Zwartberg se kleuresport skitter weer

- Anneke van Eck -

Dit was - soos altyd – weer ‘n titaniese stryd tussen Rooi en Goud!

Op 29 en 30 Januarie het Hoërskool Zwartberg hul jaarlikse kleuresport aangebied. Al die ywerige atlete het hul energie aangewend om aan die toeskouers ‘n kleurryke en aanskoulike twee dae van pragtige atletiek te bied.

Die atlete wie uitsonderlik presteer het, is met bekers beloon. Michy Mullins het die Junior Victrix Ludorum verwerf, Oscar Maeyer die Junior Victor Ludorum, Leoni Lodewyk die Senior Victrix Ludorum en Waldon Ewerts die Senior Victor Ludorum. Verder het Rochelle Adolf die beker ontvang vir die Junior Dogter met die beste enkel-prestasie (80 m wedloop) van die dag en Leoni Lodewyk die beker vir die Senior Dogter met die beste enkelprestasie van die dag (verspring). Oscar Maeyer ontvang die beker vir die Junior Seun met die beste enkelprestasie (spiesgooi) van die dag en Jervanne Makampies die beker vir die Senior Seun met die beste enkelprestasie van die dag (verspring).

Aan die einde van die dag het die Gouespan weggeloop met die beker en hulle het die Rooispan met net 680 punte teenoor 664 punte gewen. Voorwaar ‘n naelbyt-stryd!

Ons wil elke ouer en belangstellende hartlik bedank vir hul insette en hulp om van die twee dae so ‘n groot sukses te maak. Sterkte aan al ons atlete vir die res van die atletiek-seisoen!

Zwartberg spog met drie nuwe onderwysers.

- Ailsa Tudhope -

Hoërskool Zwartberg se skoolhoof Kobus Snyman en onderhoof Danie Rossouw was jare lank die enigste dorings tussen meer as tien rose. Verlede jaar was Anton Nortier die derde doring, en vanjaar is daar nog drie manne.

Chris Gouws is ‘n bekende gesig in Prince Albert en is nou weer terug in die onderwys ná baie jare. Hy was in Bloemfontein adjunkhoof van ‘n skool vir serebraal gestremde kinders.

Hier by Zwartberg sal hy Engels, Natuurwetenskappe, Sosiale Wetenskap en Ekonomiese Bestuurwetenskap vir kinders in die intermediêre fase leer. Chris se dogter, Chrisna Smit, is die skool se Engelse onderwyseres.

Marcus Izaks is uit die Noord-Kaap in Prince Albert om Afrikaans aan te bied. Hy het veertien jaar onderwyservaring en sy laaste pos was by die Katho Hoërskool. Marcus is ook ’n pastoor van die AGS en gaan betrokke wees by die plaaslike gemeente. Ons verwelkom hom en sy vrou Gail in die dorp.

Die derde nuwe gesig is Shaun van der Walt, wat verlede jaar sy prakties hier voltooi het. Shaun is ’n gegradueerde van Noord-Wes Universiteit op Potchefstroom, asook van UNISA waar hy nog Rekeningkunde studeer.

Ons sien uit na ‘n besige en lonende jaar saam met dié vyf dorings tussen die rose in die Zwartberg personeelkamer.

Pedals Empower Hoërskool Zwartberg Learners

- Linda Jaquet -

By now you’ll have noticed an increase in bicycles on our streets (not just rusty ones) and the whoops of delight of their Hoërskool Zwartberg riders as they whiz by.

This is thanks to the combined efforts of National Government’s “Shova Kalula” programme and a Cape Town-based non-profit organisation, the “Bicycling Empowerment Network” (BEN).
“Shova Kalula”, which means “Pedal Easy” in isiZulu, hopes to increase the mobility of particularly rural South Africans through non-motorised transport and aims to provide bicycles to 1 million people by 2015. BEN was founded in 2002 by retired engineer Louis de Waal to promote the use of low-cost, environmentally-friendly transport and at the same time, to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Louis pointed out to the Friend that “the bicycle is mankind’s most affordable form of transport.”

