1. education
2. school

Volume 37
7 November 2014
DNA Strings Concert
We were treated last Friday with a fantastic performance by the DNA Strings. The wind did die
down eventually and what a super evening it was! Thank you to all those parents who came
along to see our new facilities and enjoy the performance with us.
Artists of the Week
Marguerite Polands’ beautiful San myth called, “The Woodash Stars” is the inspiration for these
Grade 5 artworks. Well done to Jordan Heymans and Emma Forbes for being chosen as the
Artists of the Week.
2015 Parent Handbook
The Somerset House Parent Handbook has been updated - a comprehensive and useful tool
for new and existing Somerset House families. The updated version can be found under
“Admissions” on our website www.somersethouse.co.za.
Recycling
REPRIEVE CONTINUES FOR GIs
AS RELIEF POURS IN …
2014
7M
7U
6M
6O
5B
5V
4J
4M
3P
3R
2C
2T
1B
1dP
Weds
15 Oct
11.0
2.0
6.9
64.4
Weds
22 Oct
15.0
Weds
29 Oct
20.7
Weds
5 Nov
27.6
5.0
8.3
5.3
67.7
35.8
52.0
27.4
11.8
71.0
133.4
22.7
41.8
71.3
Totals
38.6
42.7
59.9
126.7
70.7
120.8
87.1
46.4
173.4
363.2
230.0
158.1
91.6
112.6
The message is surely out there now for
44.7
this week saw a huge increase in the
33.5
23.5
amount of paper brought in for the
3.0
3.0
82.0
endangered GIs. A small, but select,
6.0
15.0
14.1
Crew worked hard to process the just-over
4.0
15.0
half a tonne of paper. The WBDs were
52.5
71.7
37.4
busy and their loading skills were tested
68.9
22.0
201.3
with one or two interestingly shaped
6.1
36.8
53.7
packages and boxes. There was nearly a
15.6
101.1
18.7
16.5
13.3
20.0
case for the H&S Department to step in to
18.5
7.8
15.0
deal with overloading – but common
Weekly
275.4
416.2
449.1
581.1
1721.8
sense prevailed and the inspector was Total
dismissed. So, October has been a good
month – just over a tonne collected and November is off to a good start. We must keep the
good work going to give us a margin for the long (!) Christmas holidays. Thanks to all who join
in with all this fun and games …
REMEMBER, YOUR GI NEEDS YOU!
Siblings and Waiting Lists
We have already started with the enrolment process for 2016 in some grades, so please ensure
that all younger siblings have been added to the waiting list. Siblings do have priority, but places
can only be allocated to them when the Pupil Application form has been completed and the
R250 administration fee paid. (This amount goes up to R350 in 2015) Siblings who are only
registered after the 2016 enrolment process has been completed will have to be placed on the
waiting list.
HeadLines…
New Head of Department for Oakwood
Congratulations to Mrs Claire Caldecott who has been appointed as our new HOD for Oakwood
as of January 2015. She takes over from Mrs Gillian Connell who has been at the helm for the
last 21 years! Claire has experience of teaching at all three levels of the Pre-Primary and is
looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
Staff Movement in Oakwood and the Junior Primary
There will be a number of changes in teacher roles for 2015. Mrs Sandy Hawkridge will be
moving to Grade 1 to teach alongside Mrs Bind. Mrs Julie du Plessis will be moving to Grade 2
to replace the space left by Mrs Caldecott. Mrs Callo Cloete will be moving to Grade 00 where
she will replace Mrs Hawkridge. We do encourage a change in roles for all our teachers from
time to time. Our Oakwood and JP staff plan is therefore as follows:
Grade 000
Mrs Gillian Connell
Ms Caroline Hodge
Grade 1
Mrs Karen Bind
Mrs Sandy Hawkridge
Grade 00
Mrs Callo Cloete
Mrs Kyla van Straaten
Grade 2
Mrs Phil Thole
Mrs Julie du Plessis
Grade 0
Mrs Claire Caldecott
Mrs Caron Botha
Grade 3
Mrs Pam Roberts
Mrs Elaine Pienaar
Website and Email Connection issues this week.
We have experienced difficulties with our IT systems this week, due to matters beyond our
control. We apologise for the inconvenience experienced. All seems to be back to normal now!
Chris Storey – Headmaster
head@somersethouse.co.za
Congratulations Public Speaking Competition Winners!
