006 Newsletter 2012.pdf - Eunice High School

Principal‟s Newsletter 06/2012 7 December 2012
Dear Parents
My last newsletter was distributed on the day I coughed through Closing Function with a dose of pneumonia which
turned my week‟s holiday into a week‟s patience as a patient. So much detailed preparation goes into offering an
allround insight into each prizewinner, and we have quite a few. Our girls need to average 70 % over three terms to
earn a merit certificate and from Grade 9, 80 % earns them full academic colours. My sincere thanks to the team of
teachers, under the leadership of Mrs Karin Kok who collate, compile and direct the evening.
The first week of the final term is full of meaningful school rituals designed to transform matrics into thinking,
confident, balanced and appreciative school-leavers and to induct next year‟s senior class into custodians of the
school‟s standard and ethos. First was the Matric Crowning, an old Eunice tradition moved in recent years from
Eunice House in the evening to our school quadrangle in school time. It‟s a value-laden occasion with outgoing and
incoming headgirl speeches and a rose handover during the school song. Thanks Mrs June Norval and Mrs Jacqui
Truter for keeping the induction rituals stylish and significant.
Next was Thank You Assembly which our 2012 Matrics gave a game show theme with a short speech of
appreciation followed by a “ guess who” with appropriate video and sound bytes for each guest of honour from
valued cleaner to favourite teacher. It‟s an inclusive opportunity to show gratitude with insight, sincerity and
character. Thanks, again, Mrs June Norval and our senior RCLs for all the planning and for the beautifully
presented small gifts which were well received.
This year‟s Valedictory Service was characterised by some of the best headgirl speeches I‟ve heard. Instead of lists
of personal memories meaningless to most of the large audience, our girls summarised their school experience
with personal highlights, shared challenges and sound advice. I watched our 2013 Matrics from the stage and I
could see them taking in every word. Congratulations Cindy, Boitumelo, Danielle and Theodora on setting such a
high standard and on hitting all the right notes. Our choir did the same in combining blessing with tradition. As
always, it‟s the detailed planning, the thoroughness and consistency which give these rituals their impact and
memorability.
The week ended with our 5 FM SWAG Matric Dance which was literally a year in the making. The ambitious plan to
seat 360 undercover in the school quad made for a magical, fairytale occasion. DJ Fresh‟s two DriveTime co-hosts,
Poppy and Catherine added the power of 5 to an evening our girls will never forget. Earlier I had met each girl
individually at the roadside and been introduced to a partner fortunate enough to have been invited to SA‟s Matric
Dance of the Year. There were so many anecdotal stories from Marguerite Schoeman in her personalised OFM
prize dress and the handful of girls who, by necessity, were completely helped and hosted by our teaching and
admin staff, to Marli Jonker, who went for sewing lessons to make her own dress and scored more than just her
proud creation – the sewing teacher‟s son as boyfriend and partner! Thanks, again to Naomi Steinberg and her
Swagteam who made it happen. Mrs June Norval put her heart and soul and mega-experience into this massive
undertaking ably supported by Mrs Tanya Cronje and the Grade 11 Dance Committee: Denicke Cronje; Acacia
May; Natalie Steyn; Tsego Makhoba; Terri-Jo Leyland.I would like to congratulate Mrs Hester Steyn and her
committee for producing their own full colour Matric Dance magazine. It captures so much of the evening‟s WOW
factor as well as the individuality of the girls and their SWAG as a class.
