Dear Kingsmead Community,
I trust that the half term break was a good time for our teachers and students to rest, take one last deep breath and get ready to dive into the final 6 weeks of the third term. We have many things to achieve together before the year closes and we are looking forward to each and every one of them.
Our Grade 5-7 students and teachers enjoyed a successful camp experience last week. The magic of outdoor education and the building of social relationships is imperative to the holistic education on offer at Kingsmead. I want to thank our parents and caregivers for your unwavering support and many messages of gratitude we have received in ensuring that these camps could go ahead. I also want the thank our teachers, admin and security staff, Sister Monica and her team for the detailed and thorough planning that went into making this camp possible, safe and fun!
During the course of the last week, we have received further bits of exciting news that helps us to put more of our puzzle pieces together in seeking ‘normality’.
It has been announced that all children from the age of 12 are eligible for vaccinations. I encourage every one of our families to take their children of this age for their vaccinations as soon as possible, if you haven’t already done so. We will be holding a Covid-19 vaccination clinic for two days next week, in partnership with Clicks, further communication will be sent out. The clinic will have limited space and will be on a first come, first served basis. We are so excited to be able to offer this service to our community.
We have also finally received the gazetted regulations from the Department of Education regarding spectators at school events. Please take heed of the detailed communication and protocols aligned with these regulations. We cannot wait to see our parents back in ‘live’ support of our school again. We are limited to the number of people we can host at each event. Communication will therefore be shared more regularly as the calendar events arise.
Onwards and upwards. With love and Courage Always,
Kim Lowman
Junior School Head
ARTS & MUSIC
MUSIC FESTIVALS
Last week was a very exciting one for the Music department. After a year of no music festivals, we held our 16th annual Senior Schools Ensembles Festival, 9th annual Junior Schools Ensembles Festival and launched our brand new Choir Festival: ‘Masicule Sonke’ for Junior and Senior schools online!
Every school overcame the challenges we have faced in their own way. It was so special to see the variety of musical styles and genres young musicians from our neighbouring schools have learned and enjoyed playing.
At Kingsmead we believe that music comes alive when we play together. We endeavour to create opportunities for musicians to sing and play together from early in their school career and experience the magic that happens on stage when it all comes together.
Watch our events by clicking on the links below. Note that these events are unlisted videos on YouTube so can only be accessed with the link and not by searching for the event on YouTube.
Choir Festivals:
Masicule Sonke Junior School Choir Festival
Ensemble Festivals:
Junior Schools Ensemble Festival: Orchestra, Ensemble & Band Edition
Junior Schools Ensemble Festival: African Music & Marimba Edition
*Venues TBC; details and programme will be posted on the app.
SPORT
Athletics
On Friday 8th October 2021 we competed in our second athletics meeting. The athletes were all very motivated and determined to do their best.
Unfortunately, some of our top athletes could not participate due to other commitments. Kingsmead ended off the meeting with an overall 3rd, with St Peter’s A-Team 1st and Brescia 2nd.
Grade 3:
60m:
A – race:
Keodirelang Maqubela: 2nd
C – race:
Lilia Thomas: 3rd
D – race:
La Lu Hu-Grobbelaar: 3rd
Grade 4:
80m:
A – race:
Noa van Zalk 2nd
C – race:
Inès Rodrigues: 2nd
150m:
A – race:
Noa van Zalk: 1st
Grade 6:
100m:
A – race:
Ella de Goede: 3rd
B – race:
Neo Mkwanazi: 3rd
C – race:
Grace Hefer: 2nd
200m:
A – race:
Ella de Goede: 2nd
B – race:
Neo Mkwanazi: 3rd
Hurdles:
A – race:
Grace Hefer: 1st
Ella de Goede: 2nd
B – race:
Neo Mkwanazi: 1st
Jada Williams: 2nd
Grade 7:
Hurdles:
A – race:
Hannah Schwegmann: 2nd
Priyanka Geness: 3rd
B – race:
Robyn Herold: 2nd
Tanaya Poovalingham: 3rd
Well done to all these athletes! You did Kingsmead proud!
On Friday 15th October 2021 we competed in our last athletics meeting of the season. The athletes were all very motivated and determined to do their best and participated with enthusiasm.
The following athletes finished in the top three positions in the respective events:
Grade 3:
60m:
A – race:
Kate van Dyk: 2nd
Keodirelang Maqubela: 3rd
B – race:
Lilia Thomas: 1st
C – race:
Thoriso Motshegoa: 1st
D – race:
Francesca Pardini: 3rd
100m:
A – race:
Saara Hassim: 1st
Kate van Dyk: 3rd
B – race:
Grace Beukes: 1st
Lilia Thomas: 2nd
Lisakhanya Mhlongo: 3rd
A – Relay:
Keodirelang Maqubela, Kate van Dyk, La Lu Hu-Grobbelaar and Lilia Thomas finished in the second place.
