Semper

Oriënteringsweek: Hoekom is dit so belangrik? bl. 2

Post & Pepperresensie bl. 7

Matriekhaarstyle bl. 15

Stoffies: ’n Legende en die hart van PRG

Jo van Rooyen

Vandat juffrou Stofberg in 2006 vir die eerste keer by Paul Roos Gimnasium ingestap het, het daar maroen bloed deur haar are gepomp. Sy was daardie dag reeds net so entoesiasties oor dié uitstekende instelling soos toe sy op 31 Januarie 2023, 17 jaar later, met baie emosies hier weggestap het. Toe sy daardie dag haar personeelbaadjie vir ’n cheerleader-baadjie verruil het, het sy amptelik die status van ’n Paul Roos-legende ontvang. Stoffies het ’n trotse “Old Boy” geword. Die hele skool het vir haar die tradisionele “slow clap” gegee en die matrieks het ’n erewag gevorm om dié legende te groet.

Juffrou Stofberg het haar hele hart en siel vir Paul Roos gegee en dit was duidelik dat sy ’n Paul Rooser in murg en been is en altyd sal wees. Stoffies was só nou betrokke by omtrent elke liewe

PRG-aktiwiteit en -geleentheid dat vele die skool tong-in-diekies “Stoffies Gimnasium” genoem het. Sy was in beheer van die leerlingraad en die cheerleaders, sy het die eerste hokkiespan bestuur, sy was in beheer van branderplankry en nog vele meer.

Wat die meeste mense soms vergeet is dat sy ook ’n uitstekende wiskundejuffrou was. Sy het nooit toegelaat dat al haar buitemuurse take haar keer om ’n uitstekende onderwyseres te wees nie. Haar leerders was mal oor haar klasse en het hulself gedruk om met haar hulp beter te doen. Juffrou Stofberg het ál haar take uitstekend uitgevoer. Die meeste Paul Roosers het merkwaardige respek vir haar en haar bydrae gehad.

Juffrou Stofberg sal nie net vreeslik deur die leerders gemis word nie, maar ook deur

verskeie personeellede, ouers en natuurlik die “Old Boys”.

Die bydrae wat Stoffies by Paul Roos Gimnasium gelewer het, was groot en haar naam sal vir

altyd in ons skool se gange sweef en in ons harte klop. Ons almal respekteer haar besluit om tyd vir haarself te neem en die wêreld te gaan verken. Juffrou Stofberg gaan ’n seilkursus voltooi en op seiljagte oorsee gaan werk om vir ’n ruk te ontspan. Ons wens haar voor- spoed toe op haar reis deur die wêreld en haar lewenspad vorentoe.

Tydens haar laaste saalbyeenkoms het juffrou Stofberg baie belangrike wyshede met ons gedeel wat elke Paul Rooser in sy hart moet koester. Niemand sal die toespraak vergeet waartydens sy sjokolades en fizzers op verskillende plekke in die saal geplaas het nie. Haar boodskap was eenvoudig:

“Moenie te bang wees om te werk vir wat jy wil bereik nie. Moenie te bang wees om iets te doen omdat iemand anders, wat dalk groter as jy is,

in jou pad staan nie.”

Sy het ons herinner dat Paul Roos Gimnasium regtig baie geleenthede bied aan Paul Roosers en dat jy baie sal leer as jy die geleenthede met selfvertroue en albei hande aangryp. Sy het gesê dat ons nie net vir die sterre moet mik en hard moet werk om sukses te bereik nie; ons moet mekaar ook soos broers met ons hele hart ondersteun.

Juffrou het die matrieks van 2023 uitgesonder en bedank omdat hulle ná die Covid-19-pandemie die PRG-gees en -broederskap saam met die 2022-matrieks laat voortleef het. Sy het gesê die matrieks bepaal die kultuur, houding en gevoel van die jaar en ons is uitgedaag om hierdie jaar onvergeetlik te maak.

Ons eer juffrou Stofberg vir alles wat sy vir Paul Roos Gimnasium gedoen het. Dit was regtig ’n voorreg om so ’n legende by ons skool te kon hê.

Current Affairs | Aktueel

PRG-oriënteringsweek: Hoekom is dit so belangrik?

Jo Van Rooyen

Paul Roos Gimnasium se oriënteringsweek word beskou as een van die belangrikste weke in ’n Paul Rooser se lewe. Dit is wanneer ’n onseker, tog arrogante, laerskoolkind ’n metamorfose ondergaan en in ’n jong seun met selfvertroue verander om ten einde die beste vyf jaar van sy lewe te beleef. Die menseregtewette is egter onlangs weer in Suid-Afrika herevalueer en daar is baie klem geplaas op wat tydens sulke oriënterings-

tydperke mág gebeur. Hierdie week is te belangrik in die vorming van ’n Paul Rooser se karakter en dit kan nie weggegooi word nie. Dit is ’n week wat bepaal of die Paul Roosgees van die matrieks na die graad 8’s oorgedra sal word. Dit is ’n belangrike en moeisame prose wat reg gedoen moet word omdat ons skool se toekoms daarop rus.

Tydens hierdie week ondergaan die graad 8’s baie uitdagende tye wanneer hulle moet deurdruk en saamstaan om in een stuk die moeilikheid

te oorkom. Ek glo dít is die oriënteringsweek se hoofdoel. Nie net om ons nuwe groentjies te leer van ons tradisie en gees nie, maar ook om hulle te laat saamstaan in moeilike tye om die ware en hegte broederskap waarmee ons instansie altyd spog, te vorm. Dit is gebaseer op die beroemde les: "Adversity forms tight bonds".

Verder word die belangrikheid van die week beklemtoon wanneer die graad 8’s geleer word om trots te wees op hulle voorkoms, hul skool se voorskoms sowel as hulle gedrag. Jy word geleer dat deelname aan een van die vele aktiwiteite wat by Paul Roos aangebied word, ’n belangrike deel van ons skool is. Dit maak nie saak of jy in die eerste rugbyspan of in die laaste hokkiespan is of e-sport speel nie, al wat saak maak is om by te dra tot Paul Roos se sukses en ’n rat in die Maroen Masjien te wees. Die week is werklik die belangrikste week in ’n Paul Rooser se lewe. Dit is die begin van ’n nuwe broederskap wat gebou word om ’n sterk fondasie van PRG-waardes te lê. Om die Paul Roos-das en -kep te ontvang is ’n mylpaal en teken van die begin van die beste vyf jaar van jou lewe. Dít is hoe die Paul Roos-gees en die hart van die maroen baadjie voortleef.

Mentorprogram

Lyle Williams

Onbekend is onbemind, sê die spreekwoord. Graad agts kom van heinde en ver na Paul Roos Gimnasium — sommige met afwagting, ander met besorgdheid oor die onbekende. Die Paul Roos-kultuur, -tradisie en -waardes is oor dekades vasgelê. Die beste manier om daardie aflosstokkie aan die nuwe PRGleerders te oorhandig, is deur die senior leerders wat hulle oor nuwelinge ontferm en vir hulle hierdie, dikwels ongeskrewe, reëls en gebruike leer.

By dié skool word daar op die individu gefokus en jy word dan ook deel van ’n groter, ondersteunende geheel. Dit help jou om tuis te voel selfs al word jy omring met begrippe wat vir buitestanders vreemd sou klink, soos die "maroen masjien" en die ontdekking dat jou bloed werklik maroen is.

Met hierdie agtergrond en ondersteuning van senior leerders, begin al die aktiwiteite sin maak. 'n Gevoel van "verlore wees", maak plek vir 'n gevoel van "behoort".

Die doel van die mentorstelsel is om lewenslange broederskappe tussen matriekmentors en graad agts te vorm. Mentors word spesiaal gekeur vir hul begrip en uitlewing van die PRG-tradisies en met die nodige omgee en

meelewing om hul graad agts nie net gerus te stel en gewoond te maak aan die roetine nie, maar om hulle ook aan te moedig en te inspireer.

Juffrou Cronjé voer deeglike onderhoude met die 60 kaalkop mentors. Hulle moet met respek lei, en nie vrees inboesem nie. Elke matriek kry twee tot drie graad agts wat hul vir die skooljaar onder hul vlerk neem.

Hulle word reeds in die eerste week aan mekaar voorgestel. Daarna volg sosiale interaksie by verskeie geleenthede.

Verhoudings word rondom die braaivleisvuur gesmee en terwyl balspeletjies gespeel word. Later sal hierdie groot matrieks die graad agts se skoene blink poets — as 'n teken van wedersydse respek.

"Hoe weet ons dat die bleskoppe nie net sal 'verdwyn' nie?" Elke Woensdag deel die mentors en hul graad agts kosblikke. Dan gesels hulle oor die afgelope week se nuus, hoogtepunte, ervarings en, hopelik, min probleme. Dit is dan wanneer raad en ervaring gedeel word en diegene wat dit nodig het met nuwe moed en inspirasie teruggaan klas toe.

Die mentorstelsel is 'n waardevolle instelling wat help om van groot getalle leerders 'n familie te maak. 'n Maroen familie.

Eerste dag as koshuisman

Die Maandag toe ek vir die eerste keer die koshuisgronde betree het, was dinge nog lekker rustig en ek vol selfvertroue. Toe ek egter klaar in my kamer ingetrek en my ouers gegroet het, het alles begin … kaalkop matrieks wat op jou skree en skel, klokke wat lui en HK’s wat jou die heeltyd besig hou. Daar was trane, maar met my nuwe koshuismaats aan my sy het ons saamgestaan en deurgedruk.

Op die eerste skooldag was daar nie veel “skool” nie. Ek het die dae van net sit en staan vir 20 minute aaneen met frustrasie afgetel, want sien — ék ken die erekode, maar al my broers nog nie …

Een van my ouer familielede het ná ontgroening vir my vertel wat die werklike doel daarvan is. Hy het my van die leuse “Ex Unitate Vires”, oftewel “Eendrag maak mag” vertel – as een persoon in die span nie sy deel doen nie, sal die spel nie goed verloop

vir daardie span nie. ’n Ketting is net so sterk soos sy swakste skakel. Selfs in die Bybel word die voordele van spanwerk gegee. In Markus 6:7 word vertel dat Jesus se dissipels Hom gehelp het en Hy hulle twee-twee saam na die dorpies toe gestuur het. Christenskap is spanwerk en spanwerk is kragwerk.

Die oomblik toe ek my das by die rektor gekry het en hy vir my sê om “op te kyk”, het my nek nou wel soos ’n stuk karton wat skeur geklink, maar dit was alles die moeite werd. Ontgroening het ons samehorigheid geleer.

Met PRG-trots vars in my hart en gedagtes, moedig ek toekomstige broers aan om deur te druk. Stadig maar seker kom ’n mens tot die besef dat jy sterker geword het en dit gaan oorleef. Hier is jy deel van ’n span, ’n groter prentjie.

Danksy samehorigheid en deursettingsvermoë kan ek ook nou my “Semper Splendidior”-pad begin stap.

