NEWSLETTER 15/2012 - Norman Henshilwood High School

Summer is around the corner and
the school is reminded that summer
uniform is compulsory wef
NEWSLETTER 15/2012
“A school of excellence.” [WCED]
NORMAN HENSHILWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
TOP 22 WESTERN CAPE SCHOOL OF “ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE”
SUMMER UNIFORM wef TERM 4
the start of Term 4. Girls
wear their dresses and
boys the open neck shirt.
28 September 2012
TOP TEN TERM 3 2012: CONGRATULATIONS
GRADE 8 GRADE 9 GRADE10 GRADE 11 GRADE 12
William Crake
Michaela Johns Zubayr Ismail Jesrael Jacobs Nicole C. Smith
Tasneem Rahim Devon Gould Bianca Lee Raymondo Swartz Shabnam Hoosen
Joshua Henry Carla Arendse Kauthar Adams Robyn Bolters Kallyn Daniels
Ameerah Salie Dominic Stanford Melissa Leonards Lisa Harrison Raeesah Rahim
Gabriel Paynter Carin Heuvel Adrian Cairns Matthew Faulmann Farzaana Jabaar
Caryn Leonards Kristen Barker Jamie-Lee Julies Robyn Arenz Zaahirah Fakier
Roxanne Botha Naadhirah Mahomed Tharaah Cozyn Zoe Carelse Kaylyn Daniels
Courtney James Keshia Dankers Kally Williamson
Inside this issue:
Top Ten Term 3 2012 1
Summer uniform 1
Academic Results for Term 3 2
Important dates of Term 4 2
MADD evening/Matric Matters 3
Staff Planning Week 3
Arbour Week 4
Zaahirah Munshi Tarryn Rudling
Akira Johnson Chante Whitten Ashly Martin Kelly Isaacs Alyssa April
Shakeelah Ally Taariq Daniels Ashleigh Martin Keagan Snyman Kayla Majiet
100 % pass 82.2 % pass 88 % pass 92.6 % pass 96 % pass
Congratulations. A further 2 % improvement.
This is a 10 % drop
over Term 1s results!
This is a further 1 %
drop from June!
The blazer remains compulsory
for all pupils. Please be prepared
at the start of Term 4.
SCHOOL FEES
Identical to last term.
Pleasing effort.
Parents in arrears are urged to pay before the
academic year ends. The school’s SGB does
not look favourably on those parents who
continue to enjoy a world-class education
and yet fail to pay their dues. The Bursar will
have the reports of those parents in arrears at
the end of the year. They will have to see her.

Page 2 NEWSLETTER 15/2012
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TERM 4
Term 4 is traditionally the shortest term due to final exams being written. Final exams
begin for the entire school on 12 November — 30 November This means
that there are only 5 teaching weeks left to prepare for final examinations [when the
pupils return]. It is a time during which all outstanding tasks are completed [if any]
and revision rounds off the curriculum. Absenteeism must be kept to a minimum as
far as possible. Final Assembly will take place on 30 November BUT pupils must be
at school in the week following the end of examinations.
Top Twenty Awards’ Evening as well as the ‘NS & Technology Fair’ Awards will take
place on 16 October at 6:30 pm—8 pm. It is by invitation only and pupils will be individually
invited.
Grade 9 Systemic Testing will take place on Thursday 11 October. Mathematics and
English will be written [these are separate from the ANAs that were written by every
SA pupil from grades 1—9, except Grade 7].
Report Collection: 7 December ONLY from 7 am — 6 pm. Reports will NOT be issued
to parents whose children owe the school any Text Books that belong to the school.
There is a R 150 replacement fee. This is State property and needs to be returned or
paid for.
SGB AGM at which school fees for 2013 will be set: 21 November 6:30 pm
ACADEMIC RESULTS FROM TERM 3: A FEW WORDS
I am increasingly pleased with the progress made by the Grade 9s. Between Term 1 and
Term 3 there has been a 9 % improvement in their pass percentage. The Grade 12s are as
consistent as ever BUT too many of them have not been serious about prelims. This is said
against the backdrop of having set realistic and achievable targets [based on their historical
marks since Grade 10 of 82 % - 88 % Bachelor’s passes [university entrance]. They
achieved ONLY 59 % Bachelors, 34 % Diploma and 3 % Higher Certificate passes. 4 %
failed [6 pupils out of 135]. I have faith that we will have a100 % pass rate and we will break
into the 80 % for the first time in our 44 year history in terms of access to a university pass.
Our Grade 11s are considered to be our top academic grade YET they continue to underachieve.
They seem to have developed a ‘culture of entitlement’ and are developing a reputation
for being ‘moaners’. It is such a pity. If they put as much into their studies as they did
moaning about this and that [and privileges] they would do far better. I adore them BUT they
are high maintenance. They may yet surprise me [and I know they love a challenge]. The
Grade 8s hit a 100 % pass rate this term [first time this year] but, having said that, it is almost
impossible to fail given the policy wrt “pass one pass all” in Grade 8. However, I do not
want this to detract from their hard work. As far as the Grade 10s go they are “chugging
along” very nicely. Some of them are headed for a fall as they haven’t yet realized the seriousness
of being in the final phase of their education. On the whole they are working hard.

