002 Newsletter 2013.pdf - Eunice High School

Principal‟s Newsletter 02/2013
20 March 2013
Dear Parents
Although the first term is dominated by supporting our new intake, ensuring a productive start by
our matrics, tackling the busy swimming and athletics season, making the Midmar magic
happen and investing many hours in preparing for hockey, netball, tennis, squash, chess and
debating leagues and tournaments, it‟s a sophisticated dramatic production which, to my mind,
has given the term its character and confirms our school‟s all-round educational approach.
I‟m pleased we took time and effort to expose our girls in an inclusive manner to The Diary of
Anne Frank. A parent whose daughter matriculated some 12 years ago and who never misses
our shows wrote:”Thanks for an evening of intense experience in brilliant theatre. We were
utterly caught up in that dreadful moment in time... deeply touched by what they suffered and
still hoped for. The Chanukah song rattled me. Will I ever be able to sing songs of praise when
the world around me is falling apart? Each actor performed with such credibility and sincerity –
how Niel senses the depth of each one‟s talent still boggles the mind.” Another, a theatre
personality herself, smsed: “die rolverdeling was so in die kol! Puik karakterontwikkeling en
emosionele momente was hoendervleis roerend! Die spelers se inlewing, fokus en konsentrasie
was ongelooflik! Jou stelontwerp, musiek en inkleding het puik atmosfeer geskep! Jy is „n uiters
bekwame en talentvolle regiseur.” The five Matrics at the heart of the production were Augusta
Zietsman, Laura-Lee Mostert, Denicke Cronje, Anje Venter and Kaylee Fernandes. Thanks, too,
to Morgan-Lee Munnick and Melissa Baanen as well as Dr Don Paine and Mrs Mary Paine, Mrs
Fiona Gough, Mr Danie van der Merwe, Mrs Lizette Neethling, Mrs Karin Kok and Mrs Marthie
de Wet. Congratulations Dr van Niekerk on a production of which any university drama
department or arts festival would be proud.
Our Grade Nines got to see the final dress rehearsal on the Sunday evening before they left for
a week of outdoor activity at the On Track Adventures facility near Hobhouse. I drove out there
on the Wednesday and I was struck by the cheerful smiles and obvious excitement with which
our girls approached the challenge. By all accounts the variety, intensity and emphasis on
teamwork made for a highly memorable and educational experience. Our thanks to Ms
Martinette van Jaarsveld and Ms Elsche Krantz who accompanied the girls.
In our staffroom on Friday we paid tribute to a key member of our management team, Mrs June
Norval, who recently completed 30 years of uninterrupted and committed service at Eunice. For
many years Mrs Norval was synonymous with catering for so many annual functions and
productions. She still is, but, on Mrs Maureen Botha‟s gradual retirement Mrs Norval took over
so much of the planning and daily management of the school calendar, the RCL and the PA.
She has guided many a pupil leader to confidence, competence and sterling service. She is
often the driving force behind our dances, assemblies, dinners and drives. But Mrs Norval is an

expert in her field, too, as a co-author of the new Consumer Studies textbook, a subject
examiner and trainer. Mrs Norval has been a major source of inspiration and practical support to
me as a longtime Eunice principal. I value her loyalty and friendship and I thank her two adult
children for the sacrifice and involvement over the years, as well as Mrs Edith Mohokare, her lab
assistant throughout all this time. Thank you, June; you still have a good few years of Eunice
service ahead.
As a school, and as a staff we were relieved and thrilled to see Leandra Grobler (Mrs Charlotte
Grobler, our computer specialist teacher‟s daughter) come through her fourth brain operation to
remove a recurring malignant tumour. When Mr van Rensburg and I visited her in ICU she
greeted us with the widest of smiles. Zandile Ngubentombi, whose tragic plight was highlighted
in my last newsletter, has yet to return to school.
The appointment of Mrs Ellen Meyer – our longtime hockey fitness coach – as Eunice swimming
co-ordinator and of Mr Stefan van Schalkwyk as Sports Organiser co-incided with the nonavailability
of the Stadium Pool which is hopefully due for major renovation. The move of the
Eunice Gala and of Inter High to the Grey Pool required detailed planning which certainly
materialised and paid dividends.
