NEWS_T1-Jan 2019

TERM 1
NEWSLETTER 01/19

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
01 MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE pg 04
02 HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS pg 08
03 HIGH SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES pg 15
04 THE PRIMARY SCENE pg 16
05 PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORT pg 20
06 PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNER COUNCIL 2019 pg 22
07 PRIMARY SCHOOL CULTURE pg 24
08 PRIMARY SCHOOL IMPORTANT DATES pg 26
09 CURRO CASTLE pg 28
10 IMPORTANT DATES pg 30
11 CONTACT DETAILS pg 31

MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE
“While they were there, the time came
for the baby to be born, 7 and she
gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She
wrapped him in cloths and placed him
in a manger, because there was no
guest room available for them.”
01
- Luke 2: 6, 7*

As the year draws to a close I have
spent some time in reflecting on
the year that was....from the start of
the school year and the opening of
our new high school till the very last
paper written in the 2018 exams
by our primary and high school
learners this past Friday. There
were so many highlights and also a
lot of lessons learned and a lot that
we can improve on.
During the past term we celebrated
our learners’ 2018 achievements
during the respective prize giving
ceremonies and I would like to
congratulate all the recipients of
certificates, trophies and special

awards. The achievements of our learners in all areas of school life
pays testimony to the hard work of all involved. The co-operation and
dedication between parent, teacher/coach and learner is paramount on
our road to becoming the school of choice in our area.
I would like to wish the staff leaving our services (see the respective
schools’ sections) all the best in their future endeavors. I am grateful
that after our interviews we have appointed senior educators in the
majority of vacant positions. I am convinced that they will add value in
all areas of school life.
To manage a school consisting out of three schools with vastly different
characters, learners and parents takes a special group of people,
and I would like to thank my management team for their tireless work
and efforts – sometimes far beyond the call of duty. To the heads of
schools at the helm of leadership at our schools, a big THANK YOU:
Elna (Castle), Alta (Primary school) and Pieter (High school). You are
pillars of strength and I know that you have the well-being of our staff

and learners at heart. Sanet and Hanli (Phase heads: Primary school)
as well as Dalene and Dirk (Phase heads: High school) thank you for
the important functions and roles that you fulfill at our schools – you
are making a huge difference. A big word of thanks to Jacques van
der Merwe (Sport manager), Jacques de Villiers (Transport) and our
Bursar, Charmaine Miny for playing a pivotal role in the smooth running
of our school.
I would like to wish you and your loved ones a festive season and
a happy 2019! May God bless you and your loved ones during the
holidays and may He keep on blessing us in 2019.
Ferdi Niemand
* The Bible

HIGH SCHOOL
HAPPENINGS
02

With the Grade 12 final exam now a
memory and thinking of the rest of the
school who have recently completed
their own exams, we stand in awe of
the grace of our Lord and Saviour.
Yet again, it is that time of the year
where we are looking for closure on
either a job well done, or a work in
progress. As for myself, it will always
be a work in progress.
After a stylish Valediction and a
ground-breaking Final Assembly with
the first Ringing of the Bell Ceremony,
the Grade 12 learners embarked on
the next part of their journey. We want
to wish them well. Congratulations to
every award recipient, and especially

to our Dux Scholar for 2018, Chantal
van Rooyen.
If you were able to attend the Sport
and Culture Merit Evening, you would
have been be able to bear witness
to the versatility of our learners. This
evening wasn’t just a celebration
of excellence, but of growth and
motivation to fellow learners for
the years to come. Remember, we
celebrated the culmination of our
alliance.
We have been busy with preparations
for 2019 for some time, and it is
exciting to see how the prefects of
2019 are taking ownership. They
are not only talking but doing. We
are being blamed for not having
the traditions that the older schools
have. But every month, we reflect
on what was done and how we can
improve on it. How exciting is it
that your child is part of laying the
foundations for new traditions to be
celebrated in the years to come!
The world we live in has changed
dramatically compared to the world
we as the previous generation
grew up in. So, let us empower our
learners to grow in a constantly
changing jungle, and not to make
the mistakes we made.
We are sadly saying goodbye to a

few staff members: Ms Sanet van
Wyk who we congratulate on her
promotion as head of department at
DSG; Ms Maryke Holtzhauzen in her
endeavours in teaching abroad in
Brunei; Ms Luzaan Broodryk moving
closer to home and accepting a post
at Maragon and finally Ms Chantalle
Claassen, moving into the private
sector. All of them played a part in
laying the foundation for great and
exciting things to come and we will
always be grateful to them.
With all endings there are always
new beginnings. We have been
blessed because God has
provided, and everybody can start

in January 2019. Here are the new
appointments who will be joining our
family: Mr Dauw Briedenhann from
Menlopark Hoërskool is joining us in
the LO department; Ms Lizelle van
der Riet from Silverton High School
will take hands in the Afrikaans
department; Ms Simone Pillay from
New Vision Secondary School is
joining the English department; Ms
Deirdre Koekemoer from Hoërskool
Piet Potgieter will be enriching the
Accounting department and last
but not least, Ms Daleen Lotz from
Shandong Polytechnic University in
China will be starting the Consumer
Studies department.

