Dear Cedar House families
Welcome to our 2nd Term! I hope your children enjoyed their break and are rearing to go…the Staff and I have designed a memorable term of learning and thinking for our students.
Cedar House is thriving; our School is full, with a waiting list, and our two 2011 Grade 8 classes are filling up rapidly. In interviews with prospective students, I often hear about how highly our current parents are speaking about our School; this is very much appreciated.
We have just had a Staff Dream Team meeting, with a focus on 2011…redesigning timetables, multi-age teaching etc…exciting stuff!
TALENT SHOW
The Talent Show has come and gone. What a sensation! The class acts, the individual acts (and, of course, the staff act) were a fantastic testimony to our community’s culture of giving, positivity and co-operative spiritedness. Well done to our students and Staff who made it happen.
EXAMINATIONS TERM
Our Grade 12s will be taught for the duration of the term; they will write intermittent tests and be issued with a full mark order with their mid-year reports. A copy of the test programme dates was enclosed with all Matric reports.
Grade 8-11 students will begin writing mid-year examinations on Monday, 24 May 2010. Staff will be arranging examination booklets for individual students that will detail each Grade’s exam requirements for each subject.
BUILDING PLANS
Our architect has submitted plans, on our behalf, to Heritage Western Cape and we should be hearing the outcome shortly. The intention is to build more classrooms and an additional computer and staff workroom space on top of the current new classroom block. We are also hoping to build a hall where the prefab classroom is currently located (corner of Rosmead and Bray). The intention is to create more teaching spaces (not more students). We will update you as progress is made.
TALENT SHOW REPORT
Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the 2010 Cedar House Talent Show. The fateful words that opened one of the most successful events of the Cedar House year; a mind-blowing, foot-tapping, belly-wobbling production put together by our very own students and a selection of very dedicated teachers. This year’s production welcomed the introduction of a smoke machine, laser lights and “surprise celebrity act” at the end of the last show, which was possibly the highlight of not only the night but possibly the year (at least the year thus far).
The show began with a tap dance – a staggeringly impressive taste of the dancing that was yet to come, which included Spanish, contemporary, rock ‘n roll and even a waltz, all of which were of an intimidating standard. The entire Matric grade learnt a cool gangster dance, which was performed (in my subjective opinion) in perfect unison and with wonderfully appropriate sound effects. The No Name Band managed to get the crowd excited with their self-composition, along with many other musical acts which ranged from haunting guitar and vocal solos, some classical violin and two remarkable piano pieces.
The fun did not stop with dancing and music; there was a vast array of other creative talent displayed in a range of delightful individual acts. Luke and Vic managed to find what could possibly be the only skit from a Monty Python film ever to not contain anything completely inappropriate for younger audiences and within a few seconds had the crowd in stitches, while a drama group added some depth to the evening with the performance of a serious poem, and then there was more beautiful poetry with some beat-boxing by our own Dylan in grade eight, and a short film, accompanied on piano by a smartly-dressed Matthew. The fashion show also took a new and exciting twist this year, with dramatic, professional (if not a little twisted) make-up and high-quality clothes from many young designers.
On top of all of this, five enthralling, authentic grade acts involved neon fireflies, a host of gorgeous single ladies (or was it men?), a trip through no-fewer-than six decades of dance and, by the grade elevens, a title-winning act involving a display of Tom’s unnatural bendiness and Kate’s extraordinary choreography skills, not to mention evidence of unmatched teamwork within the grade. It was however, the teacher’s act that outshone everything else. Never, ever, had we imagined that we would see all of our teachers on a stage, in huge grey Eeyore costumes and ballet tutus, doing something that closely resembled dancing to a Michael Jackson song. Never. Some of us still debate whether or not it really happened, as if it might have been a sort of maths-class-daydream.
