Westerford High School Newsletter

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WESTERFORD HIGH SCHOOL www.westerford.co.za [email protected]

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Westerford High School Newsletter ISSUE 1 (26 FEBRUARY 2021)

Our Chairperson, Yasti Ranjith

CONGRATULATIONS!

Hannah Gildenhuys, Raphaelle Moors and Raania Arend (Grade 11) have made it through to the Regional Finals of the 2021 French Spelling Bee hosted by the French Embassy!

Raphaelle and Raania "in action" awaiting their words to spell from Muriel Huet, Epelle-moi coordinator.

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2021 ! We are very excited to introduce our PR-writers for this year…

Kyra Ferreira

Daniella Beswick Aimee van der Merwe

Natalia Forbes

Sabrina-Leah Stadler

Aliya Dalvie

Anna McClellan

Rutendo Chagweta

Eunice Umba

Amy-Rose Damerell

Phoebe Kingston

Kiana Christodoulides

Ella Savage

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FROM THE FRONT OFFICE...

2020 SANTA SHOEBOXES! Sabrina-Leah Stadler (Grade 10)

Remember to download the d6 Communicator to stay connected with your school. The d6 School Communicator is a stand-alone application designed to simplify school-parent communication.

At the end of 2020, the Santa shoebox donations were once again a major success for the Westerford community. Each shoebox provided by parents and students contained a collection of items: sweets, hygiene necessities, toys, stationery and clothing. The boxes were decorated and each contained a handwritten letter. These were then donated to the organisations Jim se bos, CAFDA and Baphumelele Children’s Home.

‘I would like to say a huge thank you from me as well on behalf of the school to everyone from our community who contributed a gift shoebox at the end of last year. In addition to the three organisations that we have supported for the last number of years, we were able to donate boxes to two other organisations because of the overwhelming response we received from our Westerford community. I am always so blown away by the generosity that is shown by all of you. We so sincerely appreciate your contribution and willingness to give to those less fortunate. Ms Gray Another big thank you to all those who donated and we look forward to future contributions!

http://d6.co.za/education/downloads/

Parents, please include the grade of your child when notifying the office.

http://d6.co.za/education/downloads/

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MARIMBAS START UP

The marimba groups are at it again. This is a photo of the new committee, prepping for the online cultural launch. Marimba players are coached by some of the pupils as well as Ms Ainsworth. They practise in the mornings before school, and pupils will be notified when we have our next auditions. Names from left to right: Reece Swaret, Nokutenda Thabede, Kirsten Pillay, Tyra Clack (Chair person), Caleb Thomas and Ariya Pillay.

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February is World Black History Month. We would like to invite our pupils to have a look at the books on display in the library that celebrate Black History, Identity, Culture, Talent and Stories. It is also a good time to continue educating ourselves on the topics of Racism and Racial Discrimination. Our selection includes books on these topics too. Featured below are a selection of some of the fiction books you will see on our shelves and on display, focussing on exciting new Black authors and the telling of gripping Black stories.

PURPLE HIBISCUS by CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE Fifteen-year-old Kambili lives in fear of her father, a charismatic yet violent Catholic patriarch who, although generous and well-respected in the community, is repressive and fanatically religious at home. Escape and the discovery of a new, liberated way of life come when Nigeria is shaken by a military coup, forcing Kambili and her brother to live at her aunt’s home, a noisy place full of laughter. The visit will lift the silence from her world and, in time, unlock a terrible, bruising secret at the heart of her family life.

WHO FEARS DEATH by NNEDI OKORAFOR In a post-apocalyptic Africa, the Nuru are exterminating the Okeke in accordance with the Great Book. A survivor of the massacre of an Okeke village, who had been raped, manages to escape and gives birth. She names her daugh-ter Onyesonwu which means “Who Fears Death”. Raised by a shaman, Onyesonwu discovers it is her destiny to stop the genocide of her people. Trigger warning: rape, genocide, female genital mutilation, racism, misogny

NOUGHTS & CROSSES by MALORIE BLACKMAN This book follows the building romance of Sephy, a Cross - a member of the dark-skinned ruling class - and Callum, a Nought - a member of the underclass who were once enslaved by the Crosses.Theirs is a love forbidden, but against the backdrop of prejudice and district, punctuated by terrorism, they pursue it anyway. Trigger warning: racism, alcoholism, suicide, capital punishment

DOG EAT DOG by NIQ MHLONGO Dingz is a young Wits student caught between two worlds, the university and the township – and scheming hard to make his way in both. A quirky, complex character with a wry sense of humour, Dingz finds himself on a wild taxi-ride of emotion, set against the backdrop of the ’94 election. Trigger warning: violence, racism

