December - Eunice High School

Principal‟s Newsletter 06/2011
Dear Parents
9 December 2011
Our school is not being used as a matric marking venue this year so the past 10 days have been
eerily quiet. Schools are meant to be bustling with youthful energy and ours certainly was this last
term. The SA U/17 cricket teams move in to Eunice House today so we‟re back in the energy
business with the boys adding a whole new spin on what is, essentially, a feminine environment.
Incidentally, 8 of our teachers are marking at centres throughout the province. This experience
offers them a real insight into the exam readiness required by our future Grade 12s. They are Dr
Niel van Niekerk (Dramatic Art); Mrs Marthie de Wet and Mrs June Norval (Consumer Studies);
Mr Ferdi van Wijk (Business Studies), Mrs Karin Kok and Mrs Kerryn Lombard (Physical Science);
Mrs Lizette Neethling ( Life Science); Mrs Anmare Harris ( Mathematics); Mrs Jackie Truter
(English).
The time has come for us to take leave of Mrs Maureen Botha. I‟d like to quote from my Closing
Function speech: “Next term will be Mrs Maureen Botha‟s last at Eunice. Her whole life has been
dominated not only by this school but by the key values of sincerity, compassion, loyalty,
forthrightness, refinement and that critical sense of occasion. She was my wife, Moira‟s Latin
teacher (do you know how long ago that was?) and she was my Eunice teacher and right hand.
Always calm under pressure, Mrs Botha can take a staff team with her as she gets things done
with direction and style. She has that edge and she has 27 Eunice magazines and 40 Quid Novis
and major birthdays and banquets, many shows and service and fundraising initiatives, even a
museum and literally hundreds of high quality school functions to verify the commitment of a team
which she played a major role in leading always adding colour and character to those key „rituals
and routines.‟ We‟ll miss you Mrs B.” The 2011 magazine distributed last month is a girls‟ school
special. That touch of pink gives the Eunice green a SHINE which is clearly evident from the five
smiles on the cover to the hundreds within. It is Mrs Botha‟s last magazine.
Mrs Daleen Snyman has decided to lay her ledgers to rest after 27 years as an Accounting
teacher. Highly skilled and experienced at senior level, she is an accountable accounting teacher.
She explains as many times as is necessary. Her matric results over the years have been
outstanding. What I‟ve appreciated about Mrs Snyman is that she teaches because it‟s her passion.
She‟s a true classroom professional who gets the best out of both the top and the borderline
student. She‟s also been a keen member of our theatre production team. She‟s joining her
husband‟s re-structured business. He‟s the senior partner in the city‟s biggest pediatric practice.
Daleen will be sorely missed.
Mrs Norah Tuckett has created a wonderfully positive and vibrant vibe in the library. Her love of
books and her 25 years of experience in the Bloemfontein library made her an ideal choice as a
school librarian. The girls are drawn to her gentle encouraging professionalism. She is following her
fiancé to the Cook Islands. He must be quite something because Norah loved her special Eunice
space among the shelves. Our girls will miss her big time
Mrs Joy Kroon, a Eunice old girl who teaches Natural Science and Technology has decided to swap
her science books and schoolgirls for her family and other animals! Mrs Kroon has a real love for

and is a keen student of Science. Mrs Kroon has a wide variety of interests and we wish her well as
she pursues them from home. Thank you, Joy.
Miss Estelle Erasmus chose to do the fourth year of her Potchefstroom teaching degree as an
intern under Dr Don Paine at Eunice. This involved 60 % study time and 40 % teaching. We thank
her for choosing Eunice and for giving of her time to our girls. She has accepted a post at
Voortrekker in Bethlehem for 2012.
We were lucky four years ago to acquire the services of Ms Dorette Badenhorst as our first ever
full time netball organiser and first team coach. She immediately entered Eunice into the A
Bloemfontein league and set our school on course to compete at the highest level. Her efforts paid
dividends and soon we had beaten Oranje in a league encounter and established ourselves as
regular semi finalists in the local league. At the same time Ms Badenhorst made her mark as the
country‟s most promising coach. Nationally she has honed her skills with the SA U/19 and U/21
squads, while provincially her Lightning Roses played spectacular netball to win the national series
and earn netball the award as Sport of the Year in Bloemfontein in 2011. She has accepted a post
as Head of Netball at North West University. Thank you, Dorette, for your striking loyalty,
commitment and talent as an exemplary coach. In gratitude we wish you well.
Last month we acquired the services of Miss Maryka Holtzhausen who was last crowned as Free
State Sportswoman of the Year in recognition of her achievements as an unsubstitutable member
of the Protea netball team. Bloemnuus commented that she “het „n ongekende toernooi beleef” for
the first winners of the Netball Grand Series, the Lightning Roses. For good measure Maryka has a
B.Comm (Accounting) degree and has just completed her honours degree in management accounting.