Well done to all the Grade 3 athletes!
Grade 4:
Long Jump:
Noa van Zalk: 1st
80m:
A – race:
Noa van Zalk: 1st
B – race:
Inès Rodrigues: 1st
150m:
A – race:
Noa van Zalk: 1st
B – race:
Inès Rodrigues: 2nd
A – Relay:
Alison de Zeeuw, Noa van Zalk, Inès Rodrigues and Charlotte McLay went FIRST over the finishing line!
Well done to all the Grade 4 athletes!
Grade 5:
80m:
C – race:
Zoe Combrink: 3rd
150m:
A – race:
Shané van Lith: 2nd
A – Relay:
Shané van Lith, Zoe Combrink, Tsepang Maqubela and Maya Rono finished in the 3rd position. Well done to these athletes!
Grade 6:
100m:
B – race:
Ella de Goede: 3rd
200m:
A – race:
Ella de Goede: 3rd
B – race:
Neo Mkwanazi: 1st
A – Relay:
Ella de Goede, Grace Hefer, Neo Mkwanazi and Jada Williams finished in the 3rd position. Well done!
Grade 7:
100m:
A – race:
Erin van Dyk: 2nd
Hannah Schwegmann: 3rd
B – race:
Kaitlyn Brown: 2nd
C – race:
Hope Ngwenya: 1st
Amelie Sabbioni: 2nd
D – race:
Rachel Drake: 1st
Chloe Brickhill: 2nd
200m:
A – race:
Kaitlyn Brown: 3rd
B – race:
Rachel Drake: 1st
Priyanka Geness: 2nd
A – Relay:
Priyanka Geness, Hannah Schwegmann, Erin van Dyk and Kaitlyn Brown finished in the second place. What a race! Well done to these athletes.
Congratulations and THANK YOU to the whole athletics team. You did Kingsmead proud, and we ended the season on a HIGH!!!!
KEEP ON KEEPING ON! We are looking forward to 2022!
Diving
Congratulations to our divers who did a phenomenal job at the diving fixture against St Andrew’s which was held at Kingsmead. the divers were placed as follows:
Grade 3
2nd Stephanie Rees
3rd Darcy Anderson
6th Kayley Browner
11th Madison Crozier
12th Thoriso Motshegoa
Grade 4 A
1st Milan Williams
2nd Kylie Dugmore
Grade 4 B
4th Charlotte McLay
5th Mikaila Rono
Grade 5 A
1st Maya Rono
7th Shané van Lith
Grade 5 B
1st Reneilwe Ramulta
2nd Olona Mbele
Grade 6 A
1st Grace Hefer
2nd Jada Williams
3rd Alysia Gouws
Grade 6 B
2nd Chloe Mandy
3rd Paula Anderson
6th Grace Rees
Grade 7 A
1st Amy Teeling-Smith
2nd Camden Williams
Grade 7 B
1st Sophia Pearse
2nd Charlee Davis
3rd Victoria Kahwa
Tennis
The following players played in our second tennis matches on the 14th October against St Mary’s:
A – Team:
Kate Sardi; Anna Lipchin; Chloe Brickhill; Kaitlyn Brown; Annabelle Rattray; Ziyanah Mahomed
B – Team:
Jessica de Zeeuw; Neo Mkwanazi; Jemma Goussard; Olivia Turck; Piper Keizan; Alison de Zeeuw
C – Team:
Briony Grubb; Zoe Kennedy; Mira Naidoo; Leah Schoeman; Carla Palmer; Zara Stewart
D – Team:
Melokuhle Zungu; Madison Botha; Kwezi Foss; Almaz Huybrechts; Charlie Dalling; Jessica Galloway Reserves: Yusairah Peer; Raeesa Timol; Amy Oberholzer
The players enjoyed themselves and participated with enthusiasm and determination. Your behaviour on and off the courts was outstanding and you did Kingsmead proud!
Keep on attending the practice sessions! We are playing our last tennis matches on the 4th November against St Andrew’s.
We would like to congratulate the following students for participating in the U14 Roedean waterpolo festival over the half term. They joined the high school team and played extremely well.
Charlie Davis
Jessica Galloway
Hannah Schwegmann
Elena Rovelli
Luyanda Nkumane
Lola-Rose Jooste
Jenna Askew
Robyn Herold
Ella de Goede
We would like to congratulate the following students for making their respective Gauteng waterpolo teams that will be going to Cape Town in December for their IPT.