On 30 July 2007, Louis handed over 60 spanking new bicycles to Hoërskool Zwartberg. Learners lease the cycles from the school at R10 a month – this includes a lock and a helmet - and sign a rental contract for a year, undertaking to keep their bikes in good condition. They also need to pay R50 a year for insurance and have to return the bikes to the school during school holidays. Louis and his two assistants also spent some time training Hoërskool Zwartberg’s janitors, Hennie Ceylon and Koos Jacobus, in the basics of bicycle mechanics and repairs.

At the time of writing, half the bicycles had been leased from the school. Several learners, who had never owned bicycles before, set off one afternoon to ride to Prince Albert Road and upon their return, declared that it “was the most fantastic thing they’d ever done!” As a result, some of their school mates are looking for part-time jobs to raise the funds they too need to “shova kalula.” The Friend has also learned that a number of teachers are casting covetous eyes over the remaining cycles!

On the same day, BEN presented 30 bicycles to the Prince Albert Land Care Bush Camp run by André Gouws in the Prince Albert Valley. The camps, held throughout the year, encourage young people to be more caring of the environment and to live in harmony with Nature.

Hoërskool Zwartberg se slimkoppe

- Di Steyn -

Jaarliks word Graad 3 leerders deur die Nasionale Onderwys Departement van onderwys getoets t.o.v. hulle wiskunde- en taalvaardigheid. Die toetse word deur die Departement opgestel en deur hulle afgeneem sonder dat onderwysers enige inset daarin het en vooraf weet wat gevra gaan word. Hoërskool Zwartberg se graad 3 leerders het uitstekend presteer.

Every year Grade 3 learners nationwide are tested for their mathematical and language skills. The tests are set by the National Department of Education and teachers have no idea of the questions that will be asked. These are our results. Well done, children and congratulations to our teachers!

Syferkundigheid: - (Slaag%)
Kring 8 - 27.3%
OBOS: Suid Kaap Karoo - 24.7%
Wes Kaap - 30.9%
Hoërskool Zwartberg - 94.4%

Geletterdheid:
Kring 8 - 40.2%
OBOS: Suid Kaap Karoo - 45.1%
Wes Kaap - 47.7%
Hoërskool Zwartberg - 94.4%

Baie geluk aan die graad 3 leerders wat so pragtig presteer het. Baie dankie aan Me J Munro, D Koorts en B Marais vir u harde werk in die grondslagfase. Baie geluk met u pragtige uitslae.

Hoërskool Zwartberg se trots!!!

- Diana Koorts -

Ons skool is met reg trots op bogenoemde twee atlete wat besonder goed presteer het die afgelope atletiekseisoen.

Nikela het uitsonderlik presteer die seisoen.Sy is die nr.1 atleet in die SWD–streek – nadat sy die SWD rekord verbeter het met 2cm. Sy het ‘n hoogte van 1.44m gespring. Daarna het sy aan die Wes-Kaap byeenkoms deelgeneem en ‘n hoogte van 1,47m bereik, waarmee sy die Boland–rekord geëwenaar het en tweede by die byeenkoms geëindig het. Met so ‘n pragtige prestasie het sy ‘n goeie plek in die Wes-Kaapspan behaal en verder geoefen vir die SA byeenkoms.Later het sy ook haar merk gemaak in groot atletiekkringe toe sy aan die SA-byeenkoms in Pretoria op die Pilditch stadion gaan deelneem het. Daar het sy ook baie goed gevaar en ons hele skool en gemeenskap is voorwaar met reg trots op haar.

Christine het ook ‘n baie goeie seisoen agter die rug. Sy het baie goed presteer op verskeie byeenkomste waaraan sy deelgeneem het. Sy het ‘n derde plek by die SWD byeenkoms behaal- met ‘n afstand van 4,68m - waarmee sy SWD kleure verwerf het. Daarna het sy aan die Wes Kaap byeenkoms deelgeneem waar sy ook ‘n derde plek behaal het. Baie geluk Christine – ons is sommer baie trots op die “nuwe atleet” wat so goed presteer.

Nogmaals baie geluk aan die twee atlete en alle sukses vir die pad vorentoe. Ons hou saam met julle duimvas

Helping Learners have a Voice

- Helene Smit -

At the beginning of 2006, a very exciting programme was launch-ed at the Hoërskool Zwartberg initiated by Penny Alder. Together with teachers at the school, a need had been identified to enhance the thinking and communication skills of learners who would soon leave school and have to function as independent adults. The traditional curriculum helps learners to improve their language capacity, but there are not necessarily enough resources available for additional processes which may help learners. Penny’s idea was to gather volunteers from the town, who would be willing to give their time and energy to provide an opportunity for learners to have facilitated conversations in which they could develop their skills.

