FROM THE HEADMASTER’S HEART After much contemplation on Term 3, I feel incredibly proud and exceptionally appreciative. I am proud of the staff and learners of SWPS plus what they have managed to achieve in this short time. I am very grateful and also humbled that I have the privilege of being a part of the growth and development of our amazing learners. I treasure the opportunity of witnessing the positive impact SWPS has on the lives of the young people in our school. Our Grade 12’s are now in the final phase of their secondary education. The preliminary exams have just been completed and the final matriculation examinations start two weeks after the beginning of the fourth term. Although we cannot yet report on their final results for these trial examinations; the results so far are impressive and inspiring, boding well of excellent NCS results! Much hard work has been done to ensure that our learners reach their full potential academically. Countless hours have been dedicated to extra lessons, one-on-one sessions and assisted preparation, with the Maths department in the lead with their offering of 35 hours of extra Maths for the Grade 12s and Post Matrics. All the other subjects, however, also assisted our learners with the same kind of dedication to ‘serving our learners’. There was an amazing 170 hours of extra lessons offered across all subjects. Futures of optimism There remains but one last opportunity for the Matrics and Post Matrics: the NCS EXAMS! My advice to them is: greatness and success comes by looking forward - untethered from the achievements of the past and anchored by our absolute dedication to our work. In this way, we influence and impact our futures with optimism and positivity These are the key factors to success: • Follow a balanced programme for this time. • Proper planning and thus absolute adherence to a realistic schedule. • Successful study methods. • A well-balanced, healthy diet and time slots for some exercise and relaxation. Important visits Overall, the Grade 7-11’s managed to achieve a 100% pass rate yet again. There were 6 A aggregates from the Grade 11’s, 3 from Grade10’s, 12 from Grade 9’s, 8 from Grade 8’s and 2 from Grade 7’s-so in total, 31 learners achieved A aggregates for term 3! These very good results are a culmination of a successful team effort by the learners and their educators. The school’s policy of conducting study sessions for learners who need supervised study and all the extra lessons for all learners obviously deliver successful outcomes. We arranged an educational outing for the Grade 9 to 11 learners to the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre on Thursday 29 August 2019.This well-organised visit, led by an exceptional and very knowledgeable tour guide Linda Hackner, was both a harrowing and enlightening experience for learners and educators alike. The learners experienced and learned much about a very important part of our past. We all departed from the visit knowing that we must learn from our past and never make the same mistakes in the future. We sincerely appreciate the Centre accommodating us and we thank all the volunteer tour guides for their insightful accompaniment. Winning ways Dané van der Westhuyzen recently competed at gymnastics regional trials and won Western Province colours and we wish her all the best with the SA Championships in Durban during the September holidays. Alexandra Darvall will be traveling to Port Elizabeth to take part in the Aquabear Invitational Swimming Gala. Wishing Alexandra the best of luck. We are very proud of our ‘Bafana Boys’ as they have one league game left to become the 2019 Helderberg LFA League winners in their division. We wish them good luck. We would like to congratulate Valerea and her family on the new addition to their family: a boy, who was ‘eventually’ named Ruan. May he bring them much joy and be blessed. Lilanie Kinghorn is going on maternity leave and we wish her all the best with the new ‘pink bundle of joy’ soon to come into their lives. There will be a staff change next term as Lucinda Herbert is leaving after three years of dedicated service to this school. We thank her for her industriousness and commitment to the admin duties in her care and wish her well for her the future. Venitta Vorster has already started in her place and is steadily learning and adapting well. We wish to welcome her and we are sure she will soon find her special place