Of course, to create something of this magnitude and greatness, much hard work is required, and I believe that Mrs Rumboll and Mrs November along with the tech team camped in the hall the week before the opening night, so congratulations and thank you to them, and to all the many, many others involved. The only thing that could possibly top this remarkable success would be a sequel to the thrilling teacher’s act at the Evening of Celebration – but we can only hope… Tegan Phillips Gr 12
GRADE 11 WESTERN CAPE SCHOOLS’ ARTS FESTIVAL
Our Grade 11s were treated to a two-day Arts Festival, at Artscape, at the end of last term. On the 16th and 17th March, the Grade 11’s, and the four Matric drama students, all attended the Artscape Festival in town. The festival consisted of two jam-packed days full of a wide variety of workshops, from dance to physical theatre, to on-screen acting, as well as writing and stop animation. We were also incredibly fortunate to attend a couple of productions. My favourite being “Scars”! The two days were profoundly enriching – a real treat. I believe I speak for the entire grade, and perhaps even the ± 1000 other students that attended. An enormous super duper special thank you goes to Mrs Baron and Ms Conradt for accompanying us to the festival. “If you want a career in the Arts, you cannot wait for people to find you, to hand you a job. Your future is in your hands and only you can make it happen” (Rob van Vuuren – special guest). Katie Williams Gr 11
In the last week of term one, the grade 11 class was given the opportunity to attend the Western Cape Schools’ Art Festival at Artscape. We disengaged ourselves from our usual weekly routine for a cultural experience of theatre and performing arts. We were assigned to numerous workshops dealing with aspects of performing art such as vocal and movement exercises, theatre training. We took breaks from our workshops to attend local plays, dance performances and interactive theatre demonstrations. On behalf of the grade 11 class, thank you to Mrs Rumboll, Mrs Baron and Mrs Conrad for arranging this cultural excursion. Hope Lancaster Grade 11
UK LITERARY TOUR
A group of 20 Cedar House students and teachers have just returned from an exhilarating literary tour to England, Ireland and Wales. This is the first overseas tour in Cedar House’s history. What follows are reports from each of the participating students:
The whole experience was fund and interesting. We started off with Dublin, the temperature was freezing, but after a day or two we got used to the weather. The tour of Dublin was fun and the people friendly. After Dublin we took a ferry to Holyhead. We had a day off followed by a trip to Wales. We did a few more tours then ended our trip in London, where we went to the theatre and enjoyed our last few days of our trip. Llewellyn Witbooi Gr 12
At the beginning of the trip I found the weather to be ridiculously cold and by the end I had got used to it. Something I came to learn by the end of the trip was that British people walk fast and for me to be able to keep up, I at times found that I had to jog a little. What amused me the most was being called Madam by fancy dressed men who carried my bag around. It was a great experience being exposed to a culture which in some way is different to ours. Thank you Mr Rumboll, Mrs Rumboll and Mrs Baron for giving this opportunity to us. I greatly appreciate it. Iphendule Ndzipho Gr 12
A group of Cedar House students met at Cape Town airport. A quick farewell to family and friends, we were off through customs and onto the plane for a tedious 11 hour flight. We arrived at Heathrow, then Dublin, only to be shocked by the freezing, icy wind. We were met by our Tour Guide, Uncle Gordon. We spent two nights in Dublin touring the city and then we hopped on the ferry to Wales. The trip lasted about two hours and we slipped and slid all over the deck – we didn’t get our sea legs! We arrived at Holyhead in Wales and drove to England by coach. While in England we toured a lot – going to Bath, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and London. Billy Elliot was a definite highlight! Thanks so much to the teachers who took us. Debbie Orolowitz Gr 12
I’ve had such a great time in the UK, learning more about the famous writers of Dublin and England. The trip was great fun, very fast but cold on days. It’s given me a lot of insight into the lives of writers such as Wordsworth. Thank you so much to Mrs Rumboll, Gordon and the other teachers.
The Literary tour was absolutely amazing. Despite the climate that none of us were used to. We all had an extremely wonderful time. The writers’ museums were an incredible experience. My favourite was Dickens World, a sort of theme park incorporating his stories into a boat ride, haunted house, a short play and the whole of Dickens’ world set in the 1800’s. The boat ride was fun. ‘Billy Eliott’ was amazing! A big thanks to everyone who made this trip possible. Dylan Campbell Gr 9
This trip has been one of the most interesting, powerful experiences of my life. I cannot express how privileged I feel. I also cannot believe how we somehow managed to fit in visiting about fifty momentous attractions – from lovely Dove cottage to the grand Tower of London – in two short weeks. We all learnt so much about Great British literature and its origins that we never could have from textbooks or the internet. Reading ‘King Lear’ in class is one thing, but watching it at Stratford-upon-Avon, after visiting the house in which Shakespeare was born and lived, takes the learning to an entirely new level.