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CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION by DINAW MENGESTU Seventeen years ago, Sepha Stephanos fled the Ethiopian Revolution after witnessing soldiers beat his father to the point of certain death. He sold off his parents' jewellery to pay for passage to the United States. Now he finds himself running a grocery store in a poor African-American neighbourhood in Washington, D.C. His only companions are two fellow African immigrants who share his feelings of frustration with and bitter nostalgia for their home continent. He realizes that his life has turned out completely different to the one he had imagined for himself years ago. When his neighbourhood is disturbed by a series of racial incidents, Sepha may lose everything all over again. Told in a haunting and powerful first-person narration that casts the streets of Washington, D.C., and Addis Ababa through Sepha's eyes, Children of the Revolution is a deeply affecting and unforgettable debut novel about what it means to lose a family and a country-and what it takes to create a new home.

WHO CAN CATCH US WHEN WE FALL by IMAN VERJEE Growing up in the Nairobi of the 90s, a seething boiling pot of racial tension and conflicting cultural taboos, Leena and Jai are raised to believe in a Kenya full of possibility and potential. But as they come of age and venture into a world of underground activists beyond the confines of their tight-knit community and closely guarded, gated compound, they start to see a country divided by deep ethnic allegiances and on the brink of something very sinister. Soon Leena and Jai find themselves entangled in a shady world of crooked policemen, seedy salesmen, prostitutes, and bohemian artists where all is not what it seems. So begins a dangerous game of corruption and conspiracy, where rebellions simmer, and a tangled web of power unravels as dark forces collide and disturbing secrets emerge.

WHEN WE SPEAK OF NOTHING by OLUMIDE POPOOLA Best mates Karl and Abu are both 17 and live near King’s Cross. It’s 2011 and racial tensions are set to explode across London. Abu is infatuated with gorgeous classmate Nalini bat dares not speak to her. Meanwhile, Karl is the target of the local ‘wannabe’ thugs for just being different. When Karl finds out his father lives in Nigeria, he travels to Port Harcourt to escape the sound and fury of London, and to connect with a Dad he’s never known. Rejected on arrival, Karl befriends Nakale, an activist who wants to expose the ecocide in the Niger Delta to the world. Meanwhile, the murder of Mark Duggan triggers a full-scale riot in London, and Abu finds himself caught up right in its midst.

THE BLACK WIDOW SOCIETY by ANGELA MAKHOLWA In 1994 when South Africans were finally seeing the light of freedom and independence, three well-respected businesswomen – Tulullah Ntuli, Edna Whitehead and Nkosozana Khumalo – formed the Black Widow Society, a secret organisation aimed at liberating women trapped in physically abusive relationships by assisting in ‘eliminating’ their errant husbands. For fifteen years the Black Widow Society operated undetected but as the secret organisation recruits more members, the wheels of this well-oiled machine start coming off. As the tension mounts, Black Widow Society builds to a chilling and bloody climax that will keep you guessing and riveted until the very last page.

As part of our collective journey towards becoming an anti-racist school, we have the following books on display and to recommend:

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GENERAL ADVICE FOR GRADE 8s Amy-Rose Damerell Grade 10

Welcome to Westerford, Grade 8s! We are all aware of how daunting a new school can be, with so many unknowns, new people and surprises. Here are a few tips to guide you through the first few terms of your Westerford Journey:

Wear a watch. At Westerford there is no school bell to direct you towards of the school building when break ends. Instead, you need to keep track of time so that classes don’t start without you. Have a Diary or a Planner. Using a diary aids you in being organised, up to date with work and aware of tests and assessments. It also helps to have those all-important homework reminders. Immerse yourself in the cultural side of Westerford. Despite the limitations created by the pandemic, Westerford Societies are still determined to achieve a full and thriving cultural year. Make an effort to attend as many society events as you can. Not only will you be supporting the societies and their purposes, you will learn new things and enjoy yourself. Most importantly, you will make new friends in both your own grade and others. Talk to people. Sport (even in its limited capacity), different classes, projects and activities are great ways to meet new people. The best way to make friends is to ask questions and engage in conversation. Have spare locker keys. Locker keys are alarmingly easy to lose, and without them you have no access to all of your books… An easy way to avoid this scenario is to give a responsible friend of your choosing a spare key, providing you with a trusty plan B. Getting lost is harder than you think. Westerford may be new, big, scary and confusing but finding your way around from class A to class B is far easier than you imagine. Just remember one thing: colours! Each sector of the school building is painted a unique colour from the rest: red, blue, green, etc… All you need to know is where in the school each colour can be found. Then you can use the numbers on each classroom to find the right one. And last but not least, enjoy yourselves! Meet new people, make new friends and journey on all new adventures.

