A VISUAL FEAST! 30_YOU CAN‟T CATCH ANNAMART LAUBSCHER. How a PV girl conquered Africa. 36_CROWD CONTROL. Exclusive pictures of the Grade 8 orientation. 48_MISSIBABA has the hottest accessories for summer! 60_HIER KOM PV! En ons gaan vir Strand „n ding of twee wys. VALENTINE‟S DAY
72_WIN PRIMI PIATTI VOUCHERS and treat your Valentine. 68_LOVE WEEK. A preview from Natasha Bicknell… 70_THE BEST CHEESECAKE IN STELLENBOSCH. It‟s a date! FEATURES 14_PV IS NO PLACE FOR A SISSY! Expert advice to help you survive. 13_LIVE FROM CAPE TOWN. Jodi Coetzee reports… ENTERTAINMENT 06_THE ULTIMATE REVIEW. What to watch, read and listen to this month. LIFESTYLE 12_COOL HAIR for guys… that won‟t get you sent home. FASHION 24_MEET ANTOINETTE DEGENS. The most fashionable head girl in PV history. REGULARS 03_MASTHEAD. Who did what… 04_LETTER FROM THE EDITOR. A PV love story… 05_DEPUTY‟S LETTER. It‟s in the stars…
ON THE COVER Photograph: Kim Swarts. Styling: Daniël Geldenhuys. Annamart wears teardrop earrings R300, mustang belt R1650, Seraphine sandals R800, all Missibaba; Parel Vallei athletics top; Jay Jays shorts; Annamart‟s own medals, bangles and watches.
DANIËL GELDENHUYS Editor In Chief Creative Director Fashion Director CHANTÉ CHARLES Deputy Editor Features Director features editors LANA DE BEER JUSTINE CHARLES ROXY MODRICKY ALISTAIR GALLOWAY KIARA COLE ANANDA PAVER NATASHA BICKNELL directors of photography KIM SWARTS DIANA KÜHN music editor JODI COETZEE sport editor JOSH FISCHER entertainment editors ZANDILE NDAY CHARNÉ VAN STADEN TAMRYN VAN WYK head proofreader M G STEENKAMP
Parel Vallei High School ultimatepv@iafrica.com
95 Parel Vallei Road, Somerset West 7130
EDITOR‟S LETTER A PAREL VALLEI HIGH SCHOOL (HISTORY) LOVE STORY These December holidays I had no summer flings. Well, none to speak of. I was however, very surprised to find a PV-related love story where I least expected it. I was visiting an old friend of my mother‟s who has a love track record that reads just about as long the Lord of the Rings, and far more interesting. When I told her what school I go to, she replied “Oh! I used to date the principal.” Mr Gouws? No. It turns out that she, a Rhenish girl at the time, went out with a first-year student from Stellenbosch who would soon become the PV principal preceding Mr Gouws, one Mr Boudewijn de Vries (see picture below). They met at a costume party for the simple reason that they were wearing the same costume. Coincidence? Destiny? Maybe, if you believe in that type of thing. The relationship lasted one year, which is longer than one of our heroine‟s four marriages. It was romantic while it lasted. Picture them walking along the road, she, being very tall, on the street and he on the pavement so that they could be the same height. She called him Napoleone, which means little Napoleon. He liked that. There seemed to be no obvious flaw in the relationship. I asked her why they broke up. “I met a German on a bike!” she replied. Enough said. There may be no moral to this story except that love will never cease to confuse, amaze and freak us out. So now that we are going into the month of love, I wish all our readers a Valentine‟s Day filled with passion, fabulous love and blood-red roses. This issue is from us to you with love. I hope you enjoy it!
xoxoD^^
DEPUTY‟S LETTER: IT‟S IN THE STARS Welcome back to another jam-packed PV year! Recently I stumbled across a Twitter trend: Ophiucius. Intrigued? I certainly was! For all our astrology-loving readers, hold on to your seats. Ophiucius is the 13th Zodiac sign! So yes, you are not who you thought your were. It has been kept a secret by the Egyptian tribes, despite the Scandinavian, Greek, Hindu, Celtic, Pergamum, Roman, Gnostic, Mayan, Chinese and Aztec histories having shown forms of it. Ophiucius is the only person-based star sign. It is from 27th century BCE, Ancient Egypt. A man named Imhotep was famed for his healing abilities. He is said to have introduced medicine to mankind as the Serpent Holder. Why was it not with the others? The Greeks decided to throw it away because it affected the thirty degree angles. Consequently, it is one of Egypt‟s strongest signs. Pronounced Off-ee-yoo-cuss, it is represented by a man with a snake coiled around his waist, its head in his left hand and tail in the right. This is the constellation Serpens. What is an Ophiucius like? They are objects of envy. (Now I see the hands shooting up. It‟s me, it‟s me!) They progress well, and thirst for wisdom and knowledge. They dress flamboyantly in bright colors and are very authoritative, their lucky number is 12. The signs are now: Aries (April 19 – May 13), Taurus (May 14 – June 19), Gemini (June 20 – July 20), Cancer (July 21- August 9), Leo (August 10 – September 15), Virgo (November 23 – November 29), Ophiucius (November 30 – December 17), Sagittarius (December 18 – January 18), Capricorn (January 19 – February 15), Aquarius (February 16 – March 11) and Pisces (March 12 – April 18).
I changed from Virgo to Leo. I see myself differently now. Now I pose the question: Who are you?
This monthâ€&#x;s hottest films, books, music and celebrities.
THE TOURIST
FILM
Review by Lana de Beer Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Starring Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany. Award buzz: Nominated for Golden Globes for best Motion Picture – musical or comedy; best performance by an actor and actress in a motion picture – musical or comedy (Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp)
Jolie portrays a smart, independent, sly woman who is involved with an important criminal (Alexander Pearce) who has disappeared off the face of the earth. Everywhere she goes, she is being watched by both the police and Alexander. He sends her messages throughout the movie, telling her what her next move should be. How to dodge the police and so forth. He sees that the police watching her might not be such a bad thing and uses it to their advantage. He instructs her to find a man on a train who has his height and features and to make the authorities believe that this man is him. She manages to fool them long enough to anger them immensely. This random individual is, of course, Johnny Depp, a harmless, nervous math teacher who is immediately mesmerised by her, and so their journey begins. The movie travels from Paris to Venice and the backdrop alone is breathtaking. Combine that with Jolie‟s ball gowns, Depp‟s quirky moves such as stumbling along roofs in striped pajamas, the romance that reluctantly blossoms between characters played by two of the most influential people of all time and you have a killer. Not surprisingly this movie was nominated for “Movie of the Year”. The music gets a little ridiculous at times, though. Think heavy old-fashioned romantic symphonies that are so out of place that it almost rips off the movie in some parts, and you get my drift. But even with that mistake, this movie is brilliant and will captivate you until the very end where you will come face to face with one heck of a twist. Watch it.
