Dear Kingsmead Community,
I hope that you have all enjoyed a restful half-term break and are ready for the remainder of the busy first term.
I was fortunate to attend an in-person South African Heads of Independent Schools Association (SAHISA) conference in Gqeberha this past week and was reminded of how we have missed out on interacting with people. Over the past two years when we immersed in our own bubble and seemed to be doing everything on our own, we forgot that all schools and heads of schools, were dealing with similar situations. This week it was so refreshing to be able to soak up the discussions; the debates and the presentations. I felt like a first year Head again.
The theme of the conference was “Flourishing” and there was certainly a sense that schools have been through a very dark period and are, although some have been hard hit, there is now more of a sense of hope and optimism. It was truly magical to gather collectively.
One of the highlights of the conference was listening to Professor Shabir Madhi talk on “Two years into the pandemic – what now?” Other excellent presentations included:
Alex van den Heever and Renias Mhlongo talking on “The Power of Relationships,” Doctor William Folds “30 By 30: Restoration, Rhino and Biodiversity” and Ron Addinall gave fascinating insights on the transgender and gender diverse learner and staff.
I wish you a productive, happy and healthy term ahead and I look forward to seeing you at our production, music concerts or on the sports’ fields.
Fond regards,
Lisa Palmer
Executive Head: Kingsmead College
Sport News
WATERPOLO
Our league season has come to an end and this past weekend, both u15 and 1st teams took part in festivals.
U15
The U15s finished 16th out of 20 teams at the Shaun Fuchs tournament. The coaches were pleased on the improvement of the girls and look forward to great things from them in the future.
Congratulations to the following girls:
Annabelle Smith
Holly Franks
Francesca Druce
Kirsten Lamb
Helene van der Merwe
Elena Rovelli
Lola-Rose Jooste
Clea Ellens
Bethany Sinclaire
Ariana Boyd
Charlee Davis
Emma Simmonds
1sts
1st team finished 9th out of 28 teams at Old Petrian’s tournament which is a national tournament with all the top teams around the country competing. Kingsmead won the plate final match against Collegiate 4-1 after losing to them in pool games. Caitlin Stott was selected for the Team of the Tournament which essentially means she is one of the top 15 players in the country.
Congratulations to the following girls on their fantastic performance throughout the tournament:
Lucy Davis
Ruby Vos
Hannah Daniels
Meghan Eddison
Caroline Spronk
Amy Dickinson
Caitlin Stott(Captain)
Olivia Cooke
Kate Chapman
Scarlet Muirhead
Alison Gace
Kristy Hume
Lulu Gomes
SQUASH
Our season has come to an end with amazing results. We are very proud of our players and a special congratulations to our coach, Linda Shannon who has done an amazing job, and new support coach Mr Michael Soutar. Special mention to our managers, Mrs Mabaso and Mrs Masetlwa for their continuous dedication to squash.
U14 Squad
Priyanka Geness Nicole Dyer Milli Seekins
Chloe Brickhill Charlie Dalling
U15 Squad
Lwandle Nkosi Olivia Thompson Emelie Thompson
Amy Falcon Kara Smith Oprah Orimoloye
U16 Squad
Lyoné Marnewick Cara Nicholson Naafia Nanabhai
Sumayya Forssman Mieke Costa Thuli Martin
Open A Team
Rachel Shannon Emma Shannon Leah Falcon Megan Taylor
Open B Team
Natalie Solomon Alice Behr Nazrana Jhavary
Jessica Robinson Philippa Röhrs Tasmiyya Bham
Lara Gush Kate Ramsbotham Dayaanah Joosub
Final Season Results
U14 – 3rd in league
U15 – 2nd in league
U16 – 1st in league
Open A – 1st in league
Open B – 1st in league
Congratulations
Our Open A team consisting of 6 players have qualified for the prestigious Top Schools National Squash tournament to be held in June this year. We wish them the best of luck preparing for that event.
Squash Tournaments
There have been a number of outside tournaments which have taken place over the past weeks. The results are as follows:
Wilsons Easterns Junior Open 2022: 28 to 30 January 2022
Amy Falcon placed 5th in the U16 section
Milli Seekins placed 8th in the U16 section
Leah Falcon placed 4th in the U19 section
Natalie Solomon placed 6th in the U19 section
Joburg Junior Squash Open 2022: 4 to 6 February 2022
Milli Seekins placed 3rd in the U16B section
Natalie Solomon placed 9th in the U19 section
Northerns PSA Challenger: 4 to 6 February 2022
Rachel Shannon placed 13th in the PSA Ladies A section
TENNIS
Our tennis players have also completed their season and now look forward to their Inter-High competition on 5 March.