“A SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE.” [WCED]
Page 3
MADD EVENING 17/18 OCTOBER
STAFF PLANNING WEEK
This takes place from 22—26 October.
This is the annual week during which school closes at 1 pm as I facilitate the start of planning
for 2013 [it also extends over two Saturdays with the Staff and SGB]. I wish to request that parents
make every effort to get their children home and studying for finals during this week. With
staff in sessions planning for 2013 it is counter-productive to have pupils hanging around the
school, especially at this time of the year.
MATRIC MATTERS
The Annual Matric Awards’ Ceremony will be held on Friday 12 October 2012 from 8:30 am — 9:30
am. For parents, it is by invitation only. The Valedictory Ceremony is an open invitation for all matric
parents and will start at 10:15 am—11:45 pm. However, only TWO members per family please as we
need to cater for our pupils as well. We are a much bigger school now.
A special Matric Plenary session will be held on 9 October from 6:00 pm—7:00 pm. It is an annual plenary
and it is the meeting at which matrics are given their numbers and time tables for their final exams.
In addition, very important information will be communicated to you. Attendance is compulsory and a
register will be kept. Please appreciate that your child’s transition from school to final exams is very important
for us and we value your support at the meeting.

REJECT MEDIOCRITY AND EMBRACE EXCELLENCE.
Project 90 had the opportunity to run Arbor
week from the 3 rd - 7 th of August 2012. The
week was filled with fun as the learners were
allowed to have their nails painted green,
either at home, or at school at our ‘SAVE A
TREE FOR ME’ table.
This was an overwhelming success as boys
and girls from all grades participated. This
campaign raised over R100 .
On the last day of Arbor week, Project 90 had
a tree planting ceremony when we planted 4
indigenous trees on our main field. Mr.
Millar received the honor of planting our last
tree and he gave the learners a lesson on the
types of trees they were planting and how to
be a ‘tree hugger’.
Special Thanks to all the learners who
supported us and to Mr. Millar for allowing us
this opportunity which may well benefit the
learners for years to come.
www.henshilwoodhigh.co.za
The term has barely stared and it is already at an end. Where does time
fly to? It has certainly been a very busy term with many highlights. I wish
to take the opportunity to thank the Board of Governors, the Staff
[teaching and non-teaching], the pupils and the parent community for
their contribution to the school during the course of Term 3.
Term 4 is almost upon us and starts on 8 October. I trust that each family
will analyze the academic results this term and, where necessary, provide
the support structures to improve on the results. We will do all that
we can on our side.
I pray that each pupil will have a safe holiday and make the appropriate
choices. Matrics have their Matric Ball tomorrow and we wish them well
on what is traditionally the highlight of our social calendar.
Kind regards
David J. Millar
Principal