Die Koshuisoriëntering

Op 16 Januarie het daar 57 onseker, senuweeagtige en opgewonde nuwe Nova- en Prima-inwoners by ons aangesluit. Oriëntasie het ’n week lank geduur. Dit is nie maklik om ver van die huis af in ’n vreemde omgewing voor ’n klomp kaalkop matrieks te kom staan nie. Hulle het dit dalk nie toe besef nie, maar oor die volgende vyf jaar van koshuislewe gaan hulle ongelooflike herinneringe bou.

Prima en Nova is ’n baie belangrike deel van Paul Roos Gimnasium. Die koshuismanne is 100% van die skoolweek op die skoolterrein en is altyd beskikbaar vir funksies, sportgeleenthede en om ouers te beïndruk.

Dit is hoekom elke graad 8-leerder moet weet hoe belangrik dit is om die Paul Roos-waardes uit te leef.

’n Paar dinge om te onthou as jy die beste gr. 8-koshuisman wil

wees:

-Groet almal altyd hard, duidelik en met selfvertroue.

-Wees netjies.

-Maak seker jou kamer lyk nie soos ’n varkhok nie.

-Wees altyd betyds vir skool en ander geleenthede.

-Neem aan soveel moontlik aktiwiteite (sport EN kultuur) deel.

-Doen maar jou huiswerk, al is jy nie lus nie.

-Wees vir ander ’n voorbeeld om

na te volg.

-Sing jou hart uit op die pawiljoen.

-As iets jou pla, praat met jou mentor of jou koshuisvader.

-Onthou: Jy is nie alleen nie.

-Betoon respek aan ouer seuns, koshuisassistente en onderwysers.

-Staan op vir jou mede-Paul Roosers, VERAL vir jou koshuisbroers.

Onthou om elke oomblik te geniet – jou koshuislewe vlieg verby. Maak die beste daarvan!

Graad 8-koshuisgangers, geniet hierdie jaar se eerstes! Onthou ’n mens is NET een keer in gr. 8. Probeer altyd jou bes en versterk ons skool se ruggraat!

Willem Visagie

Zoon Jacobs

Nuwe Onderwysers by Paul Roos

Jo van Rooyen

Nadat PRG verlede jaar ’n hele paar groot name op die personeellys gegroet het, het daar vanjaar vele nuwe gesigte by die maroen familie aangesluit. Hulle is: me. Bjorn Walters, mnr. Jandré de la Harpe, mnr. Deon Botes, me. Emsie de Lange, mnr. Josh Raymer, mnr. Drikus Hoffman, me. Lizerie van Rooyen, me. Theresa Viljoen, mnr. Xander Labuschagne en mnr. Sterrenberg Smit.

Me. Bjorn Walters

Mnr. De la Harpe sluit by Paul Roos as ’n lid van die IGO-vakspan aan. Hy het in Roodepoort grootgeword en aan Hoërskool Noordheuwel gemartikuleer. Mnr. De la Harpe het sy graad aan die Universiteit van die Noord-Wes verwerf en sy nagraadse diploma in besigheidsbestuur deur die NWU se besigheidskool voltooi. Mnr. De la Harpe het sy onderwysloopbaan by Study Xpress, ’n privaat skool in Potchefstroom, begin.

Mnr. Deon Botes

gematrikuleer en sy graad by Tukkies in Pretoria verwerf. Hy het vir die laaste 25 jaar by Affies skoolgehou en ook krieket daar afgerig. In sy vrye tyd hou mnr. Botes daarvan om gholf te speel, te draf en te gaan wynproe.

Me. Emsie de Lange

naaldwerk te doen en te brei terwyl sy en haar man enige sport, van Formule 1 tot Engelse sokker kyk.

Mnr. Josh Raymer

PRG verwelkom mnr. Hoffman by die Fisiese Wetenskappe-department. Mnr. Hoffman het in Amanzimtoti, ’n dorp suid van Durban, grootgeword. Hy was vir sy hoërskoolloopbaan in die koshuis by Maritzburg College waar hy gematrikuleer het. Mnr. Hoffman het sy graad by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch verwerf en vir die laaste tien jaar by sy alma mater skoolgegee. Mnr. Hoffman geniet dit om tyd saam met sy drie klein seuntjies en sy vrou deur te bring. Verder geniet hy dit om te oefen, te gim en te draf. Me. Lizerie van Rooyen

PRG verwelkom me. Walters wat in 2023 in ’n voltydse hoedanigheid by die skool aangesluit het. Juffrou Walters het in Durbanville grootgeword en haar matriekjaar deur tuisonderrig voltooi. Sy het al verskeie prestasies in kuns en musiek by die Tygerberg Kunssentrum en die Hugo Lambrechts Musieksentrum behaal. Sy het ook haar graad 8-viooleksamen geslaag. Me. Walters het ’n B.Mus-graad aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch verwerf en haar nagraadse musiekgraad cum laude verwerf. Sy het haar proeftydperk verlede jaar by Paul Roos voltooi en besluit dat dit die skool is waar sy graag eendag wil werk. In haar vrye tyd geniet juffrou Walters branderplankry, moderne dans en om binnenshuise plante te kweek. As sy nie by die see is nie, speel sy oor naweke as ’n professionele violis of beoordeel gimnastiekkompetisies as ’n WP-beoordelaar.

Steffan Thielen

PRG verwelkom mnr. Botes as ons hoofkrieketafrigter en ons is baie geëerd dat so ’n ervare sportman en onderwyser nou deel van die maroen masjien is. Mnr. Botes het grootgeword in Gingindlovu, ’n klein dorpie in Zoeloeland. Mnr. Botes het aan Hoërskool Empangeni

Paul Roos kan baie gelukkig wees dat dié hoogs ervare Lewensoriëntering-onderwyseres by die maroen masjien aangesluit het. Me. De Lange het in Alberton grootgeword en het aan die Universiteit van Johannesburg haar BCom(Ed)-graad voltooi en toe deeltyds haar honneursgraad in Opvoedkundige Sielkunde verwerf. Me. De Lange het al by verskeie skole klas gegee, insluitend ’n skool waar sy besef het dat daar regtig leerders is wat honger skool toe gaan. Sy het verder ook by haar alma mater gewerk, en daarna het sy haar twee kinders grootgemaak. In 2009 het sy by York High School begin, waar sy betrokke was by verskeie aktiwiteite en sy het Lewensoriëntering en Besigheidstudies gegee. Juffrou De Lange is baie passievol oor haar beroep, en dit is baie duidelik as jy by haar klas het. Vir haar is onderwys meer as net kennis oordra; dit is die ontwikkeling van elke leerder op verskeie vlakke. Dit maak haar vreeslik trots om te sien hoe leerders aktiwiteite doen en sukses bereik wat hulle nooit gedink het moontlik sou wees nie. In haar vrye tyd hou juffrou De Lange daarvan om

Mnr. Raymer sluit by Paul Roos aan as ’n sportkondisioneringsafrigter en ons glo dat hy ’n positiewe bydrae tot ons skool se puik sport sal lewer. Hy het in George grootgeword en aan York High School gemartikuleer. Tydens sy skooljare was die hokkiewedstryd teen PRG altyd een van sy gunstelinge. Ná matriek is mnr. Raymer na die VK vir ’n oorbruggingsjaar waar hy by ’n skool gewerk het en deur Europa gereis het. Daarna het hy by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch sy honneursgraad in sportwetenskap saam met mnr. Wolfaardt voltooi. Hy bring graag tyd saam met sy vriende deur en geniet avonture in die berge. Hy hou ook van die see, sport en koffie.

Mnr. Drikus Hoffman

The Ultimate Goal of Paul Roos

Paul Roos Gymnasium. PRG. The Maroon Machine. We go by many names, but we have only one goal. Do you, fellow Paul Roosers, know exactly what this goal is?

At the end of World War 2, the world was aware of what could happen when raw masculinity met evil ambition and then gained immeasurable control. The world was torn in two. In a desperate attempt to prevent such destruction from happening again, masculinity was suppressed and discouraged. Following this, an era of effeminised young men began to sprout from the rubble the war left behind.

Fast forward a century, and we have a society with very few traditional masculine gentlemen. The type of men who built the foundation of the society we are living in. But how do we create a world with life-giving, masculine men, without immature ones?

The story of young elephant bulls who were relocated to a game reserve in Northern Namibia explains this perfectly. These elephant bulls were survivors of a cull in the Kruger National Park and upon their release in Namibia, they killed a rhino. In an effort to understand what had happened, an animal psychologist was consulted. Elephants have a matriarchal society

where young elephant bulls graze alongside the cows until they reach adolescence. At this point, they start to show interest in mating with the cows, which leads to their expulsion from the herd. The amorous, yet forlorn, young bulls now roam the wilderness in search of guidance.

Enter the old tusker, who takes these young elephant bulls under his wing and teaches them the ways of elephant society. Through this male bonding, the young elephant bulls learn their place in the pecking order and the limits of their power. This is usually a tough experience for the young bulls and would be prevented by the cows if they could, but it is vital for masculine maturity. Through observation and mimicking the behavior of the old Tusker, the young elephant bulls referred to as Askari (deriving from the East-African name given to native soldiers) develop a strong sense of masculinity and self-assuredness.

With this newfound confidence and understanding of their place in the world, the Askari no longer pose a threat to the rhino or other elephants. They are now valuable members of the ecosystem, serving as protectors of their herd.

Paul Roos and its values predate both world wars, and it is following the same universal order that the elephants have. The Maroon Machine

through tough and natural processes produces Askari: mature and edifying GENTLEMEN. Not gentlewomen. Not Brutal men. Gentlemen. Fit for ensuring a safer environment for both women and children.

It is essential to understand that the process of creating a gentleman out of a boy can only be achieved by other mature men. That is why the inauguration, commonly known as the “doop”, is so important - and every Paul Rooser knows it. Even though it is only a simulation of the real process, the entire five years that a Paul Rooser spends in the Maroon Machine is working towards the end goal. Mothers will not understand this process, as women are not subject to the same natural law, and out of misunderstanding, they will try to prevent it. There is a reason why mothers are usually illustrated as the concerned parent, as it is their role in the family to nurture the baby in its infancy, just as the elephants reach adolescence alongside the mothers. It is crucial for the baby to experience his younger years in the safety of mothering, but without masculine interference when he grows up, the boy will stay a boy.

Women do have their own, very important maturing process, but it is significantly different from the male one.

Women tend to mature at a younger age than men and this process is usu-

ally easier and more streamlined (this was proven by Newcastle University scientists). So, while the female maturing process receives enough attention, it is men that the world is so desperately looking for. It is vital for human prosperity that we understand that not only a woman can make a man out of a boy.

That is why the Old Tusker doesn’t commence this process with the cows around, and it is essential for maturity

Me. Van Rooyen sluit met groot opgewondenheid by die Wiskundedepartment aan. Sy is in Pretoria gebore en het daar grootgeword, by Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool gematrikuleer en by Tukkies studeer. Me. Van Rooyen het vir die afgelope ses jaar by Affies gewerk en sy meen dat sy weet hoe ons seuns se koppe werk. Sy bring graag tyd saam met haar man en vriende deur, en in haar vrye tyd stap sy graag met haar honde en geniet die buitelewe baie. Verder hou me. Van Rooyen ook daarvan om kos te maak en te skilder.

