Magazine 2019

61 A Place For All Seasons The last is done, the next is here, The same as it is every year; Spring, then sunshine, autumn, snow, That is how each year must go. ~ Four Seasons, by Cecil Frances Alexander Every quarter at the Secondary Faculty has its own highlights - and that is why this is such a special place. Never a dull moment! The leaves on the tree are nice and bright! Nice and bright, nice & bright! The leaves on the tree are nice & bright, All summer long! The 2019 school year had a very early start in January, with the matric results announced in the first week, the staff returning in the second week and the learners returning in the third week. The Class of 2018z did us proud with exceptional results, again earning us a place on theWCEDTop 20 schools list. The day before the learners returned for the academic year, we invited all new learners joining us for the first time for an orientation morning. They were welcomed and put at ease about the use of technology at our school by our peer tutors. It made their integration into the school so much easier. Last year’s final results were celebrated at the Academic and Honours ceremony in the first week. This is always a special occasion where we invite successful past learners to share their tips for success with the school. This year past Head Boy, Rodney Mhungu, thanks to modern technology, addressed the learners all the way from Amsterdam. We fitted in the highly anticipated CATS auditions and an Inter- house Gala before, as per tradition, the entire school departed on the annual outdoor adventure camps. Each grade and their educators spent a few days in nature, getting to know one another and participating in team building and problem solving activities. Sport, Cultural Activities and Outreach projects started straight away when everyone returned from camp with some of the highlights being the Chukka Water Polo Festival in Knysna and the West Coast Rugby and Netball Festival, as well as the Parklands College Festival of Music at the end of the Summer Quarter. We celebrated Mother Language Day in style and reiterated our commitment to non-discrimination with our Freedom Bell ceremony on Human Rights Day. The Afrikaans Department had a whole lot of surprises lined up for AfrikaansWeek, while the English Department prepared a large number of learners for the annual English Olympiad, in which our learners fared very well. During the March holiday our senior rugby and netball teams toured Ireland and the junior rugby, netball and hockey teams attended the Southern Cape Sports Tournament - all in preparation for the Autumn Season. The leaves on the tree fall to the ground! To the ground, to the ground! The leaves on the tree fall to the ground, All autumn long! Within the first two weeks of the Autumn Quarter we were entertained by the House Plays, experienced many interesting lectures and activities for the Mathematics and Science Week, welcomed an international orchestra from the Netherlands and hosted a jazz picnic at Bon Amis where our jazz band was joined by three other schools for a wonderful afternoon of music. OnWorld Book Day the Drama Department took the school on a Shakespeare Safari around the campus. We filled a big coach with learners to travel to UCT for the annual Mathematics Olympiad in April. The Music Department remained active with participating in the Marimba Festival and hosting various concerts, including the Majors and Minors concert in which ensembles from the whole school participated. Just before the mid-year examinations started, we celebrated isiXhosa week, incorporating Africa Day and the whole school ran/walked in our annual Inter-house Bounds event.