This entire experience has been completely enriching and memorable. I was anxious in the beginning, not quite knowing what to expect, but from my first moments in Dublin all anxiety was replaced with pure excitement and anticipation. I absolutely loved Ireland – the people, the accents, the city in general. Moving from a busy city to the quiet Lake District was amazing too. I loved experiencing different aspects of the UK from the rural countryside to the bustling cities of Dublin and London. Another aspect of the trip that I really enjoyed was spending at least a bit of time in a number of little towns and places. Some of my highlights include the amazing cathedrals, museums, the Canterbury Tales, Dicken’s World and especially the production “Billy Elliot’ – it moved me in a way I didn’t think possible. I’m so happy to have gotten to know such lovely people and the memories formed on this trip will last a lifetime. Jaidan Rumboll Gr 10
I personally enjoyed, more than anything else, the Cathedrals (Salisbury and Canterbury). It is impossible to go inside one without being physically, spiritually and emotionally overwhelmed at the sheer magnitude and grandeur of these historic monuments to comprehend that these painted windows and jewelled domed ceilings were created by society that believed personal hygiene was bad for you, Oh, how our priorities have changed! I also particularly enjoyed meeting all the interesting characters we came across, Gerry and those other charismatic tour guides, and some wonderful bus drivers (Polish Pete!), even the entertaining Mexicans at our hostel. Thank you so much to Mr and Mrs Rumboll and Mrs Baron for going far beyond what your duties as teachers demand. We are an incredibly lucky group of students, and far richer for the experience. Tegan Phillips Gr 12
To summarize and explain satisfactorily the many levels that this tour has affected me would be very difficult and probably take a very long time. It was extremely rich, varied and full. Deciding what to describe here is a challenge. The Irish coast and the Writers Museum or the genius of Joyce? The gentle, beautiful Lake District with it’s many hosts of daffodils? The pastoral countryside of Stratford as we drove South? The cosmopolitan experience of Warwick castle and the Dicken’s World or Austen’s tiny writing desk? The sheer overwhelming size and history of London? All of these were amazing. Thank you, so much, Mr and Mrs Rumboll and Mrs Baron. Oliver February
This trip was an experience which I thoroughly enjoyed even though everywhere we went, it was freezing, especially Dublin and Stonehenge. I enjoyed learning about the various writers and poets. Big thanks to Mr and Mrs Rumboll and Mrs Baron for organising this inspirational trip. Caetano Feiteira Gr 9
This tour has been an unbelievable surreal experience for me. It’s hard to describe my feelings and the effects it had on me personally. I think I’ll just highlight my best moments. Being in Dublin was great. It’s so big and bustling, with tall building and grey skies. It has a certain red-bricked charm and it has its quirks, all the doors painted different bright colours. It’s easy to see how many writers got their inspiration on the streets of Dublin. Windermere was a perfect contrast to bustling Dublin. Cool and green that is greener than any green I have seen before. My forest hike here in the earthy-smelling damp was one of my favourite things I have done. It cleared my mind and energized my body. Stratford was such a wonderful town. Cleaned out the second hand shops. The houses are beautifully aged and Shakespeare’s age feels a breath away. Seeing King Lear by the RSC was unbelievable. Shakespeare’s tragedies are so powerful and this one was performed with such integrity. Bath was beautiful, I loved going to the Roman Baths and seeing all the old architecture. Every town has so much history.