Ons is baie bevoorreg om dié nuwe onderwysers as deel van die maroen masjien te verwelkom en ons glo dat hulle gelukkig by Paul Roos Gimnasium sal wees.

that the young bulls find their masculinity without feminine interference.

What is the goal of Paul Roos? To understand men’s true, natural maturing process, knowing what it takes to achieve it, and then implementing it. And we should be supporting this process, improving it, and spreading it to the men-deprived world, as we are the next generation of men to show the world what a man truly is.

Die Graad 8-toets

Jo van Rooyen

Die oriënteringsweek speel ’n groot rol in elke Paul Rooser se lewe. Op die Dinsdag is jy onseker, bang en onbewus daarvan dat jy die Vrydag ’n toets sal moet skryf. Elke Paul Rooser weet waarvan ek praat: Die “Graad 8-toets”.

Wat gebeur as jy dié toets druip? Jy kan die moontlikheid om ooit jou das te kry, vaarwel roep. Of so dink die graad 8’s. Die leerlingraad het die snaaksste antwoorde versamel en die Semper-span het besluit om dit te publiseer. Sit terug, lees lekker en geniet die verregaande antwoorde waarmee die graad 8’s vorendag gekom het.

Q: Wie is die huidige rektor van Paul Roos Gimnasium?

A: Rektor André Bekker

A: Mr Loveshank

A: Helen Zille

Q: Which Paul Roos Old Boy played in the 2019 Rugby World Cup?

A: Riley Norton

A: Max Mossop

A: Hattingh Nel and Joshua Acker

Q: How much does Joshua Acker bench?

A: 230 kg

A: 50 kg

A: 69 tons

Q: How do you tell the difference between Paul and Cosmo Enthoven:

A: Paul was a rector and Cosmo is a rugby player.

A: Paul has blue eyes and Cosmo likes spaghetti.

A: Paul is the current rector and I don’t know who Cosmo is.

Mnr. Jandré de la Harpe

Ian Lubbe

Die graad 10’s van 2023 het uiteindelik hul debuut as seniors van die skool gemaak. Maar met belangriker rolle kom meer verantwoordelikhede en moeiliker take om aan te pak. Saul Barnard, die faktorisering van vierterme en daardie lastige FWen LW-klastoetsies gee ’n mens behoorlik grys hare. En alhoewel die pad vir die meerderheid leerders gelyk is, is daar steeds ’n paar kronkels wat die ander moet oorkom.

Die mees prominente kronkel is natuurlik vakkeuses. In graad nege is dié onderwerp baie ligtelik opgeneem. Maar noudat die graad 10’s se besluite ’n realiteit geword het, verlang die meeste na die vleispotte van Egipte en diegene wat nie vleis eet nie, smag na ’n slukkie water om die knop uit hulle keel te kry.

FW is hoog op die lys van besluite wat berou word en die alom-

Gr. 10-vakkeuses

bekende klastoetsies is grotendeels die rede daarvoor. Om 3 uit 10 vir ’n toets te kry is nie baie goed vir ’n mens se selfbeeld nie, maar hulle sê mos: "Small things amuses small minds," en ‘n atoom …

Rekeningkunde is nie ver agter nie. Dit is die syfers wat die seuns omvergooi. En as ons gaan kyk na

die eerste kwartaal se wiskundegemiddeld, is dit verstaanbaar. Teen die pas wat die onderwysers wiskunde G aanbeveel, sit ons binnekort met ’n klomp prokureurs. Maar selfs G is nie so maklik nie, want daar was groot moles toe die eksaminators vra: Hoeveel knopies is aan jou hemp? Pieter het ’n T-hemp gedra.

Media Centre

Zac Theron

Education is critical for children and teenagers to develop fundamental skills and learn new information. It teaches them life skills, the ability to problem solve, and even how to socialise. Teenagers frequently require stimulation while allowing for trial and error to learn effectively. Because of this, providing them with an environment that aids in their learning is critical.

The importance of contemporary media centres cannot be understated. Media centres are similar to libraries, but they take a more modern approach to learning: they teach teenagers basic skills and teach them to focus on their education.

With technology becoming ever more prevalent, and education maintaining a priority in the lives of developing teenagers, it is now easier than ever to provide a personalised learning environment for most students. Education standards are changing more than ever before with each new generation of youngsters entering the school system; for example: the Department of Basic Education (DBE) intends to implement a Grade 9 General Education Certificate (GEC), which will provide students with some type of qualification before matric. Another one of the primary plans is to make Grade R completion mandatory in South African schools, with the government seeking to boost reading and mathematics performance as children enter the system of education sooner. Is it then not preferable for

your child to learn according to a method that supports them, rather than hindering them?

Based on a student's preferred learning method they can learn in a variety of ways. Face-to-face learning, online video conferencing, voice conversations, and even text-based communication are all possibilities. All one needs to do is learn how someone understands something best, and the finest education possible can be provided.

Physical interaction is one of the major arguments for the significance of a contemporary media centre. While media centres provide a tranquil environment for

concentrating and focusing on academics, they are also excellent locations for bringing the entire class together – allowing teenagers to learn about their subjects both visually and physically. Whether it's working on a scientific project or practising spelling, it's comforting to know that contemporary media centres give room for children to learn in a way other than traditional reading.

Do yourself a favour and use the J.F. Marais Media Centre at our school. There’s lots to do like reading a book, doing homework or a project, playing board games, exploring virtual reality; and you can even just hang out.

Alhoewel Afrikaans nie ’n keusevak is nie, kan almal saamstem dat dit menige keer makliker sou wees as Saul net op die Pictor gebly het en as tannie Dalene nie so baie aan sirkels gedink het nie.

Gepraat van sirkels, IGO is ook nie meer die lekker, rustige vak wat dit was nie. Die graad 10’s se lyne is

nou skewer as ooit. Van ’n normale sirkel tot ’n ellips tot ’n raakboog tot ’n passer sonder lood.

Al die leerders was opgewonde oor hulle eerste IT-les, maar toe hulle besef hulle sit eintlik in ’n ekstrawiskundeklas, het RTT al hoe aanlokliker begin lyk. Maar sit sal hulle sit, want die rekenaarlokale is die enigste klaskamers in die skool met lugverkoeling.

Jy beter net hoop jou IT- of RTT-periode is nie gedurende beurtkrag nie, want dan verander daardie legendariese lugverkoelde kamer in ’n krematorium. En die feit dat net een van die vensters kan oopmaak, help nie veel nie.

Maar as die graad 10’s verby al die kronkels in die pad kyk en hulle weer onthou hoekom hulle Paul Roos as ’n hoërskool gekies het, raak die warm klaskamers net so ’n bietjie koeler en die moeilike toetse darem effens makliker. En dan lyk dit vir hulle asof hierde jaar een vir die boeke gaan wees.

Het jy finansiële beleggings?

Francois Dercksen

Die skep van ’n finansiële plan is uiters belangrik vir enige persoon wat finansiële sukses wil beleef. Maar hoe begin mens met só ’n plan? Beleggings is ’n uitstekende beginpunt.

Beleggings het, selfs vir skoolleerders, verskeie voordele. Dit is voor die hand liggend dat jy geld kan maak uit aandele, maar die voordele is nie beperk tot wins nie. Beleggings leer leerders finansiële verantwoordelikheid. Deur moeilike besluite te maak en die resultate daarvan dop te hou, ontwikkel belangrike vaardighede wat baie nut vir die toekoms inhou. Vir leerders wat ’n toekoms in die wêreld van besigheid oorweeg, kan beleggings goeie blootstelling en ervaring bied ten opsigte van besighede, industrieë en ekonomieë. Goeie gewoontes, soos dissipline, geduld en ’n langtermynuitkyk wat lewenslank voordelig is, word ook gevestig.

Beleggings bied toegang tot kapitaalgroei met samegestelde rente, en soos Albert Einstein gesê het: “Saamgestelde rente is die agste wonder van die wêreld. As jy dit verstaan, verdien jy dit; indien nie, betaal jy dit.” Hoe vroeër jy met ’n spaarplan begin, hoe beter. Wanneer jy in die toekoms fondse vir noodsaaklikhede benodig soos ’n voertuig, universiteitsgelde of ’n huis, sal fondse in beleggings beskikbaar wees en jou help om hierdie belangrike items te kan bekostig.

Daar is verskeie maniere om jou geld te belê; ’n deposito of spaarrekening in die bank is die mees algemeen. Die bank is ’n eenvoudige en betroubare manier om jou geld teen ’n rentekoers te belê en dit bied ook ander voordele soos bank-

dienste. Is jy egter tevrede met die bank se relatiewe lae rentekoers? As inflasie in ag geneem word, sal die bank se rente nooit ’n werklike wins genereer nie. Dus moet ander beleggingsopsies oorweeg word om werklike kapitaalgroei te verseker.

Waar begin ’n mens met jou beleggingsplan? Aandele is ’n goeie beginpunt aangesien daar ’n breë mark met diverse geleenthede is en jy enige bedrag as aanvangskapitaal kan gebruik. Alhoewel aandele die potensiaal het om groter wins as bankrentekoerse te lewer, kan dit ongelukkig ook tot groot verliese lei. Daar is dus ’n mate van risiko, maar risikovlakke wissel afhangend van die tipe aandele waarin jy belê. Sekere langtermyngroei-aandele sal ’n meer betroubare wins lewer, maar teen ’n laer persentasie groei oor tyd. Die teenoorgestelde geld vir risiko-aandele soos kriptogeldeenhede (“Crypto”) wat oornag kan verdubbel of halveer. “Crypto” is uiterse hoërisikobeleggings. Moderne aandeelhandelsplatforms, soos EasyEquities, maak dit maklik en eenvoudig genoeg dat enige iemand kan begin belê.

’n Goeie en gediversifiseerde beleggingsportefeulje is noodsaaklik vir finansiële sukses. ’n Grondige kennis van beleggingsopsies en die werking daarvan is onontbeerlik. Almal behoort ’n aandeel in die wêreld van beleggings te hê. PRG-leerders het die geleentheid om vir ’n JSE-aandelekompetisie in te skryf, maar sal dit nie ook nuttig wees om beleggingskennis deel van die basiese onderrigplan te maak nie? Sal dit nie sinvol wees om in LOR hiervan te leer nie? Wat as ons by oudleerders wat suksesvolle sakemanne geword het, leer? Die geleenthede is legio; jy moet dit aangryp en jou eerste belegging maak.

Valentine's Market Teachers'

Bloemof is Red, Rhenish is Blue, Paul Roos brings not only the bromance, but the romance, back to you.

Paul Roos Gymnasium has hosted the beloved Valentine’s Day event since 2017. Having taken place in the public eye of the PRG soccer field ever since, the evening has continued to grab the attention of nearby schools in the Stellenbosch area. It is one of the few occasions in the Paul Roos calendar where the boys and girls of Stellenbosch can get together, listen to live music, and live, love and laugh together. On 9 February, we saw just that.

The highlight of the evening was the exceptional live music performed by the PRG Rock Band. Throughout the evening, the band performed absolute classics from Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson to Jump by Van Halen. As well as beloved, groovy ballads ranging from Neon by John Mayer to Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers.