Our girls and staff have had an inside edge on the love story between the sports and grounds
organisers, Mrs Louise Reinecke and Mr Danie van der Merwe. They chose to get engaged the night
before we played our hockey final against Oranje. Our girls cheered when they heard the news and
again after the two goals which made the day extra special. Louise and Danie were married last
Saturday in a small family ceremony at Onze Rust. Our best wishes to you both. Other staff news
is the two for the price of one pregnancy which has befallen Mrs Rani Schutte, our computer
literacy teacher. Enjoy the holiday, Rani, you‟re going to need all the extra energy. But, you‟ll have
volunteer babysitters in abundance.
Mrs Leanne Singh and I were extremely fortunate to have been invited to attend the Microsoft
Global Education Forum in Washington DC last month. It was an inspiring occasion which will be
followed up by a series of monthly virtual universities as well as monthly virtual sessions with the
11 schools from Europe and Africa in our mentoring group. Somewhat of a career highlight for me
was the invitation from Microsoft to do a virtual university presentation on “Sustaining Innovation
in Classroom Practice” to sixty schools throughout the world. I partnered with Bo Kristofferson,
the principal of Viktor Ryborg in Sweden, one of the world‟s most modern schools. It was a great
personal and professional challenge.
That bustle went on right to the end of term. Mr Pieter Schuurman, Afrikaans teacher, technology
buff and keen mountaineer led a group of 36 Grade 11s on a hike in the Drakensberg on the very
last weekend of term. They spent two nights at Golden Gate and used the whole of Saturday to
enjoy a splendid day‟s hike to the plateau by means of the two sets of fixed chains. All had given
the rock-climbing wall at the university a go. They all managed the climb. There had been so many
takers that Mr Schuurman had to restrict the outing to Gr 11s and to the first 24 to pay, but they
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paid so quickly ( some at midnight online) that he extended it to 36. My thanks to Mr Schuurman
for his unstoppable enthusiasm and to his helpers, Ms Jani Cloete and newlywed Mrs Rozanne
Botha (Marais) and her husband, Gerhardt.
On the same weekend Mr Ferdi van Wijk organised an official two day First Aid Course for staff
and girls. These are teenagers who are being trained to provide a basic service at extramural
activities at school. It was also a stout effort to commit to training in the school year‟s dying
moments with the intention to serve the school and its girls. Thanks, too, to Mrs Kerryn Lombard
and Mrs Mary Paine for giving up their weekend.
That first week of the final term was frenetic in pace and demanding in practice. It began on the
Monday with our sports and culture prizegiving recognizing a second tier of achievements outside
of our Closing Function criteria. Tuesday was our traditional Matric Crowning which is these days
so full of meaning and symbolism in our classic quadrangle. Wednesday morning‟s Thank You
Assembly highlighted one of Eunice‟s significant strengths – that high quality teacher/ student
relationship at Matric level which is based on high expectation; teacher expertise, work ethic and
willingness; and positive student energy, final year focus and gratitude. Wednesday evening was
the Eunice House Christmas Dinner arranged with effort and style by Grade 10s. And then the
week‟s attention turned to Friday‟s Matric Dance.
It was availability of venues and safety which influenced the decision to bring the Matric Dance
back to school. Our Matrics were not too impressed with our decision but Mrs June Norval
promised them a fine occasion. And more than fine it was with the hall and quad transformed into a
magical celebratory venue. It was a bit of a risk placing two dance floors on the quad‟s grass
rectangles. It turned out to be a brainwave with the beautifully lit trees providing an atmosphere
which had the girls on the floor till almost midnight. Mrs June Norval takes such pride in Dance
after Dance with the help of Colin Coetzee of the Terrace at Oliewenhuys and Sakkie and Tanya
Cronje of Party Design. The latter are parents who put much extra effort into the Dance. There
were literally hundreds of family and friends present as an assortment of exclusive vehicles
(including Mr van Rensburg‟s golf cart and Mr Mohlakola‟s bus) deposited dashing young men and
dazzling belles literally one by one. Watching our girls arrive at school all grown up in front of
proud parents and principal was a meaningful moment which will linger in memories forever.