BURLESQUE
Definitely the hottest movie on the circuit right now, Burlesque Review by Daniël Geldenhuys will get you right into the mood for this year‟s PV musical and will Directed by Steven Anti undoubtedly be the film from which Starring Cher, Christina everyone choreographs their Aguilera, Cam Gigandet parades for the next five years. Academy award winner Award buzz: Nominated for Cher makes a return to the big Golden Globes for best Motion screen as Tess, a woman who owns a „lounge‟ in Hollywood where Picture – musical or comedy; perform fabulous songs by Winner of the Golden Globe for women classic divas in show business. best original song – motion People come to see the girls dance, not sing. But this all changes picture. when Ali (Aguilera, who proves she can act) comes along and blows everyone (including the Jack, the hot bar tender/songwriter played by Cam Gigandet) away with her incredible vocal talents. Ali gives the burlesque lounge the boost it needs but with times becoming financially tough, will it be enough? Guaranteed to put you in a good mood (I saw it after a no-sleep night of orientating Grade 8s) Burlesque has touches of old-fashioned Hollywood that don‟t seem cliché but rather put the film in a very aspirational category, making it without a doubt a timeless classic.
MUSIC
Zandile Nday finds out a little more about our latest South African Idol and reviews his album…
ELVIS BLUE Album title Elvis Blue Genre Traditional Rock Year 2010 R149.95 at Music Moods
Jan Hoogendyk, or as everyone knows him „Elvis Blue‟, went from being a music teacher in his home town of George to being South Africa‟s biggest Idol. The name Elvis Blue comes from an 11-year-old boy, a friend of his, who died of HIV/AIDS last year. He took the name as a tribute to him as he too wanted to be a musician. Elvis is married and is a proud father of a gorgeous baby girl named Lila. He lives in George and is a full-time musician who still gives music lessons in his free time. Elvis Blue cooped South Africa‟s Season 6 Idols when he obtained a total of 2 398 962 valid votes on the evening of 1 November 2010. In less than 24 hours of winning, he recorded limited copies of his up-coming album exclusively through Cape Town indie music stores. He wanted to hit the stores with a bang - he has surely impressed us. He beat his friend and competitor L‟oyd Cele but they remained friends despite the defeat. Elvis took home a recording contract, new car, R20 000 in clothing vouchers, R50 000 worth of Yamaha music equipment and loads of consumer electronic goodies. As well as R250 000 in cash, having shared the same amount with Cele. It seems if you‟ve got it… you‟ve just got it. We are proud of our latest Idol and we wish him the best of luck on his career. We know he is going to blow the nation away.
This 10-track debut double disc package was recorded in a matter of 29 days. Produced by Universal Records and featuring the first hit “The things my father said”, it tells about of the past 12 years of his life, the journey, the challenges and how he overcame them. Elvis quotes a line from a song that goes “If you have a dream, you better hold on for dear life.” Smiles Elvis, “And that‟s pretty much what I‟ve been doing for a long time – holding on for dear life, and it has certainly paid off.” The album has beautiful melodies and lyrics that touch the heart through praise of God. His music appeals to people on a more spiritual and emotional level. One is able to have a personal connection to his lyrics and voice because he sings from the heart.
BOOK
READ IT BEFORE YOU WATCH IT The New York Times bestseller by Sara Gruen, Water For Elephants is rolling onto our screens this year with an all-star cast including Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz. The book promises to entertain readers who love the magical world of oldfashioned circuses and classic love affairs. A promising read, we‟ll review it soon! R124,95 at Kalahari.net
THE HUNGER GAMES By Suzanne Collins Review by Chanté Charles R127.95 at Kalahari.net Harry Potter and Twilight, it‟s time to move over (seriously). The Hunger Games has arrived! Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister‟s place in the annual tournament called The Hunger Games. Now she and 23 others are made to compete for glory… and their lives. In order for her to win, she has to kill her fellow competitors while dodging their equally fatal attacks. With a drunkard mentor, armed with almost nothing and living off a short supply of food, Katniss must rely on wit and instinct to get her through the games alive. The first of a trilogy, this amazingly written plot is excellent. It provides a great amount of detail without being gruesome. One of the most astounding things about the book is that it is written in a way that readers do not often encounter: in present tense. This contributes to the subtle yet constantly prominent line of tension which will, quite literally, keep you from putting the book down. In all honesty, there is little to no fault with this book. It provides something for everyone. If you favour romance, adventure, action or suspense, this book should definitely be on your bedside table. As you read, you find yourself torn between wanting to finish quickly and wanting to make it last as long as possible. Highly recommended and of high regard, (and with a movie in the works) The Hunger Games is a best buy!
CELEBRITY ANDREW WHO?
Charné van Staden tells us more about one of Hollywood‟s biggest rising stars. You probably heard about him on television or the radio perhaps? Everywhere people are whispering his name. Andrew this, Andrew that. And not just for nothing. Current rising star, Andrew Garfield is said to be playing the role of Peter Parker in the new Spider Man movie (2012). Andrew already caught many a curious eye when he appeared in The Social Network, even bagging himself a Golden Globe nomination for best performance by an actor in a supporting role. But where did Mr. Garfield really begin? Andrew Garfield was born on August, 1983, in Los Angeles, California, to a British mother and an American father. At the age of three his parents decided to move to England and Andrew was raised in Surrey. He started taking acting classes in Guildford when he was fifteen, eventually working as a permanent stage actor. It wasn‟t long until Andrew Garfield received his first ever awards, some including „Outstanding newcomer‟ and „One of the shooting stars‟ at the Berlin International Film Festival.‟ So in the end, it‟s definitely safe to say that this star has his career set out for him. And you can be sure that many people will want more from Mr Garfield in the near future.
Some of his other work include The other Boleyn Girl, Lions for Lambs, Sugar Rush, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and many more to come…
THE STONE AGE
Tamryn van Wyk introduces a new It girl... Once upon a time...on the 6th November 1988 to be exact, Emily Jean “Emma” Stone was born to a contractor and a homemaker. Little did Jeff and Krista Stone know that their daughter would some day become one of the best actresses in all the land… To have landed roles in fourteen movies and to have appeared in six different television series, all before the sweet age of 22, is a piece of cake for this fiery redhead. At the age of fourteen she decided acting and “Hollywood” was her calling and launched a plan of action, or in Emma‟s case a PowerPoint Presentation of her mission to her parents. At fifteen she dropped out of high school to move to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue her career. She later completed school via home schooling. The natural blonde landed her first role as Laurie Partridge in The Partridge Family which was soon cancelled after it first aired. After many small roles in television series, her breakthrough in the film Industry came when she landed a role in Superbad. Upon the request of the producer, Emma exchanged her blond locks for red curls – and the rest is history. Her upcoming film Crazy, Stupid, Love is a movie about a father whose life starts unraveling once his wife decides to leave him. Stone is said to play the role of Steve Carell‟s daughter and Ryan Gosling‟s love interest. With prominent roles in The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, House Bunny and her latest film Easy A, this It girl is here to stay.