The smooth, silky vocals were provided by Philippe Andro, with Eben Halford and James Jansen

PRG Productions

backing him up stylishly on the electric guitar. Alongside them, they had Nicholas Jacobs on the drums, with James Paltoglou rocking out on the bass with an appearance from Kayden Phillips on the trumpet.

Everyone’s favourite food trucks were once again there to whet the appetite of the girls and boys, and add to the festive cheer of the event. The entire evening had an upbeat and warm (even hot) atmosphere, with many loveswooned boys and girls welcoming the dance floor and the open-air, breezy field . At the end of the evening, the event was such a success that the crowd needed to be reminded to leave the field and go to bed in preparation for the following school day.

Thanks to the well-choreographed organisation of Mrs Kroukamp, the well-prepared PRG Rock Band – overseen by Mr Roux –and the Stellenbosch youngsters coming to support the event, the Paul Roos Valentine’s Market was the perfect way to start the Paul Roos Culture calendar. It provided everyone who attended another loving and starry Stellenbosch evening to remember.

Ian Lubbe

Die PRG Productions-span is sedert die begin van die jaar af hard aan die werk. Dié nuwe klub is die meesters van die mooiste foto’s, die mees spanningvolle regstreekse uitsendings en die beste “edits” van video’s. Hulle is betrokke by die dokumentering van geleenthede soos die Prestige-atletiekbyeenkoms, die kaskar-fondsinsamelingsdag en die PRG Birthday Ball.

Maar moenie dink dat hierdie nuwe klub slegs vir diegene is wat reeds kamera-kennis het nie. Daar is verskeie aanbiedings oor kinematogra-

fie en fotografie waartydens meesters van die veld hul kennis met die leerders deel.

Interessante aktiwiteite wat PRG Productions dié jaar gaan aanpak, is onder andere: ’n musiekvideo vir Die Heuwels Fantasties, die regstreekse uitsending van sportbyeenkomste, ’n kortfilm, ’n animasie, ’n dokumentêr en ’n musiekvideo vir die Filmit-kompetisie en nog vele meer.

Of jy nou ’n amateur of ’n meester in die film- en fotobedryf is, PRG Productions het iets vir jou. Jy sal beslis interessante dinge hier kan leer.

Favourite Food

Nicolaas Snijman

Mr Pienaar

Braaied Lamb

“I absolutely love braais, it’s very social to get together with your friends and have a good braai, and lamb is my favourite meat.”

Me. De Lange

Sushi

“As jy ’n goeie mengsel van sushi het, dan proe elkeen anders en is dit ’n ander sensasie.”

Mnr. De Villiers

Gebraaide Steak

“Ek dink dit is seker maar sy sappigheid. As hy lekker sag en sappig is, is dit hoe ek daarvan hou.”

Me. Langenhoven

Pizza

“Seker maar omdat dit so ongesond is. Dis hoe dit gewoonlik werk met lekker kos.”

Me. Wiehman

Moesaka

“Dit gaan oor die balans van geure, dis ongelooflik, die tekstuur werk goed saam en dis veral ’n verskriklike lekker dis om in die winter te eet.”

Die agterpaadjies van Stellenbosch

Carlo Hoogendijk

Ek gaan eerlik wees, Coetzenburg se staproetes verveel my al so ’n bietjie. As iemand wat baie van stap hou, móés ek net ’n ander opsie vind. Ek het navorsing gaan doen oor ander staproetes in en rondom Stellenbosch en het ’n paar goeies opgespoor. Ek besluit toe sommer om hulle te deel met diegene wat ook al een keer te veel om die Coetzenburg-dam gestap het.

1. Die Jonkershoek-watervalroete Hierdie 9,8 km-staproete is nie baie uitdagend wat die helling betref nie. Dit is ’n heen-en-weer-roete, so jy stap 4,9 km, draai om en stap dieselfde roete terug. Op die roete is daar waterpoele (insluitend die twee alombekende watervalle) en heerlike piekniekareas in die koelte. As jy gelukkig genoeg is om hierdie roete ná ‘n

lekker reënbui aan te pak, sal jy heelpad die pragtige groen van die natuur kan geniet en die kalmerende klank van die kabbelende strome romdom jou hoor. Dit is beslis ’n staproete wat die hele gesin saam kan geniet.

2. Uitkyk via die Du Toitskloofen-Manganese-roete

Hierdie roete is korter as die Jonkershoekroete (9,3 km), maar dit sal jou meer laat hyg as gevolg van die hoogtetoename van 713 m. Dit is ’n sirkelroete wat min of meer vier uur sal neem om te voltooi. Die roete is goed gemerk en daar is bordjies as rigtingaanwysers. Daar is nie baie skaduwee nie, so begin so vroeg as moontlik stap.

3. Banhoek Bewarea se Watervalroete

Hierdie 10,5 km-roete is weereens ’n kans vir die gesin om saam te gaan

stap. Dit is ’n sirkelroete met min tot geen skaduwee, maar daar is wel stroompies en poele (en natuurlik die waterval) waar ’n mens kan afkoel gedurende die drie tot vier uur lange staptog.

4. Die Sosyskloof-roete. Die Sosyskloof-roete van slegs 6,6 km behoort nie meer as twee uur te neem om te voltooi nie. Daar is hier en daar lekker skadukolle, maar maak seker dat jy genoeg water en sonskerm saamvat. ’n Probleem van hierdie staproete is dat die paadjies nie altyd so duidelik gemerk is nie en plek-plek toegegroei is. Die voëls wat in die omgewing waargeneem kan word, is een van die hoogtepunte van die roete. Hopelik vind iemand sy nuwe gunstelingstaproete uit bogenoemde opsies. ’n Mens weet nooit, dalk loop ons mekaar raak. Tot dan toe.

Phillipe Andro

Reviews | Resensies

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Phillipe Andro

Marvel studios storms into theatres once again with its latest installment in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as it sets up the intriguing future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film essentially poses the question: What if Ant-Man was in an Avengers movie – all by himself?

The film follows Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) as Ant-Man, as he learns to adapt to life following the universe-threatening events of Avengers: Endgame. After which, he returned home to find his daughter, Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), five years older. Scott struggles to grapple with this, having missed out on the crucial younger years of his daughter`s life. But then a dubious experiment goes wrong, causing Scott, Cassie and the rest of the Ant-Man family to be shrunk down and thrust into the enigma that is the Quantum Realm.

There they find a haunting new world, where they soon discover that they are not alone. They encounter the malevolent - Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors),

who now rules over the Quantum Realm. Kang is a sinister and vengeful being, having once been powerful enough to travel to different universes and communicate with different versions of himself. But his ultimate goal is simple: to CONQUER wherever he goes.

With this immense power and wisdom, Kang uses Scott`s responsibility to protect his daughter against him. He plans on doing everything in his power to prevent them from slowing his cataclysmic crusade across the multiverse.

Our group of heroes must then embark on treacherous journey to defeat Kang and escape the Quantum Realm. Will Ant-Man be able to take-on and defeat the force of nature that is Kang? Or will he be crushed under Kang`s boot and award Kang another sweet victory over another fallen Avenger?

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania excels best as a movie when exploring the world within the Quantum Realm. It truly feels like a Star Wars-movie inside the MCU. With various alien-like creatures and beings inhabiting the Realm. The music score is operatic and very cinematic, and a

highlight of the film for sure. The true standout that makes this film worthwhile is Jonathan Major`s portrayal of Kang the Conqueror. He is exceptional at pulling off the personality of a more restrained villain, who does his best to play up appearances to get what he wants from others. But every nowand-then his deep-seeded rage will seep through his deceit to create a truly menacing antagonist. The film embraces the more outlandish and wackier side to marvel comics, which sets this film apart from other Marvel entries.

However, the film does often suffer from an over-reliance on the use of green screen and visual effects to pull you out of the experience. Some dramatic and key-moments can be overshadowed by some misplaced Marvel, which at times was unpleasant.

Overall, the film succeeds in introducing Marvel`s next big-baddy and establishing Kang as the future threat to the Avengers. It focuses on a new and unexplored world filled with mystery, creative creatures and wonder. It sets up the future of the MCU and gives Ant-Man his most daring adventure yet.

Avatar: The Way of Water

Waldo Bonthys

Avatar: The Way of Water is an incredible movie. The visuals are stunning, the action sequences are thrilling, the world-building is well-developed, and the characters are incredibly well-written. This film is the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2009 blockbuster, Avatar. Directed by James Cameron, the film is set to continue the story of the Na’vi people and their struggle against the human invasion of their planet, Pandora; but this time they must face new challenges in a new oceanic ecosystem and adapt to their new lifestyle in order to survive yet another human invasion.

Unlike sequels tend to go, Avatar: The Way of Water is unquestionably a great sequel to the first movie. It has an amazing plot and adopts an altogether new style by adding new cast members, new types of creatures, and new characters (including one familiar face from a previous film directed by James Cameron). In The Way of Water, which takes place 15 years after the Na’vi successfully repelled the human invasion of Pandora, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) serves as the clan chief of the Omaticaya people. He also raises a family with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), including their children Tuk and Kiri, as well as a human boy by the name of Spider who is the son of Colonel Miles Quaritch (The first film’s antagonist portrayed by Stephen Lang). Sully and his family have been seeking safety with a new clan known as the Metkayina since the Na’vi have once more been threatened with extinction by humanity. The film also explores important

themes such as the importance of preserving the environment, the consequences of exploiting natural resources, and the power of unity and teamwork. It is a powerful and thought-provoking film that will leave audiences contemplating the message long after the credits have rolled.

The contrast between Jake Sully and the other Na’vi tribes is simply incredible. Considering Jake Sully was a warrior known for being the “brave and the bold”, his presence with the other avatar tribes is exceptional and he is seen as a true warrior even by those from different backgrounds. In this visually stunning film, Jake must protect, endure and survive an absolute onslaught by the humans, returning to take revenge on him and his beautiful family with Na’vi princess, Neytiri. This part of the story explores the new emotional attachments and bonds Jake builds with the tribe and Neytiri and what he would sacrifice to protect his family from any danger aimed at his newly adopted home.

Jake Sully is a sympathetic and complex protagonist. He has been a paraplegic for his whole life after being a marine and finally gets the chance to “re-live” having a family and being physically healthy in his new avatarbody; something he could not have accomplished as a human. The movie does a superb job of showing how the characters grow and change throughout the course of the movie, and how their views and opinions change as they learn more about one other, especially in a new oceanic biome.

The antagonist of the first movie, Colonel Miles Quaritch, may be one of

the most underrated antagonists of all time. Although he is a much-despised character in the movie franchise, which, in my opinion, makes for an outstanding villain, he is portrayed in such a way that he starts getting on any viewer’s nerves. Since his demise in the first film, his consciousness returns seeking vengeance upon the Na’vi tribe - maybe sooner than audiences would have expected.

Lastly, this movie’s special effects are astounding. Amazing realism and detail are used to bring the world of Pandora to life, giving it a sense of a living, breathing place. The human and Na’vi characters in Avatar are remarkably emotive and genuine, and the action scenes are exhilarating and visually breathtaking. The inclusion of 3D technology in the movie gives the already immersive universe a greater layer of depth, heightening the sense of reality.

