PROUDLY PREP

Issue 33 www.bridgehouse.org.za 1 November 2019

Grade 7 Farewell

Saturday evening saw the theatre transformed with cherry blossom, willow patterns and lanterns into an Asian restaurant, as the Grade 7s, with their parents and teachers celebrated the end of their time in the Prep school. Origin outdid themselves with a delicious 3-course Asian-inspired dinner, the music was good – even Freddie Mercury himself put in an appearance at what was a wonderful evening.

Grade 5 scaling the “heights” of learning and Table Mtn!

On Tuesday, as soon as the bell rang for the start of school, the Grade 5s headed off to Stellenbosch University, where we went to the Physics department. Recently, the Grade 5s have been doing some experiments and have learned how to conduct them. We went into a big lecture room - THAT’S WHEN WE FELT LIKE REAL GROWN UP STUDENTS GOING TO CLASS - and sat down. Then in came four really cool science professors (AKA Stellenbosch students). The ‘professors’ showed us some amazing experiments that … blew our minds! After the experiments, we tiptoed out so as not to interrupt the students doing their final exams.

We got on the bus and scooted off to the Mother City and our seventh wonder of the world, Table Mountain! It took an hour or so to get there so we were allowed to have a snack from our lunches. When we arrived, it was as busy as a bee-hive! The queue was so long, we had to wait for a long time! Finally, we boarded the cable-cars and flew up the mountain. When we were in the cable-car, something amazing happened: our car started spinning around, giving us a full 360 degree angle of the mountain. A couple of pupils realised they had vertigo from the height of the cable cars. We got to the top and met our guide. The observant students received a lot of interesting information. After our guided tour, we headed back down Table Mountain, got a delicious ice- cream, jumped in the bus and drove back to Bridge House. Harry Morgan Grade 5 H

Grade 2 … BLAST OFF!

Last Friday, the Grade 2s “missioned to the moon”. In Integrated Studies we made the phases of the moon in pairs using Oreos, and then for Art we made moon buggies in pairs using recycled materials.

We had to think on our feet and overcome many obstacles while building Moon Buggies to make sure the specifications matched our end product. Great excitement and teamwork!

Grade 0s prepare for ‘big school’ (part 2)

On Tuesday morning the Grade 0s came to visit the Grade 1 classrooms. The children were delightful and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the classrooms. They drew beautiful pictures of themselves and felt very grown up sitting at the Grade 1 desks.

Tiny Titans show mighty muscle – and plenty of grit!

Bridge House Prep competes in the Robotics First Lego League Competition for the first time!

This year the theme was City Shapers, which looked at how our cities are built and shaped to best suit the community living there. Only through Teamwork, Discovery, Innovation and Inclusion can we successfully problem solve and modernize our cities to create a more sustainable future. The innovation project required us to look at our surrounding come up with a building, or modernise a building, in order to better our city/town: the Tiny Titans looked at a cost- effective aftercare centre that could provide a safe haven for children whose parents need to work late. This we presented to a panel of judges. We then presented our Core Skills poster to a second panel of judges who examined how we had included our core skills in the work we had done. Had we worked as a team, had we included all, what impact could we make from what we had learned, etc. The nerves! The third aspect of this compe- tition was to code an EV3 Lego robot to complete a number of tasks on the City Shaper Lego mat - all in the matter of two and a half minutes – and this was all new to us! This meant that we needed to strategize in order to complete as many tasks as we could to earn the most points. We were given three tries at this.

What a day: such excitement, lots of tension and even more perseverance! All in all, great fun! I am so incredibly proud of our team, Tiny Titans, and what we accomplished. It was a great learning experience. The Tiny Titans cannot wait for 2020. –Mrs Trove Pretorius

From the Deputy’s Desk

I’ve always felt that there is something soothing, even comforting about the predictability of traditions. They speak to rhythm; an assurance that “all is well”. This, coming from someone who generally gets bored with “same-old, same-old” and is eager to embrace change and the challenge that goes with implemeting fresh ideas, may sound strange! Ironically, part of Bridge House’s personal rhythm is precisely its willingness to embrace innovation. It makes Bridge House … “what it is”.

I am quite certain that every family has its birthday traditions and family holiday traditions – and food certainly features in many such family rituals! There are expectations to be met : “How can you NOT make that dessert!?” My favourite must be :”You mean the adults won’t get Christmas stockings this year? Why not?” As new members join a family, their essence merges with, is incorporated into, the established rhythm and rhyme of the family. The same is true for a school.

It goes without saying that traditions must be examined, questioned and held up to the light, to ensure that they breathe comfort and life, and don’t stifle, or choke.