SWIMMING AND DIVING
Due to the poor weather, the team have struggled to get any galas in. The team is now preparing for their major Inter- high competition that is being held at Delville stadium on 8th March.
The Diving team are too preparing for the major competition which is being held at St Dominics school in Boksburg on the 7th March.
We wish both teams the very best for their final events.
EQUESTRIAN
South African National Equestrian Schools Association (SANESA)
CORE LEAGUE
Qualifier 1 – 19th and 20th February 2022
The Equestrian team competed at the first qualifier this weekend and received an amazing set of results.
Amy Falcon
1st in Level 3 Handy Hunter
1st in Level 3 Working Hunter
2nd in level 3 showjumping second round
Ella Hunt
1st in Level 5 Working Riding
1st in Level 4 Show Jumping Round 1
4th in Level 2 Dressage A
Mia Byrne
5th in Level 6 Equitation
Rania Motara
1st in Level 2 Dressage A
1st in Level 2 Dressage B
1st in Level 5 Performance Riding
2nd in Level 3 Working Riding
3rd in Level 1 Equitation
Sarah Florence
1st in Level 3 Handy Hunter
2nd in Level 3 Working Hunter
6th in Level 2 Dressage B
Sarah Warren
2nd in Level 5 Working Hunter
There was also a SANESA eventing qualifier three weeks ago
They are as follows:
Ella Hunt – 2nd in level 3 eventing
1st in level 5 eventing.
Sarah Warren – 3rd in level 3 eventing
NETBALL
We would like to congratulate Emma Spronk ( u16B ) and Caroline Spronk ( u19A ) on their selection into the Provincial netball teams that will compete in their IPT at the end of March.
Caroline Spronk Emma Spronk
HOCKEY
The u14 hockey team competed in the Annual Best of the West festival this past weekend. Unfortunately the weather was not great and some matches were cancelled. Our team won 2 matches and drew 1 game scoring 13 goals and only conceding 1.
WATERPOLO
Congratulations to Caitlin Stott(U18A), Alison Gace(U18B), Amy Dickinson(U18B) and Kate Chapman(U18C) on making the relevant Currie Cup sides for waterpolo which will compete at the U18 Junior Nationals Water Polo Tournament taking place in East London from 25 – 27 March 2022.
Robert Pullen
Director of Sport
Arts and Music News
MAJOR PRODUCTION – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Kingsmead College Senior School Drama department is delighted to present a modernised version of William Shakespeare’s classic ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Four young lovers run away to the forest only to have fairies manipulate and play tricks on them. Love swaps from friend to friend as the audience is taken on a typical Rom-Com journey complete with love obstacles, mistaken identities and plot twists. “The course of true love never did run smooth.”
10 & 11 March @18:30; 12 March @15:00
The Lange Hall
R100/ticket
Family friendly
Refreshments will be available to be purchased on The Garth before the show.
We would love to see you there!
Why do Music?
‘What if a large number of scientific studies had found that there was one activity that could improve our cognitive function, help our memory systems to work, help us to learn language, help us to moderate our emotional state, help us to solve complex problems and help our brains to be healthier. What if that activity is beneficial undertaken at any time of our lives, but found by scientists to be most beneficial if it was undertaken under the age of 7. What if that activity, is actually enjoyable for everyone involved…’ Anita Collins TEDx
Click on the pictures below to watch these two insightful videos about the benefits of learning a musical instrument:
Congratulations!
Well done to Safiya Vally who achieved an outstanding Distinction for the Grade 4 Trinity Violin examination.
Congratulations to Lyoné Marnewick who achieved 95% for the Grade 5 Unisa Theory examination.
We are so proud of them!
Meet your Music Teachers week!
