Gr 0 & Gr 12 - St Mary's DSG

The Angelus Bell
This Medieval practice of ringing the bell at three times of the
day/dawn (06:00), noon (12:00) and evening (18:00) - is a way
of reminding Christians of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
This is one of the School's oldest traditions, and those able to
hear the bell at noon pause for a moment of prayer.
The Old Girls have donated an Angelus Bell for the Senior
School in the hope that every girl in the school can hear the
ringing of the bell at noon.
ocel
Solo
Th e Openin g of the
newly renovated Performing Ar ts Centre
Flute
Violin an d Piano
Piano drums
OLD GIRLS RETURN
“ H O M E”
The School feels extremely proud that this issue
will feature the first 3 of the 6 teachers who are
DSG Old Girls - there could be no better
compliment to pay! Since good teachers are a
school's most precious asset, it is wonderful to
have in our midst Old Girls who support and
uphold the ethos and traditions of the school.
Our roving reporter has been tracking
them down and asking a few questions…
Mrs Lauren Holdt (Matric 2000)
Mrs Holdt is the youngest of the Old Girls to return to teach at
DSG. She teaches Grade 3 and is amazed at the advanced
technological skills that her young pupils have. Smartboards have
made a big difference to interaction in the classroom and the
Internet allows them to present their projects electronically and
with colourful images. Mrs Holdt recalls that there was more
passive listening in her schooldays, but today's children question
more and like to share their own knowledge, too.
Mrs Holdt feels that as a teacher she has a vital role to play in
uplifting and reviving the world in order to counteract the
negative effects of the media and real-life situations in children's
lives, such as coping with crime, violence, bad language and a lack
of morals in society.
Mrs Holdt believes that the School's ethos has remained the same
through the presence of God: the Chapel services have a deep
spiritual effect which give a child the right foundation in life. Mrs
Holdt herself always felt a deep sense of belonging at school and
knew that she wanted to return once she had qualified. She
especially enjoys the beautiful gardens and considers herself
blessed to work in such an environment. She is also impressed
with the new facilities such as the Hall and the Auditorium.
There are certain aspects of the school that Mrs Holdt would
never want to see changed: the Chapel, the Main School Building
and Boarding Block, the School Hymn and Prayer. She loves the
way the DSG pupils are still driven and enthusiastic in all they do
and considers that her most important aim is to teach them
morals, values and the joy of learning.
Mrs Carol Viljoen (Matric 1966)
Mrs Viljoen is the other Grade 3 class teacher and her
experiences at the time of the Sisters was a very different school
scenario. However, the history and traditions begun by the
Sisters still remain the backbone of the School, giving it the
important Christian ethos and the caring atmosphere. Mrs
Viljoen is extremely proud of being a DSG Old Girl and this,
together with good fortune and timing, motivated her to return
as a teacher.
Mrs Viljoen lays great importance on DSG remaining a relatively
small school, enabling the staff to get to know almost every girl in
the Junior School. She finds that today's pupils are an extremely
questioning generation and very outspoken, compared with
schooling under the Sisters. They have an excellent general
knowledge gleaned from television and travel. In fact, it is a
challenge for teachers to keep up with the modern child and with
technology. She encourages her pupils to be proud of their
school and do their very best in appreciation of their parents
sending them to such a special school. Today's pupils at DSG are
more privileged in having such modern facilities and activities:
Mrs Viljoen recalls that sport, for example, was very limited in her
day.
Mrs Viljoen feels that certain special traditions such as worship in
the Chapel, the Angelus Bell, the School Prayer and the School
Hymn must always remain the same; they are an important link
between the past, present and the future of the school.
Mrs Fiona Pienaar (Matric 1987)
Mrs Pienaar is a Grade 1 teacher and loved the feeling of returning
“home” when she came back to teach in the Junior School. When
she recalls her own time at school, she feels that the main
emphasis was on trying your best at academics, cultural activities
and sport. Although these three are still extremely important,
the additional opportunities for today's young pupils are endless,
especially with regard to technology and even the wider range of
sports now on offer.
The boarders in her day would have loved the chance to go home
every weekend, as they are now permitted to do. Mrs Pienaar's
one relief is that the previous headgear has been abolished: she
really did not enjoy wearing the boater hat in the summer and the
“pudding basins” in winter!
Mrs Pienaar always emphasizes to her pupils the importance of
being part of a community and feeling a great sense of belonging,
yet at the same time striving to be an individual. This is where
DSG's caring community plays an important role, as each child is
known for herself and is not just part of a crowd.
The young girls in Grade 1 are different
from Mrs Pienaar's generation in that they
are much more worldly - wise as a result
of the world in which they are growing
up. Sadly, though, they live in a more
materialistic society which is a
challenge in itself. Teachers also need
to keep abreast of all the new
developments in technology.
Mrs Pienaar enjoys the Chapel
being the centre of DSG and the
beauty of the Main School
Building, leading down towards
the Centenary Gates. This is
something that she would never
want to see changed!
9
10
5
Mrs Lauren Holdt
Mrs Carol Viljoen
Mrs Fiona Pienaar
9
10
5
BIG
Walk
Gr 0 & Gr 12
Picnic