of fun. The Junior School, polish were evident to all. They are improving every with help all over from the Senior School staff and time I hear them. The St Mary’s Singers stole the show. pupils, combined in a team effort which did us all The sheer quality of their sound entertained. It was the proud. This day started with the frost, long before best I have heard – something special happened that sunrise. Thank you to all those who made this day what evening! Thank you my fantastic ladies. it was.

On Friday afternoon I watched the games taking place Perhaps I do occasionally get a touch grumpy, but at on our hockey fields. Against strong and robust teams, DSG it can’t last for long. we have the ability to dominate, and school results

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

Upcoming If I had my child to raise over again

Mrs Barbi Craig, Principal: Junior School

If I had my child to raise again, I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less. Junior School I’d do less correcting, and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. Old Girls’ Big Walk I would care to know less, and know to care more. Wednesday 15 June. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites. 09:30 I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play. I’d run through more fields, and gaze at more stars. I’d do more hugging, and less tugging. We do hope that you are busy I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. helping your daughter collect I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later. sponsors for the Big Walk which I’d teach less about the love of power, will take place on Wednesday 15th And more about the power of love. June on the fields below the It matters not whether my child is big or small; courts. Many prizes will be From this day forth, I’ll cherish it all. awarded, including the coveted prize of a school morning at the Reflecting on the amazing gift that our girls are to both their parents, movies for the class that raises and also to DSG; I am saddened when girls share with me how little the most money! time their parents spend with them. As you read this poem, please take it to heart. The time we have our girls in our homes is short, and Mrs Carol Viljoen very precious. Make lots of opportunities for quality fun times Grade 3 Teacher together. You all deserve it!

Foundation Phase Patron teacher at Johannesburg College of Margaret retired 5 years ago and Education and began her teaching now mentors pre and primary career at Sunnyside School. After a schools in self evaluation for break to start a family she became a membership of the Independent Founder Teacher at Lynnwood Ridge Schools’ Association. She is enjoying Primary School where she taught Gr. her retirement and has many 1 for 17 years. interests. A special highlight is visiting family ‐ especially She was then seconded to Foundation Phase Patron grandchildren – in other parts of the Bronkhortspruit Primary as principal. Margaret Rudolph country and world. She spent a brief period in the She is proud to be the patron of the Margaret Rudolph was born in Department of Education Foundation Phase at St Mary’s DSG and educated at Eastern before resigning to enter the and looks forward to a long Suburbs Nursery School, Brooklyn Independent School sector as association with the school. School and Pretoria High School for Founder Principal of Woodhill Mrs Alta van Os Girls. She qualified as a Junior Work College’s Foundation Phase. HOD: Foundation Phase

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Choose to live a happy life

Marthé Pienaar, Counselling Centre

Democritus, (about 460-370 BC) said: “Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.” And Aristotle said: “ To live happily is an inward power of the soul.” A positive attitude leads to happiness and success and can change your whole life. If you look at the bright side of life, your whole life becomes filled with light. This light affects not only you and the way you look at the world, but also your whole environment and the people around you. If it is strong enough, it becomes contagious.

A positive attitude will help you to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If you adopt it as a way of life, it will bring constructive changes into your life, and makes it happier, brighter and more successful.

- Choose to be happy by looking at the bright side of life. - Choose to be and stay optimistic. - Find reasons to smile more often. - Have faith in yourself and in God. - Contemplate upon the futility of negative thinking and worries. - Associate yourself with happy people; read inspiring quotes and stories and repeat affirmations that inspire and motivate you. PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

A fun-filled bingo evening was held on Friday, 13 May 2011. The Parents’ Association would like to express a heartfelt thanks to the following sponsors for their generous contributions towards the prizes for the bingo evening.

Makro Woolworths Brooklyn Bidvest La Spiga Deli Palladium Hair Bernheim Wines Vienna Jewellers Dermalogica

Congratulations to all the winners of these fantastic prizes. Pg 3 of 5

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New books @ the LibraryCompiled by Mrs K. Snyman – Assistant Librarian.

Grade 1 & 2 • The sandwich swap, by Queen Rania Al Abdullah – A heartwarming story about cross‐cultural tolerance. • Forget me not: friendship blossoms, by Michael Broad – A baby elephant is desperate to make friends, but doesn’t fit in anywhere. Will he find a friend? Grade 3 & 4 • Amy Wild, Animal talker, by Diana Kimpton – Amy can talk to animals! Join her on her adventures where she helps animals in trouble. • Anna Hibiscus, by Atinuke – Anna loves living in warm Africa, but she dreams of seeing snow. Grade 5‐7 • Girlfriends series, by Jean Ure – Four friends are sticking together through the ups and downs of friendship.

Senior School • Good fortune, by Noni Carter – Ayanna is kidnapped from her African village and sold into slavery. She escapes and desperately tries to find a better life. • Echoes of love, by Rosie Rushton – A twenty‐first century love story based on Jane Austen’s Persuasion.