in the SWPS family. Everyone who remembers his or her own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system. It is no different here at SWPS! Our school’s team of devoted teachers who often selflessly take care of our learners’ academic, social and even emotional well-being are most definitely the very foundation of all these learners’ success. Happy holidays Indeed, Term 3 has been a demanding task, but you taught regardless and relentlessly. I thank you for not giving in or giving up. Above all I thank you for giving yourself. The fourth term is also an exam term for the all the other grades. If they approach this positively and as an opportunity to prove their worth, they will taste success. Work diligently and prepare well so that we can finish off this year on a high note - singing proudly our song of victory! Have a blessed holiday. I trust that we will all return safely and well-rested for the exciting term that lies ahead. If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly believe there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam MERIT AWARDS Congratulations to the following learners on their outstanding results in Term 3! We are exceptionally proud of our high-achievers for their ongoing commitment and hard work which has resulted in such excellent scores. All the hours of dedicated learning and teaching across the subjects at SWPS are well reflected in our learners’ capabilities to improve and maintain very good results. Everything of the best as you continue your academic journey of excellence to Term 4. Grade 7 1. Jada Snyman 83.78 % 2. Robert Cowley 83.22 % Grade 8 1. Alexandra Darvall 89.56 % 2. Keanu Coetzer 89.44 % 3. Gabriella Darius 88.89 % 4. Zorelda Luitjies 83.89 % 5. Huayi Wang 83.67 % 6. Jordan Vd Westhuizen 82.44 % 7. Jacques Deetlefs 82.11 % 8. Tamika Peterson 80.33 % Grade 9 1. Thato Sifuba 94.22 % 2. Nikita Byilingiro 91.56 % 3. Cay-Lee Roelf 88.67 % 4. Sameer Ebrahim 86.89 % 5. Kara-Juliana Strydom 85.78 % 6. Hlonela Sitenge 85.67 % 7. Sinethemba Nocuze 82.78 % Anouk Roux 82.78 % 8. Theo Vd Westhuizen 82.13 % 9. Jasmin Wildschutt 81.33 % 10. Camryn Smith 80.78 % 11. Jade Summers 80.67 % Grade 10 1. Joey Nel 85.57 % 2. Sashka Peterson 82.71 % 3. Sebastian Venter 81.86 % Grade 11 1. Kayla Coetzer 91.43 % 2. Jacob Vd Westhuizen 86.86 % 3. Deidré Barnard 85.71 % Channing Bellamy 85.71 % 3. Bahle Gaji 83.00 % 4. Rebecca Steele 82.57 % GRADE 7 REFLECTION As yet another term comes to an end, we cannot help but look back at all the wonderful learning experiences our Grade 7 class experienced this term. Right from the start of matters, our headmaster and Maths teacher, Morné, signed us all up for the Junior Core Maths program. Even though it took a lot of hours of hard work and dedication, it definitely helped us to improve our Maths’ skills this term. Soon after school started, we also welcomed a new learner, Luke Taylor. Luke adapted very well in our class and we wish him many happy years at SWPS! One of the highlights of the term was definitely our Grade 7 and 9 Market Day. It took weeks of planning, organizing and “Thank you, Teacher, hard work and some of us even had a few sleepless nights, worrying whether we were going to be successful For reaching deep in me entrepreneurs and make a profit on the day, or walk away to find all I can be, empty handed. Fortunately, all of us proved to be excellent entrepreneurs and the Market Day turned out to be a huge before I can see it myself. success for all of us. You never gave up on me. The rest of the term was filled with tests, assignments and extra classes. As we come to the end of this busy term, we just I have a future want to thank all our caring, hard-working and dedicated Because of YOU!” teachers who are always there to help and support us, so that we can reach our full potential…in tribute to our teachers, we want to end off a little poem by Joanna Fuchs. GRADE 8 REFLECTION Term 3 was a good term for the Grade 8’s. Notably, in this Grade there is a friendly classroom atmosphere, this ideal is created by mutual acceptance of each unique learner in the group. Term 3 was, indeed, a long academic term. Each subject had many assessment tasks, and learners focused especially on improving their Mathematical skills. All learners spent dedicated hours on Junior Core Maths and the results speak for themselves. In addition, the learners took part in a wide variety of extra-mural activities.