ULTIMATE
STYL E
As is the case with countless looks from the 50s, short and meticulously combed hair is back. No longer does it brand you as a cast-out nerd, but rather as a powerful and intelligent man‟s man. The side parting, seen on the Golden Globe winning Mad Men‟s Don Draper (ABOVE) has been cropping up on runways across Milan, London and New York. The 50s greaser bad boy look is back but this time it‟s interpreted as stylish and cool. So what are you waiting for? It‟s time to go „borrow‟ your dad‟s comb…
GOOD NEWS, GUYS!
SAY GOODBYE TO THE 90S STYLE MOP HEAD. YOUR SHORT SCHOOL HAIR IS TOTALLY COOL RIGHT NOW! EDITED BY DANIËL GELDENHUYS
Clockwise from top: Yves Saint Laurent; Dolce & Gabbana; Prada; Dolce & Gabbana; Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men. Image sources: Google Image; GQ.co.uk
MUSIC LOVER JODI COETZEE REPORTS BACK ON A HOLIDAY CONERT… Being a lover of nature and music, I once again supported Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens in its efforts to raise funds by attending a few of the annual concerts that take place there. There‟s nothing better than enjoying a Sunday afternoon, relaxing in the company of talented musicians and the picturesque backdrop of the mountains and its flora. There, I not only found youngsters who enjoy jumping up and down and singing along to catchy tunes, but also “older folk” who, seated with wine in hand, peacefully enjoyed the entertainment on stage – besides, you don‟t necessarily have to know the songs to enjoy them. The weather, however, sticks to its true Cape nature of being unpredictable and surprising. One Sunday, you‟ll arrive in so much heat that the walk up the road, past the trail of cars, and up the hill can seem so exhausting and other times, you‟ll have to bring along some kind of protection against the weather in case it decides to rain. Among the performances I enjoyed were two internationally recognised rock bands; Prime Circle, promoting their latest album titled “Jekyll and Hyde”, and The Parlotones, who just played a variety of their music – some old, some new. Prime Circle‟s performance took place on the 1st Sunday of the year (2 January). Something particularly special that they always bring to the stage is the more acoustic and reggae-toned versions of their most popular songs, such as „She Always Gets What She Wants‟. The Parlotones, on the other hand, had something entirely new to offer this year as they brought in a few people from the circus to perform solo acrobatic stunts along to the music. This proves that there is always something different to find and enjoy each Sunday. I would encourage everyone to go along to a concert while the good weather is still here. It‟s the perfect opportunity for families to spend some fun time together and is also suitable for those teens who want time away with their friends. It‟s the perfect place to make memories and also add a few photos and autographs to your collection if you have one, like me. Just a friendly tip that if you do decide to go, purchase tickets by telephone the Tuesday preceding the concert and make sure to leave early afternoon to secure a perfect, up-close and comfortable spot on the huge lawn. Artists who are still to perform include the likes of Lira, Isochronous and Kidofdoom, Zebra & Giraffe, Jesse Clegg, Loyiso featuring Chad Saaiman, Goldfish, Jamali, RJ Benjamin featuring Slikour, The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and aKING.
PV IS NO PLACE FOR A SISSY! THAT‟S FOR SURE. So here is a survival guide for every grade from those who have been there, done that, and received the “PV 25” badge.
Grade 8 is not exactly an easy grade to go through. Trust me, I know what I am talking about. By following these easy tips below, you will find Grade 8 a bit more pleasant than you would have. ALWAYS CHOOSE AN EASILY DISTINGUISHABLE BAG You may laugh now, but when you find a mountain of school bags and you can‟t tell which one is yours, you‟ll be wishing you had listened. FORGET ABOUT YOUR OPINION You are given an instruction and you must follow through with it. Yes, you certainly may not like it, but tough luck. Oh yes, and be quiet about it. DON‟T LOOK ANY MATRIC IN THE EYE This is essential. You can look a Matric in the eye only once you have earned the right to do so. If a Matric asks you to look her or him in the eye, do it and hope that your best puppy eyes will suffice. OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDINGS This could very well save your life. The sooner you know which areas are no-go zones, the better off you will be. Also, look for quick exits or great hiding places. You never know when it could come in handy. DO NOT CRY Do you really need me to explain this? The only exception is if you are in pain. Then you may cry. LOCK YOUR KNEES Right now, you are thinking, “What?” When you are forced to walk in awkward positions, which could lead to stumbling, you will realise why I said this. LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR PREFECTS SAY Normally the most useful information is given verbally and in passing. If you keep track of what is said, you will learn quicker and more. THERE IS SAFETY IN NUMBERS The last thing you want is to be caught on your own. Stay in a group of four or more. That way even if they catch you, at least you are not alone. LEAVE ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN A SAFE PLACE All phones are off, all the time. This is for the wellbeing of your phone. Anything can happen if you do not take the right precautions. FORM ALLIANCES QUICKLY This is by far the greatest aspect of Grade 8. You will be bonded by the orientation experience and form close friendships. You will laugh, cry (only in private, see rule 5) and fight together throughout the year.
I hope that this will help you to survive. If it does not, know that you cannot hold this article liable.
You will be bonded by the orientation experience and form close friendships.
Some say your high school years are the best in your life, others will beg to differ and tell you that high school is about as pleasant as being eaten by a bear-shark hybrid. And now we finally come to noticing the reality of it all: The majority of us just sit with a concerned look on their faces thinking “How the hell am I going to survive this?” Well, this article will, hopefully, answer that very question. THE PROBLEM WITH PROCRASTINATION… Ahhh, procrastination. One of the world‟s easiest things to achieve in high school… But trust me, you will regret it when you‟re writing a test the next day. Sitting through a test you didn‟t study for is truly an awful and humiliating experience. You walk out of your register class feeling like a complete and total intellectually challenged moron. And it only gets worse when the smart kid says, “Oh no! I only got 85%! This is so bad!” Then all you can do is look down at your scribbled red paper. DON‟T DO ANYTHING STUPID! In all honesty, try not to bunk classes. It only makes trying to understand what is going on in your classes (mainly physics) a total disaster. And please, for the love of all your limbs, try not to do any daring stunts before a test/exam that can end you up with a broken arm; having a scribe cannot be a pleasant experience. An example would be my cousin Daniel. For reasons I cannot fathom, he jumped off the roof of a garage just before an exam and broke his arm. FOR AN ARTS AND CULTURE GENERAL KID, YOU HAVE A LOT OF DRAMA ON YOUR By this I mean to say you should stay out of all the typical high school drama. Don‟t even bother getting involved in those, “And then she said…” conversations/situations. It can make life so much easier and you can spend more time relaxing than caring about who said what. Don‟t get me wrong, if it‟s your friend in the sticky situation, you should help, but if it‟s someone you don‟t know from a bar of soap, just leave them to their friends. PLATE.