Salisbury Cathedral was awe-inspiring. Impossible to describe. It is so ornate and decorative, every single detail important. The same goes for Canterbury Cathedral. I enjoyed the retelling of the Canterbury Tales. It was fun and accessible. London has been insane. It is so full and bright and busy and purposeful. Not always friendly, but so many possibilities. I can see myself working here in the future. The rich cultural side is thriving. Everywhere you go there are posters advertising theatre, music and art. Highlights of London were the Globe, Tower and the Tate Modern. The highlight of possible my entire trip was going to see ‘Billy Elliot’ at the Victoria Theatre. To describe the overwhelming surge of emotion I felt at seeing this 12 year old boy, on a stage in front of hundreds, putting every single part of himself into his dancing, he threw his soul at us. I have never seen a musical so powerful or an actor, let alone a 12yr old, so completely dedicated and immersed in what is definitely his calling. I could see it a million times over and it would not be enough. It took my heart. The entire trip has been an experience so deep and true, like everything at Cedar House. People, teachers and the relationships between them all is always the biggest security and comfort in a place so huge and intimidating. Like nothing that has happened before it was amazing. True and now, like the trees without their black branches silhouetted against electric grey skies. Kate Pinchuck Gr 11
To explain the thoughts streaming through the thought channels in my mind, there would only be space for the telepathic to understand. The effect this trip has had on my mental and physical well-being, not to mention my independence, is absolutely inexpressible. I need not ‘wander as lonely as a cloud’ when I find myself in the midst of the most unique and beautiful human beings part of Cedar House community, Wordsworth, Yeats, Shakespeare…..all the literary giants in whose footsteps we love, would not have been viewed in the way I and the tour did. The maturity shown and the places we were able to explore is indescribable. Thank you Mrs Rumboll, Mr Rumboll and Mrs Baron for granting me this opportunity and helping me to excel and soar in a community I couldn’t possibly be happier in. Caitlin van der Walt 11
It is hard to describe in words how amazingly exciting and profoundly enriching the UK Literary tour was. From the marvellous castles of the middle-ages, the cathedrals and churches to the birthplaces of the greatest authors ever. There wasn’t a single moment on the trip in which I wasn’t growing as a human being. I had the most amazing two weeks of my life and as I sit on the plane I reflect on the knowledge I have found and the friends I have made. I honestly don’t have words to describe how the trip has changed my life. I have to say the biggest thank you ever to Mrs Rumboll for organising the trip and everyone who came for making it spectacular. Stewart Innes Gr 12
Although the cold drove most crazy, although I grew irritated with my fellow school mates, as one would when having to spend every single day with a group of outspoken people and although I missed my kitty – the literary tour has been an amazing experience, which I never will forget. I was quite anxious to have to go on an educational trip, thinking I was going to get bored with the museums etc – but each day was something new, exciting and beautiful beyond compare. Of course, the shopping was amazing too. Thank you so much Mr Rumboll for granting me the opportunity to attend this excursion, Mrs Rumboll and Mrs Baron for constantly providing insight and in-depth explanations of certain poets, and Pieter – our polish bus driver, for tickling my feet, shouting at “lady drivers” and for hauling us around on a bus. I do apologize to those who missed out on this trip, and encourage all to go on school trips more often. You will definitely learn and experience and grow a whole lot more. Aimee Hall Gr 12.
GRAHAMSTOWN SCIENCE FESTIVAL
The SciFest was so amazing. Each day we attended many great lectures that were very educating. I loved every moment I was there, and hope the next group who go next year have an experience that was as wonderful as mine was. Mihaela Jovanovski Gr 12
On Friday we left for the Grahamstown science Festival, it was an insanely long bus drive, for most of the 13 hour bus drive, everyone slept, when we arrived at the hostel, we went upstairs, put our bags down and went for supper. For the rest of the days we went for very interesting talks. I enjoyed it very much. I would definitely go again next year. I would like to thanks Miss de Wet for taking us and putting up with our nonsense and the bus driver, Fred, who made the drive there and back great fun. Manoly Kalligianis Gr 9.
SciFest was super cool. We got to see exploding things. I had fun. Gemma Field-Levy Gr 11.