As the year-end approaches, the cycle - the rhythm - of traditions that speak to closure kicks in. Just last weekend, the Grade 7 Farewell set in motion their process of closure as they say farewell to the Prep. Soon we will join together for the annual Preprimary concert, the JP Awards, the Grade 7 Valedictory … and so the list goes on. The current Grade 4s can’t wait to experience Real Life 4 Kidz in Grade 5; the Grade 6s are already asking me about their Learning for Life programme for next year. A level of predicatability that comes with tradition and rhythm creates a sense of safety, of security. Even with each traditional event, however, there is something that presents as fresh, as different (even unexpected!) and so we continue to look forward to the traditional, the known.

With our school’s 25th Birthday Celebrations around the corner, the challenge is to encapsulate that which is the essence of who we are as a school and as a community in how we celebrate. As we move forward, we will ensure that whatever is added bringing freshness, anticipation, and relevance; and most importantly, rhymes with our history, our uniqueness, our brand. The plans are coming together – and they reverberate with “our rhythm”. Watch. This. Space!

But right now, I draw great inspiration from the video of our Grade 0s singing “Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika” and prac- tising their scrummaging and lineouts. I am also trusting that the pattern, the rhythm of our previous World Cup victories dictates/predicts/suggests that tomorrow will be a good day!

May our Bokke find true rhythm and rhyme. Go Bokke!

Sandie Parker

Condolences

We extend our sincere condolences to the Shone family on the death of Lauren's Mom. Lauren, Pat, Alex, Tim and James, you are in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time.

Bridge House builder and handy man, Christo Roos’s mother-in-law passed away this week. You and your family are alos in our thoughts and prayers at this time.

60 Minutes with the Heads - 11 November

Mike Russell and Marc Barrow will host the termly 60 Minutes with the Heads meeting, on Monday 11 November in the Learning Commons from 08h10 to 09h10. Today (Friday 1 November), is the final day to e- mail any questions or concerns (of a general nature) you may have, to [email protected]. The PA will bundle these into a folder and forward them to the Heads, who will then prepare responses to the matters raised, and e-mail out the agenda. All Parents interested in these agenda items will be welcome to come along and participate in the conversation. Please note that any issues mailed to PA@bridgehouse after that closing date will not be on the agenda for this meeting, and will either be replied to in the interim, or carried over to the next 60 Minutes next year. Pre-paid fees

If you have not already pre-paid your 2020 school fees and would like to receive a rebate of 2.5% by paying before 15 November, please fill in and return the form which was emailed to you. Notice of Withdrawal

A reminder that, as per your Acceptance of Place at Bridge House, the school requires a term’s notice, in writing, for the withdrawal of your child, else you are liable for the following term’s fees.

THIS WEEK … THIRTY EIGHT (38) ITEMS OF SCHOOL CLOTHING IN PREP LOST AND FOUND … ONLY 5 CLEARLY MARKED

Join the Stars!

BRIDGE HOUSE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

SENIOR PRIMARY MUSIC EVENING Dress Code: Smart Casual Where: Bridge House Theatre When: 13 November 2019 Time: 18h30

Please bring own picnic Entrance: Free

Tennis

It was a tough day out against Hugo Rust Primary but our players fought back. Ben Stegl won his singles 7-6 and Jens Leither won 7 – 5 for our U13A Team. The U13B Boys won all their singles and doubles - well done to our U13B team. Although our girls lost, we would like to commend them on their fighting spirit.

Equestrian

Last weekend a combined Prep and College equestrian team took part in the Inter-Schools Show Jumping competition held at Evergreen Stables in Paarl. Bridge House had some great individual results on Saturday and were consistently placed in the team events. This meant they won overall, beating competitive teams from Girls' High and La Rochelle. Congratulations to:

Lexi Burger - Katharine Malan - Joss Boyd - Ethan Kropf - Sarah Pethick

Swimming:

Keesha Adams has been selected to participate in CANA ZONE 3 INVITATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPS from 28 November -1 December 2019 in Kenya. Well done to Keesha - another wonderful achievement !

Rhenish gala Rhenish Primary hosted our swimmers on Thursday afternoon for their annual Relay Gala. Our top swimmers from grades 1-7 enjoyed a com- petitive afternoon of swimming against strong Stellenbosch schools, each competing in a Freestyle and Medley relay. We are incredibly proud of the U8 girls' team for winning their Medley relay, and the U9 boys for winning the Freestyle relay – and setting a new gala record.

OF THE WEEK JP Boy: Charlie Wells JP Girl: Manon Marklew SP Boy: Oliver Sage SP Girl: Nina Scheepers

Upcoming Events Monday, 4 November Cricket U13A vs Stellenbosch HUB Bridge House Tuesday, 5 November Athletics Bridge House Valley Athletics Bridge House Wednesday, 6 November Cricket Bridge Hose U9 vs U10 Bridge House Thursday, 7 November Tennis U13B Boys vs Paarl Boys Paarl U13 Girls vs Hugenote Primary Franschhoek Friday, 8 November Swimming Paarl Girls Nautilus Gala Paarl Saturday , 9 November Cricket Stellenbosch Primary U13 Stellenbosch Triathlon Applewood Triathlon Grabouw