Youth Conference

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WHEN?          01 – 04 July 2019

THEME:         Youth taking the lead and fight against risky behavior

WHERE?        Nelson Mandela University

This conference was attended by learners all over the Sarah Baartman’s District and it was a mix of both genders. The main purpose of the conference was to teach the youth of South Africa about the risky behaviors that they get themselves in such as unprotected sexual activity, illegal substance and drug abuse which are commonly used by the youth. We learned about many things in the conference but the main lessons were about how we can prevent ourselves from getting HIV and that we shouldn’t be discriminating the LGBTIQ community.

BY SINAWO MZIZI

 

National book week spelling Bee

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On the 19 of August I went to Makhanda to participate in the National Book Week Spelling Bee Competition where I was competing against 5 schools for isiXhosa spelling and I won 3rd position out of the 5 kids I was competing against. It was a nice experience and I really hope I will do better next time and put my school on the map.

I am looking forward to the next competition which will be next year.

BY: LINDOKUHLE MATYUMZA (GRADE 9)


 

On the 19th of August I participated in the National Book week Spelling Bee Competition where I was competing against schools. I won the 1st position in the English spelling Bee and I proceeded to the level which was to compete in the district in Alexandria.

In Alexandria I was competing against 11 other learners in the Sarah Baartman District from other schools on the 21st of August and I won the 2nd position.t

The competition was very tough but I was tougher and next time, I am getting that prize.

BY: LANDISWA NTAMO (GRADE 9)

 

On the 19th of August 2019 I went to attend a National Book Week in Grahamstown at the Makana Municipality Library. I went there to do an English Book Review on a book called “Nwelezelanga – The Star Child”. It was my first time doing a book review but because we do it all the time in the Reading Club for the kids, I did very well and got 1st position.

Then again on the 21st of August I went to Port Alfred. There were many schools there from the Sundays River, Kouga, Makana and Ndlambe Municipalities. The competition was very tough, but I tried my best and got the third position. We were given prizes and the third prize was a backpack, a pen and a water bottle.

I experienced a lot during the competition and I would encourage others to also try and attend the Book Week every year when it takes place.

BY ASEMAHLE ZONDANI (GRADE11)

 

On the 21/08/2019 two learners from the intermediate phase Alupheli Dingaan(Grade4) and Ahlumile Madyo(Grade5) attended a Xhosa Spelling Bee of the district in Grahamstwon. There were eighteen schools from Grahamstown and the surrounding areas. Each school was represented by two learners and Alupheli Dingaan managed to get position 4.

We look forward to the next spelling bee and we will be more prepared than we were.

BY MISS SATI

Farewell to Mrs Lulama Maninjwa

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The school bids farewell to Mrs Lulama Maninjwa, who has been a substitute in the place of Mr Myona during term 3. Mrs Maninjwa was teaching English FAL to grades 7 to 9. It was a pleasure having Mrs Maninjwa on board, and we wish her well in her future endeavors.

MRS LOUW-ARNOLDS

SMT Note September 2019

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Unyaka uphelile.” These famous words have been spoken on many occasions by our former late principal, Mr. M. E. Kosi, much to the amusement of the learners, and many of them only realising later in their lives that with those prophetic words Mr Kosi actually wanted only to warn all of us that there merely is no time to waste, and that time is speeding by very quickly. And once again, in the blink of an eye, we have come to the end of Term 3.

This term once again brought with it a lot of challenges, including trying to come to terms with the poor June results, which meant a lot of extra hard work by both teachers and learners. We also had to face the entire term without the leadership of our principal, Mr Myona, who is still on sick leave, and therefore the school had to be managed by only 50% of the normal SMT, Mrs C. Louw-Arnolds, and Mr M. Gumenge, who managed to keep the school boat afloat regardless of the shortage of manpower. This term brought the usual pressure on our Gr 12 learners, with teachers trying to complete the syllabus, as well as fit in time for revision and getting learners exam-ready. And we were faced with numerous disciplinary cases which had a detracting impact on general discipline and the culture of learning at the school.

However, we are filled with much hope for the new term as we have observed a significant improvement in learner achievement for this term, especially in the intermediate phase. And we are delighted at the prospect of having our beloved principal back with us next term, bringing with him a sense of normality and much-needed stability as we are heading towards the National Senior Certificate Exams for matrics and final exams for the whole school.

To all staff members and learners, thank you so much for your hard work and diligence during this past term, it surely has paid off. Enjoy the short but well-deserved holiday and may the Hand of the Lord be over us all during the short break.

Hendrik Kanise SMT

Term 3 2019 – Sports News

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Term 3 has been very busy for our school. We hosted Jeffrey’s Bay Primary in soccer, rugby and netball. We also participated in the Lex Bowen Foundation Sports tournament where we played against Linkside High School from Port Elizabeth and Goerge Jacques Primary School. Soccer under 13 team went to Makanda to take part in the Build-It soccer tournament. Khulasande Sports Development started with their coaching clinics in Athletics.

