Issue #4

From the Helm “We live at a time where creative, original thinking is dangerously low. And yet we need exactly this thinking to solve our individual, community, organisational and global challenges and create a sustainable future.” - Tania de Jong (award-winning social entrepreneur).

Based on this insight, one could argue that creativity needs to be nurtured and en- couraged in children today in order for them to become thought pioneers tomorrow. Developing creative thinkers may be the solution to many of the problems our world faces today. They see the world in new ways and find hidden patterns to unrelated phenomenon. “Creativity is a skill that can be developed and a process that can be managed. Creativity begins with a foundation of knowledge, learning a discipline, and mastering a way of thinking”, taken from a study on The Effectiveness of Creativity Training by George Land. It requires practice and a supportive environment in which to flourish.

Every child has the potential to be creative and the school curriculum needs to provide opportunities for pupils to explore and enhance their creativity. Education is an exciting journey and imagination, originality and resourcefulness are vital in this journey. Schools need to encourage experimentation and allow for failure. Children need to be brave and take risks. In the lower grades, the focus needs to be more on process and less on results.

Creative children are flexible, adapt more easily to change and have the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.

Carol-Anne Conradie Head of Junior Primary Creativity College Champions Arin Pincus We congratulate Arin Pincus on the wonderful achievement of having her short story “My Mother” being published in the 2017 edition of English Alive. This is a collection of writing from High Schools in Southern Africa and of the 631 entries received this year, Arin’s is one of 65 that was chosen to be published. Kadence Jamie Hume & Ribbink Julia Burnett Kitty Ribbink has Jamie Hume, Grade 11, and been selected as Julia Burnett, Grade 8, have part of the KZN been selected for their age U14 Surf Team to group KZN Soccer Squads. compete at the SA They both participated in a Billabong Champs full day tournament on the in Jeffreys Bay from 20th of August where over 80 3-8 October. girls took part in the trials. Arin Pincus

P1 [email protected] 8.9.17 www.dgc.co.za Creativity isn’t a switch that’s flicked on or off; Junior Primary it’s a way of seeing, engaging and responding to Virginia Art Exhibition the world around you.” Rod Judkins Some of our beautiful art was displayed at the Virginia Art Exhibition. We are very proud of the standard of art in the JP.

JP Interactive Day with Clifton

Our friends from Clifton joined the Grade 1 girls for a fun interactive morning at DGC. Putt-Putt, was just one of the exciting outdoor activ- ities planned. Making a “grass head” proved to be more creative than expected. A wonderful morning was enjoyed by all. Senior Primary SP Cross Country League Race

On Friday 1 September our SP girls participated in the SP Cross Country League race at Riverside Sports Complex, hosted by Chelsea and Our Lady of Fatima.

High School Grade 8 Forum Discussions

On 15 August our Grade 8 Forum discussion team comprising Jenna Pearson, Rachel Henry, Melissa Githinji, Mishara Naidoo and Mikhaela Odayan (Reserve) participated in the Grade 8 Forum Discussions at Westville Girls’ High School. We are very proud of our Grade 8 team as they gave a splendid account of themselves. They received glowing feedback from the adjudicators for their animated engagement, knowledge of current affairs and excellent chairmanship. They won the competition and Melissa Githinji also got the award for Best Chairman. The girls were given certificates and a R300.00 Exclusive Books voucher for the school. P2 [email protected] 8.9.17 www.dgc.co.za Alumna DGC Online Kirsten Goss matriculated from Durban Girls’ College in 1992. She studied at the University of Stellenbosch where she obtained a Fine Arts Degree in Jewellery If you would like to keep up with daily life at DGC, like us Design. on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Our likes have increased from 1 898 in April to 2 453 in August 2017. Kirsten then travelled to London where she worked and designed for leading Also be sure to check out our new and improved website! fashion jeweller house, Erickson Beamon, before breaking away to start her eponymous label in 2002. After opening her flagship store in London in 2005, she returned to to open 3 more stores in Cape Town, www.facebook.com/DurbanGirlsCollege/ and Durban.