The unavailability of the Stadium Pool due to pending renovations resulted in the Eunice Inter-
House gala moving next door to the Grey Pool which proved a very suitable venue. The pool
may be three lanes smaller but it‟s closeness and more compact surrounds impacts positively
on safety and management. I loved the bright Murray Brebner walk in with its impressive mardi
gras theme, lively cheerleaders and even life-size animal mascots. I greeted the tiger politely by
hand but the gorilla insisted on a hug which felt somewhat different from the usually modest
teenage hugs with the principal. I tried to identify the enthusiastic hugger, but in vain. However,
she identified herself about an hour later. It didn‟t feel like a teenage hug because the hugger
wasn‟t a teenager but one of two spirited swimming moms who put a decade long plan into
action to gatecrash their daughters‟ walk in. Way to go, Ladies. Our school is richer and our
principal happier for super supportive moms like you! Congratulations to Steedman/Sewell for
coming out on top at the Gala and to our victrix ludorum swimmers in each age group: U/14:
Linda Groenewald; U/15: Nicole Dooling ; U/16: Ilne Cilliers; U/17: Elsa Oosthuizen; U/18: Sune
Storme.
Our clean sweep at Inter High was effected by the quality of our 5, 6 and 7 lane swimmers who
complemented the talent of our stalwart club swimmers and our new young stars. The Inter High
points table was as good as it gets: Medals: Eunice [ Gold 16; Silver 19; Bronze 20; Total: 55];
Oranje [ Gold 18; Silver 13; Bronze 8; Total: 39]; Sentraal [ Gold 2; Silver 2; Bronze 4; Total: 8].
U/13 – U/14: Eunice 237, Oranje 122, Kroonstad High School 22; U/15 – U/16: Eunice 198,
Oranje 185, Kroonstad High School 33; U/17 – U/19: Eunice 202, Oranje 179, Kroonstad 25;
Overall: Eunice 659, Oranje 508, Kroonstad High School 83.
The National Girls' Schools' Aquatics Festival was held at the Hillcrest pool in Pretoria on Friday
1 February. Always a high quality occasion with stylish walk-in, medals and guest speaker
(kayaking Olympic bronze medallist, Bridgitte Hartley), it brings together many of the country's
top swimmers in a mainly relay format. Eunice is a respected performer, even at this level, with
highly disciplined and committed team swimmers. There's even a little local competition on the
national stage as the two top Bloemfontein schools battle it out for bragging rights. The final
points standing was as follows :Durban Girls College (456);Eunice (400);St Mary's, Waverley
(344); Oranje (313); St Mary's, Kloof (290) Clarendon, EL (282);Pietermaritzburg Girls High(
229);St Stithian's, JHB (224); Pretoria High School for Girls (201) and Our Lady of Fatima, DBN
(115).Our thanks to the girls' coaches, to swimming organiser, Mrs. Ellen Meyer, parent in chief,
Mr Jan Cilliers as well as Mr Stefan van Schalkwyk and Mr Leon van Rensburg.
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It‟s a brave school which dares to shepherd 175 Eunice girls and staff to and through the
Midmar Dam. The logistics are unprecedented in getting such a big group safely to and from the
dam; managing the entries, the legalities and the accommodation; keeping the girls decently
entertained; making a concerted effort to win the schools‟ challenge; as well as giving the whole
project a community focus through the Let‟s Play Learn to Swim initiative and its resultant TV
publicity. In all the tour cost R 185 000, 00 and raised R 20 000 for the above cause. Thanks to
Tour Head: Mr Ferdi van Wijk, tour administrator Mrs Mary Paine, training organiser Mrs Ellen
Meyer, sponsorship and communications organiser Mr Stefan van Schalkwyk and financial
planner Mr Pat Uys. Congratulations to the first ten Eunice girls out of the water: Anja Gericke,
Bianca Gray, Elsa Oosthuizen, Charne Massey, Nicole Dooling, Sune Storme, Ilne Cilliers,
Linda Groenewald, Nina Muller and Melissa Carney. Prior to Midmar we held a Saturday Time
Trial covered by Supersport for their Let‟s Play outreach. It was an impressive occasion with
each swimmer bringing her own timekeeper along. The pool was fully occupied all morning. One
parent was quick to report that, for the first time, her son was only too eager to support his sister
as a timekeeper. Clever boy. It was our first formal Midmar trial morning. We‟ll repeat it for sure.
