FAIRBAIRN COLLEGE
NEWSLETTER – 2/2012
22 June 2012
From the Headmaster
Dear Parents
Term 2, 2012 – has been a good term. Each pillar of the College, under the leadership of senior staff has produced work of a very high standard.
Academics [Miss van Rooyen]
Internal moderation of learners’ notebooks and all grades’ portfolios reveal work of exceptionally high standards. The 1st formal High School examination for the Grade 8’s, the 1st formal examination for all other learners in their new grade for 2012 and the 1st Grade 12 examination in the school hall, has been completed successfully. Provisional reports are issued with this newsletter. The official Term 2 reports will be distributed on Monday, 23 July 2012.
Sport [Mr Koffeman]
Many learners represent their College with pride and enthusiasm and certain learners have been selected as members of Provincial teams. Certain teams have also performed exceptionally well. Thank you to the parents who religiously support their children in this important facet of school life.
Culture [Miss Correia]
We are extremely proud of the efforts of this pillar at the College. Learners and staff have been hard at work rehearsing for “Joseph”. They will continue to do so throughout the holiday period! We look forward to this production scheduled for 16-18 July 2012.
Pastoral [Mr Hanekom]
The annual highlight of the second term was the Matric Dance and Fashion Show. Congratulations to Miss Marais and Van der Merwe; the main organizers and other staff: Miss Malcolm and Maltby. Both events were extremely well organised and thoroughly enjoyed by learners and staff alike. Very successful Class and Sport Captains’ seminars were conducted during the term. The College joined hands with the other schools in the immediate proximity focusing on “Values”. To date the following “Values” have been highlighted: Loyalty and Pride, Respect and Care. The “Values” to be addressed during the remainder of the year are: Fairness, Trustworthiness and Responsibility.
Operations [Mrs le Grange]
This portfolio is responsible for the smooth running of the school on a daily basis, and also the presentation of special assemblies and ceremonies. During the term a Ladies’ Assembly and a Freedom Day Assembly were presented.
Information Technology [Mrs Combrink]
The new look College web page is in the process of being finalized and will be launched early in Term 3. Please make use of the other web-based communication tools of the College:
Email:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fairbairncollege
School communicator: Follow link from the College web page and download
Contact [Mr Standish and Headmaster]
Applications for Grade 8, 2013 have been received and interviews are underway. To date 453 Grade 8 applications have been received. There is only place for 210 Grade 8’s.
I express gratitude to the members of the Senior Management Team [and their dedicated Management Council members consisting of staff and RCL Executive members] who are responsible for a specific pillar at the College. Also, thank you to specific staff for their leadership:
§ Subject Heads and Learning Area Heads in the academic sphere,
§ Grade Heads and Assistant Grade Heads in the pastoral and discipline fields,
§ Masters/Mistresses in charge of sport and cultural activities,
§ The administrative staff and the College/School bursar’s office, and
§ The sport/estate manager and the support staff.
B MARCHAND
HEADMASTER
ACADEMICS AND EXAMINATIONS
The College’s Second Term Roll of Honour will be distributed with the final reports on Monday, 23 July 2012.
Message to the Matrics
Matrics, the time is closer than you think to start your new life outside of school. In the blink of an eye you will return after the July holidays, with only a few weeks of school, one Fairbairn College examination to write and then … the NCS examinations. At this time of your Matric year, it is all about choices and your reactions. The following questions must be answered: What am I going to do with my time before this year ends, before the final examinations? How am I going to make sure that this year will end in success? This is the last step to making the correct choices to ensure that you are not disappointed at the end of the year.
Remember that absolutely everything you do, give, say or even think, is like a boomerang – it will come back to you. It is advisable to set aside enough time for studying during the holidays. Websites are made available where you can retrieve examination papers. Your teachers would have given you work for the holidays, which must be done. It is all in your hands – make the best of it! Good luck with the last lap!
Mrs M Combrink
GRADE HEAD: GRADE 12
PASTORAL AND DISCIPLINE
Ladies’ Assembly
The Ladies’ Assembly always starts with general topics. We address issues pertaining to appearance as well as behaviour which could be improved upon. After this, we move to a main theme. This year the BIG topic was the language sometimes used by our young ladies. We addressed the following:
• Foul language.
• What people think of ladies using foul language.
• How it affects one’s life.
• It is not “cool”.
• Only has a negative impact.
The ladies were asked to reprimand their friends who use foul language, so that they will always feel like, and be treated as ladies.
Freedom Day
On 27 April, South Africa celebrated Freedom Day. Fairbairn’s staff and learners were taken down memory lane when Nicolas Schultz and Nicole Bailey traced the path of the first South African democratic election.
Mrs E le Grange
OPERATION MANCO
School Discipline
Discipline remains one of the cornerstones upon which the College is built. Although discipline is an ever increasingly difficult task, it is one from which we will not falter.
I would like to highlight the following concerns:
• Detentions: During the term a large number of learners were placed in Saturday
morning detentions due to not attending their grade head detentions. A
reminder to parents that there is a reply slip to be signed for grade head
detention, and that this documentation is kept on the learner’s file.
• School Bags: A number of the school bags have graffiti. This is not allowed.
Such bags will be confiscated. Learners must ensure that their bags are kept
neatly and are presentable at all times.
• School Uniform: Many learners arrive at school with dirty blazers – these can be
machine washed. Many of the blazers are missing buttons – these may be
purchased at the bookroom. A reminder to all the boys that you are expected to
wear a belt as part of your uniform.
NB: Girls’ grey winter skirts must be purchased at Rothmans, the School’s
official uniform stockists. Skirts obtained from other retail clothing stores do
not comply with the uniform requirements.
• Grooming: All boys are reminded that you are required to be cleanly shaven
every day. Please consult your term planner for the dates of hair inspection.