Afrikaans teenage reads • Virus, by Jaco Jacobs – A strange virus spreads through the world and soon chaos erupts everywhere. Seventeen year old Jake tries to flee the city – will he survive? • Onderwêreld, by Fanie Viljoen – Two boys from a private school get drawn into the world of computer hacking. Then one of them disappears. Will the other one be able to find him? Images from: Kalahari.net [online]. 2011. Available from: http://www.kalahari.net/. [Accessed: 3 Jun 2011] Amazon [online]. 2011. Available from: http://www.amazon.com. [Accessed: 3 Jun 2011] Graffitibooks [online]. 2011. Available from: http://www.graffitibooks.co.za . [Accessed: 3 June 2011]

If any parent/ guardian wishes to apply for financial assistance for school fees in 2012’ Foundation Bursary Applications Forms are available from the office of the Head’s PA, Mrs. Pippa Marais.

These forms must be returned by 15 July.

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Sport & Recreation

JUNIOR HOCKEY We would like to congratulate the following girls who have been The Junior School hockey girls have selected to play for the Northerns been very busy over the last few Blues. Well done girls, this is a The curtain fell on the Pretoria weeks with league matches and wonderful achievement! Basketball league on Saturday the th festivals. 28 of May at Pretoria Boys’ High U13A Kano Mokwena School. The U14 and U16 B teams The U11A team played in the U12 A2 Demi O’Connor qualified for the semi finals which league, and had some tough U13B Nelia vd Wat were held at St Mary’s DSG on Friday th matches. They lost 1-0 to Katherine de Groot the 27 . Our U 14 girls beat The Glen Monumentpark and Elarduspark and Kelsey Langley High School 28-05 and our U16 B lost 5-0 to Cornwall Hill College. Thato Nokaneng to Willowridge High School by 22-19. U13C Paige Broughton On Saturday the U14 played against The U11B’s drew 0-0 with Tyger Lindi Naude Prestige on a chilly morning. Valley, lost 5-0 to Pretoria Chinese U12B Jaime Marais Unfortunately the girls lost to Prestige th School; they beat Doringkloof 3-2 and U12C Hannah Newman by 31 – 19 and the U16 B took 4 lost 2-0 to Cornwall Hill College. position after losing to Prestige for the rd th 3 and 4 place. The U12A team is competing in the SENIOR HOCKEY RESULTS 2011 A1 league. They beat Hennopspark Well done to all the Basketball players 3-1, drew 0-0 with Lynnwood and lost We are extremely proud of our at DSG- they did us very proud. against Menlopark and Pretoria hockey teams who have been moved Special congratulations go to Lauren Junior. from the Medium Schools’ league last Fat and Khensani Ngobeni, U14 girls, year into the A2-league this year and for receiving All Star awards. nd The U12B team drew 0-0 with gained an overall 2 position for Cornwall and lost against Garsfontein. 2011. The final league positions for the individual teams are as follows: The U13A team, playing in the A1 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ND league, drew 2-2 with Constantiapark U/14A: 2 SPORTS FESTIVAL ST and 0-0 with Elarduspark. U/14B: 1 The Hockey, Tennis, Squash and ST U/15A: 1 teams travelled to Wykeham ND The U13B team beat Monumentpark U/15B: 2 Collegiate on Friday 3 June to ND 1-0, lost 1-0 to Menlopark and drew 0- U/16A: 2 participate in the Annual Independent RD 0 with St Paulus. U/16B: 3 Schools Sports Festival. They did us ST TH 1 : 7 very proud under very difficult ND TH The U13C team lost 4-0 to Tyger 2 : 6 conditions as no less than 10 of our

Valley A and drew with Pretoria Junior regular Open Team players could not and Skuilkrans. Congratulations go to the following participate due to an IEB compulsory players who have been selected to exam that they had to write on the The U8, U9 and U10 girls have been represent the Northern Gauteng day and several first team players playing in round robins at Rietondale, teams at the IPTs could not participate due to injuries. and they have gone from strength to The girls and coaches enjoyed two strength. U14A : Lauren Fat days of very competitive sport and we U14B : Jenita Jardim were once again complimented on the DSG hosted a hockey festival on U15B : Lindie Sivuyile sportsmanship and good behavior of Saturday 28 May with 81 teams U15 Non Travelling : Sonny our girls. Just to mention that we competing in the U8, U10, U12 or Mahau stopped for a very early morning U13 age groups. The day was a U16A : Kabelo Kgoele breakfast at Villiers when the great success, and the DSG teams U16A : Nolo Lerumo temperature was -11 degrees Celsius! used the home advantage and U16B : Bareile Jansen No wonder it was the only time when achieved excellent results. U16C : Hlengiwe Hlongwa we struggled to get the girls out of the already very cold bus!

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