The annual GREY - COLLEGIATE Debate took place recently in the Ivy Leaf. The Grey team proposed that there should be no gender discrimination when it comes to paternity and maternity leave. However, the Collegiate team proved that the status quo should remain with Abigail Butcher showing herself to be an incisive and formidable reply speaker. Congratulations to: (left to right) Chuma Mcoseli (E5), Abigail Butcher (C2) and Michelle Zondagh (C1) on winning the debate and to Abigail on being named the Best Speaker on the evening.

The Debating Committee for 2010-2011 has now been elected. Congratulations to the following girls:
Chairman: Khanyisa Ngoya (D4)
Members: Abigail Butcher (C2), Michelle Zondagh (C1) and Nosimo Ndamane (B3) 

One knows that time is flying when Carol rehearsals and the quilting mornings get underway at Collegiate as they have done this week. The Collegiate Carols will take place on Wednesday 24 November so please ensure that you have diarised this date. Congratulations to the following girls who, along with the various teachers listed, have been selected to form the Carols Band:

Strings: Mrs Davis; Tarryn Lovemore (D4);Robyn Lovemore (A3); Kelly Glover (B2); Yeong   Eun Bae (B1); So Jin Bae (B1)

Flute: Mrs Agenbag

Clarinet: Mrs Erwee

Bass Clarinet: Justine Potter (C2)

Trumpet: Mr Parker

Percussion: Simonn Benjamin (D5); Pumelela Dano (D1)

Technology marches on and the quickest way to convey important messages to all is via the SMS system. This system has proved invaluable during these trying weeks in education when we have been battling with the disruptions due to the strike. However, the system relies on accurate cell phone records. If you have not received any sms messages from the school during the past few weeks, please ensure that we have your correct cell phone number.

We congratulate the following girls on being awarded a BLUE CERTIFICATE for their achievement in the SCIENCE OLYMPIAD: LIFE SCIENCE section:

• Candysse Vrancken (D1)
• Michelle Glover (D1)
• Khanya Bonani (E5)
• Phiwe Lwana (D4)
• Anna Griebenow (D1)
• Nadia Khan (D1)
• Laura Smith (D1)

Three girls: Nicola Bowes (E3), Jaid Limbert (D1) and Jacklyn van Dyk (E2) will be receiving their awards at the National Prize-giving Science Week event in Pretoria during the holidays. This is, indeed, a fine achievement.

COLLEGIATE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Tickets are available from Collegiate Junior at R40 and bookings open on Monday.are staging SEUSSICAL JR from the 14 to the 18 September, in the Powis Hall at Collegiate Junior at 19h00. You are encouraged to support this production and relive the Dr Seuss stories of your youth. 

DATES TO DIARISE: 

We have also taken the precaution of allowing girls who come by taxi or public transport to wear "civvies" to School to avoid intimidation. I am pleased to report that we have had no incidents.

Although the Provincial trial examinations have been postponed indefinitely, we have been given permission by the Superintendent General to write internally set trial exams. The exams got off to a good start on Monday.

Please ensure that the office has your correct cell phone number should there be the need to contact you via SMS. (See URGENT - TAKE NOTE.. below for more details.)

We hope that things return to normal soon.

Mrs F. R. Biggs

To those moms who bring their arrangements in their own vases, please remember to collect these from the school the next week.

Congratulations to Candice Hobbs (B5) who was selected as a member of the PE District Cross Country team recently.

Congratulations to the following first aiders who have passed their LEVEL 1 course:

• Nadia Moosajee (E ) - with distinction
• Sharee Rasdien  (E5)
• Zeenat Moosajee  (C1)
• Trudi van Olm (D3)

The annual junior and senior speech and elocution competitions took place on 19 August. The competitions allow the girls to demonstrate their vocal dramatic ability. This is by no means an easy feat - the participants are required to recite a poem and monologue as well as read an unseen extract. Extracts from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Anne Frank’s Diary and Spud added humour and poignancy to the competitions. 

Congratulations to Kirsti Limbert (A1) who won the Natalie Steer Competition, and Donna De Jongh (D5) who won the Charles Kayser Competition. The adjudicators of both competitions commended Kirsti and Donna on the interpretations of their monologues. Kirsti and Donna demonstrated emotional depth and maturity. The overall standard of the performances this year was very high with participants performing with confidence and enthusiasm.

Spring is a time rebirth and beauty as flowers bloom and the sun starts warming up. In time of drought, nature may battle to display its usual splendour, but then there is always poetry to which we can turn.

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.