In the March holidays several students, along with Miss de Wet set off for Grahamstown. After a 13 hour drive we finally arrived and couldn’t find the hostel we were staying in, in a town that takes fifteen minutes to walk from one side to another. After finding the hostel and dropping off our bags we went to find supper. We woke early the next day to start the full busy day. We saw Science shows, where they used liquid nitrogen and dry ice to show physical and chemical changes. We also got to see a brilliant lecture on molecular gastronomy or food, as it is usually known. Our second day at SciFest was again jam packed with workshops and lectures. We saw a lecture on weird creatures and on what makes a species. We ended the day with a really fascinating lecture on Great South African inventions. Our last day at SciFest, we got to watch a show on explosions and a lecture on increasing your brain power, an amazing lecture that looked at the difference between a male and female’s brains. We finished off the festival by seeing a highly interesting lecture on African fractals. Thank you to Miss de Wet for a wonderful trip. Georgia Michell Gr 12
We all had to get up really early in the morning to leave early enough to get to Grahamstown in time. After getting to school we all signed in and then climbed on the bus where our bus driver, Freddie, was prepping the bus for the journey. The trip was extremely long and we were all packed in the bus. We stopped round about every two or three hours to get petrol and snacks. Eventually everyone started to fall asleep one by one.
We arrived well rested and after a bit of a walk to the dorms we settled in then went to the Spur for dinner where we had a well deserved meal after a day in a boiling bus. After this we went back to the hostel where we went to sleep. We woke up in the morning and had breakfast. Directly after this we went for some lectures until 8pm where the same procedure happened as the night before. Overall the trip was amazing and very interesting and the lectures had most of us on our toes answering questions.
The Science fair was a really awesome trip to Grahamstown. It might have taken 11 hours to get there but it was really amazing. I never knew blue cheese and dark chocolate tasted so good together but the SciFest showed me. I had a wonderful time with everyone who went to Grahamstown.
The SciFest was a thought provoking experience that made me realise the significance big scientific problems such as global warming which provoked thoughts about solutions to such problems. Matthew Kleineibst Gr12
The trip started with a long squished 12 hour trip so it could only go up from there and it did. We were pleased to find that the dorms were really nice and offered everything we needed. The lectures were very good especially the evening ones on Molecular Gastronomy, Great South African Inventions and Fractals. Thank you very much to
Ms De Wet for taking us. It was an awesome trip. Lauren Vincent Gr 12.
KLEIN KAROO NASIONALE KUNSTEFEES EXCURSION
From Monday 5 April to Thursday 8 April eight Cedar House students attended the KKNK in Oudtshoorn. Many new experiences and exceptional shows kept everyone entertained but the highlight for most was the gigs at night – Die Heuwels Fantasties, Straatligkinders and, of course, Jack Parow. Below is what they had to say about the experience:
Coming in with closed eyes, leaving with them having been opened. This trip has changed aspects of the Afrikaans language for me, positively. Ons eet caviar en cous-cous! – Luke Moore, Gr 12.
Such a great end to an amazing holiday. A completely new and exciting experience. Can’t wait for next year. – Jaidan Rumboll, Gr 10.
This trip was duidelik and I enjoyed just about every minute of it. – Duane Andersen, Gr 11.
This was a very awesome trip with a lot of fun thrown in and there were some “educational” moments. – Alex van Dooren, Gr 10
I thought that the entire trip was entertaining and fun, was all worth it. – Mike Veitch, Gr 10.
The trip to Oudtshoorn was a wonderful holiday with experiences that opened my eyes to the richness of Afrikaans culture. – Matthew Kleineibst, Gr 12.
It was super freaking awesome and Jack Parow is awesome. – Gemma Field, Gr 11.
Awesome. Shows some of the best of South African culture. – Dylan Kron, Gr 10.