Kirsten has been recognized both locally and internationally for her jewellery, and we could not be more proud that she is a DGC Old Girl! www.instagram.com/durban_girlscollege/

www.dgc.co.za Online Portal: https://dgcogg.alumnet.co.za www.facebook.com/DGCOGG/

Kirsten Goss Meet Our Staff

Gary McIver

Born and bred in Jozi, I graduated with an Honours Post- Graduate Degree in Fine Art and Education at Wits University. I’ve worked as a designer in the advertising industry, trained in film production and was Head of Visual Arts at St Stithians Girls’ College for seven years before recently joining DGC. During that time I served as IEB From our Chaplain National Examiner for Visual Arts. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46 For me, life is all about learning and teaching, with a holistic approach. I aim to cultivate calmness, compassion and joy Sometimes the busyness of life makes us in lessons, while emphasising present moment awareness forgetful and distracted… Recently I put and deep immersion in the creative process. I believe we the kettle in the fridge and left the milk on all possess amazing creative abilities and intrinsic curiosity. the counter. Classic sign of trying to do too As a longstanding mindfulness practitioner, I completed my many things at once! Dot B teacher training at Mindfulness in Schools in London in 2013: www.mindfulnessinschools.org. I offer the Dot B Being busy isn’t wrong but we do need to training programme which is for teens, but parents and take a moment to be still and focus on what teachers, keen to “de-stress”, have been known to join in is solid and steady through it all. Let’s not too! forget the One who has given us the time we have, and the things on our to-do lists For links to tweets about all things interesting, artistic, too. Remember Him in the busyness. Don’t inspiring and creative, follow @gmcsquared on Twitter let your heart be distracted away from Him. and Pinterest. To keep up with the awe-inspiring art of the Be still and know. talented girls at DGC, follow @dgcollegeart on Instagram.

P3 [email protected] 8.9.17 www.dgc.co.za Results HIGH SCHOOL

Water Polo: Team Opposition Result Score

1st Team Maris Stella DGC won 19-0 U16 St Henry’s DGC Won 6-3 U16 Maris Stella DGC Won 14-1 U14 St Henry’s DGC Won 11-1 U14 Danville DGC Won 27-0 U16 Kloof DGC Won 13-0 U16 Danville DGC Won 19-0 1st Team Danville DGC Won 20-0 U14 A Westville DGC Won 21--0 U16A Westville DGC Won 12-0 U13 DGHS DGC won 13-1 U16 DGHS DGC Won 9-5 1st Team DGHS DGC Won 6-1

Soccer: Team Opposition Result Score

1st Team Northlands DGC Won 8-0 U14 Maris Stella DGC Won 3-0 U16 Maris Stella Draw 0-0 1st Team Maris Stella DGC Won 2-1 U14 Danville DGC lost 3-0 U16 Danville Draw 0-0 1st Team Danville DGC Lost 5-1

The following girls have been selected for the Durban Central Soccer teams: U14: - Julia Burnett

U16: - Alwande Ngubane -Amba Brown -Diyajal Prakash -Nonkosi Nkosi

U19: -Singita Khosa - Jamie Hume -Nontando Moshesh

Non-travelling Reserves: U14 - Yaseera Jazhbay U16- Zahra Jhavary U19-Revati Gounden U19- Antonia Grindrod

Following this all the above girls participated in the KZN district tournament held on the 20th August

Julia Burnett has been selected for the U14 KZN squad and Jamie Hume has been selected for the U19 KZN squad. Congratulations and good luck girls

P4 [email protected] 8.9.17 www.dgc.co.za Results HIGH SCHOOL

Tennis: Team Opposition Result Score

U16B Danville B DGC lost 2 matches to 1 U16A Maris Stella DGC Lost 2 matches to 0 2nd Team Maris Stella DGC Won 3 matches to 0 1st Team Hillcrest CURRO DGC Won 3 matches to 0

Swimming: Charlise Oberholzer has been selected to represent South Africa and to attend the Len Open Water Cup in Rome – Italy from 13 September – 20 September 2017.

What an outstanding achievement Charlise we wish you well on your travels and the best of luck for the competition!

Athletics: Gabriella Halford represented DGC at the Menlo/Grey Athletics Trials on Saturday 2nd of September. She participated in the 1500m race and was placed 3rd in the U16 age group.

TinMan Youth Triathlon: •Kayla Ribbink – TinMan #3 -Mini/Youth: 1st female: Mandela Day Marathon Tri - Mini/ Youth 8-17 year category, 1st female & 8th overall (78 competitors) •Kadence Ribbink – Mandela Day Marathon Tri - Mini/ Youth 8-17 category , 3rd female & 20th overall (78 competitors)

Surfing: Kadence Ribbink has been selected as part of the KZN team to surf at the SA Billabong Champs in Jeffrey’s Bay for U14 girls. She is now officially no longer a GROM and will receive her KZN Blazer.