It was an absolute delight to meet our music parents at the online connect earlier this month and to welcome many visitors to the department over the last few weeks. At the online connect I shared these quotes with the parents:
“The Arts are an expression of our being, our thoughts, our feelings. The Arts create a kind of light that transcends boundaries.” ~ Keren Spyker (Grade 12 Head of Arts & Music)
“If you hear a voice within you say ’you cannot paint’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”~ van Gogh
The Kingsmead Arts & Music Department aims to involve every student in some way in the Arts & Music during their school career. We strive to provide an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and catered for. The magic happens when we play together and a range of opportunities enable students to perform and collaborate. A partnership between parent, teacher and student ensures the best results in learning to play an instrument. We aim not to only develop musicians who love making music, but to foster an appreciation for the Arts and Music, developing our future audiences.
If you were unable to visit your daughter’s lesson last week, please pop in on another day!
Meet the music staff by watching the video: Meet the Kingsmead Music staff
Events
Our Grade 4-7 and Senior School Choirs will be performing at the upcoming ‘Singing Sistas’ Choir events. Please see the letters attached on the live calendar or in the Arts & Music folder on the app for more information. Junior school and Senior school Choir parents must please complete the online forms for tickets and bus transport this week.
Please diarise the events for the term ahead:
| Date | Time | Event |
| Wednesday 9 March | 17:00 – 20:00 | JS Singing Sistas Choir Evening |
| Thursday 10 March | 18:30-20:30 | Major Production Opening Night |
| Friday 11 March | 18:30-20:30 | Major Production Gala Night |
| Saturday 12 March | 15:00 – 17:00 | Major Production Matinee Performance |
| Tuesday 15 March | 17:30-18:30 | Grade 1-3 Music Concert |
| Thursday 17 March | 17:00 – 20:00 | SS Singing Sistas Choir Evening |
| Thursday 24 March | 18:00 – 19:00 | Grade 4 & 5 Music Concert |
| Thursday 31 March | 18:00 – 19:00 | Grade 6 & 7 Music Concert |
| Tuesday 5 April | 18:00 – 19:30 | JS Kingsmead Ensemble Festival |
| Wednesday 6 April | 18:00 – 19:30 | JS Kingsmead Ensemble Festival |
| Thursday 7 April | 18:00 – 19:00 | Senior School Music Concert |
| Monday 11 April | 18:00 – 19:00 | Junior & Senior Voice Concert |
| Wednesday 13 April | 8:00-12:00 | Day of the Arts |
Elsabé Fourie
Director of Arts & Music
Academic News
LIFE SCIENCES
Grade 10 – Who led the solution across the semi permeable membrane? Os-Moses.
The grade 10 Life Sciences students did an exciting and rather tasty practical assessment last week. We tested whether the size of Haribo gummy bears were effected when placed in 2 different solutions, one being water (hypotonic) and one being a salt solution (hypertonic). As a class we watched with awe as our gummy bears grew almost double their size in the water solution and shrunk to almost half their size in the salt solution. We learnt that this happens because SALT SUCKS meaning that liquid flows where ever there is a higher concentration. The salt solution is called hypertonic because there is a higher concentration outside the gummy bear’s membrane than in, causing the liquid to flow out the semi-permeable membrane. The water solution is called hypotonic because there is a higher concentration inside the gummy bear’s membrane than outside the semi-permeable membrane, causing the liquid to flow in. The semi-permeable membrane allows the liquid to flow in and out passively meaning no energy is required. This enlightening and fun practical helped us understand the important process of osmosis and created an enjoyable learning experience that was delicious in every way.
Kate Chapman
Grade 10 Student
In Life Sciences this week we learnt about Mitosis (the division of cells). We learnt about the 5 different phases- Interphase, Prophase, Metophase, Anaphase and Telophase. At the end of the week on Friday we made models in 5 groups of the different phases to recap what we learnt during the week. We had so much fun. We used gummy worms and chocolates for chromosomes, cookie and cupcakes for the cell and by the end of the lesson we were all either on a sugar high or sick but had a better understanding of this whole process.
Lyoné Marnewick
Grade 10 Student
Grade 12 pGLO practical
The Grade 12s did a practical in Life Sciences where we grew genetically modified bacterial colonies, by inserting a gene into the bacteria that codes for a fluorescent green, or glow in the dark, protein. Since we were learning about genetic modification in class, I found this task incredibly beneficial, as it has given me a greater understanding of the process and how the technology works, as well as allowed me to improve my practical skills. Every person had to be involved in the practical in some way, which ensured that our full attention was put towards the process, therefore making this section difficult to forget. My group’s practical was not entirely successful, as we failed to grow the genetically modified bacteria, however, there were many successful cases from other groups, so we were still given the chance to view the outcome, being the glow in the dark bacteria. I thoroughly enjoyed this task, as I, personally, found the process captivating, and the way in which the bacteria changed was amazing to observe.
