Message from the office
We certainly have had a few weeks of celebrations and activities. On Monday we had our Induction assembly.
Congratulations to the following girls who were selected into their various portfolios:
Headgirl: Azile Hambaze
Deputy Headgirl: Sinembasa Mapipa
Heads of committees
Discipline: Abenathi Kulati
Sport: Iminathi Ndilele
Community Outreach: Abigail Green
Media and Marketing: Jazlin Crafford
Environmental: Zaydiah Alder
Culture and Music: Lathisa Ngabaza
House Captains
Aloe: Hlalumi Balfour
Arum: Sinembasa Mapipa
Disa: Talitha Dingani
Fern: Abenathi Kulati
Music Captains
Choir: Azile Hambaze
Orchestra: Stella Mullin
Sports Captains
Tennis: Danni Mclean
Swimming: Danni Mclean
Hockey: Azile Hambaze
Netball: Zaydiah Alders
Athletics: Aleesia Jonkers
We wish you a very successful year ahead.
Worker of the Week
Congratulations to Cherise Mardon for doing such beautiful drawings in Natural Sciences. Keep it up, Cherise!
Merit Achievers
Bridget Akpeng and Maham Rizvi have received over 250 merits so far this year. Well done, girls!
PTA Colour Fun Run 2024
We would like to thank the following businesses who made donations towards our Colour Fun Run Fundraising event: Spar, Connocks, Legends, Pick ‘n Pay, Kim Webber Estate, Crystal Clear Ice and ABM Office National. We made a profit of R12 130 from this event. Thank you to everyone for your support and for making this such a successful event!
Assembly
On Monday, 11 March Grade 6G will be presenting their assembly. Parents are welcome to join us. Please enter the hall with the staff at 09:15.
Interhouse Cross Country
On Friday, 15 March we will be running in our annual Interhouse Cross Country event. Parents are welcome to attend.
The Pre-Primary, Grade 1&2s will be running on Fergusson Field from 08:00- 08:45.
Pre-Primary – 08:00-08:15
Grade 1 – 08:15-08:30
Grade 2 – 08:30-08:45
We kindly request that all PP&FP parents enter through the Beaufort Street office entrance as the Huntley Street entrance will be locked and will not be opened.
The Grade 3-7 girls will walk to the Botanical Gardens to start running at 09:00. First off will be the Grade 3s, followed by Grade 4&5s and finally Grade 6&7s.
- Pre-Primary girls must wear a shirt in their house colour and black shorts, socks and takkies.
- The Grade 1-7 girls must come to school dressed in their house shirt, black shorts, white socks, and takkies.
- Please also send a bottle of water, sunscreen and her VP hat/peak.
Interhouse Singing Competition
After the Interhouse Cross Country the Grade 4-7 girls will participate in the Interhouse Singing from 12:00-13:00 in the hall. We look forward to their performances. Parents are welcome to come and support. Please enter through the Beaufort Street office entrance.
Easter Hamper Raffle
Please continue to sell the raffle tickets and remember that additional forms can be requested from your daughter’s class teacher. Please send donations of Easter Eggs in order to make our large hampers. The closing date for sheets to be returned is 15 March. We will draw the lucky winners names on Monday, 18 March.
Grade 7C Extra Art Lesson
Please could all of Mrs Coetzee’s Grade 7 class attend Art Club on Wednesday, 13 March from 15:00 to 16:00. This lesson is compulsory.
SPORT
Frans Erasmus Netball Tournament
We wish our U13A netball team all the best as they play in the Frans Erasmus Tournament this weekend at PJ Olivier.
The fixtures are listed below. I am sure they would love to be supported. Girls must come dressed neatly in their sports clothes or school uniform to support.
Friday, 8 March
13:40: VP vs Good Shepherd
15:00: VP vs Dr Viljoen
Saturday, 9 March
08:00: VP vs LS Handhaaf
08:40: VP vs Settlers Park
10:20: VP vs Ntaba Maria
11:00: VP vs Southbourne
13:20: VP vs Hangklip
Makana netball trials
On Tuesday, 12 March selected U12 girls will be participating in the Makana netball trials at PJ Olivier. The matches start at 15:00. We wish our girls the best of luck!
On Wednesday, 13 March selected U13 netball girls will be participating in the Makana netball trials at VP. All matches start at 14:00. We wish our girls the best of luck
Swimming
Level One Gala
Our girls did so well in the Level One Gala held at the Newton Park Pool on Saturday, 2 March 2024. Well done to Madison Edwards who came second in 50m Butterfly, first in 50m Breaststroke, first in 50m Backstroke, first in 50m Freestyle and Daniella McLean who came first in 50m Butterfly, third in 100m Freestyle, first in 50m Backstroke, second in 50m Freestyle. Well done, girls!
Interdistricts Gala
Congratulations to our Albany Team swimmers who participated in the Interdistricts Gala on Tuesday. Well done to Isla Orsmond who came first in 50m Breaststroke, 3rd in 50m Backstroke; Madison Edwards – first in 50m Freestyle, 3rd in 50m Breaststroke and third in 50m Butterfly; Daniella McLean who came third in 50m Breaststroke, second in 50m Backstroke and second in 50m Butterfly. Well done also to Lilani Wolmarans who participated and improved all her times! Well done, girls!