ALL THAT FRUSTRATION AND NOWHERE TO LET IT GO. In Grade 9 one tends to become the typical frustrated and moody teenager once in a while, and that goes hand in hand with the fact that now you have more responsibilities and no clue whatsoever how to handle them. So, it‟s only natural that we will get fumingly mad from time to time. How to deal with that frustration, you ask? The answer is a bit strange: Scream, shout, kick, cry and throw bricks (just not at anyone, at a wall or a pillow). Everyone has the right to experience anger as well as the right to get rid of it. GETTING TO THE FLIP SIDE… Relax. Relaxing is a vital meditation for anyone in high school. It is actually more than important that once in a while you get some down time, just don‟t OD on the chill pills (that leads to procrastination). Breathe deeply and play your favourite video game or read an old favourite or just stare mindlessly into space, taking comfort in the fact you can relax. Well, that‟s all the advice I can lend to you. Good luck!
It only gets worse when the smart kid says, “Oh no! I only got 85%! This is so bad!”
Grade 10 is a year that depends very much on how you approach it, for example, if you go out and try new things and work hard, it could become one of your best years yet. The main difference between Grade 9 and Grade 10 is obviously the fewer subjects that you take (7 in total). Academically you need to concentrate hard and listen well, otherwise you‟ll fall behind and won‟t have a clue what‟s going on. At times the work can be pretty rough and you won‟t understand much, in which case you must ask your teacher what‟s going on before you get too far behind. Another thing to beware of is double periods, especially Biology and Accounting, which take forever to finish but you gain a great sense of freedom once they are finished. If you play sport, which you should, this is the year to push yourself and set goals for the future. If you‟re good enough (fitness levels, etc) and if you‟re not already there, you can make the first team in your desired sport and even push on for provincial colours. I was fortunate enough to be able to go on the United Kingdom Hockey Tour in 2010, which really set a great tone for the rest of the year. If you also happen to go on a tour, have as much fun as possible and don‟t hold back, as it could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Grade 10 is the first „senior‟ year of your high school career and you‟ll soon know and have friends in older as well as younger grades too. It is also a year that you‟ll meet more people in the mixed up classes for each of your subjects. You will meet people who you didn‟t even know were in your grade/school, as well as getting to know old friends again. These people are going to be with you until Matric, so I suggest you don‟t make too many enemies or there will be a couple of long years in high school. After Grade 10 is obviously Grade 11 (the do well or don‟t get into university year) and then Matric (the party/work year). So what you do and what memories you create in Grade 10, you‟ll need in the next few years in order to do well academically, in your sport and also to enjoy yourself.
Beware of double periods, especially Biology and Accounting, which take forever.
“This is the year that can make or break your future.” “It‟s the year to get yourself into gear, work hard and make studying your priority.” “Grade 11 is possibly the most important year in your school career because these are the marks that get you accepted at universities.” This is what I was told countless times by my teachers, my parents and friends throughout my Grade 11 year. It felt to me like my entire future and wellbeing was dependent on that end-of-year report… To me this was a daunting thought. I started this year in the mindset that I was going to make school work my first priority. It was time for me to buckle down and pull my weight. I was all systems go. Suddenly I realised that things don‟t always go according to plan, school work started taking a back seat, things like sport practices, socials events with friends and the normal distractions that life offers forced my good intentions of mastering Grade 11 to slide down my list. The first two terms were joy rides for me. Being with my friends seemed far more interesting than sitting at the desk in my room doing projects, homework and getting a head start on studying. It was only in the third term that I realised it was time to cut my social schedule in half and really start concentrating at school… Little did I know that by then it was too late. I did realise the following though: When you do math homework, things seem a lot easier and although it takes so much effort to get off the couch away from TV, the feeling of accomplishment you get from figuring out that impossible math problem is empowering. Spark notes are a useful tool and for those of us who don‟t enjoy reading they can be a real life saver. Spark notes don‟t always have all the facts and tend to leave out a few details. Reading will not kill you and even if you just listen in class, half the battle is won. Don‟t leave projects till the last minute, as they tend to take a lot more time and effort to complete, compared to those in Grade 10. Save yourself the stress and rather do little bits every day so when that dreaded due date suddenly creeps up on you, it is just a matter of pressing print. You have to study in advance for tests and exams. Cramming the night before does little to help the already out-of-control stress levels. Listen in class. Try not to doze off or go into your own world. Teachers give a lot of helpful tips during lessons that most of us don‟t even make use of. The most important tip I can give you for the year ahead is manage your time well. Try balancing your social life, me time and school work evenly. Before you know it, the year will be over and you definitely don‟t want to be standing with your report in your hand, thinking that you should have done more. Of all the people around you, you know what your capabilities are, you know when your best really is your best.
My entire future and wellbeing was dependent on that endof-year report.
Everything you do will count toward your final mark.
