St Mary's Matters
Volume 12, Issue 2, 24 February 2012
If she believes in herself… she will fly.
Dear St Mary’s Communi y
It seems hardly possible that half term is upon us. What a term we have had so far!
School Spirit
School spirit is such a difficult thing to define, but in essence it involves the desire of students to sacrifice time and effort to uphold and enhance the name of the School. It reflects a sense of belonging which is the essence of family.
We witness this in so many ways, but from the vantage point of my study window, I have the best view of all. To see and hear every girl of the school, since the beginning of term practising the sounds and moves of war cries has been extremely entertaining, even moving, as the plan came together.
This spirit has also been evident in the enthusiasm, time and effort put into training of both the A and B team swimmers. Early mornings have paid off as times have consistently been slashed.
The combination of team and supporters came together at Inter-High on 14 February where once again our 100 authorised supporters and the fantastically creative and energetic cheerleaders were voted by the judges as winners of The Spirit Trophy. I was not surprised, but I was delighted.
The trip to the Midmar Mile, by Junior and Senior School pupils, and all the training involved, is just another indicator of the Spirit of the School. The sense of achievement as the youngest girls emerged from the waters, having swum on both days , watched by relieved parents, has been passionately described to me by Mrs Craig. The confidence from this achievement will permeate every aspect of their lives.
I often leave for my office at about 06:00 in the morning. It used to be a peaceful moment. These days I am greeted by hockey, netball and basketball players eagerly spending extra time and effort training and preparing for the start of these seasons.
Already this term we have had training camps for the Orchestra, the St Mary’s Singers and the Sacristans. These girls are part of the sporting life of the school as well, and are thus additionally burdened, and yet the reports I hear are of a standard of excellence unheard of.
On 10 February our Debutantes hosted a U Party. I have been told that pupils from far and wide attended and simply could not stop raving about the evening. That we can attract 1000 youngsters to an evening of controlled enjoyment is one thing, but that our Grade 10 pupils could so readily and impressively arrange and execute this evening is just another indication of our School Spirit.
Already that precious DSG tradition of Lent knitting has started. Girls eager to contribute, to help, to show their belonging, are springing up all over the place.
“School spirit is the attitude students and teachers have about their school, have towards each other in and out of the classroom, and have towards their community.”
We have the SPIRIT, how about YOU?
Junior School Happenings …………………......
We have been challenged by our Headgirl, Mikayla Bader, really to care for our World, as it is being rapidly damaged by irresponsible people.
The best way to be responsible at St Mary’s DSG, is to recycle seriously, but also to save water and electricity.
Grade 3H followed this challenge with a really good visual Assembly, ending with a great slogan “Take responsibility, recycle conscientiously”.
Our bins are colour coded with a picture painted on them. The girls will be constantly challenged to put the correct items into the relevant bins.
We will also work really hard, hopefully together with our families, to eradicate litter in every way. Our girls need to pick up after themselves and dispose of their papers, packets, tins etc into the correct bins.
As part of our recycling efforts, let us remain mindful of the needs of others – • Clothes no longer needed can come to school for Tumelong Mission • Household items which are surplus can be taken to Irene Homes Curiosity Shop.
Let us remind ourselves daily to “take responsibility and recycle conscientiously”
Barbi Craig (Mrs) Principal : Junior School …………………...... Grade 0 has the spirit!
The Grade 0 girls heard that they would be pancake rolling on Tuesday as we prepared to celebrate Shrove Tuesday on 21 February. Some girls imagined all sorts of strange and wonderful thing that could happen on that day. The excitement however, was not the thought of pancake rolling but about being able to wear their house T shirt like the ‘big girls’ do. So, we looked forward to rolling pancakes with the primary school and were definitely there in great spirits to support our Houses.
We trust you had a happy Shrove Tuesday!
Get to know the St Mary’s DSG Staff
At St Mary’s DSG we are blessed with wonderful staff. The photograph here is of Mr Sam Bokaba (left) and Mr Isrom Seanago (right). Mr Seanego is our Security Supervisor and Mr Bokaba our Assistant Security Supervisor. Isrom has been at St Mary’s DSG since 1994 and Sam since 1993. Both are married. Isrom has a boy and a girl, while Sam has five boys and three girls.
