Dear Kingsmead Community
Last week, I was constantly thinking of my impending sleep-out on The Garth. It was interesting for me to note that this actually informed much of my thinking – questions like: Is the weather going to improve? What if I don’t sleep at all? What happens if I catch a cold and can’t do reports; who is going to see me when I wake up? I also go to bed with a new appreciation of my warm bed (which I am only going to miss for ONE night) and I wake up thinking of how lucky I am to be in my environment. With the cold and rainy weather, I have a renewed empathy for the people who live on the street.
I have also witnessed our girls’ service team in action and this is remarkable. To see young people feeling so strongly about a cause gives me such hope for the future of the country. They have collected warm clothes, organised for blanket donations and sold newspapers on the street. Mandela Day was also particularly special this year as we made 209 sleeping bags that will be donated to homeless people. It was good to learn a new skill and to feel as if you were going to make a small difference to someone’s life. Thank you to Jenny Venter for organising this for us and thank you to all the people who joined in on the day.
We are absolutely delighted with the way in which the renovation of the Mackenzie wing has turned out. This building was officially opened by the Chairman of Council – Mr Phillip Myburgh – on Friday 29 July at 13:15.
I thank the Kingsmead Community as a whole for its support to the school this term in what has been a most successful term.
I wish you all a wonderful August holiday and I look forward to seeing you in September.
Fond regards
Lisa Kaplan
Headmistress: Kingsmead College
Our “Artist-in-Residence”
Our “Artist-in-Residence”, Fikile Maseko, has been creating watercolours of scenes on our campus this year. Fikile was born in 1962 in Johannesburg. His father was a driver. Fikile grew up in Dube Village in Soweto. He attended Holy Cross Primary School in Soweto, then moved to Tinana School in the eastern Cape to live with his paternal grandparents. He didn’t matriculate.
In 1981, at the age of 19, he attended the Mofolo Art Centre in Soweto for three years. He also studied at the Johannesburg Art Foundation in Saxonwold, in 1989. He loves the work of sculptor Anton van Wouw, artists Irma Stern, Vladimir Tretchikoff and John Constable.
“I’m happy when I paint,” he says. “I have enjoyed being at Kingsmead a lot, it’s easy to feel at home, because the people at Kingsmead understand what I’m doing and give me courage.”
Fikile has spent many years walking around the Westcliff/Parks area, with his leather hat on and his leather bag, painting watercolours of the scenery: Zoo Lake and the Parkview shops in particular. He has also been commissioned to paint many of the facades of homes in the area.
Fikile still lives in the same house that he grew up in, in Dube Village, Soweto, and loves tending to his garden.
Kingsmead College will be using his watercolours in our 2016 Magazine, as well as for gift cards.
Hayley Pienaar
Director of Marketing and The Kingsmead Book Fair
Arts
GRADE 7 PRODUCTION
Recently, our Grade 7 girls were in the limelight with their annual production. This year, it was a clever adaptation of some all-time favourite Fairy Tales, with appearances by everyone from Rapunzel, Prince Charming, a quirky mirror, all the famous princesses and a most delightful royal family! The singing was fantastic, the acting absolutely wonderful with some beautiful dancing in between.
Enormous congratulations to the production team, Karen Muller and Mia Loock for the Music; Gabby Thomson and the amazing team of moms and grannies for the incredible costumes, Denise Griffiths for the choreography, Ann Wayt, Sharon Jones and Lisa & Tony O’Donovan for the set, Shamila Chiman, Ann Grey and the Junior School Staff for all their support and help and most of all, Maryanne Clegg for the phenomenal job pulling the whole production together. Working with a cast of this size and making sure every girl has the opportunity to use her special talent, is no mean feat. It was a fabulous showcase of our girls’ many talents and much enjoyed by the audience. Please see our Facebook page for more pictures and videos.
DRAMA
Congratulations to our Grade 10 Dramatic Arts students who won the iSchoolAfrica iSchool Press Team video campaign competition, ?#?RACISMSTOPSWITHME?. We are so proud of their dedication, hard work and courage (always).
Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NY9MpebGRg&list=PLOaB2BuWhQ7wuSAGr1VUtuqWAZQDuueE6&index=2
Frances Wilmot
Dramatic Arts Teacher
ART
Our Grade 11 Art pupils worked on Site-specific Art this term and you can see the interesting and thought provoking works all over campus. Have a look and read the rationale they wrote to explain the context and ideas behind their work. These works are not all suited to be photographed so please do take a walk around the campus to see our girls’ work.
The Grade 10 Art girls did some beautiful self-portraits and it is evident in their work, that this is a group of talented artists!
The Art club has also kicked off successfully this term and their first projects will be displayed in the next newsletter when they have been completed.
DEBATING
It is with great excitement that I inform you of the outstanding achievements of the Junior Debating Team.
This past Sunday 31 July 2016, our girls competed in the SACEE Championship.
The morning started out with the quarterfinals where Kingsmead went up against St David. Here our girls were Proposition, debating the motion of whether or not censorship in the media is a good thing. After being victorious in the quarter-finals our girls went through to the semi-finals where they went head to head against Parktown High School for Girls. In the semi-finals our girls were Opposition debating the topic of whether child labour should be allowed in South Africa as a way of teaching children important life skills. Our Kingsmead girls defeated Parktown High School for Girls in a very interesting debate. Kingsmead was once again victorious going through to the Finals. In the Finals our girls went up against Rodean, here Kingsmead was Proposition debating the motion of whether implementing a Euthanasia programme for terminally ill children in South Africa would work. This was such a difficult motion but in true Kingsmead style our girls took to the challenge and won the debate. Kingsmead were given the title of SACEE Plate Champions 2016.
We are so proud of our girls.
MUSIC
Well done to all our Grade 2-7 choir girls who participated in the Choir evening with St David’s Marist Inanda on Wednesday 27 July. It was a much enjoyed evening of many excited young musicians having great fun singing together!
Well done to the Senior School Glee who performed at the St Stithians Girls’ Choirs’ Evening and the Grade 4-7 Choir and the Clarinet & Flute Ensemble who played at Jan Celliers at the end of June.
Congratulations to all the girls who participated in external examinations this past month – you did Kingsmead very proud with the exceptional results! A special mention to Emily Wilmot who passed her Grade 8 Rockschool Voice exam with 96% and Peta Myburgh who passed the Grade 8 ABRSM Violin
An enormous well done to all the Junior and Senior School Marimba Ensembles who performed at the International Marimba & Steelpan Festival & Competition this weekend. They were amazing and made Kingsmead so proud!
Please see our Facebook page for more pictures!
INTER HOUSE ARTS
We look forward to our Inter House Arts Competition this week Thursday 4 August 18h00 – 21h00. This is always an exceptional evening where the Senior School girls have the opportunity to showcase their talents. The girls write their own scripts, choose and arrange music, choreograph, design the set, costumes, just about everything, with very little adult input. Come and see if you want to be wowed! The theme this year is Reduce Reuse Recycle and should make for some interesting interpretation.
Elsabe’ Fourie
Director of Arts and Music
Sports News
DIVING
Kingsmead Girls to Kazan
Two Kingsmead College Girls have been chosen to compete in the World Junior Championships in Kazan, Russia, at the end of the year.
Olivia van Vollenhoven (Grade 9) and Sarah Benning (Grade 8) have been chosen to participate and will be accompanied by their coach Dominique Philippopoulos, who teaches at Kingsmead College.
They will each be performing 16 dives, 8 off the one-metre board and 8 off the three-metre diving board.
“The Girls will need to train for at least four hours per day until then,” Philippopoulos said.
There will be over 40 countries participating in the World Junior Championships, for participants under the age of 18. There are only five South Africans (all girls) who will participate.
“Girls’ schools have grown and developed the sport, however, boys’ schools still have a way to go to attract the same participation.”
Philippopoulos has a dream to further develop diving as a sport. “There is absolutely nowhere we can train during winter…imagine what we could achieve if we could have an indoor facility. This is my dream.”
Kingsmead Old Girl, Julia Vincent, who also trained with Philippopoulos, will be competing the Olympics in August in Rio. She was also a participant in the World Junior Championships.
The World Junior Championships will be held from 29 November to 3 December.
NETBALL
We had a most successful netball season with two teams making it through to the District Play offs. The first team missed Playoffs narrowly by one goal. Overall we placed 3rd in our Pool.
