Issue no. 19 18 November 2019 Dates to Diarise 22/11 Old Parks Association Meeting 22/11 Grade 8 – 11 exams end 27/11 Captains’ Lunch 04/12 Issue Grade 8 – 11 Reports 04/12 Term 4 ends (learners) 06/12 Term 4 ends (staff) 13/01 Staff back at school 15/01 Term 1 begins (learners) SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2020 Pease note the school calendar for 2020. Please do not book holidays during school terms. We write examinations/tests until the end of every term. Attendance is expected from 15 January for every school day up to and including 2 Dec ember. No of Public No of actual Duration No of weeks No of days Holidays school days (13) 15 Jan - 20 Mar 10 48 (50) 0 48 (50) 31 Mar - 12 Jun 11 54 4 50 7 Jul - 18 Sept 11 54 1 53 29 Sep - 2 (4) Dec 10 47 (49) 0 47 (49) 42 203 (207) 5 198 (202) PUBLIC AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 1 January New Year's Day 9 August National Women’s Day 21 March Human Rights Day 10 August Public Holiday 10 April Good Friday 24 September Heritage Day 13 April Family Day 16 December Day of Reconciliation 27 April Freedom Day 25 December Christmas Day 1 May Workers’ Day 26 December Day of Goodwill 16 June Youth Day Cultural News A PARKTOWN GIRLS’ MUSICIAN JOINS TRIBUTE TO HUGH MASEKALA Hugh Masekela has been described as “the father of South African jazz”. In 1954, ant-apartheid activist, Father Trevor Huddleston, helped Masekela to acquire a trumpet and tuition and he soon joined South Africa’s first youth orchestra, the Huddleston Jazz Band. When Louis Armstrong heard of this band from his friend, Huddleston, he sent one of his own trumpets as a gift for Hugh. After his global success, Hugh Masekela continued the tradition of developing young musical talent. Thandiswa Mazwai first performed with him as part of her school choir when she was just 14. On Saturday, 9 November, as an award-winning musician, she headlined the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival at the Soweto Theatre Precinct. It seems a fitting tribute to “Bra Hughes” that the concert included not only a string of music icons, but also a band of young, as yet undiscovered youth, who played with Thandiswa Mazwai. Among them, the only girl, our very own Dineo Kwetepane, on trumpet. To perform at such a prestigious event takes skill and a generous helping of courage. We congratulate Dineo on her successful performance! We also thank Thandiswa Mazwai, Mandla Buthelezi and Lucky Moletsane for arranging this marvellous privilege. In photo: Dineo Kwetepane with Thandiswa Mazwai, centre, and the other members of the youth band. Dineo with Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse DEABATING Reported by Captain, Melissa Smith Recently our junior GSDB debating team was invited to speak at the Gauteng Debating League Supercup (due to their recent victory at Provincials, where they won the title as the Best Junior Debating Team in Gauteng). Micaela Smith, Aaliyah Cassim and Tiger-Anne Cupido took part in the tournament at Constitution Hill last week Sunday. The girls managed to maintain their high standard of debating and took home the title of Winners of the GDL Supercup. In addition, Micaela Smith was recognised as the best speaker at the tournament. The girls’ debates were watched by important government officials and spoke about contentious issues with great ease. Achievements like this would not be possible without the support from everyone at debating and our amazing coaches and Teachers in Charge. We are truly proud of the achievements of this team! From left to right: Micaela Smith, Aaliyah Cassim and Tiger-Anne Cupido Sport News INTRODUCTION TO PARKTOWN SPORT FOR THE GRADE 8’s OF 2020 We have run a programme for our newcomers next year to learn a bit about sport at Parktown and have the opportunity to make some friends before their daunting first day of school. The programme has focused on the sports that start early in the year and the sports that are not generally played in primary schools. There has been a lot of enthusiasm from our new Parktonians and it has been wonderful to welcome them into our Parktown family. HOCKEY 5’S LEAGUE On Thursday 31 October we hosted the seniors for a Hockey 5’s evening. Roedean and Randpark sent through teams to participated and we had a lovely evening of hockey. Well done to all the players who participated, the results were as follows: Parktown 1 Parktown 2 Randpark High Roedean School Parktown 1 Drew 5-5 Won 6-2 Lost 5-7 Parktown 2 Drew 5-5 Won 5-4 Lost 3-8 Randpark High School Lost 2-6 Lost 4-5 Lost 1-9 Roedean Won 7-5 Won 8-3 Won 9-1 Thanks must go to Miss White for organising this fun mini-league which we hope will expand into a league that will run over 4 or 5 weeks in the future. SOCCER Our Soccer First Team were invited to the JVW Awards Evening after winning the JVW Gauteng Play- Off’s this year. They were awarded R8000 for placing 1st in Gauteng, Rosalie James was awarded the Goal-Keeper of the Year, Miss Whyte was awarded the Coach of the Year and 2 of our players, Elmarie Fourie and Rosalie James were selected for the JVW Top 11 Team where they have been identified as part of the Top 11 players out of all the schools that participate. Well done to all our soccer girls as well as the teachers and coaches. THE SCHOOL ACCEPTS OUTSIDE ADVERTISEMENTS. WE ARE UNABLE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NATURE AND QUALITY OF THE SERVICES OFFERED .