RGJS Magazine 2022

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We head forward!

For almost 3 years we were unable to function normally, For almost 3 years we couldn’t get together, and sing, and play. But, that is now in the past, and we look AHEAD, We have survived. We have built bridges.

We are alive. We have each other.

We have learnt that TOGETHER, we are STRONGER!

We share love, we share the feeling of unity. We show resilience, and that we are trustworthy.

We as a school will head forward with integrity and confidence!

Written by Babette Viljoen (Music Teacher)

Scan this QR code to see to view the Kaleidoscope Finale. Narrated by Zizo Gungu Gr 6a

Principal’s Report

SGB Chairperson Report Staff Portfolios Staff News Staff Farewells

Social Responsibility

The Year in a Nutshell Grade R Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 7 Memoirs

Self defence classes Bosch Social Grade 7 Farewell Africa Dance Aftercare

Arts & Crafts Club

Debating

WC Virtual Art Eisteddfod Bug Buddies

Eco Club & Podcast

Enrichment 2022 Learning Support

Learnerships Library Report

The Music Department Speech & Drama

IT Report Sports Report

Sports Day

Soccer Tournament

Country

Photos

Principal’s Report

2022 seems like a year of two halves. We started the year wearing masks with fairly strict COVID-19 regulations in place. By mid-year, this all changed.

We found ourselves thrown into “pre-COVID” life with expectations to match. If I am completely honest, we didn’t quite factor in the social and emotional strain left behind by a gruesome pandemic that left many of us dealing with experiences of loss and devastation. I am certain that I am not the only one reflecting on this past year and wishing they could have done some things differently. Nonetheless, here we are…rounding off one year as we enthusiastically plan for the next.

We started our year reflecting on our purpose. Based on the work of Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle, we explored what we do, how we do what we do and why we do what we do. Each team was given time to reflect on their purpose by collaborating and crafting their WHY statement. All the statements were shared amongst the staff as a way of supporting each other in living our team’s purpose. Some teams took it a step further and displayed their WHY statements in prominent places where they spend much of their time at school as a constant reminder to focus on their why.

During August and September, the staff and School Management Team (SMT) engaged in a reflection

process as well as strategic ideas as we plan for 2023. Some staff members and teams used their WHY statements in this reflection. I appreciate the honesty which was shared as this helps us to better navigate the way forward, putting things in place to better support our vision of being a school that leads the way. Some positive reflections included increased community engagement and holistic activities. I think we can all agree that the restrictions on gatherings negatively impacted our school community as I am sure it has impacted many other schools and places of work across the globe. The opportunities realised through a full music, sport and cultural programme as well as community events have raised the spirits of many within our school community and cemented the value of connection with others.

We have embarked on new pathways this year as a result of our school’s 5-year strategic plan. This has particularly been evident in the classrooms as teachers have embraced integrated learning environments with a growing focus on inquiry and project-based learning (PBL). It has been a year of learning and development as our teachers have willingly tried different approaches and methodologies and the girls are definitely benefitting from the application of 21st-century teaching and learning. All that we have been exploring and implementing has been globally researched for a number of years. The work of Sir Ken Robinson

and other phenomenal education researchers has been instrumental in helping us to understand that the traditional, industrial model of education is no longer fit for purpose. (For a brief overview of the changes in the educational landscape, please scan the QR code.)

The thread that has tied this year together has been our theme, Beauty begins within. Throughout the year, we have been reminded that real beauty is inner beauty and runs through every fibre of our being. It comes from the kind of people we are, the choices we make and how we treat others. It is about identifying those unseen qualities and strengths within ourselves and others, together with the flaws and imperfections.

It has been amazing to see our staff consistently engage in their own development, whether it be through our structured staff development programme or through their own drive to attend courses and workshops or even engaging in their own research. The most exciting thing has been to see their learning, passion and enthusiasm translate into classroom spaces that are buzzing with lively learning experiences. As a result, we have had our young Rustybugs researching critical global issues and engaging in thoughtful problem-solving. Some have even taken this beyond the classroom as they begin to discover more about their individual passions and interests. This is the beauty and essence of education that will transcend beyond the gates of RGJS and hopefully make a lasting impact on their futures.

Our four values this year have focused on creating and nurturing an understanding of the beauty that lies within each of us, starting with being trustworthy (ukuthembeka, betroubaar). We explored what it means to be someone that others can count on and who keeps their word. We learnt about being people who are worthy of the trust others place in them.

This led us to the value of integrity (ingqibelelo, integriteit) in term two, which took us deeper than being people who keep their word. It’s about making sure that our words and actions are consistent. Without integrity, no one would be able to trust each other to do what they say they are going to do. Integrity helps us to do the right thing and to tell the truth. Integrity gives us self-respect and a peaceful heart.

If there is anything that we have been learning over these past two years, it’s resilience (ukomelela, veerkragtigheid). Building resilience helps us to bounce back from life’s challenges. Difficult situations can arise at any point in life and we should equip ourselves with the tools needed to face these challenges and overcome them. Developing grit teaches us to be adaptable and better able to handle

failure, disappointment and loss. When we put these values into practice, it leads us to experience confidence (ukuzithemba, selfvertroue) - the fourth value to round off this year’s theme. When we grow in confidence, we feel sure about ourselves and our abilities. Confident people trust that they can engage with the world and are more willing to rise to challenges and take on responsibilities. We have come full circle knowing that “the most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence” (Blake Lively).

This year we have continued to engage in courageous conversations as a staff. Over the past couple of years we have recognised that transformation requires more than programmes, policies and tangible changes. It is the intangible that is the most difficult to address and change. This has been the purpose of the courageous conversations. The topics have covered various aspects of Inclusivity, Diversity and Transformation (IDT) such as microaggressions and assimilation. Both of these topics came up as lived experiences at RGJS in our alumnae conversations as well as courageous conversations with Grade 6 and 7 learners over the past three years. (You can scan the QR code to read more about this year’s staff courageous conversations.)

It is always arduous to expose ourselves to such moments of vulnerability and hold up the mirror to ourselves. But if we truly believe that inclusivity and equity is a priority, then we each need to be bold and brave to converse and listen. We learn so much about ourselves and others when we do. After all, what better example could we give our Rustybugs! It was evident at our School Community meeting in August that parents felt deeply moved by the group discussions and suggested that we hold spaces for parents to have courageous conversations as the staff do. I look forward to seeing this come to fruition in 2023.

As with all things in life, there are things that propel us forward and things that don’t go as planned. As the head of Rustenburg, I have appreciated the different perspectives of our school community - staff, parents and learners. My own perspectives have been challenged and I have been learning to embrace diversity of thought. But I have also learned that I need to remain true to my purpose here in leading an academically excellent school through holistic education that is culturally relevant. That is, to ensure that our

school serves our Rustybugs well in the present and future and it does all it can in the best interests of the girls. Ultimately, they are our reason for being here and for doing what we do. What makes my heart more glad is that our staff and parents are learning to put aside their differences, even though this is not always easy, knowing that our Rustybugs come first. Thank you to each person who has contributed positive suggestions and meaningful ideas for the benefit of our Rustybugs.

Every adult in our school community wants our Rustybugs to experience success, now and in the future. It is our role to provide them with good role models of what that looks like in its various forms and especially when one experiences the feeling of being unsuccessful. How do we still encourage our Rustybugs to be trustworthy people of integrity that display resilience and confidence?

I believe it is imperative to bear Arthur Ashe’s quote in mind: “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

At each juncture, we are constantly thinking about and working towards becoming and being a school that is equitable and inclusive. Whilst going through a time of change, we have to honour the process in pursuit of the outcome. This is not easy and I am deeply grateful to the SMT for their purposeful leadership in this regard. They have led by example and invested time and energy into their own development. I also know that without a strong deputy principal, we would not have achieved all that we have been able to this year. Thank you, Andrew Stamper.

So, as we look back on this year of two halves, we can acknowledge the learning and growing we have all been challenged to do as we continue to navigate this pathway called life together at Rustenburg.

Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome

My goal is not to get all students to college; my goal is to help students find a pathway to success in a way that is meaningful to them.

SGB Chairperson Report

2022 has been a year that has brought about much positive change. This has made me ponder on how embracing change may greatly contribute to our growth, as individuals and as a school community.

In the first half of the year the global pandemic started moving into an endemic state; classrooms, sports fixtures and cultural events finally returned to their full physical form and we were able to live (and learn) without masks.

To be part of a school community that is resilient and positive despite challenges can easily be taken forgranted, because we don’t necessarily see all the work that goes into keeping our wheels moving forward. Our daughters are privileged to have staff and an SMT who learn from their experiences, press forward, push boundaries and reimagine what education could be.

This year has seen the SGB and SMT hard at work in implementing tasks from our Strategic Themes and overall Organisational Strategy. Dedication and many hours have been put into driving the positive transformation of RGJS by ensuring we are meeting the desired deliverables and outcomes. Words fail to convey the gratitude I have to the small group of parents, SGB and SMT members who have so eagerly contributed to this process; and this is exactly what it is - a process and not a onetime event.

For now, a huge THANK YOU is all I can say. I know how easy it may be to view change as something negative and consider it to be something that is not good for us after all. At times it may feel so much easier to go back to the way things were before these new complexities existed, but growth happens when we push past the adversity, recognise where change is required and exercise wisdom and integrity in the way we bring about these changes. If we view trials from this perspective, we can easily find valuable learning moments and make room for more open and honest conversations.

The ICT Committee were fantastic in progressing the entire school campus to a Wi-Fi Zone. We also purchased an additional 90 Chromebooks at the start of the year and installed Chromebook storage/charging cabinets. This has created a more flexible “classroom” setup for our girls and our educators are now able to better enhance their learner experience through technology.

Our multilingualism workshops started in the third term and was open to parents and staff. This was a great initiative from the Language Committee. The committee are in the process of creating better familiarity with our major national languages amongst the RGJS family. Part of this process was to include multilingual signage around the school campus. Various workshops were held with the staff and SGB to help us incorporate multilingualism in our English medium school. We are now pleased to have the capacity and resources to offer isiXhosa as a First Additional Language from 2023.

The Legal Committee have reviewed, updated and added to many of the school’s policies. An extensive amount of time has been volunteered by this committee to ensure our policies are up to date and compliant with

the WCED requirements. The SGB deems the polices, processes and procedures of RGSJ fundamental in the governance of the school as a whole.

Together with the school Department Heads, the Strategic Facilities Development Committee have met weekly in the third term to reevaluate the initial proposed priority matrix that was conceptualised as part of the Strategic Themes guide. Together with the department heads, we appraised the entire school campus and are now in the process of constructing a detailed ten-year Capital Development plan for the school campus. The major deliverable of the plan would ultimately be to make the best use of the space we have and, in so doing, creating a better campus flow which will facilitate future developments that support the academic, sport and cultural environment we offer our girls.

The IDT Committee have met regularly and consulted with professionals to develop a measuring tool which will allow us to gauge if we are meeting our desired outcomes from our Organisational Development process. This is certainly not has simple and straight-forward as it sounds. It required many hours and still requires many more in order for this tool to be developed, refined and finally launched. The most exciting part of it all is that RGJS would be the first school in the Western Cape to launch such a tool. Well done to Gary Winslow and the IDT Committee for their unwavering commitment in seeing this project through.

As mentioned, bringing about positive transformation into any school or organisation would be an ongoing process; A process that requires input and continuous engagement with the school community (internal and external) as well has stakeholders. To encourage such engagement the SGB have hosted a number of community meetings and workshops. As we progress into this process we may find that the needs of the learner and the tools we want them to leave RGJS with may change. However, the bottom-line remains – we would

Janine Joemat

Zaakirah Mohamed

Jenni Petersen

like our girls to leave RGJS with the tolerance, understanding and (most importantly) resilience to the everchanging world we live in.

To the SGB, PTA and parents – we are so fortunate to have a group of parents, who in addition to having day jobs and caring for their families, also eagerly help and support the school. With the support of the SGB members, I have managed to uphold the school’s very capable and functional SGB.

It is with sadness that we say farewell to Jenni Petersen, the current SGB secretary, who will be immigrating with her family in the next few weeks to come. On a personal note – Thank you Jenni. I am going to miss your efficiency and the laughs we shared amongst all the formalities.

To the staff (teaching, administrative and support staff) – thank you for being such a phenomenal group of people. This year has presented with personal first-hand experience with how RGJS go beyond the call of duty. The teachers and support staff did everything in their capacity to support my daughter and family through a difficult time. The passion, empathy and dedication of you all are undeniable and we are blessed to have you as daily role models in our daughters’ lives. This is rare, not only

Gary Winslow

Belinda Petersen

Arlene Wilcox Treasurer - Elected Parent

Andrew Stamper

within a school environment, but also in society as whole.

In conclusion – in life it is tempting to avoid change because changes brings about the unknown, and the unknown is scary. It is natural to want things to stay as they are forever and easier for us to stay within our comfort zones. There is no doubt though that to remain indestructible we have to move forward. Our world is in a constant state of flux and we if we do not adapt, and teach our girls to do so, we cannot expect to succeed (as an academic institute or as individuals).

To our Grade 7’s, as you spread your wings and start your high school career, remember to not aim for perfection; it is unattainable. Aim for progress. When you strive to reach your personal best, you will always improve. Potential is magnificent – the more you use it, the more it will be revealed, and this will empower you to reach your personal best. Utilise your potential constructively and remember you are the main character in your own life; What you get out will be the dependent on the work you put in to direct your script.

Zaakirah Jacobs Chairperson: RGJS School Governing Body

Pam Heiberg

Lee-Anne Prinsloo

Temitope Egbebiyi - Deputy Chairperson

Gail Barrish Liddle

Staff Portfolios

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Principal: Mrs B Petersen

Deputy Principal: Mr A Stamper

Head of Foundation Phase: Ms R Harris and Mrs R Greeff

Head of Intermediate and Senior Phase: Ms M van Niekerk

Head of Information Communication and Technology: Mrs C Pike

Head of Music, Arts and Culture: Mr H Marais

Head of Sport and Extramurals: Mrs J Liss

FOUNDATION PHASE

Grade Ra: Mrs L Matterson Grade Rb: Ms S Bantu Grade Rc: Mrs S Jardim Grade 1a: Mrs N Giraudeaux Grade 1b: Ms K Pass Grade 1c: Ms E September Grade 2a: Mrs L Jacobs-Thomas Grade 2b: Mrs R Greeff Grade 2c: Mrs K Sadie Grade 3a: Ms R Harris and Ms T Naidoo Grade 3b: Ms A Mallows Grade 3c: Mrs L Prinsloo

Grade R Assistant and Aftercare: Ms P Jali (Ra)

Grade R Assistant and Aftercare: Ms M Norton (Rb) Grade R Assistant and Aftercare: Ms M Jacobs (Rc) Grade 1 Assistant: Ms S Macaula

INTERMEDIATE PHASE

Grade 4a: Ms J Piers and Mrs S Louw Grade 4b: Mrs L Wallander Grade 4c: Ms C Riettels

Grade 5a: Mrs M Dudley Grade 5b: Ms K Wagner and Mrs P Hopkinson Grade 5c: Mr A Abrahams-Crocker Grade 6a: Mrs T Van Der Merwe Grade 6b: Mr P Manuel and Ms M Barnes Grade 6c: Mrs K Newby-Mudavanhu Grade 4-7 Assistant: Mrs R Lynch

SENIOR PHASE

Grade 7a: Ms C Poelmann Grade 7b: Mrs F Campbell, Mrs S Wentzel, Mr M S Hartzenberg Grade 7c: Mrs G Barrish-Liddle

LEARNERSHIP

Head of Learnerships: Mrs L Prinsloo and Ms P Brinkmann Grade 1 Learnership: Mrs Q Sampson Grade 2 Learnership: Ms E Amon Grade 3 Learnership: Ms R Rhode and Ms E Mkhusane Grade 4 Learnership: Ms A Erasmus Grade 5 Learnership: Ms G Chihwehwete and Mrs N Isaacs Grade 6 Learnership: Ms M Barnes Grade 7 Learnership: Mrs L Nkqayi

SPECIALISTS

Physical Education Teacher: Mrs R Ngcobo Art: Ms L Ludik

Librarian: Mrs J Wates isiXhosa: Mrs N Mtsi, Ms N Dwatyana and Mrs L Nkqayi

Speech and Drama: Mrs C Hickson-Mahony Innovation and Technology Specialist: Mrs K Gallow

LEARNING SUPPORT

School Counsellor: Mrs P Biccard

Head of Learning Support (ISP): Mrs G Gildenhuys

Learning Support (FP): Ms P Brinkmann and Mrs E Cotterell

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Choir, Piano, Creative Arts Grade 7; Arts/Culture Gr 4-6: Mr H Marais

Piano, Choir, Class Music Gr 7: Mrs A Newman

Class Music Gr R - 6, Piano, Junior Choir: Ms L Adams

Violin, Orchestra, Senior String Ensemble: Mrs O Burden

Piano, Guitar,Ukulele: Ms M Jamey

Voice teacher & Music Department

Administrator: Mrs L Lyons

Learnership: Ms C Bestman

Piano: Ms B Viljoen and Ms A du Plessis

Cello, Cello Ensemble, Junior String Ensemble, Muzkanda : Ms R Schutte

Violin: Ms R Beelders

Clarinet, Recorder & Saxophone: Ms G Jones

Flute, Recorder and Piano: Mrs C Gray

Trumpet: Ms H Joorst

Piano: Ms K Williams Marimba (Extra Mural): Mr L Mzele

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT STAFF

Admissions & Secretary to Principal: Mrs V Joseph

Receptionist: Mrs A Wallace

Aftercare Supervisor: Mrs L Johnson

Business Manager: Mr L Moser

Bursar: Mrs L Cornelius

Assistant Bursar: Mrs L Nel

Estate Manageress: Ms M Jacobs (retired) and Mr M Jacobs (Acting)

Maintenance Support: Mr M Jacobs Groundsman: Mr L Zinyusile

Groundsman: Mr M Bukasa Housekeeping: Ms E Groenewald Housekeeping: Ms K Beje Housekeeping: Ms N Alexander Housekeeping: Mrs M Jacobs Housekeeping: Ms M de Bruin Housekeeping: Ms W Balani Housekeeping: Ms N Rani Housekeeping & Aftercare: Ms C Cetywayo Housekeeping & Aftercare: Ms M Williams

IT Network Manager: Mr F Fataar IT Technical Support: Ms X Kahla Marketing and PTA: Mrs P Heiberg Marketing and Communications: Mr T Phukuje Sport Administrative Assistant: Ms C Davison Aftercare Assistant: Ms A Van Wyk

SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY EX OFFICIO Principal: Mrs B Petersen

OFFICE BEARERS

Chairperson: Mrs Z Mohamed Deputy Chairperson: Mr T Egbebiyi Treasurer: Mrs A Wilcox Secretary: Mrs J Petersen

MEMBERS

Parent Representative: Mr G Winslow Co-opted Parent Representative: Ms J Joemat

Educator Representative: Mr A Stamper (co-opted) Educator Representative: Mrs G Barrish-Liddle Educator Representative: Mrs L Prinsloo

Non Educator Representative: Mrs P Heiberg

Abigail MallowsAdele Newman Alex Wallace

Amy ErasmusAndrew Stamper

Carey Hickson-Mahony Carlen Riettels Catherine Pike

Cathy Gray Cayla Poelmann

Faye CampbellGail Barrish-LiddleGill Gildenhuys Hendrik Marais

Jeanne Liss

Lauren Lyons Lauren Nel

Leah Adams

Lee-Anne Prinsloo Leon Moser

Lisa Nkqayi Lucas SipeleLuyanda ZinyusileLynn CorneliusMagdelene Jacobs

Candice

DavisonMercia Williams

Philippa Brinkmann

Marshall Jacobs

Alexander Abrahams-Crocker

Anne Van WykAyanda PhingililiBabette ViljoenBelinda PetersenCameron Bestman

Elize Cotterell

Erin Amon Erin SeptemberFaguy Bukasa Fawaaz Fataar

Jenny Wates Kauthar Gallow Kerrin Pass Kerry Newby-Mudavanhu Khamelah Sadie

Liesl Ludik

Lijani WallanderLilianne Johnson

Lisa Jacobs-Thomas Lisa Matterson

Mandy JacobsMelanie DudleyMichaela BarnesMietjie de BruinMiskah Norton

Cynthia CetywayoElsie Groenewald Maileen Jamey

Nasreen Isaacs

Margo Van Niekerk

Stephanie Wentzel Tasneem van der Merwe Thapelo PhukujeTiffany NaidooTrish Hopkinson

Venessa Joseph

Sinovuyo Bantu Siyasakha Macaula Inge Schulenburg

Sanette Jardim Sibusiso Mgqolozana

Welekazi Balani

Odile Burden Pallo Manuel Pam Heiberg

Penny BiccardQudsieya Sampson

Raquel Ngcobo Rina Schutte

Robyn Lynch

Roxanne Greeff

Samantha Louw

Nina GiraudeauxNongatsho MtsiNosiphiwo DwatyanaNosiphiwo Rani Tess Hawke

Xoliswa Kahla Annerike du PlessisEsihle Mkhusane

Thanks to all our incredible staff Staff News

Congratulations to Nancy Alexander who now holds the title of GREAT GRANNY. Her granddaughter gave birth to a little girl, Kendall, on Tuesday 10 May.