Congratulations to these Girls who played Inter-Provincial Netball this season: (Left to right) Emily Smale; Aleksandra Marek; Jessica Shepherd; Palesa Malebana; Frances Butcher; Ntsoaki Masinga; Taydin Louw and Natalya Meyerowitz. (Absent Carina Afonso)
Under 14A Team (left to right) Nusaiba Moola, Rebecca Lee, Georgina Beart, Emma Clark, Sarah Minnie, Kelsey Cloete, Annabel Davidson with head coach Tracey-Lee Minnie.
Taydin Louw; Emma Davis; Ntsoaki Masinga; Palesa Malebana ; Eryn La Fleur; Ashley Pretorius; Sophie Munro; Jessica Shepherd and Natalya Meyerowitz
JUNIOR SCHOOL EQUESTRIAN
As you know the following riders have been selected to represent Johannesburg Metro at the SANESA Gauteng Regional Finals:
Ella Hunt
Level 2 Equitation: A Team
Level 3 Dressage: B Team
Level 5 Working Riding: B Team
Abi McBean
Level 1 Prix Caprilli: A Team
Level 3 Show Jumping: B Team
Emma Gouws
Level 1 Equitation: A Team
Level 3 Show Jumping: B Team
Hannah Buttifant-Sewel
Level 1 Dressage: B Team
Well done to them and their ponies! These girls were awarded their Regional colours. They will be representing Gauteng Metro at the Gauteng Regional Finals on 6 to 9 August at Kyalami Equestrian Park, and based on their results there, will possibly also then represent Gauteng at the Nationals in October.
In addition, we are very proud that the following girls will be awarded Level 0 Newcomer medals at the Awards evening and are eligible to compete at Nationals in October.
Gold Medals:
Leeya Motara: Performance Riding and Working Riding, Lead Rein
Jessica Schroeder: Working Riding off lead 10 and up
Silver Medals:
Rania Motara: Performance Riding Lead Rein
Lesedi Moloi: Performance Riding and Working Riding, 10 and up
Bronze Medals:
Ayla-Mae Smyth: Performance Riding, Lead Rein
Makhutsi Moloi: Performance Riding, Lead Rein
SENIOR SCHOOL EQUESTRIAN
Kingsmead College was placed 1st in their League and 6th overall out of 30 schools.
The following girls have been selected for the Equestrian Gauteng Regional Team.
Annabel Dennison – Equitation and Dressage
Ashley Pretorius – Show jumping, Equitation, Performance riding
Julia Courtney – Working Riding
Lauren Courtney – Prix Caprilli, Working Riding
Luka Copperthwaite – Showjumping and Equitation
Mia Oliver – Equitation and Show jumping
Paula Duggan – Dressage
Victoria Butcher – In Hand Utility, Prix Caprilli, Show jumping, Equitation, Performance riding, Working Hunter, Dressage, Working rider.
HOCKEY
Congratulations to the following girls who played Inter-Provincial hockey this season: Jamielee Clogg; Mohini Rayment; Husnaa Bux; Naledi Modiselle and Margarete Amoes
We have had a better season than last year with the 1st team and u14A team winning 50% of their games.
The u16 and 1st teams took part in the Pullen/Howell Trophy. There are 24 schools taking part in this event. Our u16 team finished 8th and 1st team 10th.
Back row, left to right: Coach Des Golach, Lauren Paton, Husnaa Bux, Olivia van Vollenhoven, Alexandra Lee, Emma Oosterlee, Alexandra Phillips and Sarah Benning
Middle row: Laura Hudson, Grace Dickson, Alexandra Taylor and Jade Fortescue
Front row: Alexandra Whittaker, Tuana Guler and Nicola Gace
The junior school are still busy with their hockey fixtures and so far we have had very good results. Although they do not play in a league, all teams remain competitive and are winning more games. The B teams are playing in weekend festivals which has allowed those players to develop more.
Congratulations to Olivia Davidson who played Inter-provincial hockey this season.
WATERPOLO
The Kingsmead Senior Water Polo squad has been competing in the Friday evening winter league at Wahoo since May to prepare for the upcoming season and the St Anne’s annual Waterpolo festival.