Second Hand bookshop
The Grade 9’s and Old Girls are once again running the second-hand book shop for the International Day in October. Any number or type of book that you wish to donate will be greatly appreciated.
The books can be dropped at the South Wing or Junior School offices.
RECOMMENDED LIBRARY BOOKS FOR GRADE 6
Come and enjoy a variety of library books especially selected for you to enjoy: series, historical fiction, realistic fiction, classics, thrillers, fantasy and more!
SERIES
Chronicles of Narnia C.S. Lewis (classic) Casson Family Series Hilary McKay (realistic)
FANTASY
Kate HORSE/PONY Dicamillo Haddix Just Add Magic Heartland Series Margaret Cindy Callaghan Lauren Brooke Peterson Pony Club Stacy Gregg Helen Anna Dale Dunmore
HISTORICAL FICTION MYSTERY/THRILLER/ADVENTURE Lady Grace Mysteries Grace Cavendish Jamila Gavin E. Nesbit 39 Clues Series
Noel Julia Streatfield Golding
REALISTIC FICTION CLASSICS Bright lights Linda Chapman Frances Hodgson Burnett Anne Fine
Jacqueline Susan Coolidge Wilson Black Beauty Anna Sewell
Judy Blume bÄw Z|ÜÄáË
Recipe Book: We are compiling a Recipe Book and would like every DSG family to submit a recipe. In addition, if you would like to sponsor a page it would cost R100 and you can include a message from your family or business at the bottom of the page.
All recipes and sponsorships to be submitted by the end of May 2012.
[email protected] or [email protected]
Irene Homes
In order to have a wheel chair donated; Irene Homes together with Rotary Centurion have put out an appeal to us to collect Plastic Bread tags. Senior School can hand their Bread Tags to Pippa Marais & Junior School to Carol Viljoen.
Announcement
The Association is offering financial assistance to a deserving daughter of an Old Girl, who at present is a pupil of St Mary’s DSG with a view to continuing her academic studies at the said school. The pupil must be currently in the High School.
The necessary motivation for this assistance must accompany the application in writing and be addressed to the Chairlady of the Old Girls’ Association, c/o St Mary’s DSG, Duxbury Road, Hillcrest.
The matter will be treated in the strictest confidence and the successful application will be advised in writing.
Sport & Centre
JUNIOR TENNIS
Congratulations to our U13 tennis team, consisting of Zara Dyson, Zoe Zisis, Simon Pretorius, Talula Torthe and Ashleigh Coetzee, who started the year off in a great way when they beat their opponents, Laerskool Queenswood 48 points to 7. They continued their good form by winning all their other matches to date:
St Mary’s DSG 51 vs Doxa Deo 4 St Mary’s DSG 48 vs Magalieskruin 6
The under eleven team consisting of Clara Lubbe, Nicole Sher, Savanna Sommervile, Christin Mundell and Isabella Weatherhead, who all played in their very first league match for St Mary’s DSG, lost by a very small margin, 29 – 25 to Laerskool Lynnwood. They then lost against Menlopark 43 – 12 and won their next match 42 – 13 against Laerskool Elarduspark 42 – 13.
SENIOR TENNIS
The Open A tennis team started the season on a very high note when they beat Cornwall Hill A in their first match 47 – 20. They then played against Waterkloof B and beat them 34 – 33. The team consisted of Alexa Hirsch, Megan Kriel, Mikayla Bader and Beryl Torthe.
We are hosting the Independent Schools Tennis Festival at St Mary’s DSG from 23 – 26 February. Matches will be played at St Mary’s DSG, TUKS, Belgrave Tennis Club and PHSG.
SQUASH
We are very proud of our St Mary’s DSG squash players who performed exceptionally well at the NG Closed Squash Championships.
U11 Lara Tanziani 2nd Kayla Alfonso 3rd Caprice Tsafandakis 6th Ratanang Rapudi 7th
U13 Danielle Dreyer 4th Sacha Steyn 13th
U14 Amy Mentz 1st Bronwyn Thomas 6th
U16 Makgosi Peloakgosi 1st Madeleine Lambley 5th Kaylin Pather 16th
U19 Amy Farrell 3rd Cyann Camera 5th
The senior squash players had a very successful training and ranking camp in preparation for the Northern Gauteng squash league that will start soon.