The opening of the totally revamped and stylish Rene Uys Tennis Clubhouse on 19 October featured an EHS First
Team vs Old girls, with the latter clearly superior. Players included Rene herself, Protea player Christi Potgieter (
2010); Cecile Murray ( 2010), Nicole Kitsopolous ( 2009), Verushka van Wyk ( 2010), Leanne Dormehl ( 1982,
mother of current Matric dux scholar and SA U/18 A hockey player, Jacqui Ras), Ezene Meyer ( 2010), Louise van
der Merwe, our sports organiser, Debbie Posthumus ( 1981, den Hartog, daughter of my predecessor, Miss Vos,
and Diane Henderson ( 1989, Gascoyne), who is Rene‟s cousin and a fourth generation Eunice family
incorporating the Pretorius/ Henderson/ Uys families. Rene Uys, who played in the isolation era, never lost a
junior tournament in SA, was runner up at junior Wimbledon, enjoyed a top world ranking of 23 and reached the
last 16 at Wimbledon in 1985 losing to Martina Navratilova. The opening was such a positive celebration and a

tribute to Mr Uys‟s legendary organisation, delegation and financing skills. Thanks, too, to Mrs Emsie Bouwer, Mr
Carl Pritchitt, Mr Danie van der Merwe, Mr Kotie van Tonder, Dr Don Paine and Mr Inus Wessels.
On Friday, 26 October we participated in the worldwide launch of Windows 8 in the education space. Anthony
Salcito, VP for Microsoft Education Skyped in to talk to 700 Gr 8 – 11 Eunice girls as part of his 24 hour
commitment to „visit‟ classrooms and assemblies around the world. It was clear that Microsoft‟s Academic
Programme Manager in SA, Angela Schaerer ( a regular visitor to Eunice) was impressed by our girls informed
response to the Windows 8 demo. The girls emailed an immediate „Fresh Paint‟ photo-edited welcome to Anthony
who shared his thoughts on how technology can support education and more interactive teaching and learning
approaches. He fielded about 10 questions from girls and teachers. The Microsoft Education hashtag trended in SA
with all the girls tweets during the event.
Leigh Cresswell, Microsoft Corp: “I have to say, South Africa was one of the favorite schools I
loved the questions, the tweets and the entire set up. I think Anthony gained approx. 100 twitter
followers from the girls in the 30min presentation.”
Shomik Gosh, Microsoft Corp: “Anthony has ranked South Africa as one of his most favorite
events during the global tour. Great audience, great questions, very organized and a very positive
atmosphere.”
I think it‟s true to say that nearly all of you attended the Eunice Christmas Market which, once again, bore Mrs Mag
Marais‟ personal trademark which exudes creativity, style, detailed organisation and a flair for sourcing and
selecting the perfect products for Free State shoppers who queued for days on end. Despite a serious recession
these last four years, the market continues to sparkle as one of the school‟s key appreciating assets. We‟ll probably
need to increase our five cashier points to seven next year to cope with the growing demand. Thanks, too, to the
PA, in particular Mrs Melissa Whitehead as well as Mrs June Norval and the RCL moms for hosting the popular tea
garden.
This newsletter is distributed to our new intake, many of whom attended our Grade 8 welcoming last month. Their
first impression of Eunice High School would have been a positive one with both an informative professional
welcome and a more personal sense of belonging and spirit as they collectively watched their balloons (and their
expectations) soar skywards. My thanks to Mrs Liza-Anne Meyer, Mrs Myra Wienand, Mrs June Norval and Mr
Louis Botha as well as all our staff helpers.
It is always difficult tracking the achievements of girls in provincial and higher level activities beyond school. We
mention them all at Closing Function and the girls themselves take responsibility for submitting and checking our
award list. Allow me to highlight some lesser known ones: Karabo Thamae who plays for both the FS U/19 and
senior FS cricket teams; Nateska Kretzmann who earned NFS colours in squash and Bryony Rous, an endurance
rider who won the Eastern Cape 120 km Junior Championship at Schanskraal. Her horse, Meteor, won the Eastern
Cape Horse of the Year Trophy!
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Six Eunice girls will travel to Germany today on their month-long FSA Youth Exchange Programme. The girls will
be hosted by German families and will attend school in Germany. As part of the FSA Exchange they will be
expected to host German girls in the future. They are: Bianca Dell, Zandre Engelbrecht, Lindsay Lotz, Risima
Makaukau, Malaika Mokoena and Nadia van Heerden.