I guess you could equate your final year in high school to that journey toward a mountain: You walk and walk toward it and yet you never seem to get any nearer than when you started. Then, suddenly, you realise that it‟s right in front you and you can‟t help but wonder what happened to those last few kilometres. Matric is undeniably one of the most important years in the life of the average South African. Mine was a year of challenges and tough decisions but also of moments I‟ll cherish for the rest of my life. The time passes so quickly, it‟s all that one can do to keep up. This article is a guide to surviving the final four terms of your high school career. In my opinion, your Grade 12 year can be broken down into the bite-sized challenges listed below: INCREASED WORKLOAD : It may not seem possible, but Matric actually manages to trump Grade 11 in this area. Looking back on the year, I can‟t actually remember a time that I wasn‟t busy (because, yes, you do get holiday projects). That said, it is possible that my lack of free time was a direct result of the amount of extracurriculars I did, and here, my future Matrics, I give you my first piece of advice: be careful how many activities you sign up for. Now you‟re probably thinking about all those people who said, “It‟s your last year of school, so do everything you possibly can or you‟ll regret it when you‟re forty.” While this is not a bald-faced lie, it isn‟t a sterling suggestion. Matric is a year during which your main focus should be your work because almost everything you do will count toward your final mark, however little. It‟s great fun to take part in one-time events like inter-school lawn bowls but beware of long-term commitments, especially if you already have regular sport practices or dance classes. Get started early with projects and assignments, this may seem an obvious suggestion but it was one I really struggled to put into practice. That extra hour of TV may seem really tempting, but there is nothing worse than trying to perfect a project in the early hours of the morning. Finally, if you don‟t understand something, ask for help. Don‟t be afraid to ask your teacher to explain it to you again after class – they want you to do well. If you still don‟t understand, approach another teacher or ask a friend. Missing a step could affect your future understanding of the subject, so it‟s worthwhile to sort out any queries long before exam time. CHOOSING WHAT TO DO NEXT: When deciding what to study (or whether to study at all) you‟ll find that everyone has an opinion – your parents, your extended family, your dentist, that bum on the corner. Through all those suggestions it‟s difficult to figure out what it is you actually want to do. The best advice given to me was „Choose your degree, not your career‟ which basically means take a course you‟ll love and don‟t worry so much about what comes after. It‟s often hard to forge your own path when it‟s in contradiction with the expectations of your family or teachers but it‟s not worth choosing a subject you‟re not passionate about. If you don‟t enjoy science it‟s unlikely you‟ll enjoy chemical engineering – think very carefully about what will get you out of bed on a cold Monday morning, because that‟s the kind of course you want to choose. All this said, it‟s important not to alienate your parents in this process (unless you don‟t need them to pay your tuition fees); if they are being unsupportive, try talking to them calmly – making your feelings clear without being aggressive. Lastly, if you‟re not sure what you want to do yet, take a gap year to work or travel (or both); don‟t just sign up to do a BCom because that‟s what everyone expects you to do. MATRIC DANCE: I can pretty much sum this point up into one sentence: Start preparing early and avoid any unrealistic expectations. The more relaxed you are, the more you will enjoy the evening. Will it be the best night of you high school life? Maybe, but it doesn‟t need to be – don‟t put that kind of pressure on yourself and those around you. EXAMS: Writing exams is always a stressful experience, more so when your place at a university or residence is in jeopardy. My advice is always listen in class. By doing this you effectively halve your amount of work when studying. Exams are all about concepts; if you have the concept of the work covered, you can get most of your marks. Spend less time on the details; try, rather, to get a general overview of the work which you can then expand in your answers. Other than this, there are the usual recommendations to get enough sleep, eat brain food and so on. Do what works for you: whether it‟s summarising in advance, key cards or last-minute read-throughs, your power lies in whatever will most complement your memory. Make sure that you don‟t spend the entire exam period holed up in your room – take a walk outside or see some friends; it will help you focus when you actually get down to studying. Matric is an opportunity to learn more about yourself, get to know your teachers and experience a little independence. Ultimately, the best piece of advice I can give you is to attempt to find the balance between work and fun, ambition and reality, optimism and stress and finally between doing what is expected of you and following your heart.
A
ntoinette Degens is on holiday in Cape Town to visit her parents.
This means that she will be missing about two shoots for the current issue of Nederland ELLE, where she is the fashion editor – which is difficult for her, but she‟ll just have to let it go. During her time at PV, her uncle, Headmaster de Vries, stepped down and Mr Gouws took over. I tell her that our matrics once again achieved a 100% pass rate but that Strand High, now under new management, is growing stronger by the day. “I hope for general education that that‟s the case, but Parel Vallei will stay the best! I‟m super patriotic about the school.” She remembers all her teachers: she speaks very fondly of Mrs Kets with whom she did hockey and Mrs Madsen-Leibold who taught her Afrikaans. But it was Mr Visser who she returned to the school years later to visit. After all, it was under his guidance that she achieved 100% for her final Art practical in matric. Only someone who is really enthusiastic manages to achieve so much. Antoinette loved everything about school: the people and the way of life. “Most people aren‟t huge fans of school, but that‟s just to be be cool, cool, II think.” think.” Parel Parel Vallei, Vallei, in in turn, turn, was was also also enthusiastic about her. So much so that she was elected as head girl 1999. Did she expect this honour? enthusiastic about her. So much sointhat she “On the one hand I thought, no way. And was elected as head girl in 1999. Did she then suddenly it just happened.” expect this honour? “On the one hand I Antoinette wasthen at the perfectitplace thought, no way. And suddenly just in her life to take on the job. Her friends were all older than her, so there weren‟t hectic social happened.” obligations for the year ahead. Even so, she did have to give up a lot: Antoinette was at the perfect between dancing, swimming, hockey, place in her life to take on the job. Her art (an extra subject where you have do four paintings term), and being an active member of our friendstowere all older thanaher, so there drama department, she had to set weren‟t hectic social obligations forher thepriorities straight. The organising of assemblies, council meetings and year ahead. Even so, she did have toother give leader-like obligations began to take their toll but she never took it lying down. She looks back up a lot: between dancing, swimming, on the experience as a very positive one. hockey, art (an extra subject where you Although she was not a wiz with life sciences and maths, she have to do four paintings a term), and being an active member of our was a successful head girlof and adrama brilliant art student. Mrs Kets being active member dramaan department, she hadour to set her priorities straight. The organising remembers her as “” department, had to set her priorities of assemblies,she council meetings and other leader-like obligations straight. The organising of began to take their toll butassemblies, she never took it lying down. She looks back council meetings and on the experience as aother very leader-like positive one. obligations began to take their Although she was not a toll wiz but withshe life sciences and maths, she never took it lying down. She looks back was a successful head girl and a brilliant on art student. Mrs Madsen the experience as a very one. Madsen-Leibold lights up positive when I mention her name, remembering Although she leader was notwho a wiz with lifeand utterly unique. Antoinette as a born is daring sciences and maths, she was a successful head girl andpassion a brilliant student. Mrsduring the years when she Antoinette‟s for art fashion began Kets remembers her as “” walked the Parel Vallei hallways. She remembers dressing up for
“I find fashion to be super exciting, fast, powerful, overwhelming and ridiculous. I like that energy.”
parties, following the hottest trends and wearing her “super popular” older sister‟s stretch jeans, oversized T-shirts, roll-down socks and leg warmers. Rock on! After graduating from PV, she travelled to Holland, London and Paris and then settled in Amsterdam where she applied at a fashion college to major in trend forecasting. It wasn‟t easy. The courses were only presented in Dutch and although she had heard the language from her parents when she was younger, she had to work herself into a stupor to pass. “I‟ve never worked so hard in my life,” she says. “I was always diligent at school, but there‟s no comparison.”