Overall, I think Avatar: The Way of Water is an incredible movie. From mesmirising visuals and action sequences, to beautifully developed characters and settings, this sequel is exciting, immersive, and will leave you in awe. In my opinion, I would rate this movie 9/10. All accolades go to James Cameron. It is a visual masterpiece and another instalment that will define a generation - and will definitely be enjoyed by future generations because of its compelling story. Personally, my favourite aspect of this movie is the music score (produced by Simon Franglen). It simply induces goosebumps.

I would recommend this masterpiece to be viewed as soon as possible.

In Review: Reviews | Resensies

Post & Pepper

Carlo Hoogendijk

“Post & Pepper” is ’n fynproewersrestaurant wat onlangs sy eerste jaar in die bedryf gevier het. Hulle is in die ou Stellenbosch-poskantoor op die hoek van Bird- en Pleinstraat geleë. Maar jy sou nooit kon dink dat dié nuut opgeknapte, mooi en moderne restaurant eens ’n poskantoor was nie! Wat my eerste getref het toe ek daar instap, was die rustigheid. Die mure en meubels se koel kleure, gekombineerd met die stadige agtergrondmusiek, laat ’n mens vergeet van enige haas wat jy dalk gehad het en ’n mens haal sommer dieper asem. Nadat jy by jou tafel gaan sit het, kom daar dadelik een van die vriendelike kelnerinne om te vra of jy stil of vonkelwater wil hê. Sy sorg dat jou waterglas altyd vol is. Later is dit ook sy wat noukeurig en geduldig die spyskaart vir jou verduidelik, jou bestelling neem en ná 15 minute jou eerste gang vir jou bring. Ná elke gang bring sy vir jou ook ’n nuwe mes, vurk, lepel en bord.

Só werk die spyskaart: Twee mense deel drie gange, elk met twee verskillende borde kos (uitsluitend nagereg). Elke persoon kies twee borde kos, en die eerste twee is klaar vir jou gekies. Die kos was baie smaaklik, ryk, en definitief vullend genoeg vir middag- of aandete. Elke gang is ’n mooier prentjie as die vorige en die geure pas so goed bymekaar. Dit is nie asof jy drie aparte disse eet nie, maar een, lang en uitgestrekte maaltyd geniet.

’n Negatiewe, maar definitief verstaanbare, aspek van die

Hanko van Rooyen

NBA2k is a video game franchise that has been around for over two decades and has become the go-to game for basketball enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, it has the same problem as the FIFA series with each annual release being very similar. Even with this occurring there are still some noteworthy features and improvements in this year’s release that can be discussed.

One of the main new features added in NBA2k23 is the Jordan challenges where you relive every major game in Micheal Jordan’s career. Ranging from his college championship finals game playing for the University of North Carolina to his final match facing the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA finals. Play-

restaurant, is die kospryse. Die opsie wat ons gevat het (die “sharing menu”) was R425 per persoon. Dit is dus nie ’n restaurant wat ’n mens gereeld sal besoek nie, maar dit is eintlik perfek, want hoekom sal jy wil

gewoond raak aan sulke wonderlike kos?

Ek sal dus voorstel dat ’n mens slegs vir spesiale geleenthede moet gaan, maar dit is beslis die besoek werd.

Post & Pepper het ’n opwin-

dende toekoms wat wag, gevul met wonderlike en fynproewerkos en baie tevrede kliënte. Ek kan nie wag om weer die kalmte van die klein restaurantjie op die hoek te beleef nie.

Redaksielys

Hoofredakteur

David Chemaly

Adjunkredakteur

Jo van Rooyen

Tegniese redakteur

Markus Nel

Verslaggewers

Zoon Jacobs

Willem Visagie

Lyle Williams

Ian Lubbe

Zac Theron

Phillipe Andro

Carlo Hoogendijk

Nicolaas Snijman

Waldo Bonthys

Hanco van Rooyen

Francios Dercksen

Hano Basson

Louis Uys

Christiaan Cronje

John-David Myburgh

Paul Enthoven

Steffan Thielen

Spotprenttekenaar

Theodore Moss

Fotograwe:

Francois Louw

PRG Productions

Onderwysers-in-beheer

Me. D. Bergenthuin

Mnr. N. Pilkington

NBA2K23

ing through these challenges is extremely immersive and gives you a new perspective on the style of basketball played during the 80s and 90s periods.

The retro-style graphics contribute to the authentic experience. The pure gameplay is slightly altered with the shooting release bar having changed and given alternate options. The graphics are a pinch better and even closer to looking completely realistic.

The Myteam and Mycareer game modes have only been modified slightly with the new interface being the most notable. My main complaint about Myteam is the lack of offline game modes. Another complaint is the system surrounding the micro transactions for in-game currency. This problem is especially prevalent in the Mycareer game mode, where it is extremely

difficult to improve your character without producing your wallet. Fortunately, in the Myteam game mode, you can improve your team without burning too much cash.

The most basic game mode is Playnow

It is the most refined, having been the original game mode for the first NBA2k game. It involves you choosing any current or ‘all-time’ team and playing against a bot or another person. Even with its simplicity, it can be the most fun.

Overall, NBA2K23 is an incredibly impressive basketball game. The visuals are stunning and the gameplay is smooth and immersive.

If you’re a fan of basketball or sports video games in general, then NBA2K23 is definitely worth checking out

DIE SEMPER-SPAN

SEMPER-SPAN

David Chemaly

We all have memories here at Paul Roos. We all remember those first steps we took into the Japie Krige Hall, the heat at a Prestige, the singing at a rugby game, and the cold of a Friday night hockey game; where the prospect of finding a seat was the only thought on your mind. We’ve managed to beat just about every school in the country in just about everything: from rugby to hockey. It is safe to say that Paul Roos is continuing to live out its motto of Semper Splendidior even after 157 years of rich and inspiring history.

With each passing day, our time here grows shorter. We all started at Paul Roos with an hourglass, and it has been running dry ever since. Soon, term 1 will draw to a close; when you blink, end-ofyear exams will have arrived, and before you know it, you’ll be down in the trenches studying for that exam you knew you should have started preparing for a week earlier. But, until then, let’s enjoy every moment we have left at this legendary school.

When I first walked through the doors of the Japie Krige, I was told that the boys around me would become my brothers, and they have. From running away

from the Matrics in grade 8 to the afternoon Jolla Bollas after the Paul Roos 1st team beat Grey. Every moment I’ve shared with my fellow Paul Roosers has been pure brilliance. I’ve lived and laughed, and it’s safe to say that I do not have any regrets about ever putting on my maroon blazer.

We all have those things that we want to do, be that academically, sports-wise or culturally. Let 2023 be the year where those things come to fruition. Let this year’s Jolla Bolla, after the 1st team’s victory, be even bigger than last year’s. When Grey arrives at their “home” game against us at the end of the year, let them see the might of the Maroon Machine, as they wonder how Stellenbosch came to Bloemfontein.

Every matric class dreams of their year being the greatest in Paul Roos’s history, and if we truly desire that then it is up to us to make it our year. Win or lose, let’s make 2023 the year of Paul Roos. After all, it is up to us to ensure that Paul Roos continues its legacy.

Semper Splendidior

Should Paul Roos offer basketball as a school sport?

Who will come out on top in this F1 season?

Old Boy Interview:

Kade Wolhuter

A4: For me, it counts as one, but I’d love to have another dinner at the hostel with all my mates sitting around me. I looked forward to it daily. It is something I cherish.

Q5: What is your favourite pre-match song you love listening to?

A5: It changes, depending on what genre I am feeling for. I usually listen to Catch a Light by aKing. It has been a part of my playlist for a while now.

Q6: What would you rather do: Score the winning try, convert the winning kick or make a try-saving tackle, that turns out to be crucial?

Hano Basson & Louis Uys

Everyone knows Paul Roos is a rugby factory when it comes to producing Springboks. Today, we have many talented youngsters, with dreams of becoming what previous successful Paul Roos rugby players are today, and have been in the past. One of the most talented schoolboy players we have produced is Kade Wolhuter. He matriculated in 2019, spent a year playing in France, and currently plays for the Stormers/Western Province. The Semper had the honour of interviewing him.

Q1: You recently returned from an injury that you obtained in March 2021. Your fans, and especially the boys in Maroon, are happy to see that you are back. How did you feel after running onto the field for the first time in a while?

A1: It was nerve-racking going onto the field and having to trust my knee and the entire rehabilitation process. After going through all that, you just

want everything to go well. Getting through the 20 minutes I played was very relieving.

Q2: Back when you were a student at PRG, you met various teachers that helped you become the person you are today. Did you have any favourites, and why?

A2: Ms. Stofberg played a big role in my life. She showed me what it is to be a Paul Rooser, while enhancing and turning my life around. Another one was Ms. du Plessis, who helped me through a tough time simply by being there.

Q3: What game during your time at Paul Roos is one that you’ll never forget?

A3: I would have to say when we played Paarl Boys High at Markötter in 2018. We beat them 44-8, which felt incredible.

Q4: Out of all the memories you made at the school, which is one that happened on or off the field that you wish you could relive again?

A6: I’d want to convert the winning kick, as it is something I work hard on, and it’s part of my game. To do that while helping the team win would be very rewarding.

Q7: Do you have any personal/team goals for the season you’d like to share with the PRG family?

A7: For the Stormers, I’d like to help the team retain the URC. For me, I’d like to cement myself in the [Stormers] side while being the established player that eventually wins the Currie Cup.

Q8: Do you have a motto you try to live by?

A8: I try to live by a quote called “The Man in the Arena”. I often remind myself of it, as it is something I strive towards.

Q9: What advice can you give to the rugby and sports players of PRG that dream of achieving what you have achieved thus far in your career?

A9: The biggest thing is to back yourself. If you know what you’re capable of, while being honest with yourself, you’ll achieve many things. Enjoy what you are doing. If you have fun, everything will happen easier.

Messi 63.6 % Ronaldo 36.4 %

In Perspective

D

With 2022 being such an amazing year and with so many things going right, it set a wonderful tone for the Student Council to welcome the new Grade 8s into the brotherhood we know as Paul Roos Gymnasium. The first week allows the new Paul Roosers the opportunity to learn about the 157-year-old traditions and to familiarise themselves with the culture and standards of our school. It introduces them to the everyday routine of each learner while they learn to juggle all their new subjects, the big hallways and massive seniors walking shoulder-to-shoulder alongside them. The first week presents the Grade 8s with the chance of meeting new friends and building relationships with their new brothers while they gain a mentor in the form of a Student Council member or a matric. All in all, everyone involved –from the cheerleaders to the teachers and Student Council members – did a splendid job of preparing the new generation of Paul Roosers and setting up the Maroon Machine with a promising future.