Girls swam 100 lengths at a R 1 per length Learn to Swim sponsorship. The following Eunice
swimmers were chosen for the FS Inter Provincial team which swam in the quadrangular gala
took place in Oudtshoorn and included EP, Border, SWD and FS. Bianca Gray, Elsa
Oosthuizen, Nicole Dooling, Sune Storme, Chantel Blignaut, Chane Massey. Ilne Cilliers; Nicole
Dooling and Anja Gericke (Captain) were also chosen for the SA National Open Water
Championship that took place in Grabouw from 1 – 3 March.
J‟Mari Kloppers and Sissy Pieterse (U/17) and Mareza Brink and Alison Tarr (U/19) were
chosen for the Southern Free State Biathlon team that will participate in the SA Biathlon
Championships in Oudtshoorn from 21 - 23 March. Congratulations, too, to Corne Naude in
Grade 11 who qualified for a national U/19 Triathlon Team which will travel to Australia later this
year.
It has been a pleasure for our athletes to run on the brand new tartan track at the FS Athletics
Stadium. Our athletes participated in a zone meeting where girls qualified for the FS Schools‟
Athletics Championships held earlier this month. Ada Vickerman broke the U/14 Shot-put
record. 10 girls participated in the Sentraal Top 20 while 22 girls travelled to Kimberley for the
Xhariep/ Diamantveld meeting. Three star athletes have qualified for the SA Schools‟ Athletics
Championships: 400m athlete Casey-Jean Botha, hurdler Ane-Scha Erasmus and high jumper
Mareza Brink. Ane-Scha‟s record breaking heat earned her a place in the hurdles final where
her eventual second placing was rated as one of the events of the meeting. Mareza is a
seasoned campaigner but our two younger performers along with others like sprinter Udi Edem
and shot-putter Ada Vickerman show real promise for the future. We wish our three qualifiers
well as they compete at the highest level. I would like to recognize the 14 Eunice athletes who
qualified to represent SFS at the Free State Secondary Schools Athletics Championships:
Limpho Modisaesi (100m); Elze Cloete (800m); Udi Edem (100m); Casey-Jean Botha (400m);
Marchelle Coetzer (Discus); Lynne Brink (400m); Ada Vickerman ( Shot put); Sjande Erasmus
(High jump); Mareza Brink ( High jump); Ane-Sche Erasmus ( 300m hurdles); Alrine Annendale
(1 500m); Zandri van der Westhuizen ( 400m hurdles); Elani van Coller (Long Jump) and Claire
Erikson ( 200m).
The Fichardt Park Clover Sports Day is the biggest get-together of its kind in the country. Our
girls participated in the netball, hockey, tennis and chess sections. Our hockey firsts had an
impressive 7-1 victory over Hudson Park from East London while the netball firsts had
comfortable wins over De Aar and Riebeeckstad. All our netball girls committed themselves to
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an intensive three day coaching course which included the Fichardt Park Day. Thanks to netball
organizer, Miss Maryka Holtzhausen for securing quality coaches to upgrade our girls‟ skills.
We recently hosted Duineveld from Upington for a Saturday derby. Whereas our hockey girls
had easy victories our first netball team certainly impressed with a hard fought 30 – 15 victory
over a recognised netball school. Our thanks to Duineveld for including us in their pre-season
tour. Other netball results against Duineveld were: U/19 B: 12–16; U/17 A: 4–8; U/19 C: 18–11;
U/16 A: 13–19; U/16 B: 9–29; U/16 C: 5 – 8; U/16 D: 1-17; U/14 A: 5-9; U/14 B: 4-4 and U/14 C
1-17.
Whereas our top tennis players have multiple quality touring opportunities, the hospitality of the
du Toit family (Ilkhe, Gr 11) made it possible to send the next best six to the De Aar Invitational
tournament, which they easily won this last weekend. The girls certainly enjoyed the exposure
and the wonderful Karoo hospitality. Thank you, Mr and Mrs du Toit.