Faye 7b and Neale Campbell welcomed baby Julia into the world on 10 July.

Georgia Jones

Getrude Chihwehwete

Jocelyn PiersKendall Williams Luthando Mzele

Nancy Alexander Renee HarrisResuragum Rhode

Rebekah Beelders

Keanan Wagner

Shukr Hartzenburg

Pam

Alex Wallace gained a son in law in October when her daughter Courtney married Mouton Joubert, congratulations to the newlyweds.

Leah Adams celebrated her Grandfather George Clarence’s 100th birthday on 21 March. What a blessing. Leah also released her second single which made it to number 1 on a local radio station.

Erin September 1C was awarded Summa Cum Laude for her undergraduate studies and a Dean’s Merit for her final year at University of the Western Cape. Erin has been accepted at UCT to do a double major honours in language and literacy development and emerging technology.

On 12 April, Carlen Riettels 4c became a proud mum and welcomed Carah into the world.

Congratulations to Nosiphiwo Dwatyana on the birth of her daughter, Uthingo, who was born on Tuesday 17 May.

& Andrew Heiberg became grandparents in February when their daughter Meghan welcomed Charlotte Olivia Gendron into the world.

Lijani Groenewald 4b said “I do” to Allan Wallander on 26 March 2022. A huge congratulations to the newlyweds!

In 2022 we welcomed Lee-Anne DaViaud back to school as Mrs Prinsloo. Congratulations to Lee-Anne and Earl on their wedding on Saturday 11 December. We wish you both a lifetime of love, joy and happiness.

Neriah Shay was born on April 22nd. Granny Lynn Cornelius had the privilege of experiencing the home birth of her Granddaughter.

2022 has been a busy year for Cayla Poelmann 7a. Cayla performed as a dancer in the Cape Town Carnival in March. Her indoor netball team also won the league!

On Friday 28 January, our Grade 2b teacher Roxanne Greeff and her husband Dustin welcomed baby Alora into the world. Alora was born at 32 weeks, but is doing so well. “Alora is just such a joy, so much love”.

Staff Farewells

At the end of the 1st term we bid farewell to Jocelyn Piers Jos started at Rustenburg in 2012 and, after many years of teaching, she has decided to explore other career opportunities.

At the end of the 1st term we bid farewell to Petra Magner, Petra is off to explore new adventures.

At the end of Term 1 we bid farewell to Gloria Silingile who stepped in at short notice to assist at the Aftercare for one term. We wish Gloria all of the best and thank her for everything she did at Aftercare.

At the end of the second term we bid farewell to Faye Cambell 7a Faye and her husband were looking forward to welcoming their first child into the world in July and Faye decided to hang up her teaching robe to be a full time mother.

We bid farewell to our Grade 7 Learnership Getrude Chihwehwete at the end of the 1st term. Gertrude returned to the University of the Free State to be a full time student.

At the end of the third term we bid farewell to Philippa Brinkmann Philippa is taking a break from teaching and exploring other career opportunities. We wish Philippa well in this exciting next stage of her career and know that she will be successful in any area she tackles.

At the end of July, we bid farewell to Keanan Wagner 5b. Keanan joined the Centre for Conservation Education. We wish you well in your new job and know you will delight in seeing our Rustybugs when they visit the centre in the future.

Renée Harris 3a was seconded to the district office as a Foundation Phase advisor as of 1 August. Renée will be returning to RGJS in January 2023.

future endevours. Farewell to Kerrin Pass at the end of 2022. Kerrin will be travelling to Australia. We wish you well on all your exciting adventures.

We say FAREWELL to Kauthar Gallow (Technology and innovation specialist) and Khamelah Sadie (2c) at the end of 2022. We wish them well with their plans for the future and thank them for their service to RGJS.

We bid farewell to Stephanie Wentzel (7b) at the end of term 3, and we wish her well for her

We bid farewell to Tiffany Naidoo at the end of term 4. Thank you for all you have done for RGJS, wishing you all the best.

At the end of 2022 we bid farewell to Sinovuyo Bantu and Lisa Matterson who are both going to be teaching boys! Sinovuyo is going to teach at Western Province Prep and Lisa is going to teach at Wynberg Boys’ Junior. We wish you well in your new schools in 2023.

Our Grade 3 Learnership, Resuragum Rhode left RGJS at the end of the third term after receiving a teaching post at Bridgeville Primary. We wish her everything of the best as she officially starts her teaching career.

Lisa Nkqayi completed her learnership at the end of 2022. We wish her all the best for her future teaching career.

Michaela Barnes completed her learnership at the end of 2022. She will be joining us as a Grade 4 teacher from 2023.

We bid farewell to Pallo Manuel during the final term of 2022. We wish him all the best with his future endevaours.

Retirement

Farewell to Lilianne Johnson who will be retiring at the end of the year. Lilianne, we know our Aftercare children will especially miss you, enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

We bid farewell to Nancy Alexander at the end of October as she retired from Rustenburg after 15 years of service. We will miss you, Nancy, enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

Farewell Maggie

On Wednesday 20 July we said goodbye to Maggie Jacobs as she retired after 31 years at Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School, our longestserving staff member to date

Maggie started her journey at Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School as a cleaner when she was 34 years old and served under four different principals.

She is the epitome of resilience, a hard worker who adapts and applies creative ways to overcome challenges without giving up. In her

31 years of serving RGJS, Maggie has enjoyed her time working with different departments from security to maintenance to the PTA and also served 12 years as a member of the School Governing Body (SGB).

We held a staff lunch for Maggie where many tears were shed as numerous staff shared their memories and love for Maggie. Thank you to our parents who stepped in to cover playground and aftercare duties during this special time with our dear Maggie, a true Rustenburg legend.

Maggie and Mrs Petersen

Everyone at RGJS loved working with you.

A big thank you from everyone at RGJS for the last 15 years

We’ll miss you Maggie!

Easter Egg Drive Social Responsibility

Choc Valentine’s Civvies day

In February we held a Valentines Civvies Day and raised R12 500 for CHOC and ATLANTIC HOPE

Thank you to all our families for the generous donations of Easter Eggs for our drive. Just under 5000 eggs were collected and delivered to the following institutions: Avondrust Old Age Home; Huis Luckhoff Old Age Home; Red Cross Childrens’ Hospital; Maitland Cottage Hospital; Observatory Junior School; Garden Village Junior School, Koeberg Primary School; Ottery Road Methodist Primary and Thornton Road Primary.

Thank you to Marshall Jacobs for delivering all the Easter Eggs. We have received letters and voice notes from the above institutions all expressing their immense gratitude, THANK YOU RUSTYBUGS!

Help The Rural Child

During Term 2 we collected bric ‘n brac, clothing and shoes for Help The Rural Child

We were so overwhelmed with donations from our generous Rustenburg Community, their truck had to make two trips to collect all the donations!

Gift of the Givers

We started our second term with news of floods in Natal and a devastating fire in the Joe Slovo settlement. Through a KARRI collection, the Rustenburg Community donated R16 029.00 to Gift of the Givers to assist with their support for those in need.

Reach for a dream -Slipper day

In May we all came to school in our slippers to raise funds for Reach for a Dream. A total of R10 737.25 was donated to Reach for a Dream.

Thornton Road Primary

On Friday 19 May the children at Thornton Road Primary had their Go-Kart Fun Day. A very BIG THANK YOU to all our families who donated to the RGJS Go-Kart Fun Day. From the funds we raised, we were able to assist with the funding of their GoKart Day. Mr Luddy, Principal of Thornton Road Primary, expressed his immense gratitude to all the Rustybugs for their generosity.

Peninsula School Feeding Scheme

Once again the RUSTENBURG COMMUNITY joined together to support those in need. In just over 24 hours R17 608.00 was raised for the Cape Peninsula Feeding Association in June. In total R20 million was raised through the KFM radiothon which means almost 40 000 children will be fed for the next two years. THANK YOU RUSTENBURG COMMUNITY!

Mandela day

To celebrate Mandela Day on 18 July, we collaborated with Restore SA & Royal Kids and collected stationery items for those less privileged.

Women’s Day 2022

On Friday 5 August for Women’s Day, we collected toiletry items for the Salvation Army Shelter for Abused Women. The Early Act Club kindly packaged these items into hampers. These hampers were handed to The Salvation Army for women and their children who arrive at the shelter and are in desperate need of assistance.

Hats on for Palliative Care

On Friday 14 October we celebrated “HATS ON DAY” supporting PAEDSPAL. Thank you to all the Rustybugs and staff for their incredible creations and generous support. A grand total of R16 823 was raised for this worthy NPO. Thank you & WELL DONE RUSTYBUG COMMUNITY.

Iloveboobies

In October we once again turned our school into a sea of PINK and supported iloveboobies. This charity is very close to the heart of Rustybugs. Philippa Brinkmann is not only a cancer survivor, she is also an ambassador for iloveboobies. Their mandate is to educate and perform clinical screenings for South African women who have limited funds and access to medical facilities. Together our Rustybug community raised R22 267.75 for this incredible organisation.

World Aids Day

On Monday 5 December we held a Civvies Day to create awareness for World Aids Day. The KARRI collection of R6300 was donated to Red Cross Childrens Hospital, specifically for children born HIV positive.

House day November

In November we raised funds for animal hospitals and old aged homes

Term 1:

First Day of School

Our first term of 2022 started on Wednesday 19 January. After two years of having no visitors on campus, it was very special to have parents and guardians walk their Rustybugs into school.

It was a wonderful experience having all our parents and guardians with us on the first day of school.

Our first assembly was exciting! We were welcomed as official Rustybugs!

We had fun meeting new friends and exploring our new playground

It’s mostly smiles and excitement on day 1. Thanks for the help sis!

Happy birthday RGJS

On Friday 28 January we had a wonderful morning celebrating 128 years of our incredible school.

Our Grade 1 assistant, Siya Macaula, opened our assembly with a praise and gratitude poem. Dr. Hannah Abrahams-Crocker, a past pupil of Rustenburg Junior and High School, addressed our learners in assembly. It was wonderful to have members of Rustenburg Alumnae, Mr Michael Gates, principal of RGHS, Mrs Berry and Mrs Dallas, past Principal and Deputy Principal respectively, join us as invited guests to celebrate this special day.

Mrs Pike taught us all the actions and adapted the words to “Scars To Your Beautiful” to create our song

for the year, “You are Beautiful”. To mark this momentous day, all learners removed their shoes and left their footprints in the hall as we entered this New Year of Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School.

All classes received a silhouette related to our 2022 Theme - BEAUTY BEGINS WITHIN, which the learners could decorate/colour. After a delicious treat of cupcakes and ice creams, we all danced and sang to the sounds of the Pedestrians. It was amazing being able to have the entire school join together on the Top Terrace celebrating our school.

A big THANK YOU to all our learners and staff for a brilliant day.

There were a whole lot of singing, dancing and celebrating going on!

We had a great time celebrating our 128th birthday! Media interviews

Long service awards

In February, we congratulated members of staff who received Long Service Awards:

• Maggie Jacobs - 30 Years

• Jeanne Liss - 20 Years

• Hendrik Marais - 15 Years

• Adele Newman - 15 Years

• Mandy Jacobs - 15 Years

• Nancy Alexander - 15 Years

• Carey Hickson-Mahoney - 10 Years

• Jenny Wates - 10 Years

Swap Shop

In February we launched our SWAP SHOP. Rustenburg Families donate gently worn uniform items that their children have outgrown. These items are swapped for a bigger size.

Go Kart fun day

We ended our first term of 2022 with a GO KART FUN DAY. An enormous amount of FUN was had by all our girls and staff.

SpecialGrandparents/ persons day

Thank you to all the Grandparents and Special People in the lives of our Foundation Phase learners, for attending our Grandparents/Special Person Day. As a school we are delighted to be able to share this special day with our incredibly special guests. We received the following message which pretty much sums up the day.

The best thing is to see all the smiles on everyone’s faces, the grandparents, the special people, the children, Oh what a special day.

Thank you to all our grandparents and special people!

‘You are beautiful’ song Pedestrians

Term 2:

Shared Reading

In Term 2 we once again started our SHARED READING. Sadly during Covid this special time where our parents read to a group of girls, wasn’t allowed. It has been wonderful to see parents and guardians sitting in small groups reading aloud to our Rustybugs.

Bosch/BUG Interaction

We held our first Grade 7 Interaction since 2019 between Rondebosch and Rustenburg on Tuesday 14 June. Due to the rain, the Grade 7 parent committee had to adapt their outdoor Scavenger Hunt to an indoor event, but this didn’t dampen any of the fun. From the noise level of laughter and chatter, a great evening was had by all. THANK YOU to the committee, our Gr 7 teachers, staff and all the parents who assisted in this fun evening for our Rustybugs and the Bosch Grade 7s.

We are delighted to have shared reading again. We missed it!

We had such an entertaining evening with the guys from Rondebosch!

Staff Connection

On the afternoon of Friday 20 May, our staff took some time out to connect. They had a fun afternoon playing 30 seconds and pictionary in teams.

RGJS Goes dotty

After months of planning, we launched RGJS GOES DOTTY in the last week of term 2. The week ended with a culmination of exciting events which include Theatre Sports, Community Singing, Family Art, African Dance, Live music, Food Stalls and an art exhibition that included an art piece from each child in our school. Throughout the week, staff and learners learnt the words to “Lean on Me”. During the last hour of our Family Dotty Day, families all joined together to sing the beautiful song.

Grade 3 Fashion show

We are super proud of ALL our Grade 3s! They were so brave strutting down on our makeshift runway in their creative recycled outfits, receiving loud applause from their fellow classmates and staff. A special thank you to our Judges, Xoliswa Kahla and Kauthar Gallow, and to our Grade 3 teachers for putting this show together, including making their own fabulous outfits and strutting the runway!

The Drum Cafe Our dot artwork

Scan this QR code to see how dotty we can go.

Term 3:

Women’s day

THE RGJS MEN surprised all the female staff for Womens day by treating them to coffee and treats in the staff room. They also kindly took over their break duties for the day.

Parents quiz night

Load Shedding didn’t dim the lights on our PARENTS QUIZ NIGHT held on Wednesday 14 September. Thank you to our Quiz Master, Andrew Heiberg and a special thank you to the Grade 7 parent committee for organising the silent auction. CONGRATULATIONS to “HEY ALEXA” who were the winning team of the night.

Springbok Supporters7s

Thank you to all our Rustybugs for the wearing their Springbok gear in support of our Springbok 7s teams who competed in the 7s World Cup in September at the Cape Town Stadium.

Barn Dance

On a rainy night in August we held our first Barn Dance since 2019. The rain didn’t dampen any spirits and anyone who was feeling the chill in the air, very quickly warmed up!!! Thank you to all the families for their incredible support, it was a fabulous evening. Thank you to Caroline and Sam for teaching us all the dances.

Term 4:

Matric Tea 2022

Annually we invite the Grade Matrics who were in Grade 7 at RGJS, for tea, just before they write their final school exams. On Thursday 13 October we welcomed back the 2017 Grade 7s to wish them well for their matric exams. It was fabulous to see all the girls again and hear all about their plans for the future.

Sanlam Cape MarathonTown

Bright and early on Sunday 16 October a few Rustybug learners and staff gathered outside our school to support the runners participating in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. We, of course, gave extra cheers to members of the Rustenburg Community who were running. A special thanks to all our Rustybugs for their enthusiastic support and to our Marimba Band who delighted the runners with their music.

Welcome back ladies

Teacher’s Day

On Friday 14th of October, we celebrated Teachers Day by taking our teachers for lunch. THANK YOU to our phenomenal RGJS teachers for all you do for our Rustybugs!

Kaleidoscope Concert

There aren’t enough words to describe the MAGIC our incredibly talented Music Department Staff, Rustybugs and Choral Choir created on Tuesday 8 November presenting our first music concert in 3 years! The hall was jam packed full of excited and proud families who showed their appreciation with a standing ovation at the end of the evening. Please take 5 minutes to enjoy the Grand Finale by clicking on the QR code

Support Staff Day

On Friday 21 October we celebrated our Support Staff by enjoying a delicious lunch together. THANK YOU to a great team who always makes RGJS the most beautiful place to be!

Scan this QR code to see the grand finale

Grade R

In Grade R

We do check ins. We do laughter . We do sing alongs and happy dances. We do pj days and funky hat days.

In Grade R

We do teddy bear picnics and secret fairy gardens. We learn to count but never lose count of how many friends we make. We do” I’m sorry “ and we do “I’ll try again”.

In

Grade R

We do tight hugs and teary eyes. We do big smiles and sweaty palms. We do adventurous outings and lots of fun.

In Grade R, even when we don’t know, we don’t give up. We try a little harder. We discover, we learn and oh do we grow. We know just how resilient we are. We know just how lucky we are.

In Grade R

We do crazy, we do silly! We do kindness. We do helping hands and forgiving hearts. We do friendships. With teachers who love us.

In Grade R

We do I miss you and yet we always know it’s never goodbye but always I’ll see you later.

Sophie-Jane Harker

Emma Collyer

Kerry Elshove

Imbongo Gqamlana

Rayah Gardner

Nusaybah Tayob

Evangeline Mee

Qaaniah Davids

Zaria Naidoo

Things

Time to do some serious colouring in We made this!

Let’s go Go-Karting We love our creative hats!

What do you think your teachers do on the weekend?

Mysha Achmat: They learn more things.

Asmaa Ackers: They sleep a lot.

Sailor Bouwer: They take a nap.

Abby Rae Brewis: They go to the beach.

Emma Collyer: They go on holiday.

Simone De Voux: They go to the beach.

Leila Domingo: They sleep.

Kerry Elshove: They go on holiday.

Imogen Gordon: They go on holiday.

Sophie-Jane Harker: I think they plan what they are going to do for the children.

Zea Hart: They go on holiday.

Charlotte Hendry: They go to the shops.

Ava Jardim: They go home and sleep.

Carah Lesch: Maybe they work.

Hibah Long: They sleep a lot.

Olivia Miller: They work.

Hanán Mohamed: They think of new work so they can teach some more stuff.

Phila Ndaba: They stay at home.

Aasiya Nichols: They relax.

Esihle Nokhemane: They stay at home with their children.

Azraa Parker: They go out.

Alunamda Peter: They stay in bed.

Madison Pickard: They swim.

Nura Pilwan: I think they relax.

Nuha Rawoot: They sleep late.

Khazimla Sona: They go to the park.