(Each term starts with a hair inspection on the 1st day).
• Cell phones: Cell phones continue to be a problem. Cell phones must be off (not
on silent or vibrate mode) during the entire academic school day.
I ask for the co-operation of the learners and the assistance of the parents regarding these matters, and by so doing, keeping up the high standards that we have become accustomed to at the College.
RCL Executive
A big thank you to the RCL Executive for their tireless efforts in performing their duties on a daily basis. They form a vital cog in the discipline structure and their input is of immense value. Thank you also to the head and deputy head prefects for their leadership in this regard.
Mr M Koffeman
DEPUTY HEADMASTER
Matric Dance and Fashion Show - 2012
The Matric Dance was held on Friday, 13 April. The theme of the evening was “Night of the Stars”. The Matrics rose to the occasion and dazzled us with their lovely dresses and smart suits.
The Grade 11’s were an eager, hardworking group, who played a vital role in making the evening a success and ensuring that the Matrics felt like stars.
Miss C Marais
MATRIC DANCE CO-ORDINATOR
The Matric Fashion Show of 2012 was a tremendous success. The men looked dashing in their suits and the ladies absolutely regal in their dresses. It was a show characterized
by class and elegance. The Grade 11 dancers were also a highlight. It truly was a night with the stars!
Miss C van der Merwe
FASHION SHOW CO-ORDINATOR
We are proud of:
Aidan de Jager – we take this opportunity of wishing Aidan success when participating in France during the July school holidays in the world Fly Fishing Championships.
Amy Hillier – who received a Diamond Certificate from Prof. George Branch of UCT (author of several books) for attending lectures, snorkeling and examinations at the Two Oceans Aquarium. Amy has done more than fifty hours of voluntary work at the Touch Pool and at the Projection Microscope, organized a beach clean up and also obtained 91% for her examinations. Her commitment and dedication is admired.
Yaseen Mowzer – as was previously mentioned in our Term 1 Newsletter, Yaseen will be participating at the Invitational World Youth Intercity Mathematics Competition in Taiwan in July this year. Yaseen was also the recipient of a Gold Award at the annual UCT Mathematics Competition. Gold awards are awarded to the top ten individuals in each grade of over 8000 participants from Western Cape High Schools. They are invited to attend a prize giving at the Baxter Concert Hall where prizes and trophies will be presented. Well done, you have done the College proud!
Gillian and Robyn Pinder – in their selection to the Western Province Girls’ Hockey teams. Gillian has been selected to represent the U/18 North team. This will be her fifth year playing Western Province Hockey. Her team will be attending the U/18 Regional Tournament which will be held in Bloemfontein from 12 – 15 July. We wish her luck for the tournament and hope the team makes us proud.
Robyn has been selected to represent the U/16A Western Province Hockey Team. The team will be going to Bloemfontein from 8 – 15 July to take part in the Inter-Provincial Tournament, where they will be defending their title as Inter-Provincial Champions. We wish her the best of luck and hope she makes us proud.
Kerry Robison – who took part in a full contact Kyokushin-Karate Championship on 21 April held at UCT and won gold in her division (U/15 full contact). On 16 June Kerry took part in the National Full Contact Kyokushin-Karate Tournament in Sea Point and received 3rd place, competing against all our Provinces as well as Zimbabwe and Angola. Kerry will also take part in the Western Province Tournament in Worcester on 30 June 2012. Well done and good luck!
Chelsea Scholtz – we take this opportunity of wishing Chelsea all the best at the annual Inter Provincial Action Netball Tournament taking place during the July school holidays, in Gauteng.
Dylan Stark – who has been selected to represent South Africa at the World Baseball Qualifiers to be held in Italy in July 2012. Dylan and the Western Province U/16 Team recently won gold at the National Baseball Tournament in Johannesburg during April 2012. Congratulations!
Samantha Verschoor – who has been selected for the Western Province U/18 Netball team. Well done!
Mimosa Yokwe – for being placed fourth in the “Young Communicators’ Competition” -the final round was held at the Provincial Legislature, Cape Town, on Saturday, 12 May 2012. Congratulations!
Past Pupils
Congratulations to the following ex-pupils of Fairbairn College who graduated at Stellenbosch University in December 2011 and March 2012:
Name / Qualification / Matric YearSmith, W / PhD / 1999
Adams-Julius, C / MB,ChB / 2004
Keller, JH / BA (International Studies) / 2005
Ramatlakane, LP / BCommHons (PMP)(ITE) / 2005
Weideman, LV / BComm (Hons) / 2005
Goncalves, JDC / BCommHons (PmP)(ITE) / 2006
Muller, R / BComm (Management Sciences) / 2006
Teixeira, JM / BA (Humanities) / 2007
Rodi, AC / BA (Humanities) / 2007
Towers, LC / BSc (Earth Science) / 2007
Weideman, LR / BComm / 2007
Carswell, BR / BComm (Actuarial Science) / 2008
Fritz, N / BAccounting / 2008
Lewis, ITV / BA (Humanities) / 2008
Kirsty Robison – past pupil and sister of Kerry Robison, also took part in the Kyokushin-Karate Championships - ladies open division - and won gold. She will also be taking part in the Western Province Tournament in Worcester on 30 June 2012. A family affair!
Staff
Congratulations to Mrs de Wet, who has not only been selected to the Western Province A Ladies Netball Team, but is also the Section Convenor, Head Selector and Convenor for the Western Province U/16 Netball trials; Selector of the Western Cape U/15 Netball trials and Coach for the Western Cape U/15 Team. Well done!
We are proud of Mr and Mrs Lawson’s girls: Rochelle Lawson represented Western Province at the U/19 and U/21 SA Championships that took place at Selbourne Park, East London from 27 April to 1 May 2012.