Thank you to each and every staff
member at Curro Roodeplaat for the
hours of commitment and dedication.
From the ground staff to the Phase
Heads Mr Dirk Steenkamp and Ms
Dalene Deetlefs and last but not
least, Mr Ferdi Niemand, the rudder
that keeps our ship in check. May
everybody enjoy a well-deserved
rest with their loved ones and come
back rejuvenated to face 2019 with
all the passion that they have.
Africa.
2019 Grade 12s - this is your year.
Upwards and onwards we will go,
because we kept on asking - why?
Pieter van Wyk
Head: High School
My wish for everybody, from the
Castle to the High School, is that
God may keep and bless you. I
wish you a Merry Christmas and an
unbelievable 2019 in and for South

HIGH SCHOOL
IMPORTANT
DATES
03

DECEMBER
FRI 07/12 Report cards handed out:
School closes: 10:00
JANUARY
WED 03/01 Matric results available at school from 08:00 - 09:00
TUES 08/01 Grade 8 Introduction day 08:00-12:00
WED 09/01 School opens
F R I 11 / 0 1 G r a d e 8 c a m p a t Wa t e r b e r g L o d g e . D e p a r t s 0 8 : 0 0
SUN 13/01 Curro Roodeplaat communal church service in High
School hall at 10:00
Grade 8 camp ends. Arrival time at school 14:30
TUES 15/01 Inter-house Swimming Gala
WED 16/01 Assessment plans sent to parents
THURS 17/01 Grade 11 and 12 Parent Information Evening
FRI 18/01 Inter-house Athletics
THURS 24/01 Atom Explosion Grade 8 Concert

THE PRIMARY SCENE
“The difference between ordinary and
extraordinary is that little extra”
– Jimmy Johnson
04

Year-end exams are that time of
year we are looking forward to, as
it indicates the end of a busy year
(and it means downhill towards the
sea holiday). On the other hand it
means limited play time and hours
in front of your books. Good luck to
all our learners with their final exam
for 2018!
And so we near the end of a
busy, yet successful 2018 school
year… Thank you for your support
throughout the year in all activities.
Without parents like you all our
successes would not have been
possible!

Congratulations to all our learners
with their awards for academic,
sport and culture achievements.
Congratulations to the newly
elected learner council for 2019.
See article elsewhere in this issue.
Thank you to Stephanie Marais
that surprised our learners with
a helicopter landing on our
rugby field. The learners had the
opportunity to have a look at the
inside of the helicopter as well. Our
learners were very excited and
many want to become pilots now!
Please note that Friday, 7
December will be a normal school
day. Learners must be at school

y 07:45. We will have a final
assembly, followed by a register
period where learners will receive
their reports. Arrangements for
the first school day 2019 as well
as class allocation will be included
with the reports. School will close at
10:00 for all learners.
We also say goodbye to the
following educators and thank
them for their contribution to Curro
Roodeplaat: Corlette Fernandez,
Taryn Krige, Amelia Zill and Delanie
du Toit.
Important dates for the first two
weeks of term 1, 2019 can be

found in this issue.
Please take note that the school reopens
for learners on Wednesday,
9 January 2019 at 07:45.
I wish you a blessed festive
season. May you experience the
love of our Heavenly Father. Drive
safely and enjoy the holiday with
your loved ones.
Alta Theunissen

PRIMARY
SCHOOL
SPORT
05

HOCKEY
Even though the hockey season has
past, a few of our under 12 hockey boys
and hockey girls participated in the
Northerns hockey trials. The following
girls played in the third round of the hockey
trials on Saturday, 24 November: Mieke
Greyling, Larissa Botha, Nikita Sithole
and Boiphelo Matlaila. The following
boys played in the third round of their
hockey trials on Tuesday, 27 November:
RJ Mashimbye, Nhlokomo Kunene, Daly
Ndlovu, Agcobile Magwa, Christopher
van den Berg, Mohau Ramoshaba and
Thamaga Thamaga. We want to wish
all the players good luck and are looking
forward in expectation to the final round.

PRIMARY
SCHOOL
LEADER
COUNCIL
2019
06

After a democratic voting process, the learner council for 2019 were
announced. Congratulations to all head leaders and leaders!
Boys
Girls
Inacio Marques (Head Boy) Mmaskabane Theledi (Head Girl)
Agcobile Magwa (Deputy Head Boy) Teagan Dean (Deputy Head Girl)
Hayden Basson
Isobel Boshoff
Reynard Bezuidenhout
Haylee Duarte
Jason Houy
Mieke Greyling
Gerhard Korf
Khanyi Mahlangu
Kago Letebele
Boipelo Matlaila
Michael Lovel
Onneile Matlou
Mohau Ramoshaba
Izette Nel
Donovan Smith
Ria Sookraj
Amogelang Tshoagong
Tlotlo Tshwagong
Ethan van Deventer