Aasiya NicholsAbby-Rae BrewisAlunamda PeterAsmaa Ackers

Ava Jardim

Azraa Parker Carah LeschCharlotte HendryEmma Collyer Esihle Nokhemane

Hanán Mohamed Hibah Long Imogen Gordon

Kerry Elshove Khazimla Sona

Leila DomingoMadison PickardMysha Achmat

Nuha Rawoot

Nura Pilwan

Olivia Miller

Phila Ndaba

Sailor Bouwer

Simone De Voux

If you were a teacher, what would you do? RB

Sofia Abdullah: I would eat ice cream everyday.

Farrah Barr: If someone does something wrong, I will help them.

Isla Beckett: I would do Maths, my ma used to be a teacher, my pa still is and they teach me Maths.

Calleigh Bloom: I would teach space and Science. I love it!

Zainab Brey: I would teach children to paint.

Sabrina Costa: I would teach children the day and the dates.

Ruvarashe Chauke: I would help the school and I would take care of the children that go to the school.

Sarah Emeraan: I would teach children to be good and not mean.

Imaan Gamiet: While the class is outside, I would probably go and have coffee.

Rayah Gardner: I would be a a good teacher, a teacher like you.

Imibongo Gqamlana: Let everyone only play a little bit and then work again.

Hannah Hall: I would tell kids to not shout in the class.

Maryam Hartley: I would teach girls how to read.

Kate Hendricks: I would teach kids how to do art.

Azraa Jamdar: I would teach children to count.

Aliya Jattiem: I would teach children how to draw.

Maya Joseph: I would to homework with the kids.

Maahira Kagee: I would help children with their work.

Qhama Mbebe: I would teach Maths. Milelani Ndamase: After finishing teaching, I would go to the forest to discover more stuff and teach the children about it.

Aurelia-Violet Ndindwa: I would teach kids how to count to a 100.

Zandile Sindo: Pack my bags and go on vacation.

Lucy Smith: I would be a good teacher and listen to the Principal about what to teach .

Nusaybah Tayob: I would teach Maths and History.

Emily Webb-Smith: if I were a teacher and my kids were noisy, I would tell them “students be quiet”.

Amarah Thomson: I would teach kids about all the animals in the world.

Donut worry, be happy!

The Grade RB class

Aliya JattiemAmarah Thomson Azraa Jamdar

Calleigh BloomEmily Webb-Smith

Farrah Barr Hannah Hall Imaan GamietImibongo GqamlanaIsla Beckett

Kate Hendricks Lucy Smith Maahira Kagee Maryam Hartley Maya Joseph

Milelani NdamaseNusaybah TayobQhama Mbebe

Rayah Gardner Sabrina Costa

Sarah Emeraan Sofia Abdullah Zainab Brey

Zandile Sindo Ruvarashe Chauke

What will you miss about Grade R? RC

Rebekah Adams: All the fun.

Arami Aranguren: Doing all the art.

Milani Bean: That my friends won’t end up in the same class.

Qaaniah Davids: All the fun toys.

Charlie Delaporte: My teachers.

Emily Jacobs: The fun work.

Kendra Jacobs: Playing on top terrace.

Ayesha January: My teachers.

Boitumelo Charisma Kgolane: My teachers and the toys.

Minette Labuschagne: I am going to miss learning and my teachers.

Georgia Lambrechts: I will miss my teachers.

Anne Long: My teachers and my classroom.

Evangeline Mee: I will miss playing.

Elle Meyer: My friends and all the playing.

Zahraa Mohamed: Doing fun work.

Aaniyah Mohammed: All my friends and all my teachers

Zahra Mtyuda: I am going to miss doing bird art.

Zaria Naidoo: All the toys.

Lulo-Uthando Ndlaleni: I will miss painting.

Chloe Ogundipe: Trying to read in the book corner.

Sinesipho Pontshi: Doing fun work.

Safiyah Rajie: Playing and drawing.

Nina Roy: My teachers and learning about numbers.

Nahla Smith: My friends my teachers and playing a lot.

Isabel Wilson: Learning about all the (phonics) sounds.

Grade RC goes dotty

Aaniyah MohammedAnne Long Arami ArangurenAyesha JanuaryCharisma Kgolane

Charlie DelaporteChloe Ogundipe Elle Meyer Emily Jacobs Evangeline Mee

Georgia LambrechtsIsabel Wilson Kendra Jacobs

Lulo-Uthando Ndlaleni Milani Bean

Minette LabuschagneNahla Smith Nina Roy Qaaniah Davids Rebekah Adams

Safiyah Rajie Sinesipho

PontshiZahra

Mtyuda

Zahraa Mohamed

Zaria Naidoo

Grade 1

My Grade 1 Year

A year ago I started Grade 1

I knew I’d be a little nervous, But I knew I’d have fun.

I couldn’t read much, nor could I spell Now I do all those things ever so well.

I went on outings and saw many new things

We saw giraffes and sharks and dogs jump through rings.

We had RGJS goes Dotty week which I really enjoyed There was not one activity that I tried to avoid.

I’ve learnt how to play netball and hockey and I’ve learnt how to run We’ve swum in our blue pool and it’s been loads of fun.

Even though there were some early mornings with no light We stayed positive and continued to shine bright.

I’m a little taller now and a lot smarter too I’m ready to move on soon and start something new. I’m sad to leave my teacher and she’ll miss me when I go But I’ll visit often - I told her so.

Looking back at my year I can’t help but smile

All my hard work has paid off and it’s been worthwhile

So much has happened and I’m happy to say A new adventure is waiting, so I must be on my way.

The Grade 1 teacher’s team

Grade 1 art

Decorative cat by Abigail Winslow

Decorative cat by Linako Bewana

Decorative Cat by Fia Moore Ackerman

Decorative puppy by Holly Haldane

My friend and I playing together by Riley Gilfillan-McEvoy

Decorative puppy by Luca Gibbon

Things we did this year

Enjoying our Aquarium outing

Flower crowns

The Giraffe house

Pretty in pink

Wonderful ocean creatures

We found Nemo!

Lunch with our teacher

If I could make up a school rule it would be that we... 1A

Motirayo Arogundade: Bring treats 3 days a week

Taylor Bodill: Have no homework ever

Eva Brooke-Sumner: Can do whatever we want all day

Tadiwa Chimboza: Draw all day

Shazia Dalvie: Wear your hair loose

Amaal Davids: Design your own clothes for school

Suri Ebrahim: Watch movies all day

Ariella Faulkner: Have pyjama day every day

Hanan Gutuza: Trick or treat at school

Aleena Jeena: Eat bubblegum and run in the hall

Imogen Lentz: Always wear make up at school

Kate Lesch: Have a ‘bring your family to school’ day

Olivia Low: Do whatever you want at school

Anna Lowen: Have a spa in the classroom

Mihle Madikane: Have a birthday every day

Keabetswe Mapara: Sleep in class

Anna Martyn: Have candy every day

Fia Moore Ackerman: Bring toys every day

Saffiya Pansarey: Choose to go to school or not

Iyana Rozani: Decorate hats every day

Imaan Semaar: Wear civvies all the time

Penelope Walker: Have a disco in the hall

Kallie Watermeyer: Have unicorns all over the school

Neve Wickins: Can swim at break time

Emma Wilson: Get to go to the tuckshop for free

Abigail Wood: Can bring our pets to school

Chongwa Yekiso: Play all day and sleep whenever we want

Grade 1A at the Giraffe House.

Abigail Wood Aleena Jeena

Amaal Davids Anna Lowen Anna Martyn

Ariella FaulknerChongwa YekisoEmma WilsonEva Brooke-SumnerFia Moore Ackerman

Hanan Gutuza Imaan Semaar Imogen Lentz Iyana Rozani Kallie Watermeyer

Kate LeschKeabetswe MaparaMihle Madikane

Motirayo Arogundade

Neve Wickins

Olivia Low

Saffiya Pansarey Shazia Dalvie

Suri Ebrahim

Tadiwa Chimboza

If you could make up a school rule, what would it be.... 1B

Linako Bewana: Think out the box.

Maya Bhoola: Do a silly dance if a child wants to talk.

Sarah Bounds: No school uniforms allowed.

Farheen Cader: Watch a movie every single day.

Maitri Chokhawala: Bring toys to school everyday.

Dani Collard: Bring kittens everyday.

Elianna Cook: Early break everyday.

Juliette Ellard: Do whatever you want at school.

Robyn Elshove: Keep the classroom clean.

Nina Flaatten: Bring any sweets to school and eat them anytime.

Riley Gilfillian-McEvoy: No detention.

Mbalientle Haarhoff: No braids.

Kylie Hair: Do whatever you want.

Kopano Hlahatsi: Come to school as a princess

Misha Jacobs: Do anything you want.

Maleeha Khan: Allowed candy everyday.

Relebohile Litabe: Wear civvies everyday.

May Low Ah Kee: Bring your pets to school.

Liqhame Makehle: Bring panda’s to school.

Ruby Meyer: Children can tell the teachers what to do.

Kholosa Ningiza: Don’t listen to the teachers.

Faye Nomdoe : Bring bunnies to school.

Aasiya Razzak: Run wild around the classroom.

Aasiyah Royker: You can come into school in civvies

Alwande Sotshantsha: Allowed to colour our hair.

Soh-Faa van der Schyff: Break in at night and do whatever we want.

Abigail Winslow: Run in the classrooms and go in the storeroom.

Grade 1B showing off their creative hat wear

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Ruby Meyer

Sarah Bounds

Soh-Faa van der Schyff

Aasiya Razzak Aasiyah RoykerAbigail Winslow

Alwande Sotshantsha

Dani Collard

Elianna CookEmily Bayliss-LaneFarheen Cader Faye Nomdoe Juliette Ellard

Kholosa Ningiza Kopano Hlahatsi Kylie Hair Linako Bewana Liqhame Makehle

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Maya Bhoola Mbalientle Haarhoff

Misha Jacobs Nina FlaattenRelebohile Litabe

Riley GilfillanMcEvoy Robyn Elshove

If you could make up a school rule, what would it be.... 1C

Raina Adams: No bell, the teacher does a funny dance every time the bell is supposed to ring.

Cleo Bensimon: An outing every Friday

LIzalise Bewana: Wear nail polish to school

Rose Beyer: Bring your pet to school everyday

Laela Chu: Everyday is silly hat day

Rania Dhansay: When you pick up trash you get to wear civvies

Sophia Ebden: Bring your phone to school

Praise Egbebiyi We can be silly everyday

Claire Erasmus: Every Thursday is a school sleepover, and then on Friday we get free breakfast from the tuckshop

Charlotte Fahy: No work day, and we get to wear anything we want to

Luca Gibbon: Bring your sibling to school

Holly Haldane: Fun parents day at school

Rebecca Herselman: You can paint on the walls

Mia Hilder: Wear pyjamas as a uniform

Ayesha Jarodien: You have to be funny every day

Josephine Kempthorne: Everyday we can have sweets and wear civvies

Amelie Marwick: When you see Mrs Petersen or Mr Stamper you have to pull a funny face while doing a silly dance

Linamandla Mbuku: You can wear your hair loose

Okuhle Mnyandu: We must litter everywhere

Ruva Mokomele: You can bring dessert everyday

Olivia Petersen: The children must show the teachers ways to have fun

Raheel Schroeder: Bring teddy bears and have a disco

Ariana Schrueder: You get free popcorn everyday

Amelia Sundoo: Dress up like our pets day

Sarah Wingham: Uniform is made out of cake

Sierra Winslow: We can have freedom and go crazy at school everyday.

Grade 1C is proudly South African!

Amelia SundooAmelie MarwickAriana SchruederAyesha JarodienCharlotte Fahy

Claire ErasmusCleo Bensimon Holly Haldane

Josephine Kempthorne

Laela Chu

Linamandla Mbuku

Lizalise Bewana

Luca Gibbon

Mia Hilder Okuhle Mnyandu

Praise EgbebiyiRaheel SchroederRaina Adams

Rania Dhansay

Rebecca Herselman

Rose Beyer

Sarah WinghamSierra Winslow

Sophia Ebden

Ruva Nthamane Bontle Mokomele

Olivia Petersen

Grade 2

“A

Term one started with a blast even though we started the year wearing a mask. Waving a short good-bye to Mrs Greeff who welcomed baby Alora and a big RustyBug welcome to Ms Naidoo who stepped in to teach the Rustybugs in Grade 2b.

Exploring rock pools and sea life at Two Oceans Aquarium was part of our theme in Term 1.

Next up on our learning journey, we travelled all the way to Exotic Animal World to discover new species and insects.

Trying our best is always our aim.

Yes! We are all special and love RGJS and our friends so much!

Term 2 we dropped the masks and could finally after 2 years see such beautiful smiles again.

Working together, problems to solve, meant more time to get involved.

Encouraged by our teachers who love and care for us dearly.

New maths concepts were taught and we never gave up.

Term 3 we learned the importance of trees as we delved into the topic of Rainforests. Yippee! How we enjoyed our day at Rosencastle, where we role-played people who help us in our community.

Term 4 came so fast, how is it that a year of learning and growing has almost passed. We looked at ourselves and where we fit into our Nation. We are similar and different, and we celebrate our uniqueness !

Oh! What a year it’s been. We end off the year with our end of year Grade 2 celebration. Where we celebrate with friends and family, we shout with the greatest jubilation as we say goodbye to our Grade 2 learning journey.

smile is a curve that sets everything straight”. - Phyllis Diller

Mrs Thomas, Ms Naidoo and Ms Amon

Grade 2 art

Skipping by Hafsa Ackers

Giraffe by Imogen Fairweather

Skipping by Maya Villet

Peacock by Aditi Paul

Decorative butterfly by Qadira Omar

Skipping by Rachel Frankish

Decorative giraffe by Sylvie Daniel

Things we did this year

Peejay party!

Biggest smiles for the biggest fun The sweet little hedgehog Checking our blood pressure

Smiling behind our masks at Exotic Animal Sanctuary

Proudly South African Pyjama Friyay

A sea of blue Rustybug uniforms at Two Oceans Heritage Day

Go Bokke! Paramedic visit

Yays for Peejays!

We found Nemo!

Thanks to all our Parmedics.

If I had a magic wish I would wish...

Nihaal Amodien: I was rich and famous.

Sienna Bagley-Tiede: To see my pet again.

Alex Barbour: To see Feather my dog.

Mila Brand: To move to Canda.

Anna Buckley: To change the world.

Sloane Delaporte: For my family to live forever, including my pets.

Noera Emereum: For a bunny named Marshmallow and for poor people to have money.

Zahra Esmail: for a submarine to explore the ocean.

Imogen Fairweather: for a magical petting zoo.

Rachel Frankish: to have a mansion with 220 dogs, 9 cats and a chicken.

Iminathi Langeni: for happiness and a puppy.

Amila Malamba: that I was a singing star.

Khanyisa Mngqinya: to be a rich and kind person.

Qadira Omar: for infinity wishes!

Aditi Paul: to have a big, big teddy bear.

Ayesha Rhoda: for a bunk bed with a desk underneath, please give me one!

Maryam Siddiq: for a land of food and drinks!

Isla Steijn: for a pet chicken.

Maariya Vahed: for a party bus with my favorite meals and sweets.

Inez van der Merwe: I could move to Canada.

Maya Villet: to be an alien mermaid with powers to go into movies and speak to characters.

Georgia Walmisley: that I have one million rand to help the wild and get 9 cats.

Grace Willemburg: to keep one thousand puppies.

Stella Williams: that I could have a sushi platter for myself.

Victoria Bailey Kuhn: For just one puppy, please mom and dad

Aditi Paul Alex Barbour Amila Malamba

Anna Buckley Ayesha Rhoda

Georgia WalmisleyGrace WillemburgIminathi LangeniImogen Fairweather Inez van der Merwe

Isla Steijn Khanyisa MngqinyaMaariya Vahed Maryam Siddiq Maya Villet

Mila Brand Nihaal AmodienNoera Emeruem

Qadira Omar Rachel Frankish

Sienna Bagley-TiedeSloane DelaporteStella

Williams

Victoria Kuhn

Zahra Esmail

What I know for sure... 2B

Hafsa Ackers: Never to jump off a cliff singing, “I can fly without a parachute”

Sienna Bodill: The only thing that’s worse than having a whole worm in your apple, is having half a worm!

Madeline de Voux: Never let my sister use me as a springboard

Isobelle Dewar: Never let your kitten inside otherwise he will break your furniture.

Penelope Elworthy: Never trust your brother to eat cereal

Kate Fitzhenry: Never call my brother a weirdo even tho he is one.

Farah Gabier: Never poop in the bath

Charlotte Goosen: Never ever eat vegetables.

Rachel Hoffmann: Never let your dog french braid your hair, you wont have any hair left.

Jude Jakoet: My teacher goes to the bathroom twice a day or more.

Imrah Kamrodien: Never squirt a toothpaste tube in your classroom.

Safa Meyer: Never eat too much candy otherwise you will have a sugar rush.

Sofiyya Mohamed: Don’t knock your head otherwise you will fall into the toilet pot.

Charlotte Kriedemann: Never put chilli in your dog’s food

Musa Mvunyiswa: Never ride your skateboard in the house, you will crash into things.

Maya Nair: Never let your dad do your hair.

Rahah Najjaar: Never let your brother slap you.

Azi Nqoko: Never listen to music too loudly, you will hurt your ear drums.

Enid Nsanta: Never smell a skunks farts.

Fatimah Ramdayal: Never go into your older sisters room to wait for her to wake up, it takes forever!

Ava Rood: My mom really loves me, except for the morning because she’s not a morning person.

Anna Rose-Barnard: Never throw your dad’s CD’s down the toilet.

Lyra Ryan: Never rollerskate with your granny and grandpa, they might fall over and break a bone.

Sumayyah Tayob: That I’m not adopted.

Grace Weber: Never drink coffee until you are eighteen!

Paige Wighard: Never let your pet poop in the house

Rebecca Wiseman: Never let your dog handle the toothpaste

Grade 2B showing their support for the Springboks

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Anna Rose-Barnard Ava Rood

Azi Nqoko

Charlotte Goosen

Charlotte Kriedemann

Enid Nsanta Farah GabierFatimah RamdayalGrace Weber Hafsa Ackers

Imrah KamrodienIsobelle Dewar Jude Jakoet Kate Fitzhenry Lyra Ryan

Madeline de Voux

Maya Nair

Musa Mvunyiswa

Paige Wighard Penelope Elworthy

Rachel HoffmannRahah NajjaarRebecca WisemanSafa Meyer

Sienna Bodill

Sofiyya Mohamed Sumayyah Tayob

If Mrs Petersen came for dinner... 2C

Sameena Dadaker: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I will make lots of jokes and ask her lots of questions.

Sylvie Daniel: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would let her in and my dog will jump on her. Then I would put my dog in my room. We would make really nice food for her and we would decorate it. After eating we would make pudding and then after eating she would go home.

Zara Domingo: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner we would make cupcakes and we would stay up late and watch a movie.

Emily Fish: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would be busy, I would be scared, worried and confused. But my cat would go bananas.

Nabiha January: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner, my sister would hide behind my dad’s legs because she is shy. We would then ask our parents “Why is Mrs Petersen here?”.

Alaska Jardim: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner, my mom and day will make such delicious food that your mouth will water. My medium size puppy will scratch her and go “cuurrcurr” very squeaky and loud!

Zahra Kajie: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would spoil her the most to say thank you for coming.

Amira Khan: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would dress up fancy and make a fancy cake.

Erin Loveland: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner we will probably braai lamb chops and ribs and we will give her a tour of the house.

Eva MacGregor: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my parents would talk a lot. Mrs Petersen would not get a chance to speak.

Chiara Massa: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my dog would jump on her and my dog would go crazy.

Safiyyah Mohamed: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my sister would be shy and hug my dad the whole time. I will ask her what she would like and I will ask my mom if I could make dessert.