Mrs Jean Coleman and Mr Pieter Schuurman took 70 girls to the High School‟s programme of the
African Century Conference held at the University of the Free State campus from the 7 th to the 10 th of
November.This event was organised by the Write Associates and culminated in the South African Literary Awards
with guest speakers Thabo Mbeki and Nadine Gordimer.The girls had the opportunity to meet well-known poets,
such as Lebo Mashile (poet, performer, actress, presenter and producer. She is the daughter of exiled South
Africans and was born in the U.S.A. in 1979) and the cool Flo and Quaz as well as other slam poets. A selection of
novels and anthologies of poetry by our home-grown talent have made their way into our school library. This
awakened the awareness of pupils to our rich writing heritage and African culture. They emphasised that the
foundation to a well-rounded learner are high-quality reading and literacy skills. The fun session ended when the
enthusiasm of the Eunice girls rubbed off on the poets with our signature We feel good!-spirit.
One simple statement from my Closing Function speech elicited substantial interest – the fact that 11 Eunice girls
graduated as medical doctors from the Free State University yesterday ( 6 December 2012). It‟s a remarkable
statistic so I‟d like to back it up by detailing the 11 girls: Lizeri Combrinck, Leoni de Man, Mareli Ferreira, Elsje
Janse van Rensburg, Sonia Kotze, Moleboheng Mokotjo, Andrea Morphis, Inge Seale, Yolandi Stals, Cornel Steyn
and Marli van Rensburg. Well done, ladies; as a team of doctors you make our school and its staff very proud. I
asked Prof. Jansen for an access ticket and he responded by inviting me to join the procession and to sit on stage
with him at the graduation ceremony!
School Tuition Fees 2013 ( including R 100 per year PA levy)
Grade 8 – 11 R 14 100 annually ( R 3 600 in Term 1 and R 3 500 in Terms 2 – 4)
Grade 12 R 14 100 annually ( R 4 700 in Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3)
Boarding fees:
[PA Levy: R 100 per year)
Grade 8 – 11 R 27 000 annually (R 6 750 per quarter)
Grade 12 Three payments as follows: R 9 000 ( January) / R 9 000 ( April) / R 9 000 ( July)
Grade 10 art students need to buy drawing packs and painting packs (R 330) from Mrs Paine.
Gr 10 – 12 CAT girls 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
AS CAPS is phased in: Grade 10 in 2012 and Grade 11 in 2013, we need to acknowledge the state’s provision of a basic set
of textbooks, which saves parents a considerable sum. However, the purchase of extra books such as literature studies
will be funded by parents on an ad hoc basis. The same goes for certain workbooks which our girls use to work in and
which remain the property of the girls.
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 7,7 % increase which is a determined budgeting effort by Mr Uys to remain
affordable and to respect our parents commitment in difficult economic times.
The 8 % increase in hostel fees in a climate of rising energy, fuel and food costs has been facilitated by the re-
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subsidization of some departmentally paid hostel staff. We have used this subsidy to improve the salaries of the
lowest paid governing body funded hostel staff.
Although there is no discount on boarding fees, school fees paid in full (cash, internet transfer or cheque only)
before Monday, 4 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.
NB: * 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, 8 January. Wednesday early morning returns are not permitted. We will be
open for returning and new boarders from 08:00 on Tuesday, 8 January. New boarders will join us for a light
lunch in the Adele de Jager Hall at the High School at 12:30.
I would like to congratulate Mrs Louise van der Merwe on editing her first Eunice Magazine. It‟s a mammoth task
which requires the input of many others, but Louise has filled the gap left by Mrs Maureen Botha with individual
flair, much extra effort and personal enjoyment. It‟s a spectacular issue which showcases the „kaleidoscope‟ of
opportunities which characterise our school. It simply doesn‟t make sense that 240 pages dedicated to 1300 young
people feature two new senior citizens on the cover!
Our school website, used extensively by prospective applicants and old girls – it has had 134 000 hits – is worth a
visit. The best source of weekly news is the School Communicator. The gallery section of the communicator offers
a referenced library of photographs. You do not need a disc to download the link from www.schoolcommunicator.com
using their DOWNLOADS option. Everyday when you turn your computer on and get an
internet connection it will pop open with news, calendar events and pictures. It is extremely user friendly.