Eventually (after failing two subjects in her first year) she arranged to write her exams in English. Then things began to get better. And better. And better. She graduated with cum laude and won a prize for best design and styling student in 2004, and rightly so! In just ten minutes Antoinette gives me a breakdown of how fashion trends reflect life and art, using examples such as Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs to show that a subject which many people may consider frivolous and pretentious is in fact the exact opposite. “Fashion is just another way for people to express themselves. People can express themselves in a thousand other art forms but I find fashion to be super exciting, fast, powerful, overwhelming and ridiculous. I like that energy.” For her graduation project, Antoinette made a magazine called B4: a trend magazine based on how South Africa could influence style. She flew back home and took photographs of squatter camps, the Bo-Kaap and people on the street. She then used these photographs as inspiration for her magazine, taking the „bergie‟ style – layered clothing and T-shirts with holes in them – and turning it into a hip trend. The magazine was so successful that the college paid her to extend her travel for a few months and go wherever she wanted to so that she could expand her thesis and add to her magazine. The magazine was then presented by the head of the university at a European trend forecasting conference. Her time travelling after college was just what she needed to scale down after four years of incredibly hard work and helped her gain perspective. Finishing her work for B4, Antoinette returned to South Africa and began to build up her portfolio, working with all kinds of photographers, stylists and South African ELLE – a taste of what was to come.
Back in Amsterdam, Antoinette made a list of the places where she would like to work. At the top of this list was ELLE – the best fashion magazine in Holland (and the world). She opened the magazine, dialled the number in the back, spoke to reception and was put straight through to the fashion editor. Not expecting to speak to someone so high up that quickly, Antoinette told the editor about her portfolio and her work in South Africa, trying to sound confident while being completely nervous. Then came the reply she had been waiting to hear, “I just walked out of a meeting, and we‟ve decided that we need someone in a younger category who can learn and be moulded.” She came in for a short meeting and was consequently hired as the junior fashion editor. The job was not perfect – she was at the bottom of the fashion food chain and had to live off an intern salary, which was next to nothing. That being said, she had access to every shoot, had the opportunity to assist every stylist and got to meet the best people in the industry. So even though you‟re basically “shovelling s***,” it was a foot in the door. The perfect opportunity. She spent her time doing the dirty work, always with passion and enthusiasm (this may be her secret to success) and slowly worked her way up in the magazine, doing small photo shoots, getting sent on business trips to launches and finally taking over the shopping pages of the magazine. “I never expected this to happen,” she says. The fashion director left the company. This resulted in the fashion editor becoming the director and Antoinette, in turn, the editor. And that‟s the position she‟s carried with pride for the past three years. I ask the question I‟ve been dying to ask, “What is it like, working at ELLE?” The answer is an honest one. “It‟s great. It‟s fantastic, and I‟ve had the best time of my life. But work has now become ninety five percent of my life and it‟s something that you choose but it also catches up on you quite quickly. What happens is that you loose out on the rest of the pace of life: your friendships and relationships in general. You can‟t maintain that to the best of your ability. You have to be super brilliant to know where to stop, and I don‟t know where to stop. ELLE, like any other magazine, if you do it properly, eats away at your soul a little bit. That‟s just the way it is.” Balance is what‟s important, and Antoinette knows this. It‟s her unspoken work resolution for the new year. “You need to set your own pace. It‟s very important not to get overworked. You should go to work every day with a smile on your face. I‟m going to make sure I don‟t get consumed by the fashion monster, and the stress monster, and the deadline monster.” The holiday she is currently on also helps with that, of course. When she goes back she resolves not to get back into a workaholic rut. After all, there is so much to enjoy: the talent and the “incredible energy”. The must-have item when working in the fashion industry, says Antoinette, is a thick skin. “You have to make difficult decisions, you have to be tough, you have to take criticism big time. You can work for weeks on a project and within two minutes the whole thing is cut and you have to start again. Even when you do something your bosses like, they‟ll tell you it‟s great but they‟re not going to give you a pat on the back and tell you you‟re a genius. They just move on.” Images from ELLE.NL shoots that Antoinette styled. From top: a shoot styled by Antoinette; a shoot Antoinette styled with her boss; Zand Loper, shot in the desert outside Las Vegas; Zand Loper. Opener image by Daniël Geldenhuys
Being creative, Antoinette muses, you put your heart and soul into your work and if that work fails, you feel that the same thing happens to you. That‟s why it‟s so great to be creative in an office environment; it really tests your skills. “What I‟ve learned is worth gold.” Antoinette‟s style is one that would stand out in the crowd in a very modern way. Her beauty combines that of Sigourney Weaver, Natalie Portman and Hilary Swank in an almost androgynous kind of cool. She loves masculine style clothing and isn‟t afraid to wear a pants suit with an „I love New York‟ T-shirt. Today she looks rightly laidback in a jeans shirt, tie-dye harem pants and flats. Always flats. “I call myself the flat collector,” she says. Antoinette finds a woman wearing heels who can‟t walk in them completely ridiculous. Luckily she does not fall into this category. She‟s a flats girl by choice. “When you work in fashion, you stop following trends. I prefer to invest in timeless pieces.” And invest, she does. Antoinette must have at least one new pair of shoes per month, preferably from Prada, Miu Miu or Dolce & Gabbana. Pricy? Not as bad as you‟d think: when you work at ELLE, the stores email you about their sales, so that you can be the first ones there. When working at a fashion magazine, you have to try and combine two things that are infamous for not going together: fashion and function. This is especially true in Amsterdam where it is part of the way of life to cycle from the office to the designer store to pick up an item for a shoot. So Antoinette‟s flats serve her well. “There isn‟t much pressure to dress up at the office,” she says. “Everyone has their own unique style and we‟re a family.” From what I can tell just by looking at her, she can pull off any outfit with flair.
From top: Antoinette in the front row (second from left) at the Lichting 2009 show; Zand Loper; Antoinette wearing the sunglasses from the December 2010 issue of ELLE SA and holding the September 2010 issue of ELLE SA which Daniël Geldenhuys shadowed on; Antoinette and a friend at Replay S/S 2010; Antoinette at Daryl van Wouw A/W 2009; Zand Loper.
What Antoinette Degens has accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of incredible, bordering on magical. She went from Parel Vallei‟s head girl to the Fashion Editor at Nederland ELLE where she flies to Milan and Paris every season for fashion week. In fact, after her holiday in South Africa, she‟s making a pit stop in New York. She tells me about the electric hype at the Chanel A/W 2010 show where models walked around imported icebergs from Antarctica on the catwalks. “Sometimes it gets blown a little out of proportion.” She rubs shoulders with Anna Wintour, Grace Codington and Scarlet Johanssen. “At these shows, everyone tries to act cool.” So it was to the great embarrassment of her colleagues when she ran to Kanye West and asked to be photographed with him. Afterwards, of course, her colleagues wanted to see the picture and asked if they could put it in the magazine. Make no mistake, Antoinette worked hard to get where she is today. And it all started in the hallways of Parel Vallei. It was without a doubt her determination and willingness to work hard that got her to where she is today. “A lot of people don‟t try because they think they won‟t get it. So, do you know how much room that leaves for those who do try?” Her advice to Morgan Wolf, our new head girl, can be taken by any Parel Valleier. After all, Degens will be taking it herself this year. “Work hard, but always try to find a way to have fun.” The future is looking bright for Antoinette. She‟s going back to work with a fresh perspective and a new outlook on life. She is also getting married at the end of the year! “What are you wearing?” I ask. She has no idea. One thing‟s for sure: she will be in heels. Above: From Nederland ELLE, styled by Antoinette; Left: Antoinette with ULTIMATE PV editor Daniël Geldenhuys Below: The February 2011 issue of Nederland ELLE.