Kgolo Molate: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would make her pizza and scrambled eggs and my mom would drive her crazy.

Tatum Naiker: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my dog Bubbles would jump on Mrs Petersen and wouldn’t leave.

Khayone Nqubelani: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my sister would hug her and jump on her.

Bella Rossouw: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would say ‘welcome, come in’ and make her food for dinner.

Nuha Sayeed: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my parrot would bite her toes and shout at her.

Senamile Shandu: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my mom will spoil her. She would love my mom tea.

Cara Smith: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my puppy would jump on Mrs Petersen.

Safeerah Sungay: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner my kitten would jump on her legs. My mom would cook 5 different foods.

Maryam Tayob: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner then my cat would run away. But I would make pizza if she likes it.

Annabel Verhage: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner we would get her whatever she wanted and would treat her like a queen!

Kate Wingham: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would sit with Mrs Petersen.

Lexi Winter: If Mrs Petersen came for dinner I would give her a plate of pizza, cupcakes and a cup of warm tea.

Alaska Jardim

Amira Khan

Annabel VerhageBella Rossouw

Cara Smith

Chiara Massa

Emily Fish

Erin Loveland

Eva MacGregorGenevieve Birt

Kate Wingham Kgolo MolateKhayone NqubelaniLexi Winter Maryam Tayob

Nabiha January Nuha Sayeed

Riley Byrne

Safeerah Sungay Safiyyah Mohamed

Sameena DadakerSenamile ShanduSylvie Daniel

Tatum Naicker

Zahra Kajie

Zara Domingo

Grade 3

Our Grade 3 year:

Oh, what a year we have had, so many memories that made our hearts glad.

We made delicious treats as Masterchefs, visited Checkers and raced off like jets. We went ecofriendly with a recycling fashion show. What a difficult task for the judges. How could they know? We strutted our stuff and won some prizes.

What a fun way to learn this emphasises. At the Planetarium we learnt about space and galaxies, whales, sharks and stuffed chimpanzees. Our PBL journey has been such great fun. With so many destinations, how could we only choose one?

As a Grade we’ll continue to grow, and learn so much more than we thought we could know. As we step into the next year of Grade 4 we are prepared and ready to explore!

The Grade 3 teacher’s team

Ms Resuragum Rhode

Ms Renee Harris

Grade 3 art

Hot air balloon by Emily Newell

Bowl of fruit by Georgina Bassingthwaighte

Unicorn by Saarah Dollie

Heart by Calila Reinders

Hot air balloon by Olivia Linder

Decorative Fish by Tatum Lennox

Things we did this year

Let’s go RSA

Reading outdoors

A walk in the woods Go-karting monsters

The recycled fashion show was a blast

If I were a teacher for a day...

Nadra Adams: If I were a teacher for a day I would be a class teacher and I would mostly teach about being honest and good behaviour. If my class is good, I’ll let them go out to break 10 mins early. I would learn through play, by playing Maths games and everything.

Gemma Bayer: If I were a teacher for a day I would give the children extra break and give them sweets.

Saarah Dollie: If I were a teacher for a day I would do experiments and have an icecream machine for Fridays.

Sabrine Garda: If I were a teacher for a day I would ask the kids to make a 3D model of them and a friend with play dough.

Sophie Gray: If I were a teacher for a day I would do really fun Maths and do the ‘worm’ dance for my class.

Imogen Hope-Bailie: If I were a teacher for a day I would let my class wear civvies and I would let them sit anywhere.

Aisha Jaffer: If I were a teacher for a day I would teach my class how to bake and have an outing.

Ella Jones: If I were a teacher for a day I would have tea with other teachers and teach the children something new.

Tara Kearns: If I were a teacher for a day I would let my class do no work.

Tatum Lennox: If I were a teacher for a day I would have fun in the class and have a party.

Kwethaba Mabizela: If I were a teacher for a day I would give them sweets on Friday.

Umhle Madikane: If I were a teacher for a day I would give children ice-cream but only if they behaved well.

Mila McCallum: If I were a teacher for a day I would tell my class to drop their pencils and dance. On Monday, bring your pet day.

Anelisa Mgoduka: If I were a teacher for a day I would give everyone a sweet and teach everyone new stuff.

Roselyn Milandou Mouanga: If I were a teacher for a day I would make my class do a lot of Maths work because they love Maths and have lots of fun.

Beca Miller: If I were a teacher for a day I would be a Maths teacher.

Mika Mosaval: If I were a teacher for a day I would bring my dog with me.

Hanaa Munthree: If I were a teacher for a day I would play fun games with my class, sing and dance to learn and give them candy everyday.

Anashe Mupunga: If I were a teacher for a day I would let the kids have parties for birthdays and we’d have dress up parties.

Kayla Naidoo: If I were a teacher for a day I would do science and sport with my class and we would watch TV.

Sienna Noble: If I were a teacher for a day I would give sweets if you were good. I wouldn’t give homework.

Zinathi Nonyati: If I were a teacher for a day I would make my classes fun and every Friday would be ice-cream and swimming Friday.

Rania Noor: If I were a teacher for a day I would have fun and give out lots of homework so my class can be extra smart.

Calila Reinders: If I were a teacher for a day I would have lots of fun with the kids and have break all day with them.

Kaycie Roberts: If I were a teacher for a day I would do lots of Maths and give all the girls lots of sweets.

Chloe Robertson: If I were a teacher for a day I would have lots of fun in my class and have a party.

Aisha Jaffer Anashe MupungaAnelisa Mgoduka

Beca Miller Calila Reinders

Chloe Robertson Ella Jones Zinathi NonyatiGemma BayerHanaa Munthree

Imogen Hope-BailieKaycie Roberts Kayla Naidoo

Kwethaba Mabizela Mika Mosaval

Mila McCallum

Rania Noor

Roselyn Milandou Mouanga

Saarah Dollie

Sabrine Garda

Sienna Noble

Sophie Gray

Tara Kearns

Tatum Lennox

If I were a teacher for a day... 3B

Amelia Abdullah: If I were a teacher for the day I would say you don’t have to come to school.

Eva Africa: If I were a teacher for the day I would have a party.

Kyla Bamber: If I were a teacher for the day I would let my girls have free time for 1 hour and some Maths and English.

Georgina Bassingthwaighte: If I were a teacher for the day I would only teach enrichment.

Chloé Baynham: If I were a teacher for the day I would be the best teacher they have ever had.

Cassidy Bennett: If I were a teacher for the day I would let everyone play.

Anna Carstens: If I were a teacher for the day I would do a drawing class.

Iqra Davids: If I were a teacher for the day I would give my students candy.

Zainab Deaney: If I were a teacher for the day I would party with my students.

Gabriella Engel: If I were a teacher for the day I would say you can do anything for the day.

Mila Gardner: If I were a teacher for the day I would let the children do whatever they want for however long they wanted.

Landa Gosa: If I were a teacher for the day I would be the world’s best teacher and party all day.

Hayley Halo: If I were a teacher for the day I would let everyone be free.

Hayley Hawkins: If I were a teacher for the day I would teach.

Hanaan Hendricks: If I were a teacher for the day I would do what a normal teacher would if I had a degree for teaching.

Haniyah Isaacs: If I were a teacher for the day I would give them free time for 3 hours and also teach them but teach them fun work.

Oluhle Klaas: If I were a teacher for the day I would let my class eat and have free time all day.

Mia Machattie: If I were a teacher for the day I would let everyone do what they wanted.

Liyanda Mainza: If I were a teacher for the day I would make them haave break the whole day.

Liyabona Mfundisi: If I were a teacher for the day I would have free time for the whole day.

Emma Naude: If I were a teacher for the day I would teach History because it is interesting.

Ilhaam Nordien: If I were a teacher for the day I would have fun with my class but when a teacher comes I make them do work.

Asantewaa Ntshinga: If I were a teacher for the day I would tell my students to go to the candy shop and enjoy their life.

Sophie Shaw: If I were a teacher for the day I would let them wear civvies, eat treats, get free tuck food, and watch movies.

Sindiswa Sindo: If I were a teacher for the day I would teach fun maths.

Alice Spencer: If I were a teacher for the day I would give more work and make the day longer and add 25 more minutes to break.

The Grade 3B’s

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Alice SpencerAmelia AbdullahAnna CarstensAsantewaa NtshingaCassidy Bennet

Chloe Baynham

Emma Naude Eva Africa Gabriella Engel Georgina Bassingthwaighte

Hanaan HendricksHaniyah Isaacs Hayley Halo Hayley Hawkins Ilhaam Nordien

Iqra Davids

Kyla Bamber

Landa Gosa

Liyabona Mfundisi Liyanda Mainza

Mia Machattie Mila Gardner Oluhle Klaas Sindiswa Sindo Sophie Shaw Zainab

If I were a teacher for a day... 3C

Haniya Achmat: If I were a teacher for the day I would throw a party and they won’t have homework or schoolwork.

Maryam Allie: If I were a teacher for the day I would party with my class and there’d be no homework

Chloe Arendse: If I were a teacher for the day I would let my class have an early break.

Abigail Bakker: If I were a teacher for the day I would party with my class and if it is a birthday there would be no homework.

Laura Botha: If I were a teacher for the day I would give them lots of sweets

Hanaa Carelse: If I were a teacher for the day I would help all my learners with work and have lots of fun in free time.

Makanaka Chani: If I were a teacher for the day I would go on an outing and throw a class party.

Erin Dobinson: If I were a teacher for the day I would have lots of fun with my class and there’d be a bouncy castle in my classroom.

Nailah Edwards: If I were a teacher for the day I would have fun and tell them to do their work

Charlotte Gibbs: If I were a teacher for the day I would make sure they have lots of fun while they learn.

Ella Jacobs: If I were a teacher for the day I would give my class cotton candy and take them on lots of outings.

Amaani Jeena: If I were a teacher for the day I would be a fun teacher but at the same time I’d be strict.

Zara King: If I were a teacher for the day I would let the children play.

Olivia Linder: If I were a teacher for the day I would buy a generator to stop load shedding.

Siyolise Magada: If I were a teacher for the day I would give the learners a sweet treat if their desks are neat.

Morgan Medcalf: If I were a teacher for the day I would have so much fun but I’d be a little strict.

Aida Mkuzi: If I were a teacher for the day I would hope for a promotion.

Tazkia Mohamed Hoosain: If I were a teacher for the day I would read stories and give the classroom free time if they behave but if they don’t, I’d give them extra Maths.

Emily Newell: If I were a teacher for the day I would have every lesson outside.

Sadie Owen: If I were a teacher for the day I would let my learners play lots of maths games and give them free time.

Fatima Razzak: If I were a teacher for the day I would decorate the classroom and make fun worksheets for my class.

Zia Sablay: If I were a teacher for the day I would make sure the learners do all their work and after that they get free time and I’d throw a party.

Ethandwa Sigonyela: If I were a teacher for the day I would let everyone have free time

Palesa Tengwa: If I were a teacher for the day I would let my class have a break for 3 hours.

Liberty Wallace: If I were a teacher for the day I would hire someone to organize everything in rainbow colour and I would take my class to Grotto for a class hockey match.

Madison Wilby: If I were a teacher for the day I would redo the classroom and keep the girls quiet.

The Grade 3C’s visit the museum

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Abigail Bakker

Aida Mkuzi

Amaani JeenaCharlotte GibbsChloe Arendse

Ella Jacobs

Emily Newell

Erin DobinsonEthandwa Sigonyela Fatima Razzak

Hanaa CarelseHaniya Achmat

Laura Botha

Liberty Wallace Madison Wilby

Makanaka Chani Maryam Allie Morgan Medcalf Nailah Edwards

Olivia Linder

Palesa Tengwa

Sadie Owen Siyolise Magada

Tazkia Mohamed Hoosain

Zara King Zia Sablay

Grade 4

Twenty twenty two has been, A most amazing year. Our masks came off; our smiles came out, Our friendships grew most dear.

We started out “so little”, but have come so very far. Grade 4 has taught us all so much, And filled our memory jar.

Miss Riettels had a baby; Sweet tiny Carah is so cute. We then bid “farewell” to Miss Piers Of new challenges she’s in pursuit.

Mrs. Wallander became a loving wife, And we welcomed Mrs. Louw. Miss Erasmus was always there to help, We appreciate you more than you know

We visited the olden days, with pinafores, slates and canes. Although we all had lots of fun, We’re glad that times have changed.

We learnt about all things in life, What makes a leader good. We even balanced dictionaries, On tables made of paper; not of wood.

We wrote stories, poems and summaries, Although the highlight of the year. Was definitely our first school camp, Where we learned to persevere.

Now it’s time to move along, We are more than ready for Grade 5. We will never forget our Grade 4 year, Our teachers are proud! They know we’ll thrive.

The Grade 4 teacher’s team

Jocelyn Piers

Grade 4 art

Autumn leaves by Chloe Jones

Flamingos Juliette Plummer Bird by Laura MacGregor

Self portrait by Ella Naidoo

Leopard by Faatimah Long

Decorative Cameleon by Paige Winslow

Still life by Farah Sonday

Things we did this year

Pretty in pink

Let’s start a band

Hats off to these girls’ creative head wear

Our Poetry 4A

Happiness

Yellow is the colour of happiness.

It looks like a bright hot sunny day, And smells like a hot banana split. It sounds like birds chirping and waves crashing on rock. It tastes like a cold refreshing lemonade. Yellow makes me feel happy and unstoppable and that I can do anything.

- Haniyaa Badat

Calmness

My calm colour is blue. Calmness looks like a beautiful night drinking hot coco. It smells like a strong scent of lavender. It sounds like the waves splashing together. It tastes like a delicious mint ice-cream Calmness makes me feel happy.

- Hlombe Basini

My Happy place

Happiness reminds me of a lush green forest, It looks like a dark green forest with frogs and lizards, and smells like a day with the daisies in the meadow, It sounds like the birds chirping in the morning light, and it tastes like a juicy ripe watermelon. It makes me feel calm and relaxed.

- Sofiya Edross

Calmness

Calmness feels like the seaweed, green Pacific Ocean. It smells like the salty seaweed breeze, and sounds like the plants blowing in the wind. It tastes like minty, ice cream. Calmness makes me feel calm.

- Cathryn Dam

Calmness

Calmness is sky blue, It looks like a field full of flowers, And smells like a freshly painted house. Calmness sounds like the quiet patter of rain on my window, And tastes like delicious chocolate cake, Calmness makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

- Lily van den Berg

Summer

Summer is gold

It tastes like sweet minty ice-cream And smells like the salty sea Summer looks like kids playing on the beach And sounds like the ocean waves Summer makes me feel like having a big braai

- Tshiamo Hlahatsi

Anger

Anger is a deep dark red

It looks like a bunch of emotions at once And smells like burning flames coming out of my ears. Anger sounds like a volcano rushing down my hand. And tastes like hot cillis burning in my mouth. Anger makes me feel like there’s a never ending fire inside me.

- Iman ismail

Happiness

Happiness is beautiful light yellow

it looks like a bright sunny day And smell like a beautiful day It sound like Bird singing together and taste like a great vanilla milk shake. It make my heart happy and full of love

- Zaakiya John

Love

The feeling love makes me think of the colour red. It looks like red throat lollies . Bread in the Oven cooking is what love smells like and sounds like children playing tag. It tastes like chocolate that is warm, melting in my mouth. Love makes me feel like my mom is hugging me on a rainbow! people around me

- Ava Mattushek

Happiness

Happiness is the colour green

It looks like a journey through the forest And smell like mint leaves It sound like water rushing by And tastes like mint ice- cream Happiness makes me feel close with the people around me

- Luniko Manise

Ava Mattushek

Ayole Kokolo

Cara Pearce

Cathryn Dam Elaine Hardacre

Faatimah LongGemma FrankishHaniyaa Badat Hlombe Basini Iman Ismail

Kylee Fillmore

Lillian Pegg Lily van den Berg

Luniko Manise Lwanda Ngubelanga

Maya DlepuMieke van der Berg

Oluwafikayo Ogundipe

Savannah PickeringSavannah Thirsk

Sofiya

Edross

Steffanie WhiteTshiamo Hlahatsi

Yasmin Semaar

Zaakiya John

Our Poetry 4B

The Lady In Yellow

There once was a lady in yellow Who liked to play the cello She had a nice book On how to be a cook But ended up eating bone marrow

- Caroline Anderson

Sadness

Sadness is blue

It taste like salty teardrops falling from my eyes. It smells like a cool blue ice cream on a rainy day. It looks like a calm blue river It sounds like a wet steps on a foggy morning. It feels empty lonely and you feel like you’re whole world is coming to a end.

- Mysha Sykes

Black Grumpiness

Grumpiness is as black as night

Grumpiness looks like dead black tendrils And smells like spicy black pepper. Grumpiness sounds like a raging black sea, And tastes like a tangle of soily, black roots. Grumpiness makes me feel laced with an icy black layer that I just can’t shake.

- Laura MacGregor

Depression

Depression is black

It looks like a thunderstorm

And smells like tears from my eyes It sounds like a car crash and tastes like a break-up It makes me feel weak

- Ella Coulstock-Welsh

Lost

Being lost is like ocean blue

It looks like a lost pile of water It smells fresh like the blue ocean It sounds like pouring rain And tastes like salty water It makes me feel alone.

- Layla Ebrahim

Anger

Anger is fiery blood-red. It looks like a huge sizzling volcano, And smells like a cinnamon explosion Anger sounds like a mountain slowly crumbling, And tastes like old burnt meat. Anger makes me feel depressed inside.

- Ella Green

The Showerless Fool

There once was a dirty boy named Zack. His hair and body were rather black. He never took showers, And after many hours, He kept scratching his face with a rack.

- Hanaan Jacobs

Fear

Fear is a creepy strange black

It looks like a dark black raven swooping over a dark haunted mansion. Fear smells like a cold, evil forest, And sounds like one hundred black galloping horses

Fear tastes like bitter wine drunk under a dark full moon

It makes me feel uneasy, unsure and tense like one hundred wolves are chasing me.

- Chloe Merven

Green

Green is the crunchy Granny Smith apple, that melts in my mouth. Green is the slithering snake, that hisses at me, Green is the slimy seaweed, at the beach, Green is the hopping frogs, in the pond.

- Hanaa Jamdar

Joy

Joy is bright yellow. It looks like children playing. It smells like fresh pizza. Joy sounds like laughter and giggles. It tastes like chocolate and candy. It makes me feel happy.

- Mambo Mainza

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Asakhanya MphelaAyikholi SolwandleCaroline AndersonChiquita Cekiso

Chloe Jones

Chloë MervenDelia-Ann Gilbert Dian ChuElla Coulstock-WelshElla Green

Ella Naidoo

Erin Wilson Haleigha VellageHanaa Jamdar Hanaan Jacobs

Juliette PlummerKago Molate

Kayla McMartin

Laura MacGregor

Layla Ebrahim

Mambo Mainza

Paige Winslow Uthando Peter Zia Jakoet

Zoe Shoko

Mysha Sykes

Our Poetry 4C

Lilac Strength, Mystery Calming, Soothing, Outstanding Happiness, Sadness, Excitement, Freedom Purple

- Olivia Goosen

Tear Drop Drop, tears Darkness, sadness, rain Blue and grey drops

- Cyan Greer

The Banana

The banana is a fine fruit. it is always on mute. Banana is yellow and brown with a golden crown.

- Gia Heldsinger

Kindness Love, care, manners Kindness is what You will get

- Alizwe Jali

The Banana

The banana is a fine fruit. It is always on mute. Banana is yellow and brown. With a golden crown.