JUNIOR SWIMMING
The Junior School swimmers have been very busy, training hard, swimming the Midmar Mile and competing in league galas. This will all lead up to the Inter-Primary galas on 5 and 8 March.
Galas-Friday 3 February
A-team at WHPS B-team at Rietondale Primary 1st DSG/WHPS 925 1st DSG/WHPS B 2nd Cornwall Hill College 819 2nd Woodhill College B 3rd Woodhill College 806 3rd Rietondale Primary B 4th Rietondale Primary 504 5th Midstream College B 377
C-team at Pretoria Chinese School 1st DSG/WHPS C 580 2nd Pretoria Chinese School 507 3rd WHPS/DSG D 404 4th Laerskool Totiusdal 370
Galas-Friday 17 February
A-team at DSG B-team at WHPS 1st DSG/WHPS 550 1st DSG/WHPS 459 2nd Cornwall Hill College 481 2nd Irene Primary 353 3rd Woodhill College 367 3rd Brooklyn Primary 265 4th St Paulus 333
C-team at St Paulus 1st St Paulus B 648 2nd DSG/WHPS C 614 3rd St Paulus C 479
SENIOR SWIMMING
On Tuesday 14th of February there was not only love in the air, but also butterflies, nerves and adrenalin. With A-Team swimmers ready for the big gala the team walked off to the Hillcrest pool. Congratulations to the entire swimming team who swam their hearts out and to all individual medal winners. This was truly an exciting season and hard work was put in.
The proof is in the pudding! The Spirit Trophy is back home - where it belongs. There is no other school that has the SPIRIT that our St Mary’s DSG girls have, and not enough words to describe their support for the swimmers! Right from the start with the stunning entrance of the cheerleaders, up to the end with the girls standing, cheering, singing, shouting, supporting, the team! Girls, you were all amazzzzing!
A very big thank you to each and everyone involved in this wonderful afternoon. JUNIOR SCHOOL MIDMAR TOUR
On Friday 10 February 39 Junior School swimmers and 6 staff members left for KZN to compete in the Midmar Mile. The girls competed in the non- company team event on Saturday, and for many girls it was their first open water swim. Saturday afternoon was spent at Ushaka Marine World, followed by a surprise dinner for Mrs Craig in the aquarium. On Sunday morning the group swam once again, going all out to defend their 2011 title of top Primary School team.
SENIOR SCHOOL MIDMAR MILE
On the 10th of February a group of 25 girls accompanied by Miss Meyer and Miss Groenewald took on the thrilling Midmar Mile. The 7-hour drive became very interesting when our bus driver took the wrong off-ramp and we ended up at the Vaaldam and to round things off we were also tested on our skills and strength in how to fix a flat tyre! Saturday was our first swim and it felt rather if we were doing a polo bear swim instead of Midmar. At the mall we ended off with a few Gr 8 babies walking around in swimming caps, dummies and baby bibs. Sunday was rather challenging with the wind blowing us away, but at least the sun made its appearance. Well done to all the girls in completing the challenging MIDMAR MILE.
BIATHLON
On 7 February Amy Mentz and Hannah Newman participated in a Biathlon meeting at Menlopark. Amy won the U15 race and Hannah came 2nd in the U13 race. On 14 February Hannah participated once again, and received another silver medal.
TRIATHLON
We would like to wish Miss Kriel, Hannah Newman and Smilla Schoeman all the best when they represent the Northern Gauteng Triathlon Team at the SA Championships that is taking place in Port Elizabeth in March.
RUNNING
It was 05:00 in the morning on Saturday the 18th and the girls were already looking forward to the Bestmed Tuks marathon. This is an annual marathon hosted by University of Pretoria. The girls were among 4 500 other runners, running from 5km, 10km, and 21km to 32 km races. Our girls did very well in their 5 km run and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Their coach Miss Heidi Kalidas who also took part in the 21 km race made sure the girls got proper training before the grueling race. It was a wonderful morning and girls got their medals after the race.
BASKETBALL St Mary’s DSG will be hosting a friendly Basketball tournament on the 3rd of March 2012. The tournament will be a season opener for most of the schools in Pretoria and Johannesburg. This will be a fun-filled day where the girls can size each other up and see their potential competition. It will start at 09:00 and finish at 16:00.