We have certainly had a very busy build up period for the winter sports. In previous years Mrs
Louise van der Merwe was responsible for swimming as well as hockey which delayed the start
of the hockey season to after Inter High. Mr Des Donald, experienced ex FS and Grey college
coach, has been preparing our girls with an emphasis on structure and fitness. It is always a
pleasure to see tennis and netball girls at work in the early mornings. It demonstrates high
quality school and learner commitment.
The South African Tennis high Schools week takes place from 20 – 24 March in Pretoria. The
following girls have been selected for the Free State Teams: U/15: Jon-Bene Potgieter, Jeanne
Klopper; U/19: Bianca du Toit, Nicole Paul and Kylin Fourie.
Our Governing Body has stipulated that no girl should play a hockey match without a gum or
mouth guard. The school has spent R 14 000 in providing four face guards for placement in
each goalie-kit to protect our girls when defending short corners.
It may have been early, but the Dancing in Paris theme dance was thoroughly enjoyed by a
large number of girls and their partners. Thanks to Mrs June Norval and her RCL committee, to
Mr Leon van Rensburg, Mrs Marthie de Wet and Mrs Hester Steyn and to Coca Cola for the
donation of 750ml Grapetiser bottles to each dancer.
Our RCL gave Valentine‟s Day at school a character all of its own, much to our girls liking; and
from the thousand or so gifts delivered at school they seemed to be liked by many. Music in
between periods and at break and balloons added to the fun atmosphere. School isn‟t what it
used to be!
I tried hard to take personal control of my birthday this year to pre-empt the girls‟ approach to
event management. But their touches were clearly evident in my name “in hands” on the quad
lawn and in the beautiful birthday card made up of a hundred „ hands‟. I used the opportunity to
share a selection of photos from my office wall – and the stories behind them – which the girls
certainly enjoyed.
Our choir‟s first term performances have signalled a readiness, a consistency and a sound
which confirms their growing national reputation. They sang at my birthday assembly, in the
Langenhoven Park Dutch Reformed Church on Sunday, 10 March and at our Easter Assembly
last Wednesday.
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The Culture Club started the year with its traditional opening at a Chinese Restaurant. This year
we booked out the Shanghai Chinese Restaurant, filling 39 of its 40 seats. Our delectable, nonwesternised
Chinese meal was the perfect setting for stylish „Culture Clubbers‟ to re-connect
after the long summer holidays. Since that first evening, things became even more exciting
because we attended a series of breathtakingly brilliant concerts at the Odeion School of Music.
The „Opening Concert‟ of the OSM showcased their best students, who performed music from
practically every genre, on almost every instrument, from Monteverdi to Debussy and the
contemporary Lebanese composer, Hakim. The level of virtuosity was exceptional, confirming
that local can be lekker – in fact, very lekker. Lieder and opera arias were sung by various
students studying singing at the OSM, and every last performance was of a world class
standard. What made this concert so unusual and exciting was that it was a „variety concert‟ of
very serious classical music. Our next concert, „The Brocken Melody‟ was performed by a duo,
Stefan Temmingh (recorders) and Axel Wolf (lute). They played early music (of the
Renaissance) and Baroque, and provided some interesting information on the history, structure
and playing of the lute. Both of these musicians are acknowledged as international leaders in
their fields, and it is a matter of pride that Stefan Temmingh hails from Stellenbosch! The girls
were so impressed by this concert that they insisted on having a group photo taken with the
musicians, on getting their tickets or programmes autographed, and on buying some CDs by
these musicians.
As part of the outreach programme of the UFS, we are the grateful beneficiaries of 20
complimentary tickets for each of these wonderful concerts. Our only problem is that 20 are not
enough anymore. At both concerts thus far, we over-shot our quota, but Ms Ninette Pretorius
(OSM) kindly accommodated the lot of us. By the end of term we will have attended two more
concerts, namely „Four IVTwo‟ (a duo playing classical music and jazz on marimba &
vibraphone) and „Concerto for an African Cellist‟.