I would like to acknowledge a further grant of R 225 000 for Eunice Mathematics in 2013 from Anglo‟s Epoch and
Optima Trusts. This four year old initiative follows the submission of a business plan aimed at promoting access,
participation and performance in Mathematics, Mathematics Paper 3 ( in Gr 12 in 2013) and Advanced Programme
Mathematics. Eunice is the only Bloemfontein school supported by the Trusts which have invested over R 1,5
million at what they regard as one of the best schools in their programme.
As mentioned at Closing Function and recorded in our magazine, I would like to record the school‟s gratitude to Mrs
Emsie Bouwer, Head of Mathematics at Eunice for the last 14 years. She played a leading role in our school as a
brilliant Mathematics teacher whose quality results we‟ll see again next month as a curriculum and timetable
specialist as Head of Tennis and as the initiator and organiser of four international sports tours for Eunice girls. Mrs
Bouwer has followed her husband to Gauteng and has been appointed to the senior management team at Pretoria
High School for Girls. Also off to Gauteng is Mrs Lisa Deysel whom we describe as an English teacher with an
edge. Her uniquely personal approach and her critical thinking skills have earned her a reputation as a wonderfully
open, balanced and non-judgemental teacher. She has been a brilliant debating coach who has produced national
quality debaters at Eunice.
The new feature at the high school – the outdoor classroom/amphitheatre – is now complete. This was a 2012
Parents‟ Association project. We introduced it as „Mimosa Still‟ using the school flower (the mimosa), in keeping
with „Mimosa Small‟ which has its own trading connotation and the „quietness‟ I am determined to achieve. Our
landscapers informed me that the mimosa is now a listed weed so the facility has a new name. The S emphases
that first and foremost it‟s a SILENT place. The P denotes that it‟s a PERSONAL facility for individual not group
interaction. The A and the C highlight the two main outdoor features: the AMPHITHEATRE and the CLASSROOM;
the E is what shapes us: EUNICE. As a venue which lends itself to performance the SPACE is a historical
reference to the defiantly non-racial 70s fringe theatre of that name in Long Street, Cape Town. A poster aimed at
promoting this rationale is attached to this newsletter.
We spent much time selecting the right tender for the Eunice Tuckshop, which we call Mimosa Small. Following a
shortlisting meeting we identified first six tenderers for interviews and then narrowed it down to three. The one year
trial tender has been granted to Mrs Suzane Wille. She has been running the Grey Together Coffee Shop for the
last four years and has experience both in marketing and fundraising and as the receptionist and finance secretary
at Tjokkies Pre-Primary. We need to acknowledge the sterling service rendered by Mrs Amal de Vries these last
twenty years. She has been more of a Mom than an entrepreneur providing a hospitable haven for our girls. It is
interesting to note that Mrs de Vries has never had to miss a day‟s tuckshop duty due to illness. She obviously
doesn‟t sample the sweeties!
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Our 2013 RCLs underwent leadership training at Hobhouse this term. They‟ve worked hard to give our 2013
calendar its vitality. Thanks to Mrs June Norval for accompanying the girls and guiding their many planning
sessions. Whereas our driving vision for the new year, and staff, will be „ Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap‟, our
girls have chosen a theme which will incorporate HANDS into their efforts to promote participation and spirit. As
they have chosen the theme themselves, we, as a staff, will embrace it, too, in a series of project–centred learning
initiatives.
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 100 transport fee required. She will need sun tan lotion, a
hat and some positive energy.
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 mile is on Sunday, 10 February.
We had to vacate Eunice House last Wednesday to accommodate the markers of the biggest subject in the
curriculum, English First Additional Language. Our school is currently occupied by 305 markers. They‟ll move out
by the 12 th and we‟ll prepare to host the police component of the logistics behind the ANC Mangaung Conference.
These extra Hotel projects allow us to fundraise for the much needed capital which drives our major school
developmental projects.