In many ways, the start of 2023 has already had its challenges: first needing to say goodbye to Ms Stofberg, then the matrics had to deal with their ties and jerseys that took an extra minute before they reached them. Beyond all that, adjusting to the academic pace whilst having to do sport and culture in order to maintain the standard of the school and values we are admired for carries immense pressure. It is because of the double standard we

ear 2023, Thank you for introducing us to our full potential, even if it is through challenges.live by (where we act differently in school when compared to how we interact with parents) that the Student Council is focusing on creating a culture where the standard outside and inside the class remains the same. “As perceived so it is”. In the end, we all dream of sending our sons to Paul Roos, but what will become of them if the current inhabitants of the school do not maintain the traditions we love? The future depends on you and what you make of it. Semper Splendidior isn’t just a saying; it is a reality in which each of us strives to be better than the person we were yesterday, and pride ourselves in setting an example for our peers and teachers.

In reflection, term 1 has been a fun one with many exciting things happening, despite a tough test series for some. It’s been a better start to 2023 than we could’ve dreamed of. It’s always astonishing watching 1300 boys pull together to act like one massive Maroon Machine and to see each one living with pride as they exercise the old-school values they have adopted. We should all be on edge for the big things that are to come – not only in class but on the sports field amongst each other.

You don’t have to change the world all in one go, you can start by just encouraging the person next to you. Doing the small things well consistently leads to big rewards and development in the future.

The opinions expressed in the Semper are not necessarily the opinions of the Semper or the school.

1. Wanneer jy die Bulle ondersteun

2. 'n Normale 2-punt Skeinatsom.

3. As Percieved so it is

4. Oefen vir Grey

5.

6.

7. Graad 8-vullis

8. The Grade 8 asking you where the bathroom is

6.

7.

4.

5.

1.

8.

Semper Splendidior

Who is the GOAT? Miguel Carelse

Netflix Stops Password Sharing

Zac Theron

Netflix announced its intention to implement its no-sharing policy. According to the new policy, you will only be allowed to share your password with individuals who live in the same “Netflix household” as you. If you are thinking, “How would they know?” Netflix is one step ahead of you.

To ensure that devices logged into an account are of the same household, the streaming service will employ information such as IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity. If a device from outside your home logs into an account or is continuously used, Netflix will send a notification to the email address and phone number linked with the primary account to confirm the sign-in.

Simply because you’ve verified your account does not guarantee that Netflix will always provide you access to it. You may be prompted to authenticate your account on many occasions, which may raise concerns with Netflix and lead to additional action.

Kalahari Vasbyt: Manne soos geen ander

Netflix is yet to reveal concrete consequences, although it has been testing an opt-in option in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru that allows Netflix subscribers to pay an extra fee for accounts connected to the original account. So, if you try your luck with Netflix account sharing, there’s a chance they’ll charge you more.

Why is Netflix doing this? More than 100 million households share their accounts with others, and Netflix estimates that it undermines their long-term ability to invest in and improve Netflix. City analyst Jason Bazinet calculated that Netflix accounted for around 25% of that amount, implying that the streaming behemoth is potentially losing out on $6 billion.

The only countries with non-sharing privileges are Canada, New Zealand, Spain, and Portugal. Netflix has not yet started its “tracking for shared accounts” in South Africa, but highly recommended all users not to continue doing so. Because of this, it is safe to say that one of Netflix’s mottos “love is sharing a password” will live on no more.

Hano

Basson

’n Besoek aan van die mooiste dele van Afrika. Ongeveer 1500 kilometer se ry oor 18 dae. Bomenslike oefening. Belangrike lewensvaardighede. Lewenslange vriendskappe. Dit is party van die goed wat die Kalahari Vasbyt vir jou bied. Dit is ook nie net enige toertjie wat énige mens kan doen nie. Dit is fisies en emosioneel uitdagend en jy sal vir seker sterker wees ná die toer. Een ding wat ek jou kan waarborg, is dat dit ’n ongelooflike lekker ervaring is.

Die Kalahari Vasbyt is ’n toer vir seuns van 16 tot 18 jaar deur Zimbabwe, Botswana en Suid-Afrika. Sedert 1987 neem verskeie seuns in die somervakansies hieraan deel, en ’n paar jare gelede, het hulle ook ’n soortgelyke kursus vir meisies begin aanbied. Daar neem amper elke jaar PRG-leerders aan die kursus deel. Hano Basson, Samuel Badenhorst, Reuben Kruger en Johan Slabbert het ons hierdie jaar op die toer verteenwoordig. Hulle was 4 van die 37 manne wat hierdie jaar aan die Vasbyt deelgeneem het. Die ander manne kom van skole soos Boland Landbou, Paarl Boys’ High en Oakdale Landbouskool af.

Jy besoek verskillende plaaslike

EISHKOM

David Chemaly

“Please switch off all the computers and lights. We will be switching over to the generator shortly.” A constant occurrence during school hours, and although it may be irritating at times, Paul Roos is fortunate enough to be in the position to provide electricity during load shedding. However, most schools, and even businesses, do not have the means available to spend tens of thousands (sometimes even hundreds of thousands) to deter ESKOM’s ever-looming presence.

ESKOM certainly has been a force to be reckoned with in recent years – especially when compared to its competitors which now number a staggering 0 for the 100th year in a row. This has clearly proven time and time again to economists why South Africa will not be bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic due to ESKOM’s newly adopted annual cycle: it begins nice and slow with Stage 2, before being ramped up to Stage 4 and then pushed into overdrive with Stage 6 or 8.

Sometimes ESKOM comes up with a decent excuse such as “maintenance” (they quite enjoy this one); other times they struggle as much as the Semper editorial team does with coming up with ideas, and churn out a rather lackluster one, such as they “left the coal out in the rain”. Although they always forget a rather obvious flaw…corruption (someone should definitely remind them be-

cause they keep forgetting).

But, have no fear, the South African government has made it a priority to get ESKOM back on track and to its glory days of no load shedding. Which is precisely why 2023 started with load shedding, despite the government resolving nearly R200 billion of ESKOM’s debt. Economically, it is tearing the country to shreds. The rand keeps worsening month after month, our unemployment

dorpies, landskappe en streke, soos die Kalahari, Victoriawaterval en die Okavango Delta. Die Victoriawaterval is vir baie Vasbyters hulle gunstelingdeel van die toer omdat ons daar “bungee jumping” en “white-river rafting” doen wat perfek is vir adrenalien-junkies.

Op die toer leer jy baie oor die natuur. Elke seun kry ’n spesifieke boom wat jy moet vind en dan moet jy ’n plaatjie met die boom se naam, wetenskaplike naam en jou eie naam daarop inkap. Almal word daagliks in vier spanne verdeel, naamlik tegnies, skoonmaak, kosmaak en fotografie. Jy moet dus verskillende take verrig.

Op die Vasbyt word oefening gedoen wat jou fikser as ooit tevore maak.

Al die oefening berei jou ook voor vir die hoogtepunt van die toer: Die

roetemars. Dit is volgens al die Vasbyters die moeilikste ding wat hulle al in hulle hele lewe gedoen het en dit sal altyd so wees. Om ongeveer 53 kilometer in die Kalahari te stap, in 40 grade Celsius, terwyl jy verskillende bagasie dra, is alles behalwe maklik. Die gevoel wat jy kry wanneer jy uiteindelik klaarmaak, is iets wat moeilik is om te beskryf.

Dit is dalk ’n bietjie te veel inligting om behoorlik te verwerk, maar dit is iets wat ’n mens nooit, ooit sal vergeet nie. Oom Andries Erwee, wat die toer begelei, is iemand by wie jy baie leer en wat altyd daar vir jou sal wees. Dit is een van die lekkerste dinge wat jy kan ervaar! As enige Paul Roos-leerder wat nou in graad 10-12 is hierin belangstel, kan julle gerus met enige van die vier wat die toer hierdie jaar gedoen het, kom gesels.

Sakkie's Motivation:

Sometimes it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

Hey guys,

This term has been quite rough with Ms Stofberg leaving and all, but when we look back, I don’t want us to look at that: I want us to look at what we have accomplished. What YOU have accomplished.

Someone once said that when you replace, “why is this happening to me?” with “what is this trying to teach me?”, everything shifts. We might not be sure who said this, but whoever said it is very wise. Think about it: when you encounter an obstacle or you’re going through a rough patch, are you asking yourself, “why is this happening to me?” or “what can this teach me?”

rate seeks to set new records, and South Africa loses close to R200 million a day. Which makes one wonder: if we did not need that money before, where was it previously wasted?

The economic impact is not the only negative consequence of ESKOM’s incompetence, as learners of all ages are affected. You can no longer study when it suits you, rather, you must study when ESKOM deems it appro-

priate. Those last few hours at night when you need a revision session, forget about it – since it’s rather difficult to read your notes when all you see is a pool of darkness.

When all is said and done, at least ESKOM keeps us on our toes and forces us to be prepared for a load-shedding curveball at any moment. Paul Roos may prepare us for what lies ahead, but no institution can prepare us for the ever-changing

A lot of the times in life we blame things we can’t control, or we get mad when something doesn’t go our way. But, I’m here to tell you that from today on that behaviour stops. From today on you will use these obstacles and setbacks as stepping stones to reach your goal. Let’s take Ms Stofberg for example: Her leaving wasn’t something we wanted or could’ve controlled but things like this happen and this is when you have to ask yourself, “What is this trying to teach me?” I think this taught us all that we don’t fully value something until we have lost it, but it also taught us that you should use the opportunity to grow and move forward.

So, when you encounter an obstacle in life, don’t give up and feel sorry for yourself, stand up and see what you can learn from it.

-Sakkie

The top student in every class: ChatGPT!

Nicolaas Snijman

ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art language model developed by OpenAI, capable of generating human-like responses to natural language prompts. It has garnered significant attention recently due to its ability to perform a variety of language tasks. These involve: answering questions, translating languages, and even creating coherent paragraphs and essays. ChatGPT’s impressive capabilities have made it a hot topic in both the natural language processing and artificial intelligence fields, leading to numerous exciting applications and research opportunities.

ChatGPT is so impressive that it can even write an introduction about itself! But an introduction is not needed with how popular ChatGPT has become; almost everybody knows what it is. This AI chatbot has been the talk of the town in almost every school. Some students can’t wait to use it to write their essays – as one student put it: “ChatGPT is the MVP of the year”. On the other hand, some teachers are dreading needing to

deal with this artificial intelligence and their students’ human unintelligence.

Now, why is this chatbot – released by OpenAI in November of 2022 – so important in the educational world? Because of its duality. It can be both students’ most powerful learning tool and a det-

riment to the learning process. If a student does not understand something they can easily ask ChatGPT to explain it and get a thorough and clear explanation. The bot can also understand and respond in other languages such as Afrikaans and isiXhosa. It can even explain coding languages. The big problem emerges when

this chatbot is misused. Instead of asking the AI how something works, a student can simply ask for the answer and get it without having learnt anything themselves. This promotes laziness and deters students from learning anything. The mindset then becomes “I have an essay, let’s see what ChatGPT will write for me”.

Many academic institutions all over the world are trying to find countermeasures for this AI, and some have already found solutions with varying successes. Of course, ChatGPT isn’t the first AI chatbot and it certainly won’t be the last. Even art schools have to worry about AI-generated artworks.

AI will be a part of our future, whether we like it or not, so how we use it matters. That is why using AI chatbots shouldn’t be discouraged in schools, rather, it should be encouraged. Of course, students should not just use it to get the answers for whatever they need without any thought of their own. However, this is a tool that can research and answer just about anything in a detailed manner.