THE
VISUAL
ISSUE
STARTS
HERE
The following spreads showcase the incredible all-round talent at Parel Vallei. Photographed by some of PVâ€&#x;s best photographers, including Kim Swarts and Diana KĂźhn, these are just another reason to be a proud Parel Valleier!
T
o be honest, I was dreading this interview because I was certain that
Annamart was going to laugh at my nervousness (this being my first face-toface interview) and that the whole thing was going to be very awkward, but luckily it wasn‟t and she didn‟t. It turned out to be a very laid-back, friendly chat – the only things missing were coffee and comfy armchairs. Annamart Laubscher is number 1 in the under-17 female triathlon in Africa. And she goes to our school. Crazy, huh? And what‟s even more crazy is the fact that she‟s one of the most carefree, down-to-earth, joyful people I‟ve ever met! She was so nervous in the photo shoot for fear of ruining our pictures, prior to the interview, that it even put me quite at ease. The triathlon consists of 750m swimming, 20km cycling and 5km running. Annamart started running races by the age of 12. She was actually already cycling, so someone encouraged her to enter duathlons. Quite recently she added swimming to her list and started entering triathlons. She says that swimming is her weakest and she struggles but even so she manages to be number 1. I have a lot of respect for her. 2010 was a whirlwind for Annamart. She came 3rd in the Boland Track and Field Championships: 1500m and 3000m; 1st in the u/17 Boland CrossCountry Championships; 3rd lady overall and first junior woman in the Knysna Pick „n Pay Cycle Tour (45km); 1st in the 16-17 years Western Province Triathlon Championships; 2nd in the 16-17 years South African Triathlon Championships and lastly, 1st in the 16-17 years All Africa Triathlon Championships. She ranked 4th in the whole competition, which was from 16 to 19 years. The All Africa Triathlon was held in Durban and there were approximately 20 participants in her age group. She says it is quite intimidating because the others don‟t talk; they‟re focused and they don‟t think that you‟re worth the time. Imagine their surprise when the newest member won. She says that they just walked away. She‟s quite small for her age, which means that she runs well but struggles with swimming. She is quite happy with this though, because the running discipline is last, so she can easily catch up. You‟d think that to achieve all this she‟d have a specific diet. She doesn‟t. She does have a conscience, so she likes to eat sensibly but she also loves pizza. Also, her week schedule is not as jam-packed with training sessions as I‟d have thought. She usually does 2 disciplines a day (2 of the 3 sports), which last up to three hours. And that‟s the week before a race. Someone obviously doesn‟t need to practice very much. When she cycles, she takes the road to Rooi Els; when she runs, she runs around her estate – which I won‟t mention for fear of stalkers – and when she swims, it‟s at the gym. She receives a programme from Germany which she follows. She went there last year to train at a Triathlon school and also competed in a few races for experience. Her only pre-race ritual is to eat an energy bar.
Teardrop earrings R300, mustang belt R1650, Seraphine sandals R800, all Missibaba; Parel Vallei athletics top; Jay Jays shorts; Annamart’s own medals, bangles and watches. Previous spread: Annamart wears her own training gear.
Knit, denim shorts, both Jay Jays; PV athletics top (just seen); studs, Annamart’s own.
GETTING TO KNOW ANNAMART Her training sessions are usually in the morning or the afternoon She admits she isn‟t very cultural but she did manage to take piano lessons for three years. She‟s a cat person. She has 1 brother, a cat, a dog and fish (notice how the sibling is put into this list). She is Belgian and visits her family there often. She was in Somerset College but chose to come to Parel Vallei in Grade 9. Obviously. Lady Gaga scares her. Her New Years resolution is to work harder at her training. The last movie that really impressed her was The Hangover – she‟s a sucker for Bradley Cooper. She never leaves home without her lip gloss and she does not like Blackberries! Smart woman. Her sports idol is Lance Armstrong. If she could go anywhere in the world, it would be Hawaii so that she could relax. Her bad habits consist of watching too much TV and skipping a training session every now and then. Of all her friends, she has the most easy-going and down-to-earth personality. After high school, she wants to go study either medicine or sports science. She still wants to take part in races etc but she wants a solid job too.
Ultimate wishes Annamart good luck with the 2011 All Africa Triathlon and or course, interschools! We know she‟ll make us proud! Images: provided.
In these sweltering summer days, style minimal basics with leather and suede accessories from one of South Africaâ€&#x;s hottest designers, Missibaba. Styled by DaniĂŤl Geldenhuys Photographed by Kim Swarts
Leather bird mask, price on request, leather ‘feather’ shoulder piece, R2400 both Missibaba; dress, Milla at YDE.
Fan earrings R300, peacock pendant necklace R550, Bronco belt, R1050,Nevada beach bags, R675 each, all Missibaba; floral print dress, YDE
From left: striped appliquĂŠ possum bag, R3300, black zigzag printed prairie clutch R2790, African waxed cotton possum bag R2400, black Seraphine sandals R800, all Missibaba; dress, Milla at YDE
Tasseled Gaucho bag R3700, sweetie necklace, R200, both Missibaba; wayfarers, stylist’s own; top, American Eagle Outfitters; shorts, rt at Mr Price
Hand-painted orchid headpiece R1450, skinny spotty belts R450 each, all Missibaba; shirt, Port at YDE
Opposite: Hand-embroidered fan clutch R3100, flower belt worn as headpiece, price on request, both Missibaba; shirt, Port at YDE This page, clockwise from top: small wallet R550, small Wild West wallet R690, small Wild West wallet R690, all Missibaba; floral print dress, YDE.
Striped appliquĂŠ possum bag R3300, Missibaba; dress, Milla at YDE
Peacock cut-out possum bag R3600, sweetie necklace R200, Freya sandals R700, all Missibaba; wayfarers, stylist’s own; top, American Eagle Outfitters; shorts, rt at Mr Price
Teardrop necklace R1200, suede handcut gloves, price on request, both Missibaba; top, model’s own. MODEL: ESTHER VAN ZYL. DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: KIM SWARTS. FASHION AND LAYOUT EDITOR: DANIËL GELDENHUYS. SHOT ON LOCATION IN AND AROUND THE MISSIBABA WORKSHOP IN WOODSTOCK, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.