GRADE 8 DANCE OFF

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GRADE 8 DANCE OFF

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BANKING DETAILS: WESTERFORD HIGH SCHOOL STANDARD BANK RONDEBOSCH BRANCH CODE: 02 5009 ACCOUNT: 07 151 0176 SWIFT ADDRESS: SBZA ZA JJ (INTERNATIONAL DEPOSITS) REF: YOUR SCHOOL ACCOUNT (OR YOUR CHILD’S NAME)

FEES 2021

DEBIT ORDERS

FEE EXEMPTIONS

APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON 28 FEBRUARY 2021 .

CLASSIFIEDS (To advertise here contact Margie [email protected])

Fees may be paid in one of the following ways: One payment of R43, 641.00 representing a R1, 350 discount on the annual fees if paid by 28 February 2021; One payment of R44,991.00 if paid after 28 February 2021; Ten monthly payments by Debit Order of R4,499.10; Twelve monthly payments by Debit Order of R3, 749.25; Four quarterly payments of R11,247.75 payable at the start of each term; 10 or 12 monthly direct payments at the beginning of each month.

The following payment options are availalble: Electronic Funds Transfer Debit/Credit card Direct deposit into the school’s account at any Standard Bank branch. Debit Order (initiated by the school)/Stop order (initiated by the payer)

As the School has to upload Debit Orders by the 25th of each month, changes to banking details must be made before that date. Debit Orders are put through parents’ bank accounts on the last working day of each month, starting on 29 January 2021. Forms may be collected from the Finance office.

Parents who feel that they are unable to pay their full fees should make application for an Exemption of Fees form as soon as possible. Application forms will be available from the Finance Office from 22 January 2021. All applications are treated in the strictest confidence, but are only considered if there is a full disclosure of all income.

mailto:[email protected]

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CLASSIFIEDS (To advertise here contact Margie [email protected])

MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY TUTOR - NICK BOSSI 2018 OW having achieved over 90% in Maths, Physics and Bio. Second year Mechatronics student at UCT with two years of tutoring experience and a great passion for Maths and Science. Please contact Nick Bossi on 0662337294.

TUTORING Looking for help in Maths and Science? My name is Matthew, and I am an experienced tutor looking for students from grade 8 -12 to tutor in Maths, Physics and Chemistry! I graduated from UCT with a BSc, BSc Hons, and MSc. I am setup to give online tutoring session with ease! Please WhatsApp 082 924 5431 for more information

NEED TO IMPROVE MATHS OR SCIENCE MARKS? Whiz Tutors is a highly-qualified team specialising in Maths and Science for grades 8-12, with over 5 years of experience tutoring Westerfordians. To find out more, please email us at [email protected].

WANTED - DOUBLE CAB BAKKIE Shirley Lippert is looking for a good pre-owned double cab bakkie for private sale. Any make or model in the range of 5 to 10 years old. Please contact Shirley on 082 4188 042

Email: [email protected]

LOOKING FOR A MATHS TUTOR? I’m an OW and UCT graduate with over 4 years of experience tutoring Mathematics to students in High School and am offering my services to those in need. Please phone or Whatsapp me for further details. Rates: R200/hour. Contact Details: Brannon Opperman 074 487 3110

ENGLISH AND AFRIKAANS TUTORING I teach from home in Observatory. I am qualified (BA HDE TEFL) and have many years of experience. My focus is on both literature and grammar; all grades are welcome. I specialize in preparation for Matric. Please contact me Hildegarde @ [email protected] phone 0787556834

IS YOUR CHILD STRUGGLING WITH MATHS AND PHYSICS? I can help! My name is Ella Pike and I am an OW and second year Mathematics and Applied Mathematics major at UCT. I am able to travel to your preferred venue with ease. My hourly rate is R150. I am able to tutor with COVID protocols in place and am proficient at online teaching via zoom or Microsoft teams if you would prefer to work remotely. Please contact me via WhatsApp on 0728140491 or via email ([email protected])

PIANO FOR SALE R18 000 as it is in very good condition. Contact Jackie Pereira 072 601 7946 [email protected]

MATHS AND PHYSICS TUTOR

My name is Carys Gilbert and I matriculated from Westerford with 7 distinctions. I can do in-person or online

sessions.

Please contact me on 0722415354 for more details.





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Westerford High School Newsletter