On Monday we had our annual Grade 7 Public Speaking Competition. It was our first event in
the Haydock Hall, and what a kick off we had! The amazing venue and the high standard of
persuasive speeches resulted in
a hugely successful evening.
The runner up in the Afrikaans
section was Carla du Plessis,
with Janka Scholtz taking first
place. Third overall for English
was Nic van der Merwe, second
Leila Williams and first Nic de
Waal. We were privileged to
have Chris van Niekerk and
Antoinette Louw as judges for
the evening. They were very
impressed with the venue, talent
and high standard of the
speeches. Well done to all the
participants.
Unfortunately Janka was absent
when the photo was taken.
Past Pupil Lize Mynhardt
Top 4 SA Idols
On Sunday evening, past pupil Lize Mynhardt
made it through to the TOP 4 of SA Idols! The
Top 4 contestants were surprised with a trip to
London for a few days. She has amazing
talent and we hope that South Africa has
continued to vote for her and that we will get to
hear her sing again on Sunday! SA Idols is
broadcast on Sunday afternoons at 17h00 on
MNet and Mzanzi.
Grade 3s Learn about
Senses and Adjectives
On a Monday morning, trying to be creative
can be a challenge; however, the Gr 3R class
could not wait to get started on the
Adjective/Senses chart. They had to try and
find interesting adjectives to match the 5
different senses. They then had to create a
colourful flipchart using all their adjectives.
Message from the Guild Committee
Dear Somerset House Class Representatives and all Somerset House Parents!
As you know, the MySchool project is potentially an extremely beneficial partnership for our
school - presenting the opportunity to earn thousands of valuable Rands for important projects
at our school. First, congratulations to those of you who have recently signed up for MySchool,
or who have taken the trouble to shop where points can be earned - our income has increased
as a result. But we still have huge potential to benefit the school more! Please find below the list
of Business Partners as well as a few newsletter inserts of different partners. Most people think
of MySchool as linked to Woolworths only – but please note just how many other businesses
are participants too. We have 452 pupils in Somerset House, but only 260 cardholders in
August and 264 card holders in September. (The penetration level went up from 57,4% to
58,3%.) The possibilities are endless - moms, dads, grandparents, friends, neighbours … even
work colleagues can have cards to support Somerset House.
We have cards ready to go at school – you just need to fill out the form and you can start
swiping and earning points immediately! Please contact Cathy Hugo 082 357 3810 to get a
card. Please feel free to contact MySchool's, Lina Stevens, lstevens@myschool.co.za or
084 514 2118, should you have any queries.
List of Business Partners:
 Woolworths (Stores, Online & Insurance)
 Engen Quickshops
 Waltons
 ToysRUs & Reggies
 kalahari.com www.kalahari.com
 Power24 for prepaid electricity www.power24.co.za
 Megamobi for Prepaid Airtime & Electricity
www.megamobi.co.za
 Altech Netstar
 MySchool Holidays www.myschoolholidays.co.za
 Dassiesfontein (on the N2)
 Most Supa Quicks & Jack’s Paint branches are
business partners of MySchool, but unfortunately not
in the Helderberg area.
MySchool cardholders must just be on the lookout for business partners that take the MySchool
card; there are several partners countrywide.
Thank You - we're counting on your support!
The Somerset House Guild
Photos
If you have taken photos of Somerset House children during the course of this year in any part
of their school life, we would be most grateful to get copies for use in our school magazine as
well as for marketing and archival purposes. Photos can be given to Tracey du Toit on flash disc
or CD/DVD. Photos can also be sent to Tracey by e-mail at info@somersethouse.co.za but
please send them in small groups and in the highest resolution possible. Many thanks!
Sports News
BOYS SH SWIMMING TEAM WIN RELAY GALA
On Monday afternoon, the boys participated in our first relay gala of the season. Despite the
rainy and cold conditions, our boys did exceptionally well, winning the gala by 4 points! Well
done boys! A special congratulations to our U7 boys who broke a record in their freestyle relay
– awesome stuff!
I would also like to thank the under 13 boys, captained by Somerset House
109
Garrick Hugo and vice-captained by Ben van Schalkwyk, for De Hoop
105
their dedication to our swimming team and for their help at the Beaumont
102
galas we have attended during the course of the year.
Somerset College
61
We wish you well in your High School sporting careers.
Rhenish
52
GIRLS RELAY GALA
On Wednesday afternoon our girls participate in our Girls’ Relay Gala. Participating schools
included Rhenish, Kenridge, De Hoop, Somerset College and Beaumont.