Three of our teachers will lead the marking process of their subjects in the province: Mrs June Norval (Consumer
Studies), Mrs Jacqui Truter (English Home Language) and Dr Niel van Niekerk (Dramatic Arts). Their appointment
follows a formal selection process. Others will be markers at various centres. Results will be distributed at school
on 3 January 2013.
Most of this newsletter was written before I went to Prague to attend Microsoft‟s Global Education Forum which
brought together 500 of the world‟s award winning teachers and innovative schools‟ leaders in a Partners in
Learning Programme aimed at rethinking teaching, learning and assessment in order to drive 21 st century
competencies. All travel expenses, including flights and accommodation were covered by Microsoft. I am especially
grateful that they permitted me to take my wife, Moira, along at our own expense. We were hosted in the Prague
Hilton; she got to see the ballet Don Quixote and I attended the conference‟s gala dinner in the banquet hall of
Prague Castle. So, although I had to work hard in Prague, I feel a little guilty coming home to a holiday.
Our thoughts are with Eunice Primary‟s Zandile Ngubentombi (Grade 7) who is in ICU having lost her mother in a
tragic accident this week.
It remains for me to wish you all much peace, love and family happiness this Christmas season. As always, I urge
you to return refreshed, renewed and ready for a busy 2013.
Paul Cassar
Headmaster
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THE NO EXCUSE COMPULSORY RANGE
Price list – 2012-2013 for current stock until
stock lasts
ITEMS ON THIS PAGE ARE COMPULSORY and is ONLY available from the High School clothing shop
ITEM DESCRIPTION SIZE PRICE
Tracksuit Top: limited stock XS\30 - 4XL /46 R390
Tracksuit Pants: limited stock XS/30 – 4XL/46 R250
Full Tracksuit same size Top + Pants XS/30 – 4XL/46 R590
Green Short: (compulsory for LO) XS – 4XL R130
White golf shirt (compulsory for LO) XS – 4XL R150
Bottle green pullover 30 - 42 R150
Long sleeve jersey green 30 - 42 R160
A Eunice branded schoolbag, tog bag and exam bag are compulsory
(No other fashion bags are allowed)
Back Pack R220
OR
Sling Bag R150
OR
Orthopedic Back Pack R700
Exam Bag sling bag R120
Exam back pack R150
Tripple pencil case R70
Large pencil case R30
Neck purse R30
Cooler bag R75
Lunch bag R120
Tog Bag: Sport (compulsory for LO) R170
Shopper bag for files R70
Regulation hair accessories: BOTTLE
GREEN ONLY
Regulation earrings: small studs and
thin sleepers only – sterling silver
SPORT
R6 – R20
R40 per pair
ATHLETICS
Athletics vest and hot pant: SET ONLY XS – 4XL R300
TENNIS AND SQUASH
Scooter: same as netball and hockey XS – 4XL R130
Sleeveless bottle green shirt: same as
netball
XS – 4XL R150
HOCKEY
Scooter: same as netball, tennis, XS – 4XL R130
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squash
White Green Collar Shirt XS – 4 XL R150
Multi Stripe Socks Size 4-7 and 7-10 R40
NETBALL
Scooter: same as hockey, tennis and
squash
Sleeveless bottle green shirt: same as
tennis and squash
XS – 4XL R130
XS – 4XL R150
WARMING UP SHIRT – ALL SPORTS –
Not compulsory XS –4X L R200
SWIMMING
Swimming Cap R70
Eunice Towel: limited stock R200
Costume R250
ACCESSORIES
Eunice pen R10
Eunice badge R50
Only one nr 1 R5
Water bottle R75
Sun visor R50
Eunice scarf R110
Eunice girls wear their uniform with pride
SHOP TIMES: Monday 26 – Friday 30 November: 08:00 – 14:00
Monday 3 December 08:00 – 14:00
Monday 7 January 08:00 – 17:00
Tuesday 8 January 08:00 – 17:00
First 10 minutes of break and 10 minutes after every school day.
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