U12A:
Emily Kennedy
Katherine Raats
Reserves:
Chloe Chapman
Hannah Cooke
U13B:
Lola-Rose Jooste
Kate Sardi
Jessica Galloway
Elena Rovelli
Amy Oberholzer
Reserve:
Ariana Boyd
U14 reserve:
Hannah Schwegmann
Fun Sports Morning
Outside Sport
Acrobatics
We would like to congratulate Lalu Hu-Grobbelaar on becoming the new Acrobatic champion in her age group. Lalu placed first at the AESA Acrobatic Sports Championships which took place in Pretoria. Well done Lalu!
Fencing
A very big congratulations to Inés Bregman on her amazing achievement. Inés fenced in a Gauteng Fencing Association national open, non-ranking competition on Saturday 16 October in Pretoria, and she won silver in U13 Epeé category. Well done Inés!
A reminder to send any sport achievements to Mrs Hanekom – shanekom@kingsmead.co.za
Shavaun Hanekom
Junior School Sports Coordinator
Grade 7 Camp Experience
The Grade 7s safely returned from an exciting camp, facilitated by Lionheart Experience at the Waterberg Game Lodge, where the students were engaged in various activities reminding them of their impact as a citizen scientist and our global contribution to planet Earth.
Camp was an amazing experience, filled with exciting activities such as nurturing and growing our knowledge on nature and bonding as a grade. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say I enjoyed every moment of it and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make camp a possibility.
Victoria Kahwa
Grade 7Z1
Tarryn McLaren
Deputy Head: Senior Primary
Grade 6 Camp Experience
One of the favourite activities completed by the girls was the ‘mudstacle’ which was an obstacle course in which the girls had to complete various physical challenges through A LOT of mud. The girls spurred each other on and were real ‘warriors.’
Another highlight was kayaking up and down the Hex River. For many girls it was their first time in a kayak. It was amazing to see the girls work together to get their rowing right without capsizing the kayak.
Lauren Myburgh
Senior Primary Teacher & Junior School Head of Service
Grade 5 Camp Experience
The Grade 5 students returned from Parnassus Farm last week after 3 days of outdoor fun. Many memories were made and friendships formed and bonds strengthened. The students participated in rotational activities which required team work and communication. The students particularly enjoyed the obstacle course and mud pit. We are extremely blessed and grateful to have had this experience and we look forward to many more camps in the future.
Faye Hastings
Senior Primary Teacher & Junior School Head of IT
Grade 4 Camp Experience
What do you do instead of taking Grade 4s away on camp? You make a substitute in the Joel Hall and theme it on Survivor, of course!
First impressions were spot on. A huge amount of effort was put into carefully placing plants and banners. They even managed to make a giant blow-up slide look like it belonged! There were also little details, like barely visible stuffed animals hidden among the plants!
Now, because this was Survivor, there had to be tribes. Because there were a lot of tribes with very few people in each, you got to know your tribe members. I liked how it was entirely based on luck and we each chose the turned over numbers that would decide what tribe we were in. The tribe names were all flowers. There were the Lilies, Proteas, Poppies, Blue Bells, Daffodils, Tulips, Roses and Daisies. I liked being in the Blue Bell tribe – our uniqueness made us quite quirky!
Each tribe was also given two facilitators who were able to stop tribal arguments before it turned into war! Among your tribe, you voted for a leader, but apart from reading out the clues, they were just normal members of the team. To get to know each other, the “survivors” had to paint white t-shirts to make a team outfit. We then had to come up with a war cry and present it, which I think everyone liked. There were fun half-Survivor, half-camp challenges, like tug-of-war, where everyone got rope splinters (which sounds a lot worse than it was!), a memory game where it was every tribe member for themselves, a puzzle in a box that you had to unlock when the pressure was on (at least in my mind!) and a treasure hunt that got really intense.
In between, there were a few tribal councils. No one was sent home, but I’m sure everyone secretly wanted to send someone home! Instead, you voted for things like ‘best team player’ and they would get a packet of sweets. For the challenges, it was really important to use the Habits of Mind, such as Thinking Interdependently and Sucking It Up when you failed. Erm… I mean, Finding Humour!
At the end of the day, an astronomer called Jerome talked to us about space and then we watched Charlotte’s Web which was a nice, calm way to end the day.
On behalf of the Grade 4 group, we wish to think everyone involved for making this day so special: Ms Bell, Ms Diefo and Ms Miya for your hard work organising the experience, all the facilitators for your time and leadership, Mrs Church for the delicious food, Mr Mitchley for helping with set up and all the parents who contributed toward turning our hall into jungle!
Clara van der Want
Grade 4B
Nicole Bell
Grade 4 Teacher