- Gia Heldsinger

Water Little, clear Fearing, watering, leaking Makes me feel lonely Water

- Saskia Louw Rain Blue, sad Bouncing, clicking, flashing Sadness of the sad

- Catherine Nyamarebvu

Bubbles

Colourful, Delicate Floating, Drifting, Wandering Beautifully shiny rainbow colours Spheres - Julia Cox Kittens Cute balls of fluff Purring bundles of cuteness I love cats and kittens

- Rachael Marwick

Tears Joy, sadness Crying, sulking, hiding Tears of salty joy Water

- Ambeswa Mavela

Flower

Flower is my second name It gives me no shame Does good deeds Has lots of seeds And has a stem like a cane

- Ruvarashe Mbumbwa

Happiness

Happiness is bright yellow. It looks so lovely like the sun. It smells like delicious banana’s. It sounds like splashing lemonade. It tastes super yummy like ice-cream. It makes me feel like I want to fly.

- Isla Meyer

Ice cream

Ice cream is a sweet cold treat So many different flavours Brain freeze from licking too fast On a hot summer’s day

- Aziza Nayo

Alizwe Jali Ambeswa Mavela Aziza Nayo

Catherine Nyamarebvu

Cyan Greer

Farah Sonday Gia HeldsingerHarper O’HaganEmani Pacego Isla Meyer

Julia Cox

Kara PretoriusKayla MandabvaKhanya TsetswaMadeleine Plummer

Madison WagnerOlivia Goosen

Ozina-Scarlett Ndindwa

Rachael Marwick

Rosie Ellard

Ruvarashe Mbumbwa

Safiyya Pather

Saskia Louw

Yusrah LimbadaZahra Gangrakar

Grade 5

Mr Abrahams-Crocker, Mrs Dudley and Mrs Hopkinson

Ms Wagner

Ms Chihwehwete

Mrs Isaacs

Grade 5 art

Beatrix Potter Leanne Mukandi

Decorative owl by Saarah Jaffer Puppy by Gia Volckaert

Kirstenbosch by Kgalaletso Maimane

Decorative cameleon by Ella Adonis

Koi fish by Ayumi Kume Abrahams

5A Our Poetry

The Zoo

When driving through the zoo gates, you feel the excitement that awaits

You hear the lions ROARING loudly and all of the animals calling!

The monkeys screech with all their might, And the parrots squawk as they take flight. The hippos wallow and squelch in the mud, As the elephants rip down a tree and it falls with a thud!

The giraffes bend down to gracefully drink And the cheetahs zoom around before you can even blink!

The tourists walk around the zoo and see a zebra doing something suspicious!

At last the gates close with a bang Now you hear the waking of the nocturnal gang.

- Eva van der Westhuizen and Lia Laughton Highway Mom

Vroom, Vroom, Vroom!

My mom’s car speeds off on the highway Beep! Beep! Beep! Get out of the way! Flash, Flash, Flash! Oh NO! We can’t see! Help, Help, HELP! Mom can’t steer! Crash! Bam! Boom! All I see is darkness Twinkle, Twinkle, Twinkle Where am I?! Hello, Hello, Hello…

- Emma Mulder

Anger

It looks like a fiery ball of flames

It feels like stepping on lego pieces. Anger tastes like sour milk. Anger smells rotten. It sounds like millions of people shouting at once.

-Ingrid Krige

IRIDIANA’S RAINBOW

Once upon a time long, long ago there were no rainbows in the sky. The sky was bare and boring and always just a pale blue with a few spots of white clouds.

At this time there was also a girl named Iridiana, she loved art and colour and she was always drawing and painting.

Iridiana would paint murals on walls around her small town called Rainbow. You are probably thinking of it as graffiti but the town’s people loved her colourful artwork.

Iridiana was from quite a poor background and would paint to get a bit of money for her huge family. Iridiana had seven brothers and sisters, a mom, a dad and two little bunnies.

Iridiana lived in a quiet part of town so she had to walk to school every morning. One sunny morning in January, Iridiana was walking to school with a bucket of paint. She had to paint a mural at school that day so that is why she had the bucket. Iridiana was slowly humming and walking to school. Suddenly it started raining. Iridiana got such fright that she tripped over a big rock and the paint flew into the sky. Iridiana got up with a few scrapes and bruises and she looked up to the sky to see a huge arc of colour. The whole town was amazed at this presentation of colour and were also quite confused by what they saw.

The town council came together to discuss the colourful semi circle in the sky and they decided to call it a rainbow, as a tribute to their town.

So every time it is sunny and then suddenly it starts to rain, Iridiana’s rainbow comes out.

Fun Fact: The name Iridiana is a girl’s name meaning “rainbow”.

- Genevieve Lang

Caitlin WilcoxCarryn WisemanAliah Rylands Elizaveta Makogon Emilia Parolis

Emma Mulder

Eva van der Westhuizen Genevieve LangGrace McPhersonHaneen Lamara

Ingrid KrigeJamie Grant-SmithJessica Basson

Joud Fadul Lara Smith

Lia LaughtonMalwande NombewuMia Appolis

Naomi Kume Abrahams

Nurah Hendricks

Rana Khan

Samara Mohamed Hoosain

Sarien Le RouxScarlett Mackness

Zahra Hamdulay

5B Our Poetry

Lathi-Tha Gobe

Leila van der Westhuizen The Earth

Georgina Adley

The honourable heart

Ella-Jane Adendorff

Storms in the forest

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Ariana DawoodChelsea Darley Ella AdonisElla-Jane AdendorffErin Barbour

Georgina Adley Hanaa Jaffer

Isla Gray

Jade Baatjies Keira Haines

Lathi-Tha GobeLaura Williams

Leila Van der Westhuizen Mia Klotz Chandler Nuna Vella

Rachel Agar

Rebecca MeyerRebecca Newell

Saadiqa Ally Salma Martin

Sydney BeeldersZariya KamrodienZoe Chigara

Zoe Langtry

Bella Hawkins

5C

If I was a Principal for a day

Emiy Beukes: If I were the principal for a day, My school would be the best school in the Western Cape! It would look similar to Rustenburg but, with more greenery. There wouldn’t be any uniform so it is civvies every day! I would have an assembly in the morning talking about our school’s values which would be kindness, honesty, integrity and thoughtfulness.

Ayumi Kume Abrahams: My school would still look the same as this school does. I would allow students to wear whatever they want The students will still learn all the necessary subjects like Afrikaans, English, etc. As the principal, I would do stuff like paperwork and I would be open to suggestions to improve the school daily.

Sakeenah Samsodien: I would be white grey and black with a touch of rainbow colours. It would have 3 courts around the school for sports and a big swimming pool.What I would do as the principal is I would go around to the classes and see if everything is alright and I would plan the assembly and make it entertaining and fun. I would go around to the classes and see if everything is alright and I would plan the assembly and make it entertaining and fun. I would decorate the school and do paperwork and reward the children if they did well in something.

Scarlett Petersen: I would want my school to look like Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School, but with more plants and trees. During the day I would make sure that everyone is doing their jobs, keep the school clean and do work. During the day I would make sure that everyone is doing their jobs, keep the school clean and do work. This is how I would spend my day as the principal. Hope you liked it.

Grace Venter: As principal, I would add way more items to our uniform, which would be highly fashionable. I would add sneakers, short-sleeve versions of our winter top and a short version of the pants! Even though I would add sneakers you could wear any shoes you wanted, any brand any time! We would also be able to wear our hair down in any style which everyone I know is dying for!

Liya Behardien: I would wear plain white jeans with a cute but basic graphic t-shirt. With a plain pretty hoodie. With Birkenstocks. There would be cute and formal uniform and in any month the school thinks its a good time they will have a month of civvies

Erin Lewis: I would make the school look very colourful so people would feel very comfortable and make learning look fun. I would have a uniform but let the people vote for the uniform and also make two types so people that don’t like skirts could wear pants or shorts and the same for people who do like wearing shorts could wear skirts.

Emma Mavian: I’d add various sports such as basketball, cricket, laser tag, paintball, hand tennis and more… We’d have no uniform and just civvies. We’d have mostly chrome books and projectbased learning. The content my students would learn would include more WORLD HISTORY. Updates to our school library and hall. And this is what I’d do if I were the principal.

Zara Roy: My school would be in a cylinder shape and would have an elevator in the middle to take you to every floor and there would be stateof-the-art equipment. The students would learn Maths, English, Afrikaans, Geography, History and Natural sciences and technology. I would look for more people to enrol in the school.

Leanne Mukandi: If I were the principal of the school for the day I would make the school have more colours other than navy blue, I would keep the winter pants and I would also add shorts for the summer uniform instead of dresses in case people don’t want to wear dresses. If I were the principal I would get coffee and do a lot of work.

Frankie Lambrechts: My school would be a 3 story building. The children would not have a uniform to wear. The students learn everything like History, Geography, Natural Science etc. (Everything we learn today). And as for me, the principal, I would sit in my office drinking coffee and telling my staff what to do. I would be kind to my students and be kind to my staff.

Arebi Ataguba

Amelia Fataar

Athila Majiet

Ayumi Kume Abrahams

Beth Dunton

Daria Jakoet

Emily Beukes Emily Wilkens Emma Mavian

Erin Lewis

Francesca Lambrechts

Gia Volckaert

Grace VenterHannah AbrahamsImke NannucciKgalaletso Maimane

Leanne MukandiLiya BehardienMaddison Wallace

Megan Bounds

Micaela Robinson

Rohaan Waggie

Sakeenah Samsodien Scarlett PetersenVidya Bhoola

Zara Roy

Grade 6

Our year has been one of curiosity and questioning, of experiences and excitement. The Grade 6s of 2022 were met with a team of teachers who were determined to make their learning full of enquiry and fun. We aimed to challenge our girls to think outside of the box, to ask many, many questions and stretch our knowledge far out of our comfort zones.

We started off our year with a visit to Ancient Greece. The girls read Greek Mythological stories, performed plays and indulged in Greek inspired food. They completed activities which taught them about the Greek Gods and Goddesses and were enthralled by the stories which they were told.

In term 3, we decided to explore and implement Project-based learning (PBL), which is a learner-centred approach where learners actively explore different topics, following the inquiry process, to acquire deeper knowledge of the curriculum. 21st century skills such as problem-solving, collaboration. Critical and creative thinking are at the forefront of PBL. After much deliberation, discussion and debates, we settled on the following driving question: “Imagine it is 2029 and you are voting for the first time. Currently, South Africa faces many challenges. Can you design a campaign for a political party that you believe can bring about change?”

We had our PBL launch at Grotto at the start of the third term. The learners identified what they knew about politics and current issues that face South Africa. They discussed these topics in their groups and collaboratively came up with questions they wanted to know more about.Throughout the term, we integrated all subjects to unpack the concepts of democracy, climate change, renewable energy, animal rights and human rights. In English, the learners wrote an email to the government to address pertinent issues. They wrote the script for a children’s rights awareness video in Afrikaans; and researched a female political activist in History.

The learners visited Intaka Island where they learnt about eco-systems, sustainability and renewable energy. They also visited the District Six museum and had a tour of the Bo-Kaap. This excursion helped the learners to better understand the injustices of the past and how they have impacted our present.

They were inspired to pursue their passions and dreams. The learners were divided into groups of 9 to form their political parties. They had to collaborate to invent a name, logo, slogan and manifesto for their party. Each party had to address one environmental and one socio-political issue that effects Cape Town and offer solutions to the problem. They also identified one change they would like to make to Rustenburg. Campaigning got very competitive and many groups decided to advertise their parties with sweet treats, posters and even jewellery.

Camp was also one of the highlights of the term. Girls learned many lessons about teamwork, resilience, determination and perseverance. They were kept occupied with exciting activities, were fed hearty camp style food and spent many hours giggling in tents and dorms. As the year draws to a close, we would like to wish the girls all the best for the rest of the year, and moving on to Grade 7. Remember to always keep questioning and enriching your learning. We look forward to watching your very exciting educational journey.

Mrs van der Merwe Mrs Newby-Mudavanhu Mr Manuel Miss Barnes

The Grade 6 teacher’s team

Grade 6 art

Jessica Walsh - My pet and I

Georgina Gray - Mandala Qhayiya Mbebe - Still Life

Motheo Hlahatsi - Still Life

Olivia Abrahams - Dutch architecture

Anna Bradshaw - My pet and I

Things we did this year

Intaka island

Tata Madiba

Another SA legend, Zolani Mahola

The race is on! We had fun on Voting day Now, THIS is how you develop school spirit!

We sparkled for Greek day What an adventure!

The District 6 museum

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream

Passing the bucket as fast as we can and laughing as hard as we can

Written Pieces 6A

My Underwater Wonderland Adventure

As I put on my enormous emerald flippers and my crammed oxygen tank, the aroma of salty sea water hits my entire body. The sound of the raucous dolphins singing a song, makes me eager to get into the crystal clear water.

I spring into the water and my body feels weightless as my flippers propel me towards the underwater wonderland. The slimey kelp is as tall as a colossal giant and the bizarre shaped coral catches my eyes as it dances in the current. There are fishes of all sizes, minute or large, and colours vary in a graceful swirl, like a technicolour rainbow. As I go deeper, it becomes muffled and noiseless, with three fish trailing behind me. I catch a glimpse of a sapphire spotted whale swimming with its mother. The grooved rocks become larger and larger, with an auburn and coal-black colour. With a booming sound in my ear, I realise that my oxygen is running low.

I swiftly sprint, passing all the stunning sea life I had crossed before. I see the burning ball of fire, hovering above me, and I know I’m close. I finally reach my maroon coloured boat. And with a shriek, I’m pleased that I have ended my underwater wonderland adventure, in a delightful, but unpractical way.

By: Olivia Abrahams

A plight on Mars

The infinite auburn haze and quiet rocky mountains threatened to swallow me whole. Nothing felt real. The haze smelled musty and isolated. The howl of the toxic wind was like nuclear electricity waves, channeling through my veins.

As I staggered forwards, towards the rows

of sandy-red mountains. I tried to remember who I was: I was a scientist, who went on a spaceship and crash landed on a foriegn planet. None of the space advisors had survived. My watch said I was 17km from base camp. Oxygen was running low, and I was craving water. Mars was blurred, like when seawater gets into your goggles. I searched through the sand. Faint spoor prints! I ran until I heard gurgling in my earpiece. In the musty distance, I saw a hairy creature.

A Speculite! I crept up to it and touched its harmless, bristly hairs. It had an acrid stench. It bellowed and scrambled towards a hole. A watery substance glistened in the hole. My thirst took control and I took a pea size portion of an unknown poison.

Powdery air filled my lungs, while this gingery substance slipped down my throat. The last thing I heard was the bellow like a waterfall crashing on rocks. Then it went black.

- Stella Solkow

Amy PenneyAnnabel HaasbroekCara Bradley Eden Habberton Ella Gardner

Ivy Armitage Jemma Douglas Kate Mellish

Kate Owen Keilana Wynne

Kirsten Myers Leila King

Lucy Midlane Madison Thirsk Mivuyo Mdwara

Olivia AbrahamsQaqamba MatshakaRethabile Kaira Saarah Allie Saarah Jarodien

Sienna HowlettSimosihle Sishi

Sophie Cloete

Stella Solkow

Yusrah Gamildien

Zarah Solomon

6B Written Pieces

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap of Bravery

Wearing the smooth strange clothes and the hard transparent sphere around my head, I realised I had accomplished my dream. To be a space traveller, cosmos explorer, a universe ranger!

As the spaceship’s hatch glided open, my heart started to beat uncontrollably. I wiped my sweaty palms on my trousers. Anxiously I closed my eyes and daringly stepped onto the Red Planet. My feet crunched against the soil as I landed on the surface of this unknown world. As I looked around, I was immediately captivated by the rocky scarlet terrain! An auburn haze tinged the air, while a golden mist knelt, swirling at the foot of the imposing mountain. As though in a trance, I wandered aimlessly around the planet.

Suddenly the icy wind brought me back to my senses with its freezing touch. I looked around and a growing panic filled my veins. I couldn’t find my spaceship! Then it hit me, I was lost, lost on Mars.

- Rebecca Gray

Grade 6B Greek goddesses

PBL Launch

Maitri ChokhawalaMaleeha Khan May Low Ak Kee

Agcobile KotaAlexa HeldsingerAnnabelle MeredithAsanda Sithole Ayesha Patel

Azraa Kippie Chloe Bassingwaithe Echo Buffler Emily van SelmGemma Blackburn

Jessica Walsh Kaitlyn Hill Katharine Gibson Kerry Ann Chung Kim Yuen Keziah Boock

Lara Maree Lind thando Magenuka-Heshu

Lucy Miller

Nausheen Alie

Ngowenceba Mputing

Rebecca GrayRebecca Solkow

Riziki Magotsi

Sherise Barnes

Zainab Long

Written Pieces

A Chest of Hopes and Dreams

The elderly wrinkled trees tower overhead as I creep towards the forgotten mansion, pulled by an invisible force. Besides the soft crunching of leaves beneath my feet, nothing stirs. I carefully open the rotting door and an ancient smell meets my nose. I ignore everything else. My path is clear. The force is drawing me towards the wooden stairs.

I pass many rooms, all with identical doors, but I have no doubt about where I’m going. Soon, I will arrive at my destination. The door opens with a creak and I hold my breath as I uncertainly tiptoe into the unknown. The room looks normal, apart from a large wooden chest sitting on the table. It has tiny, intricate engravings all over. I trace my hand over them and muffle a scream as bright, brilliant, white light floods the room. It feels like I’m standing in the sun, except without the heat. As the light slowly fades, I can just make out shimmering lines of brightness. With a start I realize that they are hopes and dreams. Millions of them, all floating around me.

I now understand that this is the meaning of the miserable world that I live in. All these hopes and dreams are kept in a box, while they could be creating happiness and a better world. They whirl around me, softly caressing my skin and a feeling unheard of rushes to meet me. It is a feeling of hope, courage, love, confidence and importance. I have unlocked hopes and dreams and set them free into the world.

- Melissa Merven

Solo on the Scarlet Planet

A rugged view met my eyes as I squinted through my helmet. I stifle a gasp as a flood of memories stampedes through my brain. I remembered a howling sandstorm and ear-splitting screams. Choked tears spurted rapidly down my face. I needed to find my

camp, but I was completely alone on Mars.

I was distinctly aware of a beeping sound that whispered in my ear and crimson sand that ran through my fingers like a waterfall of tiny rose petals. I slowly dragged my body along the dry landscape that glared reproachfully at me. Suddenly, I collapsed into a shivering huddle. I was near my end. Then I saw it. A tower of smoke winding up into the azure sky above a blackened ruin. My legs bolted towards it.

I threw myself down amongst the rubble and searched frantically. There it was. A minute tracker that could call my spaceship. Shakily, I pressed the button. I then collapsed onto a singed sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep.

- Anna Bradshaw

Zoe Lau

Alexandra Broadway-Nagy

Alexandra MillerAnna Bradshaw

Anna Pringle

Ella Jearey

Ellamae Bayer Georgina Gray Grace SolkowImaan MohamedJenna Pearce

Kira Hoffman Mary Botha Melissa MervenMotheo HlahatsiOnako Falake

Onesimo KleinbooiQhayiya Mbebe

Rana Sonday

Reese Noble Riley Mckenzie

Saniya Sulaiman

Sirri Muluh Sisipho Mvunyiswa Sofia Quickfall

Yusra

Grade 6 Letters to the government

Dear Government representatives

My name is Mary Botha. I am in grade 6 at Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School. Given the threat posed by the Climate Crisis, I believe that young people like me should be given a constant voice in building the country’s future with the government. As a Cape Town beachgoer, I have been appalled to witness adults - who really should know better - walking straight past pollution on beaches, while youngsters take time to pick up the adults’ mess. Therefore, I believe that a government of elders cannot be trusted to make the difficult decisions necessary to re-shape our lives as we know them, without the assistance of the younger generations.