BY: MR GUMENGE

INTRODUCING NEW AND TEMPORARY STAFF

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This is Abongile James. She was born in iDutywa but grew up in Butterworth, a small town near where she was born.

What she likes most about her teaching career is motivating the young kids to be something better in future.

What motivates her the most is her mother, who always believed in her and always complements her achievements.

 

This is Sindiswa Gxamza and she was born in Uitenhage. She came to the school in 2018.

What she likes most about teaching is to impact on young people’s lives and motivate them to be the best they can be.

What motivates her is the difference she makes in a child’s life from the moment she meets them to the moment they realise the change in themselves.

 

This is Vuyiseka Siwisa who was born in Alicedale and she is the new Learner Support Agent.

What she like most about her job is helping the kids who are in need of help and assist them to get the help they need.

What motivates her is her background, she grew up in a very poor family but managed to go to school and be one of the learners who made Hendrik Kanise proud.

This is Thabani Diya and he was born in Bizana.

What he likes most about teaching: The teacher groom the most precious thing in a human being. That’s nothing other than the brain. Teaching is a never-ending profession. The teacher teaches every day and learns every day. As a teacher, you get the opportunity to touch many lives if learners & learners and play a huge role in making their future brighter.

What motivates him: One candle loses nothing by lighting hundreds of candles in a hall. So does the teacher, s/he loses nothing by passing His/her knowledge to others, but gains everything – learning new things.

This is Asavela Matera who was born in Port Elizabeth.

What she likes the most about teaching is the art of caring and loving. She believes teaching requires you to care and love yourself and your art so that your love can radiate and be able to nourish young minds.

She is motivated by her dream of a better society, which is aware of its actions to all the species of the environment.

She is doing her teaching practice 2 for 1 month and TP3 in third therm. This in total will be just above or exactly 2 months.

This is Malibongwe Vena from Grahamstown.

What he likes most about teaching: He likes the fact that teaching provides him with an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better, just as his life was changed positively by a teacher. To help children develop self-awareness of individuals and a lifelong love of learning.

What motivates him: Knowing that at least the lives of the learners he teaches will be changed positively and the hope of seeing them as responsible adults in the future is motivation enough for him.

Candle Light Ceremony

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EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

CANDLE LIGHT CEREMONY

On the 15th of May the school had a candle light ceremony. This event has turned to one of the school’s annual events as it is one the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilizationcampaigns for HIV awareness. The International Candlelight Memorial takes place every 19th of May. This event reminds us those that are affected by the HIV epidemic, including people living with HIV in all their diversity: being women, men and young people.  In the event we were joined by the local social worker Phumla Gojela who explained the purpose of us joining together for this event to the learners.

The event is always education and yet emotional as most of us have lost people very close to our hearts because of HIV/AIDS.

“Reflect on our past preparing for future.”

Drug awareness

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Use and abuse of drugs and alcohol by teens is very common and can have serious consequences. In the 15-24 year age range 50% deaths involve alcohol and drug abuse.

The school has a policy of non-drug and alcohol use and we always hold motivational sessions for the learners so that they can be aware of the dangers of alcohol and drug use. The schools also invites the SAPS for random pursuits of drugs.

The combination of teenagers’ curiosity, risk taking behaviour and social pressure makes it very difficult to say no. This leads most teenagers to the questions: “Would it hurt to try?” That is why it is essential for us as teachers to have these effective drug and alcohol education for the kids because it plays a counterbalancing role in shaping a normative culture of safety, moderation and informed decision making.

The learner are also playing big roles in in making sure these issues are addressed as they are running a peer education programme. In the programme they discuss some of the issues they are facing as teenagers and they have concluded that Alcohol and Drug abuse is among the worse challenges that they have ever faced. Of cause all of that is because of low self-esteem and peer pressure.

 

Sports day

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On the 27th of February the school held a sort day. We played against Sandisulwazi High School from Paterson and George Jacques Primary School. The games were fun and entertaining. In sport, wining is not important. What’s more important is that you play, enjoy yourself and learn new things from the other teams. Winning is just a bonus.

Music and Drama

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The music club has been around since last year and the club has been running smoothly. This year we have introduced Drama club to the school, nothing much has happened yet but the club has managed to hold a couple number of sessions. On the 06 of February the Drama, Dance and Girls club were visited by Volunteers from the Shamwari Conservation Experience. The volunteers helped our learners by setting up drama exercises including ‘catching me am falling’ game that teaches learners about trusting one another. The day was fun and the learners sang and performed their dance routines for their visitors.