ChatGPT is the ultimate tool for learning if it is used properly. If the right approach is used AI chatbots could become the equivalent of an after school teacher. Students should be encouraged to use it responsibly. They should use AI to learn what they do not yet understand. It should be used to enhance the learning process, not eliminate it.

The PROS and CONS of studying overseas

Christiaan Cronje

There are currently more than 12 000 South African students studying overseas. A recent study by Brandmapp further indicated that more than a million South African students are keen on the prospect of studying abroad. In Shakespeare’s time the big question was: ‘To be, or not to be?’ but it seems like the big question of our generation is: ‘to go, or not to go?’

Let’s look at the pros and cons of studying in another country, with a different language and a foreign culture to what we as Paul Roosers are used to.

One of the most obvious advantages of studying at a university in the USA or Europe, is that it will expose you to a different culture and way of doing things. Seeing that PRG is by far the best school on the planet, it might be an eye-opening experience to encounter pockets of excellence in other countries and seeing how things are done differently. South African schools in general have more or less the same methods of teaching and follow the same methodology.

It is likely that international universities will make use of alternative teaching methods that can only enhance the way that we learn. Studying in a foreign country will lead to a very independent lifestyle, without any form of support from close family. This independence will naturally lead to self-assurance, as you will gain the confidence of surviving

independently. A natural consequence of being uprooted and being taken out of one’s comfort zone is that you are forced to take your networking skills to the next level. Studying with an international group of students broadens one’s network and coupled with the great network that PRG provides, will lead to endless possibilities and

standard at the overseas universities is much higher than that of our local universities.

Old boy, Carl Roothman (Class of 2021) is studying at Oklahoma State University on a tennis scholarship and is finding the academic side easy to manage for a “Freshman”.

The routine and discipline taught at

Although there are thousands of happy students that have successfully left our shores to broaden their horizons, there are also those who have either come back disillusioned or have hated every second of their time overseas. According to Christine Kruger (Bloemhof 2021), the biggest challenge is being lonely and far from loved ones. Home sickness

have to deal with it on your own. The biggest negative to leaving South Africa to study at an overseas university is probably the prohibitive costs. Tuition fees can range from $30 000 to $75 000 per year, excluding pocket money, transport and entertainment. The question is: is an overseas degree worth between five and ten times its equivalent in South Africa?

It can definitely be argued that the potential income, opportunities and worldwide network is worth any amount if it can be afforded. The bigger question is, however, that once a student leaves our shores to study overseas, they seldom return. They get married to a foreigner and raise a family in that country. Can South Africa afford to lose all our talent, or is the risk worth it to maybe produce another Elon Musk that might change the world?

worldwide connections.

Being able to put an international qualification on your CV will not only enhance your resume, but will also increase your professional opportunities, which will affect the pay scale on which you will enter the workforce, especially should you want to come back to South Africa.

A frequently asked question is if the

PRG is helping him adapt to the pressurised environment of high-level sport and academic achievement at such a prestigious university. Carl is also further impressed by the support he receives from the academic advisors and customized subject choices to suit individual needs, especially at undergrad level.

is real, and FOMO is not only the fear of missing out, but a daily concern that friends and family are making memories back home without you. When things go wrong, a quick flight is not an option. Dealing with these challenges on your own can either harden your resolve, build your character or break you. Whatever the situation, you will

In conclusion, we are indeed a privileged generation that has the opportunity to choose between Maties, Harvard, Oxford or any other great university or college from around the world. It is becoming increasingly easier to get into any of these universities, or to gain sponsorships or bursaries. The world has become our oyster and the future is in our hands.

Wherever you decide to further your studies, you will be distinguished from your peers because the Pride, Respect and Gentlemanship taught at PRG are unique and powerful values in this world! Good Luck.

Sport

Formula 1 races into 2023

Phillipe Andro

As the 2023 Formula 1 season draws ever nearer, the excitement and suspense for another year of racing has started to build. Who will emerge as the greatest team in Formula 1 history? Will it be the favourites: Red bull and reigning World Champion Max Verstappen? Or, perhaps, the legendary Ferrari team will finally take home the crown with superstar Charles Leclerc? Either way, Formula 1 is set to have one of its most enthralling seasons yet! All across the grid there are new faces, with three new rookies and countless driver transfers to spice up the action. F1 will race across the globe in 2023, including stunners such as Miami, Singapore, Canada, Britain, Italy, and Las Vegas!

Red Bull Racing enters the season as the clear title favourite, as superstar Max Verstappen has won the last two driver’s championships, but the odds may soon be stacked against them, with Red Bull having been fined $7 million and being handed

testing restrictions after having broken the spending budget in 2021. Despite this they still have arguably the strongest driver in Formula 1 in their arsenal, making it nigh impossible for any driver who wants to overcome the unstoppable Bulls.

Ferrari enters the season with lots of pressure on their shoulders. Having recruited new team principal Fred Vasseur, they hope to get back to their legendary winning ways. After an embarrassing 2022 season, where they made several costly errors, they will be aiming for more stability and success. Their star driver, Charles Leclerc, will be expecting no less from the Italian outfit. But this pressure creates great intrigue over Leclerc’s future in the team. If Ferrari disappoints again in 2023 – will Leclerc stick around? Or will he jump ship if an opportunity arises elsewhere? One thing is certain – tensions are high, and Ferrari has the driver, car, resources and talent to make winning a reality.

Mercedes enters the season on the back foot, after having endured a disastrous 2022 season. They will be

Schoolboy Ballers?

John-David Myburgh

Schoolboy basketball in South Af-

rica isn’t something often given attention, however it has been around for quite some time. South African basketball began rapidly growing in the 1990s and has only further developed with the growing popularity of the sport world wide. Other summer sports, such as cricket, water polo, and athletics, often get more time in the spotlight.

However, this is quickly changing. Schools in Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal, and the Eastern cape have developed a thriving basketball culture. Schools such as St. Charles College and St. John’s College are schools that push the sport further at a high school level. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has shown interest in South African basketball and has held NBA Junior Training Camps in order to grow the sport in Africa.

University basketball has also become increasingly popular. Universities such as the University of Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Stellenbosch have successful basketball programmes that contribute talented players to the South African professional basketball scene. Furthermore, the South African professional basketball scene feeds into an Interna-

tional basketball league in Africa. South Africa has their very own team in the Basketball Africa League. It is clear to me that basketball has a future in this country. However, to further develop the sport, more focus must be placed on the high school level.

This is where I ask the question: Why does the Western Cape seem to be lacking when it comes to basketball? Furthermore, is there a reason for the lack of attention basketball receives at Paul Roos? Multiple Paul Roos old boys have gone on to play at the university level. Schools such as SACS, Bishops, Wineberg, and the German International School Cape Town all have basketball programmes that feed into university basketball. For a school such as Paul Roos, it would be expected of them to compete. Perhaps Paul Roos would rather focus on more established sports that they are more comfortable competing in. Or maybe the learners at Paul Roos are not yet ready for the commitment of a new sport.

What do you think? Is Paul Roos missing out on an opportunity to compete in a new sport? Should they consider bringing basketball to the school? Or do you doubt learners will show interest?

Personally, I think that the sport would quickly find a home at Paul Roos. No matter your preference, we should all be interested to see how far basketball can be taken in South Africa.

expecting to once again return to their championship-winning ways in 2023, but that begs the question of who will come out on top at Mercedes. Will it be 7-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton? Or will it be the young, up-and-coming George Russell? Russell burst onto the scene at Mercedes last year, be-

ing the only Mercedes driver to win a Grand Prix. But Hamilton was still argued to be the stronger driver over the course of the season. So, will this be the year when they finally come to blows or will Mercedes end up favouring their experienced title winner over their young prospect? Who will it be in 2023? Will it be the

raging Bull: Max Verstappen? The Ferrari-bred Monégasques: Charles Leclerc? Or will it be the experienced champion: Lewis Hamilton? One thing is certain, all eyes will be locked on the screen as the world awaits the next unwritten chapter in Formula 1 history where anything can happen.

The Great Debate

David Chemaly

Messi or Ronaldo? Who is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME?

This is the debate of the 21st century; perhaps even the greatest debate of all time. The little boy from Rosario, or the Portuguese legend. During the build-up to the World Cup, the debate became especially heated. Each side came armed with facts to support its claim. Messi with his goals at clubs, Ronaldo with his at club and country. Messi with his 7 Ballon d’Ors, Ronaldo with his 5. Ronaldo fans claimed Ronaldo was superior because of his impact on the sport for his country; Messi, for all his skill, had been unable to win a title with his country, despite achieving every individual award possible. Ronaldo, however, had achieved moderate success with his country and multiple clubs; whereas Messi had only done so at his (almost) lifelong club, Barcelona. A turning point would manifest in 2021, as Messi and Argentina won their first major title. The Copa América. A title eluding Argentina’s possession since their glory days of the 1980s. From there on, Argentina conquered Italy in the Finalissima and only seemed to grow stronger – winning game on game until the eve of the World Cup.  A

consensus had been reached. Should Messi win the World Cup, he would become the undisputed GOAT. What followed was a dismal loss to Saudi Arabia. The streak was lost, questions arose as to whether Argentina could even escape the group stages, and the iconic “Where’s Messi” emerged. What followed was nothing short of a masterclass, as Argentina finished at the top of their group and advanced to meet Australia in the round of sixteen. After the dust settled (following a nail-biting victory over the Dutch, and a crushing victory over Croatia), Argentina found themselves against the defending champions: France.

Argentina made quick work of scoring goals at first, leading the game 2-0; but France’s Kylian Mbappé had other plans. Within two minutes, he had struck…twice, and the score was equalized – Argentina suddenly struggling to remain afloat amidst the French fury. Extra time came and went, and both sides were at a standoff. But, then, in the 108th minute, Messi managed to squeeze the ball across the goal line and Argentina found themselves ahead again. Ten minutes later, Mbappé had returned, scoring a hat-trick in the World Cup final (a phenomenon not experienced since 1966), and levelling

the score for a second time. France almost managed to claim the victory in the final moments, had it not been for a French-wrenching save by the Argentine goalkeeper of the tournament, Emiliano Martinez. As the extra time concluded, the game moved to a penalty shootout that would see one of these teams through as the champions.  Neither Messi nor the Argentinian team disappointed their country, as an hour later they hoisted the trophy and Messi was crowned player of the tournament, with the second highest number of goals (only outscored by Mbappé by 1 goal).

One might wonder where Ronaldo comes into the picture. Truth be told, he does not. Portugal would fall in the quarter-finals to a brilliant Morocco, and Ronaldo – despite playing five games – only managed a solitary goal. The 2022 World Cup was a pinnacle moment for the GOAT debate, with Messi now having won just about everything with club and country; he has been cemented as the Greatest of All Time. Although spectacular in his prime, Ronaldo can no longer be comparable to Messi. He has been outclassed and outplayed by Lionel Messi in his potential Last Dance.

Die Gerrie Berner-tennistoernooi: Altyd 'n uitdaging

tennisafrigter, is in ’n klas van sy eie wat wysheid, kundigheid en analitiese strategiese beplanning betref. Hy verklaar dat beide spanne uiters mededingend is en dat die uitslag op ’n mespunt was, maar hierdie keer het Grey koning gekraai.