With the COP27 meeting coming up in November, I urge you to include young climate campaigners in your group.We need our voices to be heard when making decisions that will shape our future. I know that Cape Town has made arrangements to use renewable energy, but I would encourage you to also offer support for businesses and households to do the same. The Cape has a sunny but windy climate. We need to collect the energy around us by setting up solar-panel and turbine farms. This will lead the way to a cleaner, more innovative future as encouraging everyone to act towards the same goal of sustainability is critical for us all. It’s clear that many adults don’t understand how important taking action on this issue is. We, the children of Cape Town, will work to raise awareness and our voices about the problems that our elders have created. I urge you to let the younger generations collaborate with you so that we can build a better future together and right the wrongs of the past. There are many great ideas out there! Let them be heard.

We, the children, want to make the world a better place for all generations - a task that the current generation in charge has failed to do. Please work with us. I am confident that with your input, we will be able to build a better future for the generations to come.

There’s no time to waste. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully, Mary Botha

Dear Mayor Hill-Lewis

I am writing to you to address the fact that we are doing many things to cause climate change, but not much to stop it. I think that that needs to change. According to the South African Bill of Rights, everyone has the right to an environment not harmful to their health or well-being. Also to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations. However, the environment is still harmful to humans, Which directly violates our basic rights.

The Western Cape alone has so many greenhouse gas emissions that it may be near impossible to achieve Vision 2050. This is especially obvious considering that I haven’t seen the Western Cape even start cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. According to Sir David Attenborough, if intense action is taken over the next decade, then the world can keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5°C this century. This would limit the scale of the damage drastically.

We created our own political parties

One of our many excelllent debate teams

I have a few suggestions on how to help reduce global warming, including keeping fossil fuels in the ground. The more fossil fuels are extracted and burned, the worse global warming will get. The economy needs to move away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. Switching to clean and renewable energy is the best way to stop using fossil fuels. Solar power and hydropower are some of the best ways to achieve this. Another good thing would be to switch to sustainable transport. Petrol and diesel vehicles, planes, and ships use fossil fuels. Reducing car use, switching to electric vehicles, and minimising plane travel will not only help stop climate change but will also reduce air pollution. My last idea is to help us keep our homes warm. Homes shouldn’t be windy and cold – it’s a waste of money; and miserable in the winter. The government can help households heat their homes in a green way by insulating walls and roofs and switching from oil or gas heaters to other methods of heating.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I hope that you consider my ideas.

Thank you for your service to Cape Town as well as South Africa.

Respectfully, Annabel Haasbroek

Dear President Ramaphosa

My name is Kaitlyn Hill. I am in Gr 6 at Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School. I am writing to you today to inform you about the effects of climate change on not only South Africa, but the entire world.I feel very strongly about this topic because I love the Earth and if we damage it there is no new Earth to go to. We all feel the effects of climate change on a daily basis. We are experiencing bigger storms, stronger winds and hotter summers. This also affects people all around the world .Houses are being destroyed during extreme weather,shifting weather patterns threaten crop productivity and rising sea levels increase the risk of flooding .

We could be living in a perfect world if we had just implemented eco-friendly ways of living sooner, but we didn’t, so we have to do it now.

I am asking you for your support to implement rules that we have to follow to reduce our carbon footprint and effects on the world. Some examples are to encourage people to eat less meat although it is their own choice. Each meat eater is responsible for 1,5 more tons of greenhouse gases than a vegan per year according to a study by the University of Chicago.

Most of our electricity and heat is powered by coal, oil and gas which when they are burned release harmful greenhouse gases. People should be encouraged to use less energy by lowering their heating and cooling usage, switching to LED light bulbs and all energy-efficient electric appliances, washing their laundry with cold water or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. We could also find a way of using resources effectively like planting a new tree for everyone that you cut down and putting solar panels on buildings to collect solar energy.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this very important issue. With your support I am confident that we will all see a change in how we treat our planet. Thank you so much for your support.

Respectfully Kaitlyn Hill

We learned all about voting on Election day

Grade 7

Beauty begins WITHIN Grade Seven 2022 Ubuhle buvela ngaphakati

With the theme: Beauty begins WITHIN / Ubuhle buvela ngaphakati … and the 4 pillars encourage our teams to be trustworthy, to practise integrity, resilience and strive for confidence … we have to ask this question: “What has it meant to the grade 7s of 2022?”

2022 arrived like a damp squib with us still wearing masks and observing personal spaces. Fortunately, we welcomed some new grade 7s, Miss Cayla Poelmann 7a class teacher,Mr Shukr Hartzenburg 7B class teacher, Mrs Lisa Nkqayi, our learnership, Antonina Makogon in 7c and Razeenah Sonday in 7a.

Our Gr 7s of 2022 have had to be resilient and this has made them stronger and more united as a grade. Proving themselves repeatedly in all their activities this year. They started the year with a self-defence class and a Zumba fitness session in the Hall- where the energised Miss Polemann demonstrated her dance skills and the support staff joined us in the “wings”. The go karting experience brought out our competitive spirits but we were united as a grade and we all celebrated the “win”! The second term saw the girls take to the sports fields en masse. We were fortunate enough to have both a netball and hockey tour to Knysna and the girls grew closer as teammates. On the literary front, the Hooked on Books presentations had staff and girls alike in stitches. The term ended on a bitter sweet note with us saying goodbye to Mrs Faye Campbell in June when she left us to prepare for the birth of baby Julia in July.

We welcomed Mrs Stephanie Wentzel to the team at the start of the third term and the girls thoroughly enjoyed her technology lessons where they learned to build electro-magnetic cranes. Winter Sport was concluded with the Inter schools and TOP SCHOOLS tournaments in both netball and hockey and our netball team took the coveted 1st place at both events while the hockey team took 2nd place. On the various sports fields, our grade 7s have proved to be worthy ambassadors. They have been both gracious in victory and defeat.

At the end of the third term we had the privilege of going on camp- something none of us will ever take for granted, again.The simple pleasures and rustic beauty of Round the Bend provided the perfect setting to unwind before the final term.The girls learned the most amazing skills -like abseiling on the Breede, obstacle courses, night hikes, the survival skills- building shelters, purifying water, strapping ‘wounded’ peers, making fires with batteries, steel wool, vaseline ,flint; learning to shoot with catapults [Miss Poelmann - do you remember who knocked the full cold drink can right over] raft building, water safety and learning to paddle on the Breede; tying reef knots, and having to scale the climbing wall so that we could have lunch!

As a grade, our girls have churned butter, practised

distillation and electrolysis to demonstrate separation techniques; made ginger beer in a soda stream to demonstrate acids and bases; had the most amazing science projects and investigations ranging from investigations into blood types ( thanks to our teaching staff and family ‘volunteers’)where a high tech microscope was loaned to us, learned about reverse spherification, cooking traditional south african foods in history lesson… and are still learning!

Grade 7s of 2022, you have an arsenal of tricks to overcome many of the challenges life/Eskom may throw at you… YES, YOU CAN!

It’s time for me to thank my grade 7 team for their support and say adieu to those who are moving on. I wish you all the best of luck for high school and the years ahead. Remember the answer to this question: “Who thinks you are beautiful when you wake up in the morning?”

YOU should! You radiate confidence and can feel beautiful without someone needing to tell you that you are beautiful. Your confidence is the most beautiful thing you can wear- never leave home without it! Ubuhle buvela ngaphakati

love as always, Gail Barrish Liddle

Grade 7 team

Grade 7 art

Still life by Emily Smith

Mandala by Lily Sturrock

Eagle by Anouk van der Berg

Pencil sketch of Basset Hound puppies by Chloe Wood

Pencil sketch of a cat by Iris Grant-Smith

Hand Sketch by Neve Murphy

Things we did this year

Grade 7’s are a brave bunch Teamwork makes the dream work Grade 7’s ready for action

Camp videos & images These girls can row!

“The wheels of the bus goes round and round”

Grade 7B

Friends share their lunch

We are risk takers Grade 7A

What we learn with pleasure we never forget

- Alfred Mercier

Aa’ishah HartleyAmaris Muluh

Chloe WoodChrysovalanti ParolisDahlia Cassar

Emily McChlery Emily Smith

Emma Keevy

Heather KaneIfechukwu Mbamalu

Iman Parker Isabella Kalam

Jenna Mears

Kate Savage

Leigh Ann Chung Kim Yuen

Leseli Yeki

Lily Sturrock

Lyra Taylor

Maya Hopkinson

Megan Holl

Molly Ellard Razeenah Sonday

Saamia Gaffoor

Sarah Labuschagne

Shen-Yun Weng

Sienna Murray

This is us 7B

Intelligence, - that is the goal of true education

plus character

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Alexa Marks

Alyssa Chetty Amy McWilliamAnique BadenhorstAnna Becker

Anouk Van Der BergBohlokwa LepelleDemi Schlebusch Faith Lyons Hannah Laughton

Jorja Turner Kelly Emslie

Kyla Barratt Lila Numanoglu Lucy Low

Megan Day Mila Duckitt Nkosazana Shosha Nuha Khan Onika Dlakavu

Oyame KwakwiniSaffa Baderoen Soffiyah Edwards

Sofia Pronk

Tasmiya Minty

Thea Henshall

This is us

The beautiful thing no one can take it away from you. - B.B.

about learning, is that

King

Afidi Wonkam

Aisha Sallie

Anemaé Smith

Anna CastleAntonina Makogon

Atiya Nagdi

Caitlin WagnerCassidy BurfordCharlotte HutChristine Hendry

Haniya EmeranIris Grant-SmithJenni Manning

Jessica Bennett Jessica Gray

Kiara McLean

Lana De Klerk

Luka Dionisio

Neve MurphySarah-Jane Sansom

Sihle Adams Skye Kelly Tamasha Treffers Tehzeeb Kagee

Tyla Bourne

Zoey Rhoda

Grade 7 Memoirs

What did you like most about being in this class this year?

I really enjoyed being in 7A because Miss Poelmann is such an amazing teacher, she really helped me when I was struggling with my work. I am very happy in 7A because I’ve met many new people who I am proud to call my friends. Being in 7A has been a privilege because I am with many of my friends who will not be attending the same highschool as me so I am now able to make many memories with them.

-

Molly

Ellard 7A

I started this year feeling nervous but the feeling soon faded away after I saw how kind and friendly Miss Poelmann was. I really enjoy understanding my work and she has made this so much easier and better. She made learning so much fun and she explained the work so nicely. My favourite thing in class was listening to music while doing work. It made me feel relaxed and I could concentrate better. It made doing work so much more enjoyable than it usually is. - Maya Hopkinson 7A

I loved being in Miss Poelmann’s class this year, even though I was nervous at first. She made the classroom a safe space and made an effort to make everyone feel welcome. Miss Poelmann had a very different teaching style to what I was used to, which I liked, as she managed to make lessons both fun, and filled with learning. - Emma Keevy 7A

I love that 7a has such a calm vibe which makes it easier to work. The learning environment is truly amazing. I always feel very welcome and supported in this class. Miss Poelmann is such an amazing teacher, and her lessons always help me with all of my work. Also, the aircon in our class is amazing for summer.

- Emily McChlery - 7A

What I loved about being in this class this year was that I worked well with Miss Poelmann’s style of teaching and the way we learnt. I’ve had so much fun with my friends and Miss Poelmann as my teacher. I enjoyed the way she set up the class and made it beautiful for this year. Even though this wasn’t necessarily at school I found camp to be one of the most memorable moments. However, I will never forget how fun Miss Poelmann made our SS lessons throughout the year and how much I

learned . Of course I will also remember this class to be my last at this school before high school. - Kate Savage 7A

The part I loved most about this year was the fact that everyone was able to share a few laughs here and there even when you’re feeling down. Everyone was allowed to share opinions on different topics without having the feeling that they’re being judged. The class and teacher itself brought a certain atmosphere that made everyone feel comfortable and I thoroughly enjoyed it. From this class I have built better friendships with people I’ve wanted to get and have gotten closer to.

- Aisha Sallie 7C

What I liked most about being in this class this year was that we were treated like adults and were expected to get on with the work. Mrs Liddle was understanding and always answered my endless questions! My most memorable moments were working on our NS project and testing out all the plasters that my teacher had an allergy to. Sarah-Jane Sansom 7C

What I liked most about being in 7a this year was that I always felt free to share my thoughts or ideas and everyone grew very close to what I would call our 7a family. We always had fun and I enjoyed every day. If I had to choose which class I would be in, I would choose 7a every time. - Heather Kane 7A

What were your most memorable activities/moments from this year?

So far my most memorable sporting moments at school, was excelling at both the Interhouse Swimming Gala and Cross Country. At the swimming gala I came either first or second in all my races and I came first in the cross country. - Amy McWilliam 7B

All the laughing, jokes, funny moments and memories made during class were so special, parties and singing out loud with my friends were really memorable moments. In term 3 I got 90’s in my maths tests, and I remember feeling so proud and shocked. I also was so excited when I was chosen to be Clara in the Cape Town City Ballet’s nutcracker at Artscape which is such a special role and the main character in the nutcracker, I still have to perform it in December, the 7th to the 23rd but I can’t wait! I will also

be a snowflake on some nights when I am not Clara. This is my first time performing with a live orchestra. I also took part in the Mable Ryan this year and won. This is a top ballet award and was a great honour for me. It brings me one step closer to my dream and goal of joining the Royal Ballet. - Lila Numanoglu 7B

This year has been incredible so far. Everyone in this class is so kind, considerate, and helpful. They have helped me make loads of incredible memories, but my favourite one is from the day we went go-karting. Mrs Campbell was pregnant, so Ms. Kahla took her place for the teachers’ race, and as we rounded the final corner, the go-kart tipped over. It was probably one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

- Faith Lyons 7B

One of my favourite memories was when Kelly and I were walking at night and we accidentally stepped in a frog pond. Our socks and shoes were soaked, but we couldn’t stop laughing. - Nuha Khan 7B

I also liked having many teachers, because I really enjoy meeting new people. This is the reason why camp was my most memorable moment, because I made new friends and I spent time with people I don’t usually talk to.

- Alyssa Chetty 7B

The fun Go Kart day was an incredible memory and event as well and I feel that it brought our class and grade closer together. - Jessica Bennett 7C

There were so many memorable moments this year. Mine was camp and building the shelters with sticks and plants. Getting better grades was also another very memorable thing about this year. - Nkosazana Shosha 7B

This year my most memorable memories were tour, camp, interschools netball and swimming as well as swimming galas that took place weekly and netball matches that took place weekly. I really enjoyed all netball this year as we had amazing support from others on the team, the coaches and the parents. Swimming has also been fun as it’s great to be able to help around as well as they are loads of fun. Camp was also a highlight as I had so much fun working with my friends during the activities, swimming in the river and seeing snakes while swimming, running away from spiders and scorpions and abseiling. - Jorja Turner 7B

One of my many memorable memories in this class would be near the start of the term when I was busy creating the brochure about myself and was drawing the cover of my favourite album by Fall out Boys. Miss Poelmann was walking around and noticed what I was drawing and went to her computer and started to play a Fall out Boy song. It made me feel like a teacher actually cared about me and unlike other teachers that I dreaded talking to or would do anything to not be in that class, with Miss Poelmann I would walk up to her and ask questions or in class after questions regarding the subject we are learning. I can tell she really enjoys teaching and having a class learning new things from her. - Sarah Labuschagne 7A

I’ve made lots of memories during this year, but camp memories are the ones that really stand out. I loved swimming in the river with all of my friends and doing activities that were way out of my comfort zone. Watching people do pushups was really funny and memorable too. - Sienna Murry 7A

To me grade 7 was mostly about teamwork, hard work, preparing yourself for high school but most importantly finding your true self and friends. My favourite moment this year was Entrepreneur’s Day because I had been waiting for that day to come since I was in grade R. My group and I had some difficulties but we pulled through and sold almost everything, which was the best part. - Leseli Yeki 7A

I believe this year assisted me in becoming a better person and I am grateful for everything and everyone that helped me grow throughout the year. - Afidi Wonkom 7C

My best memory of this year is either the hockey tour, camp or go-karting day. I think I improved the most in my sports this year. I worked harder and I’m proud of my improvements. - Jessica Gray 7C

Your greatest accomplishment (the area in which you grew the most - think about your skills, academics, extra murals, study habits, and mindset)

The assignment that made me learn the most this year was the English websites. I learned how to create a website, which I’ve never done before. There were also many components, such as the character sketches, music performances and the research on Holes and the author, which made me learn a lot. - Saamia Gaffoor 7A

My biggest accomplishment was going on a hockey tour since only 14 people were chosen out of Grade six and seven. After that I made A team which I am very proud of. I also reached one million views on TikTok and 10 000 followers which I think is amazing since I want to be an editor or film director when I’m older. I am definitely better at hockey and editing than I was at the beginning of the year because I have more experience and I have practised a lot.

- Tori Heath 7B

An accomplishment I made throughout this year is that I think I’m a lot more confident now and I’ve gotten better at my interests and sports.

- Cassidy Burford 7C

My biggest accomplishment was becoming independent and becoming a good hockey player.

- Saffa Baderoen 7B

My greatest accomplishments were to be part of the U13 B hockey team, getting into the finals at a modern dancing competition and working well through the difficult topic of maths, Algebra. - Hannah Laughton 7B

My biggest accomplishment this year was my English marks overall, but I am most proud of my essays, because my career choice is extremely dependent on my English writing skills. My next big accomplishment involves Drama, I got casted for the main character in a Shakespearean play. - Alexa Marks 7B

An accomplishment I’m proud of is finding new and different study methods. Despite having tried many ways to learn my work, I have found a successful one that is most effective for me. - Aa’ishah Hartley 7A

This year one of my accomplishments was improving my understanding in Maths. Last year, Maths wasn’t a subject that I enjoyed, mostly because I couldn’t really understand the work explained to us. This year I can understand the Maths lessons much better, which helped me like the subject more.

- Unam Mabizela

7A

Accomplishments I am proud of is making the B team for netball as it shows how much I have improved from when I was younger. Although I never played a match in Interschools, I was lucky enough to be there as well as playoffs. My Grade 4 self wouldn’t have believed this! - Jenna Mears 7A

I had many great achievements this year. One being getting 5 things right

in maths camp, which is 33,3%. That means I did as well as someone in the A-team even though I was in the D-team! I also scored more than 50% of my team’s points.

- Emily Smith 7A

I have had memorable moments this year. My greatest accomplishment is that I have done more sports than I did in the beginning of the year. I had also gotten better at creating documents and slides on google, which I love to do.

- Caitlin Wagner 7C

I was able to accomplish new skills and join new extra murals this year. I am an outreach and Public Relations leader and being a part of both has taught me so much. I learned to always give back whenever you can and to appreciate everyone and everything in life.

- Tasmiya MInty 7B

Which assignments helped you learn the most this year?

I learned something new from all my projects but the project I learned from the most was definitely, the All About Me L.O project from term 1. In that project I really had to dig deep and find things out about myself that even I never knew.

- Leigh Ann Chung Kim Yuen 7A

Building the electromagnetic crane definitely enhanced my teamwork skills and I learnt a lot from it. The crane took a lot of hard work to get right, but my group and I still managed to complete our goal. - Anique Badenhorst 7B

The LO assignment at the beginning of the year helped me the most because it reminded me of the person I am and the person I want to be.

- Anouk van der Berg 7B

The technology practicals work great as I could really get my “hands dirty”. I love visual learning as this has proved where I can be successful. In addition we worked in groups which made it a lot more fun.

- Sofia Pronk 7B

Two assignments that helped me learn the most this year were certainly the construction of an electromagnetic crane in term three, and the making of the jaws of life model in term one. I found them to be very interesting.

- Soffiyah Edwards 7B

EMS in general has definitely taught me the most this year. My money management and saving skills have improved by a huge amount.

- Ifechukwu Mbamalu 7A

The assignment that helped me learn the most was Entrepreneur’s Day. I learnt a lot about how to be an entrepreneur, the qualities of an entrepreneur and everything that an entrepreneur has to do. This assignment has given me a lot of useful knowledge that I will use in the real world.