The Grade 11 class was chosen for the first round of the project. The class was divided into 10 different groups, and each group had a group of three facilitators allocated to it. The facilitators took turns to spend a period a week with the class. Learners discussed a variety of topics ranging from Valentine's Day, relationships, to more difficult social problems such as teenage pregnancy, drugs, racism and HIV.

The idea behind these conversation classes was to assist learners to develop their own thinking about the issues that confront them in their daily lives and explore the complexity through facilitated conversations. Some of the issues are light-hearted, and some are tricky and even difficult to talk about.

The learners themselves choose what they want to talk about, and the facilitators facilitate the discussion, but they do not tell learners what to think. In this way, learners are able to develop their own thought processes and to debate different viewpoints amongst themselves. The most important thing is to help learners to develop the capacity to think for themselves and be able to stand up for what they believe.

The project is now in its second year, and although we have made some changes based on the learning of what worked well and what didn’t last year, the process is essentially the same. The volunteers were trained in facilitation skills, and have to manage processes such as the group dynamics, who participates, and how the learners listen to one another and respond. The facilitators have the task of helping the learners’ develop their ability to critically think through all the various aspects that affect a particular area and be able to express their feelings and views to one another in constructive ways.

Kobus Snyman and the teaching team have been very supportive of the project and have commented that they have noticed an increase in the confidence and communication capacity of learners who have been part of the conversation classes.

There are currently 15 dedicated volunteers and many of them have commented how much they themselves have learnt through the project. Thank you to them for their time and commitment.

If anyone else is interested in becoming involved in the project, you are invited to contact me in my capacity as project leader on (023) 5411 063. All Prince Alberters are welcome and we will provide the necessary training.

Auf Wiedersehn Lisa

- Ailsa Tudhope -

Hoërskool Zwartberg bade farewell to Lisa Weinmayr at the end of term. Lisa has spent six months here and found Prince Albert quite a change from her industrial hometown of Pforzheim near the Black Forest in Southern Germany.

The Karoo heat was daunting but by the time she left Lisa reckoned she far preferred it to the cold that was awaiting her at home! She really enjoyed living in a village, where everywhere is within walking distance and found Prince Albert a beautiful, peaceful and friendly place.

School was very different – here Lisa wore a uniform, experienced learning in very large classes and took subjects she had never studied before, like ‘Toerisme’ and ‘Lewensoriëntering’. Maths and Science were familiar, but using scientific concepts and learning definitions in a foreign language takes some doing.

She passed all her subjects with flying colours, impressing all her teachers with her hard work and is probably the first pupil ever to pass her Afrikaans literature paper with some answers written in English. At home she studies German, English, Latin and Ancient Greek.

Jennifer Munro and the tennis team will really miss Lisa, who enjoyed the camaraderie of the team. Tennis matches took her to George and Oudtshoorn and holidays with the Steyn family, her hosts during her visit, and with her own family who spent Christmas in South Africa, took her to the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

During this term the Science Festival and Art Tour were wonderful opportunities to see more of the country and meet youngsters from a broad spectrum of South African schools.

We will miss Lisa as the new term begins but are pleased to hear she is back in Pforzheim, catching up on all the local news with her parents and sisters, Paulina and Carla.

Sport News

Marquin Fredericks - Prince Albert se Trots

- Hekkie Piedt –

Prince Albert is die afgelope jaar amper elke dag in die media veral in Die Son wat veral die negatiewe kant van die pragdorp uitbring. Daarteen kan ons spog met talentvolle jongmanne op sportgebied sowel as akademies.
Marquin Fredericks is so ‘n jongman. Hy is huidiglik ‘n Graad 11 leerder by Zwartberg Hoërskool. Hy het onlangs met die skool se jaarlikse atletiekbyeenkoms die rekord gebreek in hoogspring vir seuns o/19 jaar. Hy was ook aangewys as die beste presteerder vir senior seuns en as die senior seun met die beste enkel prestasies. Marquin het ook tydens die OUDUSSA Hoërskole Atletiek getoon dat hy vir niemand terugstaan nie. Hy het uitgeblink in die hoogspring ( 1ste plek ), verspring en die naellope.