Oom Swannie en sy spelers sal in die komende maande hard werk om voor te berei vir onder andere die Kearsney College Toernooi. Miskien loop die PRG-span weer vir Grey College raak … Hulle gaan beslis nie lus wees om weer tweede te kom nie!

WÊRELDKLAS-BERGFIETSRY IN ONS AGTERPLAAS

Willem Visagie

Paul Roos Gimnasium was die gasheer van die eerste nasionale en provinsiale rondte van die XCObergietsryresiese van 2023 en dit het aanhangers vir seker nie teleurgestel nie. Op 3 tot 5 Februarie het dit behoorlik op Coetzenburg gegons met fietsryers, beamptes en ondesteuners net waar jy kyk.

werk om die baan in ‘n perfekte toestand te kry. Daar is ook gewoeker om stalletjies, tegniese hulpareas, ens. gereed te kry. Dit was egter nie net die professionele ryers wat die voorreg gehad het om op dié uitdagende baan te ry nie — van die 9-jarige Nippers tot die 50-plussers het hul kans gekry. Paul Roos is goed verteenwoordig. Die versengende hitte het bygedra tot ’n uitdagende, uitmergelende ondervinding en ryers moes diep delf om klaar te maak.

Paul Roos het vanaf 16 tot 18 Februarie die Zest Fruit Gerrie Berner Tennistoernooi vir die 18de keer aangebied. Dit word algemeen beskou as die mees kompeterende tennistoernooi in Suid- Afrika en die land se topskole wedywer om met die gesogte trofee weg te stap. Die enigste skole wat dít nog kon regkry, was Paul Roos Gimnasium en St. Stithians. Grey College het egter hierdie jaar daarin geslaag om PRG se vyf-jaar-wenrekord te beëindig en só die derde skool ooit te word wat met hul naam op die trofee kan spog.

Uithalertennis is deur die PRG o. 19span gespeel ten spyte van die sterk suidoostewind wat speeltoestande bemoeilik het. Die span het bestaan uit Willem de Waal, Pieter Kotzé, Leonardo Sola, Jake Downie, Echard de Kock, Divan Prinsloo en Xander Pienaar.

Hulle het tydens die uitdunrondtes geseëvier oor King Edward School (70), St. Stithians (7-0), Westville Boys High (6-1), Oakdale Landbou (6-1) en ook die sterk span van Paarl Boishaai (4-3) geklop. Die semifinaal teen Hoërskool Outeniqua het aan PRG nog ’n oorwinning (4-0) besorg, waarna hulle in die finaal teen die begeesterde span van Grey College te staan gekom het.

Die finaal tussen PRG en Grey was spanningsvol. Die Paul Roos-span het aanhou veg, maar naelskraap verloor en moes met die silwer medalje tevrede wees. Hoërskool Outeniqua het uiteindelik die derde posisie verower.

Gerrie Berner, die legendariese gewese tennisafrigter van PRG, na wie hierdie toernooi vernoem is, was alombekend vir sy gebalanseerde beskouing van sport en die lesse wat wen en verloor ’n mens leer. Jacobus Swanepoel (ook bekend as oom Swannie), die huidige

PRG se eerste tennisspan se konsekwente goeie spelpeil om die finale rondes van toptoernooie te haal, kan nie deur enige ander span in SuidAfrika geëwenaar word nie. Die Gerrie Berner Toernooi was ook net een van drie tennistoernooie waaraan PRG daardie week deelgeneem het. Die tweede span het in Nelspruit gewen en die derde span het in Cradock ook die finaal gehaal. Dit wys dat PRG se tennisspanne uitstekende diepte het en dat die laer spanne selfs ander goeie skole se eerste spanne kan uitdaag en wen.

Ten spyte daarvan dat die eerste span nie die wenrekord kon volhou nie, kan elke Paul Rooser trots wees op sy skool se toptennisspan. Dit behoort ’n interessante jaar op die tennisbane te wees — PRG se spanne wen steeds verskeie toernooie en ander skole gaan beslis probeer om hulle te onttroon. Moenie jou oog van die bal afhaal nie; netnou mis jy ’n tennisjaar wat nog in die geskiedenisboeke aangeteken sal word.

Paul Roos Dominance

Paul Enthoven

Coming off the back of an incredibly successful pre-season water polo camp attended by the seasoned Hungarian coach Csaba Rull, and domination at PRG’s pre-season festival, our PRG 1st water polo team was on their way to the prestigious SAC Shield water polo tournament in Makhanda/Grahamstown hosted by St Andrew’s College (SAC). The PRG 1st water polo team had not won a significant tournament in 8 years, but with a promising team in 2023, that was all about to change.

The boys had a very early wake-up on the first day of the tournament to travel to Grahamstown where they were faced with their first of many challenging games. St John’s College posed a massive obstacle in the pool stages as they had completely dominated schoolboy water polo in South Africa for the past couple of years. However, our team was able to sweep through the first day with relative ease against St John’s College (10-7 victory), Michael House (13-7 victory) and, lastly, Clifton (9-5 victory).

The Friday games would determine the pool winners and the 1st team continued to dominate. Our first game that day against Bishops ended convincingly in PRG’s favour with a 12-6 victory. The Last game of the day was played against the hosting school, St Andrew’s College, which had a massive crowd behind them,

but PRG managed to push through the noise and taunts to defeat SAC in dominating fashion – winning 10-2. The playoffs had arrived and PRG were set to play the deceivingly good Westville side who had beaten Rondebosch (the number one seeded team in the other pool). Our first team managed to pull away in the final minutes of the game to come out victorious with a final score of 5-4. Once again, they were faced with the heavily supported St Andrew’s side who came in firing with heaps of passion. However, our first team was able to smother the SAC side with their own fire and passion to squeeze out a narrow 6-4 victory – once again disappointing the home side. PRG entered the finals as underdogs, having lost to a similar Rondebosch side in 2022’s Mazinter finals. After an arduous three quar-

ters, our boys headed into the last chukka down 3-2. Showing amazing grit and determination our boys were able to come back and win the momentous game with a score of 5-4.

Josh Reyneke, the first team captain, lifted the SAC Shield in victory for the first time in the school’s history – signifying the results of a complex water polo programme that has been developed by the accomplished First team coach Vaughn Marlow over his many years at the school.

This win was more than just PRG’s first major tournament victory in eight years, but also an indication of the water polo that our teams will come to play in the coming years and the potential excellence that awaits our water polo programme.

Daar was groot ongelukkigheid verlede jaar toe die wind letterlik die 2022-XCO teen 78 km/h weggewaai het en alle wedrenne om die nippertjie gekanselleer moes word. Mnr. Puddu vertel hoe alles perfek en gereed was vir die Saterdag, maar dat die wind só gewaai het dat 21 gazebo’s flenters gewaai is. Ons sou toe nooit kon raai hoe perfek 2023 se verrigtinge sou verloop nie. Mnr. Puddu het verwag dat internasionale ryers sal inskryf, maar nie dat soveel van die wêreld se bestes — selfs wêreldkampioene — sou inskryf nie!

Internasionale XCO-bergfietsryers van 17 lande is na Stellenbosch gelok om een van die moeilikste bane in Suid-Afrika aan te durf. Groot name soos Nino Schurter, Alan Hatherly, Fillopo Colombo, Victor Koretzky, Alessandra Keller en Kate Courtney was daar en het gesorg vir groot groepe ondersteuners.

Mnr. Puddu en sy span het hard ge-

Die baan het kenmerkende sektore gebied, naamlik Varsity Drop Off, Rock Garden, Wine barrel en Pick-up Sticks ens. Die baan is tegnies en ryers moes hul storie ken en met moeë lywe hard konsentreer om op hul fietse te bly. Daar is verskeie kere grond gekoop en sommiges het ongelukkig seerder as ander gekry.

Vir elke Paul Roos-bergfietsryer was dit ’n naweek om te onthou. Om jou skool te verteenwoordig by ’n geleentheid wat in jou agterplaas aangebied word, om op dieselfde grond as jou grootste helde te ry en deur al die bloed en sweet dit net absoluut te geniet, is ’n voorreg. Ons is dankbaar dat ons deel van ’n wêreldklas-kompetisie kon wees en ons bedank graag vir mnr. Ben Puddu, tannie Adele de Villiers, Marc Fourie en die res van die Paul Roos MTB-gemeenskap wat hierdie spogbyeenkoms moontlik gemaak het.

Francois Dercksen

Sport

The top student in every class: ChatGPT! p. 13

Prestige 2023

Hanko van Rooyen

Op 14 Februarie het omtrent 2000 maroen en navy baadjies die berugte Dal Josafat ingemars. Die Paarlson het warm geskyn en almal se harte het geklop van waardering dat hulle weer kon deel wees van die opwinding. Die hele skool is in 2020 laas toegelaat om die byeenkoms by te woon.

Die dag het op ʼn hoë noot afgeskop. Almal was vol afwagting en slaggereed om alles vir die Roos te gee. Die cheerleaders het ’n aansteeklike atmosfeer geskep wat die hele dag volgehou is. Nie eers die onderbreking in Bloemhof se danspassie weens beurtkrag kon die gees demp nie. Elke Paul Rooser het te midde van die drukkende Paarlse hitte dapper hulle baadjies aangehou. Dit is ’n perfekte uitbeelding van die “baadjietrots”

waarvoor Paul Roos so bekend is.

Die byeenkoms het vroegdag in aanvang geneem toe die 3000 m-atlete eerste hulle staal moes wys. Die Bloemroosers het vinnig momentum opgetel en punte op die telbord begin aanteken. Die hoogtepunt was toe Marcus Viljoen in graad 9 en Lana Oberholzer in graad 11 skoonskip in die korthekkie-afdeling gemaak het. Hulle het so goed in hulle onderskeie items gevaar dat die twee Bloemroosers aan die einde van die dag beloon is met die toekenning vir beste junior- en seniorbaanatleet.

Die naellopers het baie goed gevaar en almal met hul spoed beïndruk. Bloemroos het behoorlik uithouvermoë in die uitmergelende 400 m gewys. Hulle het in elke uitdun ʼn medalje verower! Op die veld het Joshua Acker in

graad 12 soos gewoonlik gedomineer en ʼn nuwe gewigstootrekord met ʼn afstand van 16,8 m opgestel.

Die Bloemroos-gees het ’n toppunt bereik toe die aflosse uiteindelik aanbreek! Ek dink almal kon hulle harte in hul borse voel klop. Die aflosspanne het alle verwagtinge oortref met nuwe rekords wat deur beide die o. 15en o. 17-spanne opgestel is.

Bloemroos (823) het algeheel derde geëindig. Paarl Gimnasium (894) het die tweede plek ingepalm terwyl Paarl Girls’ High en Boishaai (955) die eerste plek verower het.

Al was die finale uitslag nou nie juis die gewenste resultaat nie, het Bloemroos sonder twyfel die geesafdeling oorheers. Die Bloemroosers se harte voel steeds warm ná al die opwinding.

Formula 1 races into 2023 p. 14

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