Netball: Team Opposition Result Score

1st Team Ashton DGC Won 30-18

Action : Team Opposition Result Score

1st Team Crawford North Coast DGC Lost 14-7 1st Team Durban Girls’ High DGC Lost 20-14 1st Team Crawford la lucia DGC Lost 17-28

Badminton: Zahra Carrim has been selected to the U19 A KZN Badminton team. Congratulations Zahra and good luck

P5 [email protected] 8.9.17 www.dgc.co.za Results SENIOR PRIMARY

Water Polo: •DGC U13A beat DGHS U14A 13 – 1 •DGC U13A beat Maris Stella U14A 6 – 1 •DGC U13A beat St Mary’s U13A

Hockey vs St Mary’s: •DGC U10A won 2 – 1 against St Mary’s U10A •DGC U10B won 6 – 1 against St Mary’s U10B •DGC U10C lost 0 – 2 to St Mary’s U10C •DGC U10C won 2 – 0 against St Mary’s •DGC U11A lost 0 – 1 to St Mary’s U11A •DGC U11B won 2 – 0 against St Mary’s U11B •DGC U13A drew 2 – 2 with St Mary’s U13A •DGC U13C won 2 – 0 against St Mary’s U13C And once again our U13B displayed true grit coming back from 2 – 0 down at half time and pulled off a fantastic 2 – 2 draw.

U13 DGC Hockey Festival: We hosted our Annual U13 Hockey Festival on Saturday 2 September. Congratulations go to our U13A team who were the only unbeaten team on the day and produced a brilliant display of hockey game after game. Well played girls!

•U13A vs Virginia won 1 – 0 •U13A vs Chelsea won 1 – 0 •U13A vs Penzance won 2– 0 •U13A vs Glenwood Prep won 1 – 0 •U13A vs St Mary’s drew 1 – 1

Cross Country: Top twenty finishers from our race at Riverside Sports Complex hosted by Chelsea and Our Lady of Fatima •U10 – Julia Butcher 4th; Rebecca Hompes 6th •U11 – Maddison Waller 14th ; Hunter Cooper 16th •U12 – Kira Altshuler 4th; Maxine Port 5th; Jessica Adams 12th; Amy Chapple 14th; Jessi Ramini 15th; Chelsea Murray 16th •U13 – Amy Sang 12th; Katia Economou 13th; Monay Mouton 15th

Gymnastics: Certificate and medal awarded to Skyla Klompas for participating in the KwaZulu-Natal Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships 2017

P6 [email protected] 8.9.17 www.dgc.co.za The Week Ahead Monday 11 Day 1 JP Parent Interviews: JP Classrooms SP: Gr 7 Production Setup and Rehearsals: Centenary Hall 14h30-16h15 SP: Gr 4 Maths Relay: Clifton School 14h30 SP: Hockey Fixture vs Umhlali U10 & U11: DGC 15h00 HS: League U16A vs Westville: Westville 15h00 HS: Tennis League U16B vs Crawford La Lucia: Crawford La Lucia Tuesday 12 Day 2 07h30: ‘Mums Who Pray’: College House 08h00: High School and Senior Primary Combined Inter House Athletics Day: Kings Park JP: Gr 2 Outing to Greensleeves JP: Parent Interviews: JP Classrooms Wednesday 13 Day 3 JP: Parent Interviews: JP Classrooms 07h30-08h15 SP: ‘Parents’ Speakers’ Corner’ Melanie Wilson: ‘Encouraging Exceptional Thinkers’: Lecture Theatre SP: Gr 7 Production Setup and Rehearsals: Centenary Hall 13h30 HS: Gr 12 Final IEB Music Practical Examinations 12h35-13h25 HS: Gr 12 Finance Talk: Michael Chadbourne: Mrs Quinlan’s Classroom 15h00 HS: Water Polo League vs St Mary’s: St Mary’s School

Thursday 14 Day 4 JP: Parent Interviews: JP Classroom 14h30 SP: Hockey Fixture vs Umhlali: DGC SP: Gr 7 Production Setup and Rehearsals: Centenary Hall HS: “He for She Day”: Clifton School 18h00-19h00: Strategy 2021: Partnering with Parents: Lecture Theatre Friday 15 Day 5 JP Parent Interviews: JP Classrooms 12h00 HS: Old Girls’ Lunch for Gr 12: Functions Room HS: Gr 11 Drama girls to attend Hilton Festival HS: Gr 10 English girls to attend Hilton Festival SP: Gr 7 Production Setup and Rehearsals: Centenary Hall 14h30 SP: Cross Country League: Ashton SAHISA Deputy Heads Conference: Johannesburg

Saturday 16 08h00-10h00 JP: Gr 1,2,and 3 Mini Hockey Tournament: DGC 14h30-17h00 HS: Mums’ and Daughters’ Tea: Peace Garden

I am not afraid of storms for I am “ learning how to sail my ship. Louisa May Alcott “

P7 [email protected] 8.9.17 www.dgc.co.za