Marquin is ook ‘n kranige vlugbalspeler. Hy het die SWD Vlugbalspan vir die afgelope drie jaar al behaal. Hy is ook die kaptein van FC United Sokkerklub in Prince Albert en was by die prysuitdeling van die Klub aangewys as die Mees Waardevolle Speler van die Jaar (Most Valuable Player of the Year) – 2006.

Ons wil vir Marquin alle sterkte toewens met sy studies, die atletiek, vlugbal en sokker vir die jaar 2007.

Leeu-Gamka se o/13 sokkerspan blink uit

- I.A. Sabbart -

Die o/13 seuns sokkerspan van die Leeu-Gamka Primêr Skool is onoorwonne in die Beaufort-Wes streek.

Dit is bewys tydens ‘n interskole toernooi wat op 3 Maart in Beaufort-Wes plaas gevind het, waar sewe laerskole uit die omgewing deelgeneem het. Hierdie toernooi is aangebied deur Siyadiala School Mass Participation Program. Hulle is genooi om aan die Zonal toernooi in Kaapstad op 30 en 31 Maart deel te neem. Ons wens hulle alle voor-spoed toe. Baie dankie aan Mnr. S. Constable en Mnr. I.A. Sabbart, Sport Assistent by die Siyadalia Program, vir hul opofferings en geduld met die span.

“A Child in sport is a child out of court”

Hoërskool Zwartberg - Kleuresport

Saterdag die 27 Januarie het die Goue “Egiptenare” en Die “Red Bulls” in ‘n kleurryke optog om die baan by die skool opgedaag. Weereens het Merweville ook deelgeneem- en hulle het ook feestelik en energiek vertoon in die optog met al die 4x4 motorfietse.
Dit was ‘n dag vol opwinding en die atlete het werklik hul bes gedoen en pragtige prestasies gelewer.

Die gouespan het ook die geesdrifbeker ontvang – sowel as die beker vir die meeste punte.

Saterdag 3 Februarie het ‘n groep van 41 atlete aan die SOK byeenkoms op Kareedouw gaan deelneem. Ons het reeds die Vrydag vertrek-aangesien dit ver is en ons atlete lekker kon uitrus voor hul deelname.

Ons skool het baie goed presteer en pragtige prestasies behaal. Die beste 0/9 dogter en seun van die dag was atlete van Hoërskool Zwartberg nl.Rochelle Adolf en Gabriël Breytenbach. Christene Grove was ook die beste 0/19 dogtersatleet- Die skool is met reg baie trots op julle!!!

Die vlg. atlete het almal eerste plekke behaal:
Gabriël Breytenbach - VS
Rochelle Adolf - 80m
Martin Koorts - 80m H en GS
Delia Stalmeester -1500m en 800m
Christine Grove - VS
Andrea Gouws - SG
Yvonne Freysen - DG en GS
Deodett Philander - 60m
Marsunet Breytenbach - 150m

Voorspoed vir elke atleet se deelname die res van die kwartaal—mag dit net baie goed gaan!!!

Zwartberg News

-Di Steyn-

Our 2006 Matrics Shine

Hoërskool Zwartberg’s Matric learners have shone again. Several of the class of 2006 achieved distinctions (over 80%) in specific subjects, namely, Rolan Mars who attained 89% for Business Economics and 82% in accounting; Deolan van Schalkwyk, 85% for Business Economics; Kimmy Gouws, 82% for Afrikaans and Donovan Plaatjies, who gained 80% in Computyping.

Both Kimmy Gouws and Rolan Mars should be well pleased with their overall B grade, as should those who passed with an overall mark of C: Donovan Plaatjies, Eufrim Schoeman, Deolan van Schalkwyk and Alicia van Zyl.

Congratulations to all of you who made it and especially those, who worked hard to gain high grades.

In the last twenty-two years, Hoërskool Zwartberg has only had three students not pass their final Matric exams. Keep up the good work, 2007 Grade 12 students!

New Staff

The School welcomes Mrs Joy Rolfe and Mr Anton Nortier from De Rust, who will both be teaching Business subjects. Ms Correen Bezuidenhout joins us as a student teacher.