Robert Pullen – Director of Sport and Tracey-Lee Minnie – Senior Sport
Academic News
GEOGRAPHY
Grade 12 Geographical Information Systems Workshop
The Matric Geography girls participated in a GIS Workshop at Kingsmead. The intention of the workshop was to reinforce our GIS theory and also to give us hands-on experience of using the operating system QGIS. The workshop was presented by the AfriSpatial team of Bridgit and Gavin Fleming and turned out to be a lot of fun!
It is amazing how the computers used the information that we gave them and generated maps and shapes and colours. We now understand the process it takes to create a map and the wonderful uses that GIS has in the world. It is a vital process in our society where technology has taken over.
Information can be layered on top of one another to generate systems that contribute to everyday life. One can read the heat signature of the area or the roads that are in a country or the height of the mountain. By putting them on top of each other a system could be created to see if there were fires in a mountainous area and the roads that could be used to access areas to put those fires out.
Emily Wilmot
Grade 12 Student
ENGLISH
De Beers English Olympiad
The English Department would like to congratulate all the girls who wrote the English Olympiad this year.
The theme for this year’s Olympiad was, “A journey into darkness: excerpts from stories exploring the darker side of human nature.” This theme proved to be a challenging, yet engaging topic for the entrants. A gruelling 3-hour exam, ensured that the candidates had indeed taken a literary journey into the darker side of human nature.
The girls achieved an outstanding set of results: 16 learners were awarded Gold certificates (80% and above), 20 learners were awarded Silver certificates (70%-79%), 6 learners were awarded Bronze certificates (60%-69%) and 4 merit certificates (50%-59%).
Congratulations to Maddie Carter (36) and Erica Haldane (83) who were both ranked in the English Olympiad 2016 National Top 100, this is an outstanding achievement.
Kathryn Body
English Teacher
SCIENCE
Eskom Science Expo
Congratulations to the following Grade 8 girls who all achieved medals in the Eskom Science Expo for their projects. Left to right: Kelsey Cloete; Sarah Minnie; Georgina Beart; Abigail Behr; Chloe Buchel; Emily van der Want and Alexa Lipchin.
Global Young Leaders’ Conference
Nasiha Minty, Maddie Carter and Christie du Plessis representing Kingsmead College at the Global Young Leaders’ Conference in Washington DC.
The President’s Award
Adventurous Journey: Magoebaskloof Trail
By Cayley Fitzgerald (Grade 12)
After a seemingly never-ending bus trip, we arrived in Magoebaskloof. After repacking our bags and getting organized we set off, guided by white footprints. Having to guide ourselves along the route proved to be more challenging than expected as we ended up completely lost and frantically trying to find white footprints again. With aching feet and sore backs we trudged on, at an ever-increasing speed in order to ensure we reached our destination before dark. The views were breathtaking! After a long day of hiking we even appreciated a cold shower. In the evenings we bonded over a cup of tea and roasted marshmallows. Despite sore feet and being exhausted, our spirits were always high.
The Magoeboeskloof hiking trail takes you through beautiful forests with spectacular waterfalls. Fallen trees provided interesting obstacles to manoeuvre over with heavy packs. This hike was quite strenuous with changing terrain and precarious bridges. Participants even had to walk over a river on a log with no handholds!
Congratulations to the following girls who completed this Adventurous Journey:
Bianca Kendall
Alexia Papageorgiou
Husnaa Jhavary
Humnaaz Jhavary
Kinary Chiman
Cayley Fitzgerald
Monica Carvalheiro
Sarah-Lee Burnett
Nicola Corado
Jessica Winn
Zeenat Saloojee
Adventurous Journey: Kaapschehoop Hiking Trail
By Amy Viljoen (Grade 10)
During midterm, a group of intrepid hikers from various schools in the Johannesburg area took on the Kaapschehoop Hiking trail. The hike was challenging, but the exquisite scenery definitely justified the blisters and bruises. Although glad to return home, we will always have fond memories of this hike.
Congratulations to the following girls who completed this Adventurous Journey:
Amy Viljoen
Lihua Bongozonga
Upcoming Adventurous Journeys:
Hoeriekwagga trail (Cape Town) 29 August – 2 September
Upcoming Residential Projects:
Owl Rescue Centre (Hartbeespoort Dam): 8 – 12 August
World Challenge Expedition to India in August 2017:
A World Challenge expedition includes an adventurous journey and residential project component of The President’s Award. If you would like to receive more information on this expedition or to apply to be part of the team, please contact Jenny Venter at jventer@kingsmead.co.za
Jenny Venter
The President’s Award Leader
Service
BREAD TAGS AND BOTTLE TOPS – WHEELCHAIR DONATION
The Kingsmead family has donated a wheelchair to the Ntombela family for their granny who lives in Dube, Soweto. Last Sunday after a long time MaNtombela attended a family function and showed off her new wheels.