- Shen-Yun Wueng 7A

The assignment that helped me learn the most this year was a creative writing assignment that I really enjoyed writing. It taught me that I love writing action and adventure stories. It also inspired me to write a book containing the writing piece. - Chloe Wood 7A

I think that the assignment ‘Holes’ helped me a lot, it taught me about technology on docs and on google sites. The Life Orientation project about my future job really helped me to set my goals for the future. I want to be an astronaut and so you don’t just need a qualification but a whole series of different licences which I didn’t know you needed. - Kiara McLean 7C

Something that you are better at now than at the beginning of the year

Something I improved on would be being able to commit to studying, getting work done the day it is given to me and stopping myself from procrastinating. - Haniya Emeran 7C

I grew immensely in confidence this year and tried a lot of things that I wouldn’t have tried a few years ago. I also did so many sports this year, achieved highly in all of them and got amazing memories from all of them as well as doing Eisteddfods, getting the Kemp writing award and doing so many Maths competitions. I enjoyed playing indoor and outdoor hockey as well as being the cross-country captain this year, which brought me substantial pride. - Demi Schlebusch 7B

Something I believe I have improved in since the start of the year is Afrikaans. Although I’m not the best at it, I have definitely gotten better.

- Iris Grant-Smith 7C

At the beginning of the year I started trying to become more organised. I am pleased to say my organisation skills, although not perfect, have definitely improved. This skill will be especially important next year during high school.

- Christine Hendry 7C

Something I am better at now than I was at the beginning of the year has definitely got to be hockey. My skills have improved A LOT. I am also way more confident on the field.

- Chrysovalanti Christina Parolis 7A

What was the biggest challenge you overcame this year?

The biggest challenges I feel like I have overcome were exams in term 2 . I was very stressed over the period and I think looking back I got through them quite well.I thought they were going to be a lot worse but I persevered through them and eventually got good marks.

- Megan Day 7B

Looking back on the year, I can clearly see that my indepence has improved. This has helped me in many ways. - Lucy Low 7B

came to do them, it wasn’t as hard as I thought. - MIla Duckitt 7B

A challenge I have overcome is swimming in rough water because I was so scared of big waves but I have overcome this challenge. - Kyla Barratt 7B

This year has been challenging for me with my grades and schoolin general but I always have a boost up by something inside me telling me I can do this and although I have had 3 teachers (and more) throughout the year I have like all of them. - Oyame Kwakwini 7B

The biggest challenge I overcame this year was doing sprints in rowing and feared doing sprints because the first time I did it it was a complete fail and so was my most recent sprints but I still persisted and did the sprints although I didn’t come first. - Lana de Klerk 7C

The biggest challenge I overcame this year was standing up for myself and not letting people put me down, which helped me become more confident as a person. This resulted in me learning more about myself and making me stronger.Tehzeeb Kagee 7C

I really enjoyed this school year even with the struggles I faced and I’m looking forward to high school next year. - Neve Murphy 7C

I managed to find more time and become more diligent with studying. I am proud of myself for going on camp as I overcame my biggest fear of being alone. - Thea Henshall 7B

I improved my netball game quite a bit this year. I had two amazing coaches that helped me become a much better player. - Tamasha Treffers 7C

One thing you would change about this school year

If I was able to change anything about this year, I would make it go slower, which is not even possible. It is terrifying how quickly this year has gone by and I wish that I could go back to Term 1 or 2. I remember wishing that the year would go much faster, so that I could run off to high school, but I now regret that wish. - Charlotte Hut 7C

One thing I would change is my attitude towards guitar and my schooling, I could have been more enthusiastic about it.

- Tyla Bourne 7C

Grade 7 was one of the best years of my life. The opportunities, experiences, people and teachers were all wonderful. I’ll cherish the small moments and remember the bigger ones. I would make personal changes, but nothing that would change my school day!

- Iman Parker 7A

I would probably change being so doubtful of myself. I proved to myself that I can get through anything and adjust to changes well. I should have never doubted myself about that.

- Razeenah Sonday 7A

One thing that I would change this year is that in group projects, each individual member should be given their own mark, not a group mark. I think this is fair, because each person may contribute differently. Each person’s own input will then be fairly judged.Lily Sturrock 7A

I wouldn’t change anything about this school year as everything that has happened makes me who I am today and is a learning experience. This year I discovered that I am more confident than I think and I have grown into a strong, resilient person. Some advice I would give to students next year would be to study hard and always listen in class because it is really good to get an understanding of the work through a different point of view. I would also say to “Always go the extra mile” because it never hurts to know a bit more than is expected of you.

- Antonina Makogon 7C

What is something you learned about yourself this year?

One thing I learnt about myself this year was that I struggle a lot with asking for help when it’s needed and I think that I have improved in that department quite a bit. - Onika Dlakavu 7B

One thing I learnt about myself this year is I can be very open and happy around the people who I love. - Luka Dionisio 7C

The Technology project helped me to realise that people don’t always pull their weight, and there is nothing you can do about it. I have learnt that not everyone is excellent when it comes to working in a team or group and so you have to learn to accept that. If you play your part that’s all that matters at the end of the day. That’s one huge lesson I’ve had to learn. - Amaris Muluh 7A

This year, I learnt a very valuable lesson. I heard the saying: “Don’t knock your knees before you try to stand.” This means that you shouldn’t give up something before you even try it. I have found that I do this very often. I often say that I am going to fail something before I even try it. Now that I have learnt that, I would like to fix it. - Lyra Taylor 7A

I worked hard and overcame many challenges as much as I could. - Skye Kelly 7C

I have learned hat I am stronger and tougher than I think and that I should always reach for the stars and not be afraid to dream big. - Atiya Nagdi 7C

During my last year at RGJS I have created so many memories with my friends. Some of my highlights from this year was going to camp by the Breede River, I made so many memories there. This taught me how much I love adventure. This is also why I will always remember all the netball journeys and matches I have played with the netball squad. - Zoey Rhoda 7C

I feel the teachers could not have supported me better. There was always someone there for me, to answer all my questions and to guide me in the right direction. The support has helped me through tough days and has shown me I can achieve the things I want to. Providing support has been one of the biggest help in my growth and I am very grateful for it. - Anemaè Smith 7C

The advice I could give to future grades to come would be to never give up on yourself and to be confident in yourself. This is important, as it will give you an extra boost in life. Having confidence means being brave and trying new things, and never giving up means to keep trying even if you fail.

- Dahlia Cassar

7A

My advice for students who will be in this class next year is to make sure you don’t leave books at school the day before a test, don’t leave things till the last minute and instead get your homework or projects over with. Make good study notes and timetables and be more organised. - Anna Castle 7C

My advice for the Grade 7s next year is to work hard, stay positive and keep going even when it gets hard.

- Anna Becker 7B

Grade 7 is a tough year but with lots of positive parts. You have to be confident and you must believe in yourself. You have to push yourself. Anything is possible if you just put in the work.

- Kelly Emslie 7B

I would tell the grade 6’s (soon-to-be grade 7’s) that they must be themselves and share their ideas with others. They must focus well and study hard. They must be responsible and keep their work neat and tidy. I have learned that If you want someone to help you, ask for it, They can’t read your mind.

- Megan Holl 7A

My advice to next year’s students is to manage your time wisely, put in your best effort in all your work, and to always believe in yourself. Even if it’s tough you should remember that you’Il reap double what you have sown. I wish that I had learned this before.

- Isabella Kalam 7A

I learnt this year that I am so special and unique. If I could tell next year’s Gr 7’s of 2023 I would say: don’t change who you are for others, you are enough. Put yourself out there and make as many friends as possible. Gr 7 only happens once in your life, so make it count.

- Jenni Manning

7C

My advice to the grade 7s of 2023 is that they need to work hard.

- Bohlokwa Lepelle 7B

What advice would you give to students who’ll be in this class next year?

Self defence classes

We learned to throw an attacker straight on their back! Scan here to see video footage

Heeeeeee-YAH! We were able to practice on each other

All lined up so we can all see the instructor.

Bosch social

We had a great time hanging out with our friends Scan here to see video footage

Positive vibes Everyone was on fire once the dancefloor opened!

A beautiful, colour-filled night.

Thanks for a great night

Grade 7 Farewell

After months of planning in secrecy, the Grade 7 parent committee transformed the Orton Hall into a Japanese Garden for the 2022 Grade 7 Farewell. The Grade 7s had a very special evening dancing the night away amongst pink blossom trees and twinkling fairy lights. Each girl received a handwritten message from their family beautifully written on an origami bird. Attached to their origami bird was a silver bracelet, a gift for each Grade 7.

Thank you to the incredible team of parents and guardians for putting together such a spectacular evening for our Rustybugs, you certainly gave them a night to remember forever.

Scan for Videos

Cherry blossoms

Our girls on the red carpet

Everyone packed their dancing shoes

All the colours! We had deliscious snacks We enter in style!

of the beautiful origami birds we made. The Grade 7’s left everything on the dancefloor. So long girls. We’ll miss you!

African Dance

We have done African Dance since Grade 4 and we have always enjoyed it. African Dance has allowed us to express ourselves through dance to the beat of the drum. When we hear the beat of the drum in our hearts, we feel the rhythm in our souls. This year has been a wonderful time of learning new moves with Silumko, our new African Dance teacher. He is patient with us until we master the moves. We have enjoyed performing at the Kaleidoscope concert.

Kwakwini and Unam Mabizela

Oyame

All lined up so we can all see the instructor.

Aftercare

The past year was another busy year at RGJS aftercare. Games were played, homework was done, friends were made, and fun was had by all!

It is also the year that I say goodbye to all the amazing. Aftercare Rustybugs, as I retire and start a new chapter in 2023. I want to say a huge big thank you to every single Aftercare Rustybug that I had the privilege of knowing over the past 6 years. You made every day a whole lot of fun. I will miss seeing your friendly faces and hearing your cheerful voices. You will always be like family to me.

To the Aftercare Parents and Guardians, it has been an immense privilege and a joy, to come to school every day and take care of your daughters. To the great team of aftercare assistants that I have had the pleasure of working with, thank you for all your support, hard work and dedication to the Aftercare girls.

The years I served as Supervisor at RGJS Aftercare will always be exceptionally special to me. Thank you to everyone at RGJS for all your love and support over the past 6 years!

- Lilianne Johnson

Enjoying the sunshine

Hat day.

Bear friends!

We made great friends this year

Arts & Crafts Club

This year of art has been an absolute blast! Our creativity went to the next level. During term 1 we made beautiful greeting cards which were adorned with decorative paintings of cats. In term 2 we painted beautiful pictures with bright colours. In term 3 we created stained glass inspired cards with cellophane. We also made clay bowls which we decorated with lace and decorative stamps which we painted afterwards with various colour glazes.

During term 4 we made elaborate bird masks that we decorated with exquisite patterns. Miss Ludik guided us along the way but we were still free to express our own individuality. The atmosphere was filled with happiness and great ideas. We thoroughly enjoyed Art Club and Craft Club including our weekly art lessons with Miss Ludik and we are excited to see what the future holds.

Ingrid Krige and Samara Mohamed Hoosain

Debating Club

The debating club was run by Ms Wagner, Mrs. Hopkinson and Mrs. Prinsloo. We had lots of fun this year. Some of our topics were, teachers should be replaced by computers, social media is a cause of depression among the youth, kids shouldn’t have

to go to school on their birthday, and sometimes it’s OK to cheat on a test. It was interesting to hear how everyone’s opinions are different and debating has taught us to challenge our thinking - The debating club

Art & Craft Club

Western Cape Virtual Art Eisteddfod 2022

Yet again this year Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School had the exciting privilege to partake in the Western Cape Virtual Art Eisteddfod. Our girls spent many hours and put much creative effort into producing and creating wonderful works of art which resulted in outstanding outcomes, consisting mostly of Gold and Cum Laude prizes being awarded to our budding artists.

It is with much pride that we say congratulations to the following talented artists:

Riley Gilfillan-McEvoy, Saarah Dollie, Tatum Lennox, Imogen Hope-Bailie, Mila McCallum, Olivia Linder, Emily Newell, Chloe Jones, Ella Green, Kate Mellish, Asanda Sithole, Jessica Walsh, Alexa Heldsinger, Lucy Midlane, Peyton Wilson, Gemma Blackburn, Azraa Kippie, Anna Bradshaw, Rebecca Gray, Sienna Murray and Emily Smith.

- Miss Ludik

Well done to all our girls!

Congratulations to all our girls!

Bug Buddies 2022

Three of our Bug Buddy leaders, Megan Holl, Maya Hopkinson and Iman Parker, shared their experiences with us.

What are Bug Buddy families?

Megan: The Bug Buddy families are made up of at least one learner per grade in a certain house. The Grade 7s are the family leaders.

How often did you meet?

Iman: We met once a term to do fun activities together and enjoy ourselves.

What activities did you do this year?

Megan: The year started off with us designing a Bug Buddy Family Tree and spending time getting to know each other. During Autumn, we planted seedlings in planter boxes, and then harvested crops of vegetables which were distributed to schools’ feeding schemes. In September, each family decorated a sunflower - there were many colourful and varied designs.

Bug buddies are the best

It was a relaxing way to take our minds off the current school work. The designs will be used to make duvet covers which will be donated to children’s hospital wards.

Megan: Playing board games and enjoying snacks together.

Maya: Planting of vegetables and colouring in the sunflowers, which made the groups happy and talkative.

What was a challenge for you this year as a Bug Buddy leader?

Maya: At first, it was challenging and awkward because we were not familiar with each other, and some people didn’t want to participate in the group activities. We all warmed up as the year went on and we got to know each other.

What impact did it have on your Grade 7 experience?

All three: It was an amazing experience being part of the Bug Buddy committee and a wonderful opportunity to get to know people. We wish the new Grade 7s well as they take on the leadership in 2023.

What was a highlight of the Bug Buddy meetings this year?

Iman: Getting to know people within our houses. It also gave us opportunities to socialise more with different people in different Grades.

Thank you to the Grade 7 Bug Buddy committee for their dedication, commitment and enthusiasm which led to the success of this year’s connections.

Snacks and games

Eco Club

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2022!

“I really liked when we made the worm farm”

- Maddy Plummer 4c

“Making the worm farm.”

- Ingrid Krige 5a

“I loved making the worm farm.”

- Erin Wilson 4b

In 2022 we introduced PODCASTS to our Rustenburg Story, which you can find on our YOUTUBE channel

Scan in the QR code to listen to our podcasts and view many exciting moments from our 2022 school year.

Adding Compost

Enrichment 2022

The weekly Enrichment lessons provide an opportunity for all of the Grade 3 to 6 learners to be “enriched” by being introduced to a variety of skills, activities, speakers and presenters.

The Grade 3s learned to “Move it, Move it and Shake it off”. They twirled and jumped and moved to the beat, creating their own dances and performing them to loud applause. The Grade 4s had to practise persistence as they learnt how to crochet and sew, as well as patience as they waited for their delicious products to bake during cookery! Playing a stimulating range of board games was also a lot of fun!

Mindfulness was introduced into the Grade 5 program, along with cookery and dance. The learners were also extremely proud of their beautiful crafts that they created. The Grade 6 program was extended to include a term of “Broadening Horizons” which involved a range of gifted and inspiring speakers sharing their stories and careers with the learners; as well as self-defence lessons. With activities like cookery, learning to change a tyre, creative art projects and “This is me” program, this multi-purpose hour proved to be a highlight of the week.

Huge thanks to the team of staff who worked together to arrange this program.

Excellent work guys!

Learning Support

The aim of the learning support team is to support and empower our school community to enjoy a happy, productive and positive school experience.

We also recognise the importance of social and emotional well-being and believe that these are critical in allowing children to learn and grow. We have the advantage of a multidisciplinary team who provides learning support and remedial lessons, counselling, and occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.

Learners in all grades are invited to attend lessons in Mathematics and English. They enjoy the opportunity of working in a small group and often feel more confident and comfortable in this setting. At times, support is provided by team-teaching in the classroom or working alongside learners.

The counselling service offers a confidential space for girls to work through some of their emotional and social challenges, with their parents and teachers being important roleplayers in the process. The grade Rs meet with Penny at the beginning of each year to help them adapt to their new school environment, and time is spent with classes or small groups of girls where there may be a need.

Our School Based Support Team meets weekly to discuss referrals from teachers, and to decide on strategies to best support individual learners’ needs. These recommendations are shared with all roleplayers and support is reviewed regularly. This “team” approach has proven to be essential in addressing the needs of the learners and allowing them to experience success and strengthen their self-image.

Occupational Therapist, Tess Hawke and Speech and Language Therapist, Inge Schulenburg complete our multidisciplinary team, providing support for teachers and on-site therapy.

Tess Hawke, Inge Schulenburg, Penny Biccard, Gill Gildenhuys, Philippa Brinkmann

Welcome to Elize Cotterell.

Learnerships

Qudsieya Sampson: My journey at RGJS has been a fulfilling one. Observation of the various teachers has equipped me with valuable transferable skills and content knowledge. My experience at the school has only increased my love and passion for this rewarding career path.

Erin Amon: My journey at RGJS has been one very busy but fun journey. I learnt a lot along the way, how tiring it can be to teach, complete admin and make those deadlines. I was thrown into the deep end very quickly and found myself swimming and not drowning, I enjoyed all the challenges that were thrown at me. I was a learnership for grade two but felt like I experienced all grades except grade R, which I absolutely loved as I got to know the girls across the foundation phase. Not only being in the classroom which was a great learning experience but being on the

sports fields. I really enjoyed coaching netball and swimming as you see the learners in a different aspect and not just the classroom. I know when I have completed my three years as a learnership at RGJS, I will be well equipped and prepared for my own classroom.

Thank you to the RGJS staff and Rustybugs for making my first year journey at RGJS amazing!

Resuragum Rhode: Being a learnership at Rustenburg Girls’ has been an amazing experience. I grew a lot in getting to know the job and learning more about the passion for teaching. Growing more to working with the parents and interacting with the girls, I feel that working at Rustenburg has developed my set of skills and developed me as teacher but mostly in my personal capacity. The past 9 months working at

Our incredible learnership team

Rustenburg has truly been an honour and I am thankful for the opportunity that has been given to me.

Esihle Mkhusane: I am a vibrant person who enjoys working with children. I value each learner and enjoy listening to their ideas and opinions. My goal is to inspire learners and to have a passion for learning.

Amy Erasmus: My journey at RGJS so far has been a fruitful and rewarding experience. I love working with the grade 4 girls and appreciate all their different personalities and knowledge they have to offer. I am so blessed to have a wonderful team that has made my journey smooth sailing and lucky to have a fantastic and knowledgeable mentor.

To all reading, “ We cannot become who we want by remaining who we are”

Nasreen Isaacs: “Every experience is a positive experience if you view it as an opportunity for growth and selfmastery”

Michaela Barnes: They say life is a highway and we all travel our own roads, some good, some bad, yet each is a blessing of its own.

Lisa Nkqayi: Cheers to an amazing 3 year journey and Hello to wonderful teaching adventures loading!

Cameron Bestman: “My name is Cameron Bestman and I am RGJS’ first ever music learnership. This has been such a wonderful learning experience for me and I am so grateful to work with such talented and passionate teachers. The music department works like a well oiled machine, everyone always willing to lend a helping hand. I’ve gotten so much practical and theoretical teaching experience as well as learning the administrative side of how a music department should function.

I am very proud to be a part of RGJS’ Music Department!”

Library Report

In February there was great rejoicing when the library, like the phoenix rising from the ashes, was able to reclaim its space and rebuild its functions post-covid. The Grade Rs and 1s had limited experience of the library as a special area, but very quickly learnt there was much on offer.

Break times have seen the girls enjoying the many games while the older Rustybugs are using the new chrome books and completing research and writing tasks. World Read Aloud Day was celebrated during the first term when teachers swapped classes in their phases and shared stories. Puzzle building has really taken off this year and all ages and grades have teamed up to complete some very challenging pictures.