DESIGN FESTIVAL Toffie Popular Culture
The weekend of 26 – 28 March, Tamsyn Lancaster, Niela Gie and I were fortunate to join other creatives from around the world for a weekend of fun and inspiration at the Toffie Popular Culture Festival at Rondebosch Boys High School. The event played host to a number of international and local speakers. Peet Pienaar of The President, a Cape Town based design and publishing studio, gave an interesting overview of South African design and its influence on the Art Deco movement. He also spoke about current design trends in Africa. Kim Jones, the Creative Director of luxury goods brand Alfred Dunhill wowed the audience with a video clip of his 2010 collection. He spoke about innovation something Alfred Dunhill himself was known for. Dunhill invented a light for his wife’s bag, which would light up when the bag was opened, especially useful as she regularly attended the opera. The lights inside our fridges today are as a result of this invention. Kim Jones described his own recent innovations, a crease resistant blazer for travelers, as well as a pocket watch that is also a key. Siggi Eggertson, an Icelandic illustrator, currently living in Berlin, didn’t let stage fright get in the way presenting his wonderful work, he had an animated character with a computer voice do the talking for him. Eggertson was selected one of the 20 brightest international design stars under the age of 30 by Print Magazine in 2006. Richard Hart of Disturbance Studio in Durban presented a collaborative project between African and European designers, entitled “Them and Us”. The participating designers created posters together to explore various social and political questions. Argentinean born illustrator Jorge Alderete, independent illustrator for MTV Latin America, and well-known designer of record covers spoke about life in Mexico City. He reminded us that one doesn’t need a big budget to be creative. I am enjoying feeding back information about these successful designers to my students and feel privileged to have attended this incredible event. Mrs Lancaster
At the beginning of the holidays I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to go with our two design teachers to the first Toffie Pop Culture festival held at Rondebosch Boys High School. The festival comprised of lectures and workshops. I didn’t take part in the workshops, but the lectures were highly interesting and inspirational, as they covered many different aspects of design. There were speakers from a South African music group, M.T.V, The President (design company), a film company, designers from Argentina and one from Iceland, as well as a fashion designer. There was shopping and music. They held a dress-up party, skateboarding demos and had exhibitions up all around the venue. This festival was inspirational, fresh and amazing if you are interested in the arts. I gained so much from being there and I look forward to going again next year. Niela Gie Gr 12.
JOB SHADOWING
The day started early, which left me questioning my sanity, getting up so early during the school holidays. It was well worth it. We arrived at Price Waterhouse Coopers around 8 o’clock, met in the lounge area and made good use of the coffee and biscuits. An alarm sounded, and after a few moments of confusion we realised that we were experiencing our first PWC fire drill. After the drill we headed off into the presentation room and met with the other members of our teams, and played some games which helped us to get to know one another. We then had a few presentations from some of the people who worked there, and were told exactly what was required and expected of us if we intended to work there in the future. After our lunch (which was free and got us all pretty excited) we were taken on a tour and learnt about the tax, assurance and advisory sectors, and what each of them entails. We then had other people from each sector speak to us about their jobs and what their experience at Price Waterhouse Coopers had been like, and what they had studied to get to where they are now. On day 2, we had one on one job shadowing, and had the opportunity to ask questions and see what the average day at PWC was like. After another exciting free lunch, we had some time to listen to more presentations and ask more questions. The two days at PWC were great because they changed my opinion of an accountant and explained exactly what it is that accountants do. Thank you to Mrs November who made this possible. Gabby Casagrande Gr 11.
WATERSPORTS WEEKEND
This is just a little note to say how great it was to take your “young adults” away on the water sports weekend last month. We did choose the hottest weekend of the year, which raised many challenges, from liquid shortages to sunscreen inefficiencies. The youngsters all coped really well with challenges. They all helped one another putting up their tents (which was entertaining - as many of them had never even seen the tents which they were using before, which is a challenge all of its own). They encouraged and “sweat-talked” one another into participating on the tubes or the wake-board, with many of them never having been on a boat before, never mind, being towed behind it at incredible speed, hanging on by these tiny handles… Never-the-less, I know that everyone had a most enjoyable weekend, with almost everyone sleeping all the way home. I must commend everyone for sharing with one another, and helping and encouraging one another, to ensure that everyone had a turn on all the equipment and enjoyed their weekend. With thanks to Mr Murray for arranging the outing, and for the parents who attended. Special thanks to Monica, who prepared all the meals for the entire weekend… little did she know how hungry teenaged boys can get, especially when they have been out on the water all day. With thanks once again for allowing us to share this experience. Jill Larkan (Parent)
Congratulations to Liam Stevens in Grade 11 for being placed fourth in the South African Junior Outdoor Grand Prix Show Jumping competition.
I wish for our students and families a happy 2nd Term.
Yours sincerely
FRANK RUMBOLL
Principal
We congratulate Mr Rumboll who has been invited to be part of the IEB’s design of a new Grade 12 subject, Advanced Programme English to be rolled out in 2011. Mr Rumboll will be part of the National Subject Forum for AP English.