Tennis results
Our Top 8 VP first team tennis girls played against Port Alfred in Port Alfred on the 6th of March. VP won 64 games to 20. Well done, girls
Winter sport trials
We have finished our summer sports programme and will be moving onto our Winter sports trials. Please read the attached programme and new pick-up times and make the necessary arrangements for transport. Please note that it is compulsory for our girls to do either hockey or netball during the winter season. They may choose to do both up till U11, from U12-U13 girls have to choose between hockey or netball.
Please make sure that your daughter has the correct kit for either/both sport/s. Please also ensure that her match skort (which is only necessary for matches from U10 and older) is not too short or too tight and she is able to run comfortably in it.
Please note the expected kit for winter sports:
For Practices: Navy golf shirt and Black boxer shorts.
For Matches: Navy blue skort (for U10 and older) or black boxer shorts for U8&U9), the white match shirt for all matches from U9 upwards, navy golf shirt for U8 matches
For both matches and practices: VP Tracksuit for over the kit when it is cold and for travelling (not to be worn to practice or play in)
Netball: White socks and takkies
Hockey: Shinpads, navy blue sport socks (not the winter school socks) and takkies or hockey boots.
Please note that the house shirt is for interhouse events only.
SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY NOMINATIONS/ELECTIONS
Nominations for parent representatives on the SGB closed on Monday, 4 March and we are most grateful that the current parents who have served our school so well for the last 3 years, all made themselves available to continue for a second term. As we received the required amount of nominations there is no voting required.
Meet your parent representative on the SGB:
Mrs Thando Qeqe – I have had the privilege of serving as the current SGB Chairperson since March 2023. Through my role as Chairperson, I have dedicated myself to fostering a nurturing learning environment grounded in transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. As a parent of two wonderful children, Lugcolwenkosi in Grade R and Buchulebenkosi in Grade 00, I am invested in the success and well-being of all students at our school. I have a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Rhodes University, with a key interest in Strategic and Financial Management. I look forward to this opportunity to serve our school community and work collaboratively with fellow members to achieve our shared goals
Mr Gershwin Sauls – Having served on our SGB for the past year, I look forward to continuing in this role. As a parent of a Grade R student, I am deeply invested in fostering an environment where technology and education intersect harmoniously for the benefit of all our students. I will contribute to the continued success of VP by providing guidance and passion. I hold a Computer Science Masters degree from Rhodes University and bring a wealth of technical expertise to our school.
Mrs Megan Edwards – I have been a parent at VP since 2013, my daughter, Madison Edwards is in Grade 6. I had previously been on the PTA committee since 2016 until 2021 when I was elected to the SGB as treasurer. I worked as an article clerk for a chartered accountant for 8 years while studying through UNISA and have been a bookkeeper for a law firm for 16 years. It has been a privilege to serve on the SGB and I look forward to a few more years.
Dr Tiffany Pillay – I am an ecologist at the Botany department at Rhodes University, with a PhD in Plant Ecology. My girls are Yusrah Suleman (Grade 5K) and Yumna Suleman (Grade R). I have served on the SGB since 2023 as a parent member.
Mr Wesley Phillip – I have been a dedicated member of the SGB at VP serving as the Vice Chairman since 2022. I bring a unique blend of experience and expertise to the SGB, as an Information Technology professional and provide skills and resources to a majority of schools within the Makhanda community alongside my day to day responsibilities at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. I am deeply invested in my daughter’s education who is currently in Grade 3. And as a member of the SGB, I am committed to ensuring that all of our daughters will have the resources required to be able to excel and become well respected within the community.
Conquesta 2024
Should you wish for your child to participate in Conquesta 2024, entry forms are available from Mrs Sauls. Conquesta is only open to Grades 4-6. Please complete the entry form and return it to school in an envelope, marked “Conquesta” with the relevant entry fee and your child’s name and class.
Birthday wishes
We wish the following staff and girls a very happy birthday for next week: Mrs Rafferty, Mrs Goodes, Amvuyela Sakata, Luniko Ndyebi, Mbaliyothando Ngwethsheni, Zoë Butters, Leah Flotman,Tehillah Dingani, Buhle Phongolo, Avuzwa Vusani. Have a lovely day!
Regards
Mrs Rafferty
PRINCIPAL
UPCOMING EVENTS
| Sat.
9/03 |
· U13 Frans Erasmus Netball@PJ |
| Mon.
11/03 |
Grade 6G Assembly @10:10 |
| Tues.
12/03 |
Makana U12 Netball trials@PJ |
| Wed.
13/03 |
Art class for Gr 7C 15:00-16:00
Makana U13 Netball trials@VP |
| Fri.
15/03 |
· Interhouse Cross Country
· Interhouse Singing Deadline for Easter Raffle |
| Mon.
18/03 |
· Easter raffle draw |
| Tues.
19/03 |
· Open Music class (FP)
Progress Music Concert |
| Wed.
20/03 |
Last day of term
· 08:00 Academic Assembly · 10:30 School closes · 12:30 Hostel closes · No Aftercare |