Ella Hunt
Grade 12 Student
MATHEMATICS
Photo Challenge
JOHANNESBURG JUNIOR COUNCIL CAMP
On the 18th of February Mia Stuart and I had the privilege of traveling to Camp Konka in Rustenburg for the 2022 Johannesburg Junior Council Seminar.
Upon arrival we were split into three different groups and were instructed to put on the oldest clothes we owned as we would be completing the Mudstacle Course. This involved leopard crawling through mud, tunnels and under nets as well as climbing over wooden frame structures. Returning to camp in unrecognisable clothes and with many splinters in our hands and grazes on our knees, we laughed at how much fun the Mudstacle Course actually was and how competitive most of us are.
Over the course of the weekend we were introduced to the many different aspects of council and how truly life changing and inspiring the JJC is. We met the most incredible people who we can both truly identify with. We were taught the Council Clap and I am happy to report that Mia and I can recite it perfectly! We had the privilege of meeting both the council mentors (Nomatter Ndebele and Tshepo Motaung) who ran the seminar weekend and were both previously members on the Junior Council. On Friday night we participated in a cultural evening and we were astounded by just how diverse the JJC is.
On Saturday we were introduced to the leadership aspect of JJC as well as having to decide on our motto for 2022. After much thought we as the Johannesburg Junior Council of 2022 decided on “Humanity with humility can change a community”. We believe that this represents the goals of the 2022 council perfectly. Saturday night saw a Talent Show take place where we celebrated the impressive talents of the 2022 Junior Council members. From singing to dancing to poetry and monologues the council oozes with talent. The evening ended off with hot chocolate around the campfire where we shared laughs and stories about our weekend together and truly bonded.
On Sunday morning we were told which committees we would be a part of for 2022. The council is made up of five committees: Outreach, Advocacy, Environmental, Sports and Recreation and Arts and Culture. Mia has joined the Arts and Culture committee and I have joined the Sports and Recreation committee. We have some exciting ideas for the future such as sports days for underprivileged children and slam poetry events.
Mia and I are beyond excited for our year on council, along with 74 other motivated people, where we can begin making the lives of others better.
Megan Taylor
Grade 11 Student
JJC Councillor 2022
Service News
Thank you to the Kingsmead community who generously donated 1700 pairs of shoes on Footloose Friday. A special thanks to the PTA volunteers who assisted with sorting and packing the boxes according to the need of our partner organisations. The beneficiaries for Footloose Friday are Hotel Hope, Dlala Nje, Fight with Insight, Kids Haven, Isipho Primary, Sunshine Association, Lefika la Phodiso, Rays of Hope and Guild Cottage.
Jenny Venter
Director of Service
Green News
ECO BRICKS
The school has made great contributions to the eco brick project over the last few years. However, after a while, all the colourful eco bricks starting building up in one of the Science labs, and gathering dust. This year, after lots of dust, sweat and tears we have managed to donate the eco bricks. We slowly began the process of moving all the eco bricks out of the lab and into another storeroom. We stacked them up in rows and just one wrong move sent the whole pile tumbling down! We definitely built some arm muscle carrying and sometimes dragging bags of eco bricks to the storeroom. We finally packed all 750 eco bricks into a trailer from Community Hours SA for donation to a place in Diepsloot.
Thank you to the Kingsmead Community for all the donations over the past years. Please continue to donate! You will receive 1 service hour per eco brick donated that meets the correct requirements.
We just want to remind you of the requirements as any eco bricks that do not meet these, will be returned:
-Put any non-recyclable waste (other than fresh material) into a 2 litre plastic bottle (only the shape of coke bottles – no other shapes)
-Once filled, ensure the bottle weighs at least 400g and has a lid
-The bottle should not be compressible
-Write your name and form class on the bottle in khoki pen
-Drop off your donations on a Monday at second break outside Mrs. Venter’s office. You must sign the service register there so that we can verify your hours. We look forward to your donations.
Lara Gush
Head of Green Team
SANBS Thank You
