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While it is tempting to list the
multitudinous achievements of VGHS students and
staff, we have decided that we will limit this page to
key achievements of the current year.
2011 MATRIC RESULTS
The VG
2011 Matrics did very well last year. The 100%
pass rate is often touted in the press, but at VG we
are less concerned with the number of passes and
more concerned with the quality of the marks
achieved by our girls.
93% of our girls
achieved University degree passes (the equivalent of
the Matric Endorsement) and the remaining 7%
achieved diploma passes.
One third of our girls
achieved an 'A' or 'B' aggregate pass and there were
an impressive 115 subject As. 90% of our
subject marks scored above the 50% mark.
Almost 10% of our girls achieved 'A' aggregates.
This kind of performance
speaks volumes about the effort that teachers and
pupils put into last year. Our girls worked
incredibly hard and deserve to enjoy the fruits of
their labours!
Nolene Dixon
achieved 7 'A's
and 100% for
Maths Paper 3
2011 SPORTS & CULTURAL AWARDS
On Tuesday
the 19th of October, VG celebrated the sporting and
cultural achievements of its learners over the past
year.
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Prize winners with
their trophies
The Chess prize
winners
Squash Prize
winners
Swimming Prize
winners
NATIONAL SCIENCE EXPO 2011
On the 6th of October Vivienne Dames,
Katherine James, Jessica Clarke, Melissa Smith and
Thandiswa Nqowana departed for the National Eskom
Science Expo. Each took along a project on which
they had been working for the past several months.
They arrived in Boksburg, Johannesburg at midnight
after a sixteen hour bus drive and stayed in the
Birchwood Hotel and Conference centre. Over the
next two days they were interviewed on their
projects, having to explain what they did and why
they did it.
From left: K
James, J Clarke, M Smith, T Nqowana, V Dames
At the special awards ceremony Jessica received a R35 000 bursary to study at any university in South
Africa for her project Chemistry Behind
Pineapple Biofuel. Katherine received the
prize for the Best Application of Microscopy for her
project Testing Alternative versus Conventional
Algaecides, as well as a cash prize for herself
and R1000 for VGHS. At the final awards
ceremony Jessica and Vivienne received gold medals,
with Vivienne proceeding into the second round of
interviews for international science expo selection
with her project Biodegradation of Toxic Dyes.
Katherine and Melissa both received silver medals.
Melissa’s project was on Slope versus Mechanical
Advantage and Thandiswa’s project was on
Testing Natural versus Chemical Fertilisers – Which
is better for your plants. This year’s Nationals
were a lot of fun and a truly amazing experience,
thanks to those who made it possible.
AFRIKAANS OLIMPIADE
This year 14 of our senior girls participated in
this annual Olympiad. They did very well. Special
mention must be made of Melissa Smith who achieved
86% and was placed 11th in the Eastern
Cape.
Congratulations to Nolene Dixon who achieved 90% and
is placed 7th and the Eastern Cape and
her name appears on the National Merit list at 9th
position with all other learners who also managed to
achieve such a wonderful mark.
We are very proud of you!
Mooi so, meisies.
VG LEARNER THIRD
IN THE YCA
On Thursday 18 August, Ayanda Twani, accompanied by
VGHS teacher Sarah Abel, travelled to Johannesburg
to compete at the YCA Nationals, after coming first
in the Eastern Cape. At the Nationals there was one
representative from each province, and VGHS was very
proud to send Ayanda. Her topic was "The Prisoner"
and in her speech she spoke about the metaphorical
fear that surrounds our societies; and how we can
overcome that fear. Ayanda says that before she said
her speech she was a bit numbed by her nerves, but
she went on to come third overall with an impressive
prize of a R30 000 bursary and R5 000 for the
school. The contestants had a progressive debate and
according to Ayanda they all spoke well in the
impromptu and had thought-provoking speeches.
"The experience was truly an eye-opener. I met the
most outspoken young people around. Our different
backgrounds allowed us to engage with each other. I
really hope that people will take up challenges like
these. I'd like to thank the people who supported
me, especially my mom and sister."
VGHS is extremely proud of Ayanda and honoured to be
able to share in some of her winnings.
Mr Schmidt congratulates Ayanda
SCIENCE EXPO
VGHS learners shone at the
recent Science Awards.
Lauren Tyson received a
bronze medal while Jessica Clarke received a gold
and will be going to nationals.
Amy Jackson-Moss
received a gold medal and came 4th overall.
Melissa Smith
received a silver medal. Vivienne Dames
received a gold medal and came 1st overall.
Katherine James received a gold medal, came 3rd
overall All of the medal winners will be
attending the National round.
Back row from left: Z Sani; S Titi
(participation awards); L Tyson (Bronze)
and J
Clarke (Gold)
Front row from left: A Jackson-Moss; M Smith; V
Dames and K James
ENGLISH OLYMPIAD
Congratulations to Jessica Wentworth and Amy von
Witt who were placed in the top 100 of the National
English Olympiad.
Amy von Witt is also now a published poet! She has
a poem in a collection of works entitled “Poems for
Haiti” This anthology is to commemorate and to
commiserate with the victims of the Haiti earthquake
that took place on January 12 2010. Her poem is
below:
Nightquake
Crashing, tumbling, crumbling
Jolted awake by the shake of the quake
I wondered what it must mean
It felt like the earth was trying to scream
I knew something was going to happen
But I didn’t know where, how or when
I forced myself back into restless sleep
In the morning I still hadn’t forgotten
When I heard the news I froze in shock
It was real, it had happened
Instead of hitting here it hit Haiti
The unease paralleled my paranoia
Psychic powers had once again proved true
Although it felt like I’d dreamed the disaster into
being
That day I walked around in a daze
Waiting to wake up from the nightmare
To snap out of it
But there’s no escaping reality
How is it that at one instant
Completely unrelated situations can overlap
While I felt the earth shake, break and crack
beneath me
The Haitians felt their lives come crashing down?
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