Congratulations to all our swimmers; we ended in 3rd position - a Beaumont
115
fair reflection of our performance on the day. Congratulations to De Hoop
114
Beaumont who won the gala.
Somerset House
99
This was our Grade 7s final inter-schools gala and we thank Kenridge
89
them and our team captains, Laiken Mattheys and Lauren Robb, Somerset College
70
for the passion and commitment to swimming at Somerset Rhenish
53
House.
PSI INDOOR HOCKEY SERIES
A number of our pupils have been participating in the PSI Indoor Hockey Series and have been
selected to represent PSI Boland Teams for the up-coming national tournament which takes
place in December.
Congratulations
Boland Foxes
Boland Scorpions Boland Wild Cats
to the following Girls U13
Yvonne Huysamer
players:
Janka Scholtz
Boys U13 Munnik Huysamer
Daniel Love
Ethan Lombard
Sam Raats
SUMMER ASTRO HOCKEY LEAGUE
This week our U11 and U12 A and B hockey teams
played Astro matches against De Hoop Primary.
Our children love the Astro atmposphere and are
gaining valuable experience. Our teams played
exceptionally well.
U11 A
U11 B
U12 A
U12 B
GIRLS
5–3
1–1
5–3
3-1
BOYS
5–1
0–0
2–5
2-3
UNDER 11A V LOCHNERHOF: RADLOFF PARK: WEDNESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER
A massive 188 run target was set by only six of our batsmen in 25 overs. Congratulations are
due to Joshua Cox for his unbeaten 60 and to James Royden-Turner for his unbeaten 51. The
team responded magnificently in the field – wonderful etiquette, good discipline and great
cricket. All those who had not batted were able to bowl, ensuring full team participation. Jordan
Heymans took 2 wickets with his bowling and Captain Arden Scholtz finished things off with a
hat trick in the last over. It was another thoroughly enjoyable afternoon with the team – thank
you!!
Here are
some
pictures of
our U10s
in action
INTER-ZONAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to the following tennis
players who represented the Helderberg
Zone at the Inter-Zonal Tennis Tournament
last weekend - Yvonne Huysamer, Kayla
Coetzer, Nic Cilliers, Connor and Gordon
Morrison and Sean Irwin.
We await
information to see who has been invited to
the WP Tennis Trials which take place later
this term. Congratulations to Connor and
Kayla’s Teams who won gold medals,
Gordon and Sean who won silver medals
and Yvonne Huysamer who won a bronze
medal.
BEACH RUN
Our annual Beach Run takes place tomorrow morning on Strand Beach. Registration will take
place in front of the Strand Surf Lifesaving Club from 07h00. We invite all Somerset House
families and past pupils to participate in this fun event. Children are encouraged to dress up in
a particular theme. Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed individual, group and class. We
will also be running a sandcastle building competition. Waterworld have also offered our
families discounted rates should you wish to visit them after the event. Please take note of the
following times of the various distances. 07h30 – 6km, 07h45 – 4km, 08h00 – 2km and 08h15 –
1 km. We hope to see as many of you there as possible to enjoy this exciting event with us.
Week 5: Programme for week ending 15th November 2014
Mon
10
Nov
Tues
11
Wed
12
Thurs 13
Fri
Sat
14
15
08h00
16h40
14h40
14h45
15h45
16h40
from 13h45
14h40
15h45
08h30
14h00
14h40
15h45
08h00
12h30
13h40
14h45
08h00
19h00
Grade 2 to 5 Internal Music Exams – all week
Grade R & Grade 1 Orientation Day (Haydock Hall)
Summer Astro Hockey v Somerset College – U11 & U12 Boys
SH Tennis Champs – Junior Boys semi-finals
Health & Safety Meeting
SH Tennis Champs – Senior Boys semi-finals
Summer Astro Hockey v Somerset College – U11 & U12 Girls
Mini Cricket Matches:
Boys v Dr Joubert (H); Girls v Applewood (A)
SH Tennis Champs – Junior Girls semi-finals
SH Tennis Champs – Senior Girls semi-finals
Grade 2s depart for camp
SH Tennis Champs – Junior Finals
Cricket v Lochnerhof : U9A (H); U9B (H)
SH Tennis Champs – Senior Finals
JP Assembly (Haydock Hall)
Somerset House Golf Day – Strand Golf Club
Grade 2s return from camp
SP Assembly (Haydock Hall)
Under 12 Zonal Cricket (H)
Under 11 Bail Tournament (H)
Day/Night Cricket Final