Nothing gave our term its energy more than the eight day Christmas Market which brings the
wider Free State community into our campus and exposes them not only to a superbly
entrepreneurial, creative and stylish experience, but also to our school‟s special ambience which is
at its best in the tranquil shade of our very appealing quadrangle. As always, the Market was a
wonderful contributor to the development of the Eunice brand. Its champions, Mrs Mag Marais and
Mrs Trudie Pieterse spend hundreds of hours preparing for and running a unique school fundraiser
which is now, after 12 years, a firm fixture on the Free State calendar. They have already been on
a trip to Gauteng to meet with exhibitors and to visit the major markets there. We applaud their
remarkable commitment, consistency and the ability to keep the Market fresh and appealing year
after year. Our sincere thanks to Mrs Melissa Whitehead who co-ordinated the Market‟s popular
tea garden on behalf of the Parents‟ Association. Thank you to the many PA members, RCL
mommies and other parents who gave our Market shoppers a taste of Eunice‟s hospitality.
At Eunice the Christmas Market and the Pantomime energise the fourth term in a charming but
busy manner. This year, our panto, a school netball Cinderella story with a Glee style, was fully
booked a few days before it opened. As always, it provides a sophisticated, cultural learning
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opportunity to teenagers and students and creates a wonderfully entertaining spectacle. A feature
of this year‟s show was the opportunity given to school girls to be part of the live band. I loved
seeing the fitness instructor (hired to tire Cinderella) hopping in and out of the orchestra „pit‟ to
do her scenes. It was the third show of the year – a massive amount of extra commitment. Our
congratulations (and thanks) to Niel and his team.
We have ambitious plans for Eunice theatre in 2012. We are planning to stage a major production
of the popular musical Beauty and the Beast with a large cast in March ( 14 – 17). Having secured
the rights and the backing of our Governing Body, and in conjunction with PACOFS, we have
decided to expose our girls to a quality show in the Sand du Plessis Theatre. We have met with
PACOFS a few times and we hope to sign a contract within days. You may remember Eunice‟s four
previous productions in the Sand: The Wiz in 1997 with a cast of 600, the Sound of Music in 1998
with 200 nuns, a multi-award winning EVITA in 1999 with a cast of 350, and Grease in 2000. In the
meantime we took big shows like Fiddler on the Roof and Oklahoma to the Wynand at the
University before integrating theatre into school life by building our very own Eunice Theatre
which, under Dr Niel van Niekerk, has become a world class centre for dramatic arts education.
Auditions were conducted during exams and we‟ll allow new girls and others to audition finally on 18
– 19 January. Dr Niel van Niekerk has put hours of preparation into putting his grand plan into
practice. All girls who auditioned will be part of our show. We will rely heavily on the support of
every single one of our girls and parents to fill the Sand to capacity. We ask that every Eunice
family commits to four R 100 tickets for the show. We‟ve asked you long in advance. We are
investing loads of extra time and effort in making school real, relevant and memorable. Please back
us all the way. Approach your friends, rope in the neighbours, the grandparents and your colleagues
at the office. Let‟s tackle this Beast with a Beauty of a show.
Our governing body, whose term of office comes to an end in March 2012, deserves recognition for
the comprehensive way in which it has approached one of its most important responsibilities – the
maintenance of our school. Having used a professional quantity surveyor and project manager, we
have initiated a R 1,3 million exterior maintenance plan of both high and primary buildings. The
work should be completed by the end of April. Our thanks, in particular, to Mr Kotie van Tonder,
chairman of our Grounds Committee and to Limco QS and Shauman Builders.
Our Grade 9s were exposed in 2011 to a doctoral research study on resilience in teenagers. Mrs
Jana Mould former EPS school psychologist subjected a randomly selected group of girls to an
extensive skills course aimed at developing resilience to everyday teenage pressures. All Grade 9s
were tested anonymously before and after the training to see whether the resilience training had
any measurable success. I am a great believer in resilience as a critical necessity.
During the term our Physical Science and Mathematics teachers arranged an outreach to both
teachers and matriculants at rural and township schools. Thanks to Mrs Karin Kok, Mrs Kerryn
Lombard, Mrs Emsie Bouwer and Mrs Anmare Harris. I ran a workshop for principals in our 5 school
partnership to build preparation readiness for 2012.
I would like to acknowledge a further grant of R 300 000 for Eunice Mathematics in 2012 from
Anglo‟s Epoch and Optima Trusts. This represents total funding from these Trusts of R 1, 5 million
since 2009. The Trusts rate schools based on (1) performance in the subject, (2) participation in
Mathematics as opposed to Mathematical Literacy, (3) access to the subject by previously
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disadvantaged learners and (4) participation in Mathematics Paper Three and Advanced Programme
Mathematics.
Congratulations to Genevieve Visser, who despite a busy dancing role in our pantomime devoted her
energy to organising the Heels for Horns Women‟s race with Mr Ferdi van Wijk. Genevieve and her
mom ensured that the many prizes made the sore feet worthwhile. Minjon van Tonder, in the
middle of her matric exams won the 10 km race while our Social Science teacher, Mrs Desire
Serfontein, earned a podium place, too.