The Book People, Help the Rural Child and The Book Box provided a broad range of media via book sales held throughout the year. Hooked on Books with their own brand of humour, encouraged the girls to experience the joy of reading by promoting different genres during their annual performance.

It’s always a special treat to host a live author and we were fortunate to entertain a few during the year. Imelda Bell, author, wildlife photographer and ex-Rustybug, spoke to the Grade 5s about animal conservation in Africa. She presented the library with copies of her books covering a range of topics.

We eagerly anticipated visits from Refiloe Moahloli, best-selling author of How Many Ways Can You Say Hello?, as well as adventurer and author,

Welcome to the library

Some of our brand new library books!

Hooked on Books was amazing

Proud Puzzle buiders

Riaan Manser. His epic bicycle ride around Africa has been documented in a children’s book.

Reading a good book is a bit like leaping into a portal to another world. You lose sense of everything else and all you can see are the words in front of you.

Iris Grant-Smith - Gr 7 monitor

I like the library with all the books that are fun to read and help you make your own story. My favourite book series is the Rescue Princesses.

Olivia Low - Gr 1

The library is full of amazing books and I mostly get cookery books because I love baking.

Kgolo Molate - Gr 2

Talented library monitors produced some wonderful book adverts on our library board and helped with the daily running of the library.

Rustybugs shared their thoughts about the library and the importance of reading.

What an experience to be a library monitor. It was a pleasure! I liked issuing, returning and packing away books. As a library monitor I have learnt a lot about books and the library. Reading has always been enjoyable for me so I encourage everyone to read.

Shen-Yun Weng - Gr 7 monitor

When school seems tough, go to the library. But just take your time.

Zoe Shoko - Gr 4

A book is an adventure you can experience over again as many times as you want.

Nuna Forlee-Vella - Gr 5

The library is fun and awesome. It is my happy place - surrounded by books filled with many different stories just waiting for someone to read them.

Onesimo Kleinbooi - Gr 6

(Librarian - Mrs Jenny Wates)

The three little pigs puppet show

Monitors and helpers in action

Refiloe Moahloli

Music Department

2022, The Beat Goes On and it sure has been an amazing year of taking back the spotlight! Our musicians have grown and flourished and we couldn’t be more proud of them. This year we welcomed back our Grade Music Evenings, Eisteddfod involvement and in person external examinations.

Our musicians took countless awards home from the Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod, Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod, Cape Town Eisteddfod, Stellenbosch Eisteddfod and the Tygerberg Eisteddfod. We collaborated with our ‘older sisters’ and produced an evening of quality music that even loadshedding couldn’t disrupt!

We introduced the exciting Muzkanda Kids programme and revelled in the return of choir practices and “unmasked” singing. Most importantly, we saw the great return of our Kaleidoscope concert and finished the year with an evening of colourful music making!

Our guitar heroes

Hubert van der Spuy

The Music department

Muzkanda kids

Scan this QR Code, to watch our Lean on me performance.

Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod

The WCVE is an online platform dedicated to the Performing and Visual Arts.

The Western Cape Virtual Eisteddfod 2022 received a total of 1930 entries from schools throughout South Africa and beyond, including St. John’s College and The Hellenic Academy, Zimbabwe. RGJS entered 470 Submissions across a variety of categories, including Music, Art, Speech & Drama, Creative Writing and Handwriting.

RGJS were awarded the following awards:

95% and above 87% - 94% 80% - 86% 70% - 79%

60 240 150 20

Congratulations to all students and their teachers for receiving such phenomenal results and for their incredible contribution to the Arts.

Our girls performed exceptionally well!

Senior Choir.

Junior Choir

Wind band

Senior String Ensemble

Flute Ensemble

Marimbas

Recorder Ensemble

Music Leaders

Cello Ensemble

Junior String Ensemble

Orchestra

Music Department Staff

Speech and Drama

The Drama class is always a hive of creativity - whether we are understanding a theoretical concept or performing our hearts out, our learners are open to discussion, debate and exploration. This makes for a really rewarding area of learning where we are encouraged to express ourselves and really “let loose”.

We explored persuasive speech techniques (apologies to the parents!!), launched character sketch videos, improvised, held political debates, wrote and performed poetry, created TV advertisements and learnt all about the necessities of relaxation (if you have had a long and stressful day, ask a grade 4 or 6 learner to take you through a relaxation journey!) We also played our fair share of drama games, where every participant became highly energised (and a little competitive!)

As we didn’t perform a school play this year, drama lessons could get to the “nitty gritty” of how to communicate and characterise effectively without the pressure of performance deadlines - we analysed and experimented with speech and used research and analytical thinking to bring the most interesting characters to life.

Throughout the year, huge emphasis was placed on respectful, mindful communication and successful sharing of ideas, including the importance of listening skills.

Our Theatre Sports workshop at the Dotty Festival was really well attended and we had heaps of fun playing the creative and hilariously funny “Props!” game with parents, teachers and girls! Feel free to add drama games to your family Game Nights - the Rustybugs can teach you how to play all the good ones!

- Carey Hickson-Mahony

Working with scripts

Budding Grade 3 actresses.

Grade 7 Greek Drama

Speech and Drama Eisteddfod Winners

Anouk van der Berg

Christine Hendry

Ellamae Bayer

Melissa Merven

Rachael Marwick

IT Report

Another year has come and gone and our Rustybugs have been involved in a number of Tech-infused lessons across the curriculum and within the classrooms.

Some exciting happenings took place in our department this year and we are very proud of the goals we have accomplished. In Term 2, we welcomed our new Technology and Innovation Specialist, Kauthar Gallow. We also received additional Chromebooks to allow for more availability and tech integration.

The journey for teaching and learning with Technology begins in Grade R and continues throughout the grades until our students reach grade 7. The Google Workspace remains one of the most important platforms and tools where the girls interact with subject content, tasks and School Based Assessments.

Digital Den Time: IT lessons across grades R-7. Grade R started their journey with tech in term 3 and the girls have successfully managed to sign in to their profiles and complete work in different platforms such as Kami and Chatterpix.

inserting information into their own Google Slides, Matching activities in Google Docs, working on Kami documents as well as focusing on becoming good Digital Citizens.

Grade 1 and 2 girls have been showing off their skills by completing various interactive comprehension activities by working in Google Forms,

Grade 3 girls created wonderful things using the Google Workspace Platform. Learning about all the tools available and their functions have allowed the girls to create and engage collaboratively.

Digital safety and citizenship is very important. Creating safe profile pictures and learning about the power of our words were key components of our learning too. The Grade 3s also started on the basics of Coding by using Scratch. Each lesson provided the girls with a new challenge while having fun and designing incredible projects. In Term 3-4 we took an adventure and continued our

The Grade 1’s engaged in TechTime

Grade R Chromebook time

Hello from the IT department

coding journey with Ozaria. This has definitely been one of the highlights for Grade 3 ICT lessons.

Grades 4-6 have been doing amazing work showcasing their coding skills through the Code4kids app. They have worked through each course and lesson at their pace, digesting and making sense of the languages of CSS, Html and Javascript. Their ability to problem solve and think critically has been tested but they have actively improved their confidence and skill in these areas. In addition to this, time in the Digital Den has been integrated with class-based assessments.

Teaching with Technology

Extra-mural: TechBugz TechBugz took place twice a week which gave more girls an opportunity to participate. We had two classes with an average of 10 girls per class. Our TechBugz really enjoyed learning about new applications and engaging with different types of content. Many of our girls enjoyed the writing activities where they were able to write pieces using Book Creator and Storybird. They also enjoyed creating quizzes using Quizizz and working offline (during load shedding) with our Probots robots .When asked, the girls mentioned that Podcasts were something that they were really interested in and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Creating Google Drawings and learning about other platforms like, EdPuzzle, Kahoots, Screencastify and Google Arts and Culture were also included in our TechBugz time together.

The Grade 4s completed a Digital Poetry Portfolio in Kami and the Grade 5s designed their own Google Site which documented their Real Life 4 Kids journey. Grade 7s set up digital questionnaires for the school to inform their market research for Entrepreneurs Day as well as working tirelessly on their advertisements in CANVA. As the seniors, they have also worked on being more effective and efficient in their typing skills, organisation of their google drive space and incorporating keyboard shortcuts into their skill set. We have also ensured that emphasis was placed on growing good Digital Citizens through our lessons by working with Common Sense Media.

Coding with Probots

Having fun with Probots!

Support Staff Training

We engaged with the support staff in term 3 and 4 where they were able to complete a basic computer course which was led by the Innovation Specialist. These lessons took place once a week in the Digital Den. The support staff made lots of progress and learned more about IT.

What lies ahead in 2023…

We have had a fantastic and incredibly supportive journey with Code 4 Kids for 5 years. Unfortunately we will be bidding farewell to this amazing company and group of people as we welcome a new season of coding and robotics next year. Resolute Education will be our new partners to embark on this journey with us and we are extremely excited about this so watch this space! In term 4, we bid farewell to Kauthar Gallow and welcome a new Coding and Robotics teacher to our Rustybug family.

In the end, our mission remains: to grow and nurture sensible digital citizens, develop digital discernment and prepare our girls for their future. Our values this year fostered this as we were able to continue working on communication, collaboration and citizenship integrated with our IT vision and computer time together in the Digital Den.

Our Support staff completing their computer courses

Scan this QR Code, open up the Kami link to help the girl find her way to the computer.

RGJS Sports Report

We headed into 2022 with uncertainty of how COVID may still impact our sports programme and looking back on the last year I am so pleased with how much our girls have grown, experienced and loved being back on the sports fields.

We were fortunate enough to have both our U13 A netball and hockey tours to Knysna go ahead. We held our annual inter house swimming galas and sports day with family and friends able to watch the girls swim and run.

We held an incredible soccer community event where our girls and families played in fun 5 a side soccer matches at our Grotto astro and we

hosted the first interschools 5 a side soccer festival.

Our girls had 3 weekend clinics to improve their hockey skills which helped improve the skills going forward for the rest of the season.

Our U13A teams in both netball and hockey produced some outstanding results with netball girls winning the annual PGSGU interschools and the hockey girls coming second. Our cross country runners produced excellent results at Interschools tying for first place.

We look forward to another full year of sport in 2023.

The Netball girls on tour

The hockey girls

The community soccer tournament

The cross country girls

Inter House Sports Day

We were excited to be able to host our annual Inter house Sports Day for Grade R to 7 on Saturday 29 October. The girls brought their house spirit and a bucketload of energy for what was a fantastic morning of races.

Cambridge came out tops in both the Foundation Phase and Grade 4-7 sections as well as taking the overall trophy. Congratulations to Wiener in the Grade 4-7 and Innes in the Foundation Phase who won the respective Spirit prizes.

Ready for the relay race!

Community Soccer Tournament

Cross Country

What a cross country season we have had! After a long break due to COVID we were eager to start our season off with a bang and were excited to run in our weekly league fixtures again. Unfortunately, after only 1 race, our league races were cancelled for the remainder of term 2.

Despite this disappointing development our coaches stepped in and hosted outruns in Newlands Forest, along the Liesbeek trails and in and around the common.

The forest runs were really memorable as we invited the Oakhurst girls, parents and staff to join us and we enjoyed 2 lovely Friday afternoons running with our parents, coaches and new friends.

We also had additional track sessions with Coach Sean from Off the Mark. These sessions helped us with our race technique as well as speed and endurance.

Our results benefitted from all this extra training and a number of our runners qualified to compete in the Metro Champs. Congratulations to the following girls who qualified:

U10 - Steffanie White, Cara Pearce & Kayla McMartin

U11 - Liya Behardien

U12 - Ella Gardner

U13 - Demi Schlebusch

U14 - Kyla Barratt

Under some very challenging conditions

they managed to pull off some outstanding results with Steffanie White and Liya Behardien qualifying to compete in the WC Champs in George.

We ended the season with Rustenburg hosting the annual PGSGU Interschools Cross Country at the High school campus. We had a perfect day and the girls pulled out all the stops to bring home the cup in tied first position.

The U10 team placed 1st overall and the U11, U12 and U13 age groups placed 2nd or 3rd overall. We are so proud of ALL our runners but a special mention to the following girls who placed in the top 3 within their age group at Inter Schools:

U10: Steffanie White - 2nd U11: Liya Berhardien - 1st place, Eva van der Westhuizen - 3rd U12: Ella Gardner - 1st OPEN: Kyla Barratt - 3rd

Congratulations to Ella Gardner in the U12 age group who ran the 3km course in the fastest time.

We couldn’t have achieved all we did without the excellent coaching, pep talks, support and guidance from our amazing coaches. A big thank you for all they have done.

Captains: Demi Schlebusch and Kyla Barratt

Track session

Hockey

It was great to be back on the astro playing the game we love. It’s been fantastic to see how the girls hockey skills have improved .

The 1st 11 started their season off with a tour to Knysna where they played in the Oakhill Hockey Festival. The girls grew in confidence with each game they played and returned to CT with imroved skills and determination.

The U9’s who had never played hockey before soon got the hang of things and by the end of the season were running around the astro like a bunch of pro’s.

We saw huge growth in our U10 and U11 age groups and depth in our U13’s.

Mid-season all the age groups had the opportunity to take part in Saturday Hockey Skills Clinics at the astro at RGHS. We all loved this and took away so many skills that we could use in our games.

The 1st and 2nd 11 teams had the opportunity to take part in Interschools where our 1st 11 finished 2nd winning silver and the 2nd 11 finished 5th.

In our league results the 1st 11 made it through to Top Schools playoffs which took place at Hartleyvale on a very cold Friday evening. This was a great achievement to make it into Top Schools and we came a respectable 5th place overall. We wrapped up the season with our Inter House Hockey which was a fun way to end off the season.

Congratulations to Wiener who won the senior division, Michiel the junior division and Cambridge won the U9 division. Well done to Michiel who finished off in first place overall.

On break up day the Grade 7 players took on the teachers in a fun hockey match, despite a great effort by the teachers the Grade 7’s took the victory.

A huge thank you to all the coaches for their encouragement, dedication and support.

Captains: Heather Kane, Haniya Emeran During-

and after the game

After the final match

Netball

With a heavy heart, we wave goodbye to the 2022 Netball season. Coming back from a tough two years of no sport, our girls pushed hard through the endless fitness drills, ball skills and extra practice time. Throughout the season, we have seen great improvement in all our players, dedicating breaks and extra training time after practice to improve our skills and especially our shooting.

We are extremely proud of our U9s as it was their first year of playing netball. Your dedication to learning the game as well as how hard you tried to get the ball to go through the net was incredible.

We would like to make a special mention of the U13A + B teams who were unbeaten this season, leaving massive margins in every match’s score.

We managed to field so many teams in all our age groups with the girls playing internal as well as matches against other schools each week.

The girls stood out significantly this year, and grew in confidence and skills after each match. The U13A side finished in first place at the end of the season and went through to the zonal playoffs which they won. This progressed them through to the Top Schools finals in Kuilsriver. Once again the team shone, winning all their pool matches and making it through to the finals where they narrowly lost finishing with a silver medal. This is an incredible achievement, well done girls. They weren’t finished yet and went into Interschools on a high not dropping a match and finishing in first place.

Rusties on the attack!

The Netball tour was so much fun

Michiel showing their team spirit

Another highlight of the season for the U13’s was the Knysna Netball Tour, where our team celebrated many wins as well as creating many memories and sharing many laughs.

Inter House netball took place in term 3 and was an incredible afternoon to take part in. All the girls brought their spirit and had absolute game faces on. Congratulations to Wiener on winning the Senior, Junior and U9 and therefore overall inter house netball trophy.

We finished off term 3 with our Grade 7 vs Teachers netball match. The teachers showed off some impressive skills and as always it was a fun match with lots of laughs.

Thank you to all the coaches that helped with all the teams throughout the year. On behalf of the captains, thank you so much to our incredible U13 coaches: Mrs Liss and Ms Poelmann. We definitely wouldn’t have gone this far without you both and we couldn’t have had better coaches than you.

Netball Captains: Anemaé Smith and Jorja Turner

Staff vs Grade 7 Students

Proudly Rustybugs

Netball is fun and action-packed!

U12+u13 interschools netball teams

Swimming

This year we were lucky enough to participate in several galas throughout the year. It’s been incredible to see the girls’ dedication to swimming in training and at galas. During PE lessons our girls trained hard. Their improvement was visible at the Inter House and Interschools galas.

The Inter house galas were filled with so much energy and excitement! It was great fun to be part of the experience. Everyone can be so proud of themselves for swimming their hearts out and supporting their houses with song and dance. Well done to Cambridge who came first in the foundation phase and to Wiener who came first in the intermediate and senior phase.

Our swimming team had a number of new girls this year. We are so proud of our 9’s who did well in their first year of participating in galas. At the PGSGU

inter-schools gala the girls represented our school proudly. Everyone had a fun afternoon of swimming and all the girls tried their best. Well done to the u12s for coming first.

Other highlights include Riziki Magotsi’s first place in the u13 skins race at the Herschel night gala, and the night galas hosted at Sweet Valley. It was great to be able to swim during the winter months.

Thank you to all the teachers who helped at galas this year. A special thank you to our incredible coaches: Mrs Bonney, Mrs Ngcobo and Mrs Liss. We are also proud of all of our girls as they swam their hearts out in every single gala and only tried to perform their best. This year of swimming is truly one to remember.

Captains: Jorja Turner and Kate Savage

Tennis

What an amazing year of tennis it’s been! There has been incredible growth in every player, and the commitment the girls have given to do their best has not gone unnoticed.

We have enjoyed the early morning practices and have worked super hard all year round. The remarkable spirit and support shown at all the matches is certainly appreciated.

Throughout the season, strong bonds were developed. We saw a consistent pattern of doubles partners helping each other out, running their hearts out for every ball, and showing the best support for the whole team!

The u13 A & B couples played in the annual interschools event. The A couple - Anemaé Smith and Tamasha Treffers won all their matches, but due to point differences, placed 2nd overall in the A pool. The B couple - Heather Kane and Anna Castle placed 1st overall in the B pool. The girls played some exceptional tennis!

We would like to thank every coach, teacher and player for making the teams so strong and working hard towards our goal. We wish our tennis players the best of luck for this next year!

Captains: Anemaé Smith & Heather Kane

Inter Schools A Couple

Inter Schools A & B Couples

U13 Tennis squad

Waterpolo

After not playing water polo for 2 years, the Rustybug polo teams have shown effort and dedication in working at their polo skills to improve their game.

Despite the COVID gap of no polo, and having a late training time, the girls coaches have shown determination to make this work.

We would like to make a special mention of the u10 and u11 teams who began their season with very little to no polo experience and have grown in leaps and bounds.

We have enjoyed the opportunity to play in weekly matches and festivals and have learnt so much from these experiences.

Thank you to the coaches for all the time and effort put into helping us improve and to our guardians who watched our matches, drove us to practices and helped us achieve our goals.

Well done to all the players but a special mention to the following girls who have made the WP U13 Polo team. A Team: Dahlia Cassar. B Team: Chloe Wood, Reese Noble, Jessica Gray. Non Travelling reserve: Emily Van Selm.

Keep working hard and scoring goals. Take every opportunity to show your skills and talent and never stop playing.

Your water polo captains: Jessica Gray and Dahlia Cassar

Team talk with our coach

Going for a goal

“Go team!” We’re happiest in the water!

Team Photos

Sports Captains

House Captains.

Waterpolo U10

Polo Skills U9 - U13

Tennis Grade 4 + 5

Tennis Grade

Tennis 13A

Tennis U13B

Swimming B Team U9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

Netball U9A

Netball U9B

Neball Internal U9

Neball Internal U10

Hockey 2nd Team U13B

Hockey U13A

Hockey U11B

Cross Country

Library Monitors

Art Committee PR

African Dance

Mediators

Bug Buddy

Enrichment Staff

Support Staff

Grade Heads

Aftercare

Learnerships