PRIMARY
SCHOOL
CULTURE
07

What an amazing start for Term
4! A very special visit was made
to Curro Roodeplaat by Airwork
Africa, a helicopter company based
at Wonderboom. All thanks to
Stephanie Marias.
All the learners got an educational
tour of the BK117, twin turbine
helicopter, which made a grand
entrance on our school grounds.
The learners and employees of
Curro Roodeplaat give a great
thanks to the people who gave
the learners an adventurous
opportunity.
CHOIR PERFORMANCE AT
GABBATA
What a privilege it was to be able
to perform with one of South
Africa’s great Afrikaans singers.
It was a great moment when
Nicholis Louw took to the stage
with Curro Roodeplaat Primary
School’s senior choir. We sang Joy
to the World and everyone sang
along with all their hearts. It was
a wonderful opportunity for the
senior choir to make their debut
appearance on stage. There was
great excitement and every face
was full of joy. Well done senior
choir, we are looking forward to
2019’s performances.

PROPBOX DRAMA
Our senior Propbox Drama
learners recently participated in the
Kungwini Eisteddfod group poetry
section. They obtained an 80%
mark, which is a gold certificate.
We are proud of this achievement
and congratulate them on
obtaining this wonderful result.
for the manner in which they
conducted themselves and the
respectful manner in which they
approached the adjudicator.
Their group poem was called
“Africa my Africa”: it consisted of
extracts from former president
Mbeki’s speech as well as extracts
from Dr Wayne Visser’s poem “I
am an African”.
They were also commended

LIBRARY
We are very proud to announce
the official unveiling of our school
library on 23 November 2018. We
would like to extend a word of
heartfelt thanks to the 2018 Grade
7 parents for their contributions
towards making this possible. The
library is a beautiful room where
the learners will be able to enjoy
reading, and remember the Grade
7’s of 2018. Thank you also to
Carine Bolhuis for the beautiful
artwork on the walls. We look
forward to using the library for
many years to come!

PRIMARY
SCHOOL
IMPORTANT
DATES
08

TERM 1 (2019)
8 January Grade 1 learners/new learners introduction (08:00-10:00)
9 January School re-opens (07:45)
Joint opening (Primary school rugby field 09:00)
10 January School’s 9th birthday
Athletic practice (14:15-15:15)
11 January Athletics meeting – Laerskool Du Preez van Wyk
13 January Church service (High school hall 10:00)
14 January Athletic and swimming practice (14:15-15:15)
15 January Parent info evening (gr R-3) 18:00
Athletic and swimming practice (14:15-15:15)
16 January Parent info evening (gr 4-7) 18:00
17 January Athletic and swimming practice (14:15-15:15)

CURRO CASTLE
09

“A toddler can do more in one
unsupervised minute than most
people can do all day”

Thank you for a wonderful fun-filled
picnic with your parents, our little ones’
grandparents. It was lovely to share
memories and laugh about all the things
they do, learn and achieve. See the
photos of our day spent together.
It was such a privilege to invite
Leeuwfontein farm school to join us
for our Puppet show. Thank you for
all your kindness, giving to those less
fortunate. We are so proud to be part
of this successful outreach.
Our helicopter surprise was beyond
words. We know some of you still
have to go and look every afternoon
where the helicopter landed. It made
a huge impact. A very special word

of appreciation to Captain Steph
Marais, who made this possible and
added to the wonderful experiences
our learners can experience. She
was not aware that, since the motors
of the helicopter started to turn, a
spontaneous count down began for
the lift off...... well ... a few count
downs. Final inspection to take off,
takes a good 10 minutes or so.
We had a wonderful, blessed Highfive
function for our group 5’s. Thank
you to Ilse and the group 5 teachers
for all their hard work. Thank you
Natasja for your contributions to make
this day an extra special memory.
We also have to say good-bye to a

very special and gifted teacher, teacher Erna Butler. You have made so
many investments in our little ones hearts and life’s throughout the years
of teaching. We wish you only the best!
A thousand words of thank you’s to my staff for this year. You are a stunning
team! When you, as parents, stop by at my office and compliment my
staff and our school, your words fill my Christmas stocking to the brim.
A child has a special way of adding joy to every day! And they sure did.
We wish you only joy with your loved ones over the Christmas season.
Enjoy your time of rest and summer holiday. Wishing you a wonderful
2019!
Warmest regards
Castle staf

CASTLE
IMPORTANT
DATES

TERM 4 and 1 (2019)
7 December:
School closes @ 10:00
9 January 2019:
School reopens
14 January:
Information evening for new parents
at 18:00

CONTACT DETAILS
General Reception: 087 287 2586
adminr@curro.co.za
Castle Reception: 087 287 2586
adminr@curro.co.za
Primary School Reception: 087 287 2586
Charmaine.r1@curro.co.za
High School Reception: 087 086 4544
Joelene.p01@curro.co.za
Sport:
Jacques van der Merwe
jacques.v1@curro.co.za
11
Marketing: 087 287 2586
Rose.m6@curro.co.za