This last weekend our SAASTA Science debating girls won the first leg of their local
competition, as they did last year. The topic was “ The use of nanotechnology in the purification
of water”. Our winning team members are: Neo Mosala, Monica van der Walt, Teagan-Leigh
Scholtz (Grade 10) and Ntebogeng Thlakung and Molemo Lichaba (Grade 11).
Eunice will celebrate its 138 th birthday from 2 – 5 May:
Thursday, 2 May: Old Girls Assembly at Eunice High School (10:15)
Friday, 3 May: Official Eunice Birthday Service at EPS at 10:00
Free Cocktail Party hosted by Eunice for Any Old Girls in Town
(All reunion groups or city old girls and husbands welcome)
Please RSVP for cocktail function by emailing pat@ehs.co.za
Saturday, 4 May: Reunie Luncheon in Adele de Jager High School Hall ( 11:30)
Sunday, 5 May: Eunice Thanksgiving Service at Trinity Methodist Church at 10:15.
Our superb choir will give the occasion substantial significance and style.
On 10 – 11 May almost all our sport playing girls will travel to Pretoria for our annual derby
against PHSG. Last time we went to Pretoria in 2011 we were let down by the train and
travelled by bus leaving at midnight and returning late that evening. This year we have had the
time to secure accommodation. A sports programme for the derby will be available later but the
purpose of this paragraph is to inform the family finances of the R 550 tour fee which includes
busfare and accommodation. The school has sponsored part of the cost of this tour to keep
costs as low as R 550.
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Another early highlight next term is the special guest speaker at assembly on the first Friday (12
April). In a joint Eunice / Oranje initiative, Nicky Abdinor will speak at assembly at Eunice at
10:00 that morning and at Oranje that afternoon as part of their school birthday celebrations.
Nicky, a practising clinical psychologist, was born with the sort of disabilities which would
seriously disable anyone, yet she lives alone and runs Nicky‟s Drive – a non profit which
motivates, inspires and enables. Google or Bing her for more information.
Mr Ferdi van Wijk is leading a Cape Town educational tour this week. Mrs Mag Marais, too, will
accompany 40 girls as they mix learning and fun in the continent‟s top tourist destination.
Planned nearly a year ago, this tour is a value added Eunice opportunity. Their itinerary includes
Maties and Ikeys, Table Mountain, the Castle, lunch at the Brass Bell in Kalk Bay, a
performance of Tap Dogs in the Artscape Theatre and a sunset Table Bay cruise. I‟ll be in Cape
Town for my Mom‟s 85 th birthday on Saturday so I‟ll join them at the Theatre on Friday. Their
tour certainly sounds like fun.
This week Eunice will host the inaugural national girls U/16 schools hockey and netball festival
in an attempt to create a permanent fixture on schools calendars. There‟s no such opportunity
for U/16s and we feel we can provide a convenient, affordable, quality tournament for years to
come. My thanks to Mr Pat Uys, Mr Stefan van Schalkwyk, Ms Maryka Holtzhausen and Mr
Louis Botha (Eunice House) for steering this project to fruition.
You will notice that I have delayed the distribution of the Life Orientation marks pending
moderation of all tests, projects and practical marks. All second term reports will include first
and second term marks. I thank our girls‟ representatives for their sensitive and mature handling
of this potentially divisive issue which is in fact a teacher‟s challenging health concern.
Kindly note that we will go into winter uniform on the first day of next term, Tuesday 9 April.
Please remember that we advise girls to buy beige body sensor stockings from Woolworths to
ensure proper warmth in the cold winter months. The usual Freedom Day/ Workers Day broken
week is not an issue this year as Wednesday, 1 May is the only public or school holiday that
week. Boarders have a “day out” on that day but they will not be allowed to go home or sign out
on the Tuesday as it is a full school and extramural day. As per attached term calendar our
boarder leave out weekend will be 25 – 28 April. School will close at 12:00 on Thursday, 25
April.
A big thank you to those Dads who committed themselves to our Father and Daughter Dinner.
I‟ll report on it next time. Enjoy your daughters this unusually long Easter Holiday. Remember to
always buckle up and drive safely.
Yours sincerely
Paul Cassar
Headmaster
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