School Tuition Fees 2011 ( including R 100 per year PA levy)
Grade 8 – 11 R 13 100 annually ( R 3 275 quarterly)
Grade 12 R 13 100 annually ( Terms 1 and 2: R 4 375; Term 3: R 4 350)
Boarding fees:
[PA Levy: R 100 per year)
Grade 8 – 11 R 25 000 annually (R 6 250 per quarter)
Grade 12 Three payments as follows: R 8 350 ( January) / R 8 350 ( April) / R 8 300 ( July)
All our Grade 9s will attend the Zastron Adventure School from 19 – 23 March 2012. This educational initiative will cost
R 550 (including transport) which will have to be paid by the end of February.
Grade 10 art students need to buy drawing packs and painting packs (R 280) from Mrs Paine.
Gr 10 – 12 CAT need a memory stick.
Gr 8 Mathematics girls need the obvious basics (pen, ruler, sharpener, eraser, protractor, compass and scientific
calculator) along with 72 p A4 Exercise book, exam pad, large ringbinder file with 10 dividers marked 1 – 10 and plastic
and paper for covering.
Textbook Costs
Most textbooks are, at this stage, still provided. EMS and Accounting workbooks, which remain the property of the girls
cost Gr 8 – 9 (R 60) and Grade 10 – 12 (R 100).
Kindly note the following:
Our school fees reflect a 8,33 % increase which features a 7 - 8 % salary increase for our Governing Body
employed teaching, administrative, cleaning, grounds and sports staff.
The 13 % increase in hostel fees is necessary to cover the substantial increase in electricity costs which affects
every household but especially one with nearly 300 members as well as spiralling food costs.
Although there is no discount on boarding fees, school fees paid in full (cash, internet transfer or cheque only)
before Monday, 6 February will qualify for a 10 % discount.
Please remember that when you originally registered your daughter at Eunice you undertook to pay school fees
in ADVANCE. Eunice acknowledges with gratitude the support of all those parents who take that undertaking
seriously.
Boarder parents need to be aware that our school and hostel fees are payable in advance. Such payments are
necessary to be allocated a room at Eunice House. All boarders must have booked in at the Eunice House
foyer by 18:00 on Tuesday, 17 January. Wednesday early morning returns are not permitted. We will be
open for returning and new boarders from 08:00 on Tuesday, 17 January. New boarders will join us for a light
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lunch in the Adele de Jager Hall at the High School at 12:30.
Our 2012 RCLs underwent leadership training at Hobhouse this term. They‟ve worked hard to give
our 2012 calendar its vitality. Thanks to Mrs June Norval and Mr Leon van Rensburg for
accompanying the girls.
Our new Grade 8s and our Grade 12s traditionally climb Thaba Nchu Mountain on the first
Saturday of term. Please ensure that your daughter has the R 75 transport fee required. She will
need sun tan lotion, a hat and some positive energy.
Our 2012 Matric girls are reminded of the compulsory Maths Camp traditionally held on the first
weekend (13 - 15 April) of the second term. Please block this weekend out well in advance.
Our Midmar Milers have paid a R 400 deposit towards their entry and accommodation for a tour
which is central to the Eunice experience. The total cost of the tour has been calculated as R1
050. The outstanding R 650 must be paid by the end of January. The increase is due to the fact
that we now take luxury buses instead of semi luxury buses as in the past. This is at the
insistence of our governing body for safety reasons. The mile is on Sunday, 12 February. The
annual Girls Schools‟ Aquatics Festival will be staged in Durban on the Friday of the Midmar
weekend. Swimmers and divers selected for national aquatics will have to pay an extra fee for the
extra day.
Our 2012 matrics underwent their Leader Project training last month. This year we are trying
something different to facilitate logistics and to ensure effectiveness. All our groups will focus
their efforts on one needy institution. More about this in the new year.
Eunice‟s first day Board Medal Opening Assembly is a unique window into the life and spirit of our
school. Our top achievers earn the right to address their school and their speeches are
characterised by personal initiative, inspiration and gratitude. All parents are welcome. Many come
each and every year. New parents should really make the effort. It is a 90 or so minute assembly
beginning at 08:00 on Wednesday, 18 January 2012.
After a five day stint in hospital and a transformed lifestyle I am healthier than ever. My
heartfelt thanks to staff, girls and parents for their prayers and their concern. My initials are
PEA and our girls believe that I fit the description of a pea – small, round and green! Round no
more I‟m afraid.
Here‟s wishing you all the joy of family, the happiness of friends and the love of Christmas this
holiday season. May your daughters return safe, refreshed, renewed and ready for a busy 2012.
Remember to identify your four members of our Beauty and the Beast audience. I‟m relying on you
all.
Yours sincerely
Paul Cassar
Headmaster
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