The Ntombela family are grateful for the work that Kingsmead does for the community. Halala KINGSMEAD Halala.
Sue-Ann Mabaso
isiZulu Teacher
67 MINUTES FOR MANDELA DAY: MAKE AND DONATE A SLEEPING BAG
Kingsmead College hosted a Mandela Day event in partnership with Community Hours SA, The Sun International School SleepOut and Liberty. The community was invited to give 67 minutes to Make and Donate a Sleeping Bag. Better SA facilitated workshops based on Jo Maxwell’s design of the “Good Night and God Bless” sleeping bags that are made from newspaper and recycled plastic.
211 volunteers participated on the day and 209 sleeping bags were made. All sleeping bags were gifted to STUDENT Ambassador Frank Leya, who is hosting a STUDENT SleepOut on 28 July in the inner city. All the sleeping bags will be handed out to the homeless to offer them a little comfort from the harsh winter nights.
This event received wonderful publicity. Volunteers from World Challenge, Rand Girls, Roedean, St Andrew’s School for Girls, Johannesburg Junior Council, Beaulieu College, St John’s College and King David joined the event.
CAN DRIVE
The Can Drive this term was once again very succesful. This is an annual initiative of Phoenix, the collaboration of Heads of different schools around Johannesburg. The cans will be donated to The Jesuit Church Refugee Service.
Jenny Venter
Head of Service
PTA News
We so enjoyed a wonderful PTA Mothers’ and Daughters’ Breakfast at Tiffany’s this past Saturday. Please see our Facebook page for many more photos!
Thank you for your continued support of Kingsmead College. We are also grateful to the Class Representatives and PTA Exco who continue to serve Kingsmead with pride.
We have had various fundraisers including:
The KCC Draw and Car Park Raffle which were drawn on 27 June in the Senior School assembly. The parking bay raffle for the third term was won by the Khoncha family, whose daughter is in Grade 4. We wish you many hassle free parking hours!
Congratulations to the KCC winners for this term. They are:
1st prize : Emily Wilmot
2nd prize : Palesa Monyokolo
3rd prize : Sarah Minnie
Car Raffle: Thank you for supporting this new initiative which replaces the Golf Day this year. As at 22/07, ticket sales are 587 tickets sold. Keep a look out for our “thermometer” which is updated weekly with the latest sales. We are using every opportunity to sell tickets at the school and the Titanium Silver Kia Picanto 1.0 LS Man is on show at the school together with marketing material. We urge you to buy your ticket if you have not already done so as the proceeds of this raffle will go towards financing the purchase of a large school bus, costing in the region of R 1 500 000.00. Entries close on 08 October and the draw will take place at the Kingsmead College Goodwill Day.
Events planned for the remainder of the year include:
Third Term:
KCC Raffle and Car Parking Bay draws: Junior School Assembly
World Teachers’ Day: Wednesday 05 October
Goodwill Day/Fun Walk and Car Raffle Draw: Saturday 08 October
947 Ride for Bara: Sunday 20 November
Thank you for your continual support of the School Shop. It continues to sell a selection of both second hand and new uniform items, various school requirements and merchandise articles.
We wish you and your families a relaxing holiday and should you be travelling, please do so safely. We look forward to sharing a warmer third term with you all!
Have you bought your raffle tickets yet?
Win a Kia Picanto 1.0 LS Man, featuring an MP3 radio,
Safety-film, central locking and an electric sun-roof !
Tickets R250 each
COLLECT YOUR TICKETS ORDERED FROM THE RAFFLE SALES DESKS IN THE CAR PARK ON FRIDAY MORNING
Draw will take place on 8 October 2016 at Kingsmead College on Goodwill Day!
Net Proceeds to go towards the purchase of a new school bus
See our Lottery Terms and Conditions at www.kingsmeadcollege.co.za
Kind regards
The PTA Exco
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