VGHS

Our annual Founders’ Weekend will take place (as usual) in the first week of March. Many people, staff learners and “old girls” are already working hard to make the weekend a memorable one. I would like to appeal to parents to support their daughters on this weekend and to join in with the celebrations and the fun.

Please make an effort to see the school play ESPECIALLY if your daughter is performing, but even if she isn’t. School plays are a longstanding VG tradition, and are part of what makes us “who we are” we would really like to share this with you.

The Founders’ Assembly is an open assembly with a guest speaker (usually the school captain from 10 years back). It is a lovely ceremony that celebrates the VG family.

Please join us for that too. Please also encourage your daughter to make the most of this celebration.

FOUNDERS’ WEEKEND PROGRAMME
Thur 4/3
7.30am	Assembly rehearsal and Inter-house singing rehearsal	Hall Vicky’s (T) Gym (G) Mathie (D) SR 1&2 (R)
2.30	Cleaning and displays finalized
7pm	School play Tickets: R10 scholars R20 adults Available from the office	Hall
Fri 5/3
7.30am	Flag raising and class teachers’ time	Front of school
7.40	Star Relay	Field
8.30	Service	Various
10.00- 10.30	Break
10.30 – 11.30	Assembly	MG Richardson Hall
11.30-12.00	Break and Tea	Library foyer, library, upper foyer and field
12.00- 1.35	Inter-house singing	MG Richardson Hall
1.35 – 1.45	Class teachers
2.30	Set up for supper theatre	MG Richardson Hall
6.15	Sundowners	Quad/ back of quad
7pm	Supper Theatre Tickets: R60 (includes, play, meal and sundowners)	MG Richardson Hall
Sat 6/3
9.30	Hockey	Field
10.15	Flag raising	Front of school
10.30	Memorial Service	Memorial Quad
10.45	Tea	Centenary Quad/ back of quad
11.45	OGU AGM	Quad/ back of quad
12.00	Tour of school & hostels
1.00	Light lunch	Vicky’s

We are very proud to announce our portfolio heads for 2010: . Ashley Allner will head the Publicity Committee; Lelethu Ndabeni will be in charge of the Uniform and Hair and the Functions Committees; Anitha Babu will run the Academic Support Committee; while Kuhle Mxakaza will head up Discipline; and Danielle Wiblin will be in charge of the Co-Curricular Committee.

On the 7th of November 2009, VG took part in the annual Remem-brance Day held at Church Square. The ceremony involved laying wreaths and following the Remembrance Day traditions of singing hymns and saying prayers in honour of the soldiers who paid the ultimate price during World War 2.

With so many accessories it’s no wonder the VG grade 11s weren’t placed at the PJ Fun Run. They did however get recognition for the team with the most spirit.

While the festival enchants crowds in Grahamstown, a Grahamstown school has been acknowledged for it’s work in the Arts. At the National Microsoft Innovative Teachers Awards held in Jo’burg on the 29^th and 30^th of June, Nicci Hayes of Victoria Girls’ High School was runner up in the “Innovation in Community” section. The project that earned this placing was a Grade 10 Drama Community Video Project.

The Victoria Girls’ High School Grade 10 Drama class made videos for service-based organisations as their second term project. The videos ranged in content from encouraging fellow learners to become more involved in offering help to local organisations such as the Makanaskop Old Aged Home and the SPCA, to disseminating information on topics like cervical cancer and abortions. The project included finding a “client”, conducting the necessary research including video interviews, shooting and editing the videos. Not only were they producing a potentially worthwhile product, but the girls were learning both social and technical skills in the process.

According to Ms Hayes, “the most rewarding aspect of this project was the unexpected learning that inevitably arises from working in real life situations.” Luthando Nkayi who worked with her partner at a local orphanage mentioned in feedback that what she had learned form this project was that there are “many children out there who need to be loved”. Other girls reported struggling with the “old Xhosa” in the rural areas that they were working in. The Grade 10s themselves saw the potential value in their projects. Siyanda Makunga said the she felt their video based on the SAPS Crisis Centre was valuable because “It’s important for abused women to know that they don’t have to suffer alone.” Thami Mtshemla said of their hospice video, “the film can give hope to people dealing with sickness.” The videos will be screened at the school early next term, and delivered to the “clients” shortly after that.

There were two other finalists from the Eastern Cape: Yolande Peter of Byletts High, and Clair Dean from Stirling Primary whose grade 5 and 6 project “Can I be a good Tour Guide” earned her the runner up prize in the “Innovation in Collaboration” category.

Ms Hayes has subsequently been approached to attend the Pan-African Microsoft Innovative Teacher Awards in Mauritius in early September and we wish her all the best.

On Friday the 6^th of March we had our annual Sundowners function to which everyone that is part of the V.G family was invited. As always it was a pleasant evening of reminiscences and the sharing of stories between old girls, current pupils and their families and staff.

The Grade 8 Graeme House class was caught on camera providing service to the community in the form of cleaning the windows for the River of Life Church down the road from the school. (They really seem to have enjoyed the experience!)

On the 24th of March 2009, VG held its second annual blood donating drive. The SANBS opened their clinic at the schools gymnasium, this was a great success and it was very impressive to see how many girls were wanting to do good for somebody else. The teachers too showed great support as they were also there to donate blood.

Amanda Tsipa examines her blood with disdain but it will be welcomed by the three recipients who need her plasma (for burns) red blood cells (for transfusions) and white blood cells (for cancer patients). Behind her are Jessica Shaw and Jaydene Shelton with SANBS nurses in attendance

VGHS welcomes Alison Belde from the USA and Annica Auel from Germany. She’ll spend 3 months with us. A previous Rotary exchange student had this to say:

‘WELCOME ALISON! Let me tell you, you have landed in not only an incredible, life changing country, but you’ve landed in the most beautiful city, at the most generous and amazing Rotary Club, which is comprised of the most giving, warm and welcoming, FUN, Rotarians on the planet! Now if that doesn’t get you ridiculously excited for your year, I don’t know what will! Trust me, years after your exchange, the Victoria Girls house rules, (uniforms and no make up), will be the last thing you remember and reminisce about when looking back on your year in South Africa, “I promise you”! I have to admit, I’m surprised VGHS welcomed another Canadian/ American into their school after me. Haha, let’s just say I wasn’t the most exceptional academic student, but rather focused on my exchange student endeavors. That’s besides the point, you are at an amazing school with incredible staff and students who will make for some new best friends and sometimes challenge you but just remember that you are there to not only be taught, but to teach as well so as long as you stay respectful.’