Missibaba (021) 461 1083 missibaba.com ann@missibaba.com
A
s jy die woord “domineer” in die woordeboek
naslaan, sal jy “PV by interskole-atletiek” langsaan vind. Strand sal gevind word langs “blaf-maargeen-byt” en HHH kan net beskryf word as: “daar”. Die eerste atletiekoefening van die jaar was „n reuse sukses. Daar was „n groot groep atlete, veral graad agts, wat jou net positief kan laat voel oor die atletiekseisoen wat voorlê. Daar is baie toekomstige sterre soos byvoorbeeld Niel Nienaber, wat met harde werk vinnig die rekords gaan laat spat. Ons het ook bekende gesigte soos Annamart Laubscher en Cabin de Wee, wat nou al jaar na jaar vir ons emmers vol punte wen, by die oefening gesien. Ons is nuuskierig om te sien hoe hierdie atlete, sowel as ons ander sterre, HHH en Strand wys hoe dit gedoen word. Dis waar, maar soos Juf. Kets al soveel keer vir die atlete vertel het: “There is no I in team.” Dit is nie net eerste plekke wat vir ons Interskole wen nie. Dit is die gesamentlike poging van al die PV-atlete in „n item wat tel. Dit beteken dat al is jy nie „n top atleet nie, moet jy volhou met jou oefeninge en jou beste gee op die groot dag. Die atletiekvooruitsigte is heel positief en ek dink ons het „n goeie kans om Interskole vir die sesde agtereenvolgende keer te wen. Waarna ons nou regtig smag, is om weer die Geesbeker terug te wen. Verlede jaar het HHH dit voor ons weggeraap, al behoort dit eintlik aan ons. As „n mens so luister na die skool se gees gedurende sing songs, is dit moeilik om te glo dat ons dit in die eerste plek verloor het. Vanjaar gaan ons twee aflosspanne vir sing songs hê, wat beteken dat ons nie heeldag in die warm son met ons baadjies hoef te sit nie en dus „n 120% op die paviljoen kan gee. Interhuis was „n reuse sukses en die gees op die paviljoene was wonderlik. As daardie vlak van gees na interskole oorgedra kan word, sal ons vir seker wegstap met die Geesbeker. Of jy nou „n atleet of dirigent is, of net op die paviljoen sit, onthou: ons is almal een groot span. Asseblief julle, gee alles, want saam kan niemand ons stop nie!
PV SCA HAS A NEW NAME AND A PLAN TO KEEP US ALL SANE DURING VALENTINE‟S. NATASHA BICKNELL TELLS US HOW…
It‟s that time of year again. The month of love. Anticipated by some, despised by others. I reckon a lot of us fall into the “others” group. This may be because some believe that Valentine‟s Day has become way too commercial, or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that February seems to enjoy rubbing one‟s single status in one‟s face. If one is single. Thankfully, 4Word (Yes, 4Word, it‟s not SCA anymore) has some interesting events planned for that week. By that week, I do mean the week of Valentine‟s Day, or as many of you have grown accustomed to calling it: Love Week. This year it stretches from Monday the 14th to Friday. Be excited! The theme of Love Week this year is “The different faces of love.” We will celebrate the theme of the week by having a funny face competition among all the classes in PV. We‟ll explain the finer details closer to the time, but until then you might as well start practising your funny face. Other than that, our plan is to have a different “face” of love every day. Monday is going to be all about plastic love (if this confuses you, never fear, we hope to have a speaker tell you all about it in assembly on this day). Tuesday‟s face is brotherly love. Wednesday‟s theme is romantic love (need I say more?) and on Thursday we‟ll be speaking about tough love. On Thursday night we are going to have a worship evening at the school, so keep it open! You‟re all invited. Oh, I almost forgot about the balloons. On Thursday we‟ll be handing out Valentine‟s balloons. We‟ll end off the week with a bang, because Friday will be all about God‟s love, which I reckon is the most important love of all. So that‟s Love Week in a nutshell. I‟m sure it will be an awesome time, filled with funny faces, balloons, hi 5s and such. Oh, and chocolate. Just a hint... if you happen to receive chocolate this Valentine‟s Day and it melts in our slightly warm February weather, put it in the freezer. It turns into a hard blob. “What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1
The BEST CHEESECAKE in Stellenbosch! THIS VALENTINES DAY a slice of delicious cheesecake in our neighbouring university town is far more romantic (and original) than just another box of chocolates. THE SERIAL SAMPLERS searched Stellenbosch to find the very best slice of cheesecake. This is what they found窶ｦ words DANIﾃ記 GELDENHUYS
Location #1: Apprentice @ institute of culinary arts. 021 887 8985 Ask for: the White Chocolate Cheesecake. Notes: We got off to a great start! This is the cheesecake that got the most consistent vote from the four of us. The white chocolate on top complemented the cake perfectly and the cheesecake itself was almost unnaturally creamy. We like! Ratings: Lana 7; Esther 7; Carla 8; Daniﾃｫl 7.
MEET THE TEAM! Above: Daniﾃｫl Geldenhuys Carla Snyman Below: Lana de Beer Esther van ZYL
Location #2: 5 Ryneveld. 021 886 4842 Ask for: the Blackberry Cheesecake. Notes: The restaurant had a really cool retro feel to it. Very 60s cool (see previous page, top right image). After we managed to swat the flies away, we quite enjoyed the cheesecake. So much so that we forgot to photograph it. But this one is best reserved for those with a sweet tooth. Ratings: Lana 8; Esther 5; Carla 6; Daniël 7.
Location #3: Wijnhuis. 021 887 5844 Ask for: the Baked Cheesecake. Notes: The first thing to be said is that Lana declared their water (we had a glass at every restaurant) the best. The cheesecake is deliciously fresh with a twist of lemon which is perfectly evened out by the ice cream served with it. Ratings: Lana 6; Esther 7; Carla 8; Daniël 8.
Location #4: Java. 021 887 6261 Ask for: the Chocolate Cheesecake. Notes: We were surprised to find that this was our least favourite cheesecake (we expected more from Java). The cheesecake (not freshly made) has a very thick layer of chocolate on top that completely overthrows its taste. The result is a rather miss-able taste. Ratings: Lana 5; Esther 5; Carla 4; Daniël 4.
wants to help you create the perfect date for Valentineâ€&#x;s Day.
So theyâ€&#x;re giving away two pizza boxes, each containing a R100 rand voucher* and a loyalty card with R30 that will always keep on giving. One box will go to a PV student and the other to a PV parent. To enter, email your PV student/parent status, along with your name and the answer to the question below to ultimatepv@iafrica.com. The winners will be announced in assembly on Monday 7 February. Competition closes Friday 4 February 2010. Example of email info: Parent. John Smith. Answer. Question: Who is on the cover of this issue? *voucher only applicable at the Somerset West branch of Primi Piatti.