HIGH SCHOOL SPORT

Final Assembly 2022

2022 Term 3 Sports Awards – Athletics, Tennis and First Aid 

Athletics - Half Colours

• Victoria Goatcher
• Abigail Mangold

Certificate of Achievement 

• Madison Meyer
• Bryanna Abaidoo 
• Gabriella Whitfield 
• Mulalo Baloyi 
• Ayomide Gudu
• Kiara Krchnavy 
• Lisa Klopper
• Kayla Eibl
• Jemimma Ajimuda

Tennis  - Scroll

• Angelique Tenente
• Kayla Eibl

Certificate of Achievement 

• ​Tracy Moukouemi
• Phelokazi Ngobese
• Alessia Pompa
• Haileigh Knipe 
• Na’ilah Wadvalla 
• Natasha Snyders
• Sabrina Tenente

First Aid  - Scroll

• Gabriella Whitfield
• Cheleigh Watson

Catering - Scroll

• Raquel de Freitas
• Madison Meyer
• Ayomide Gudu

Mr Owusu

Congratulations

On the 25th November Ana Cordeiro represented South Africa in the most prestigious Tap competition, TAP DANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, held in Velika Gorica in Croatia. The Tap Dance World Championship 2022 welcomed over 1,270 talented dancers from over 18 countries all over the world. It was an enormous honour to qualify to represent South Africa at such a reputable event and she did it with pride. Ana competed in Adult Female Solo category among 34 incredible dancers from all over the world. Ana has danced beautifully, making us all very proud.

Ana's dance "Ain't Got You" on the international stage in Croatia.

ALUMNI

This week we welcomed back some very special people to Assumption Convent School

Welcome Bernadette King, matric class of 2001

This week it was my special privilege to welcome back Bernadette King, matric class of 2001. The last two decades melted away as we chattered for close on two hours! It was also wonderful to meet Bernadette’s husband, Bradley. Bernadette and Bradley have a beautiful eleven year old daughter, Chanel. Bernadette was for many years an academic at Rhodes University, but for the last few years she has worked as an industrial psychologist in Johannesburg. 
Bernadette’s older sister, Stephanie, matric class of 1995, is happily married with a daughter and lives in Japan. Stephanie is a qualified lawyer, however she is currently teaching English.  

Photo below:  Neville Workman, Bradley and Bernadette Bekker and Chris Reid, retired Principal of Assumption Convent School.

Welcome Madonna Matthews, matric class of 2012

At the tender age of nine, Madonna was diagnosed with a brain tumour. In the subsequent operation there were serious complications and haemorrhaging. When Madonna woke after the operation, she literally had to begin all over again; she could not talk, walk or use her hands. But Madonna has an indominable spirit and she never gave up. She is also consistently patient,  kind and cheerful. After many years of intense therapy and struggle, Madonna now leads a full and normal life. She is passionate about her profession as a school teacher. Madonna epitomises the values that we hold dear at Assumption Convent School. She is a wonderful example of what is possible if we have faith, courage and a positive attitude.

Genevieve has just completed 18 months of missionary work for the Church of Latter-day Saints. Genevieve began her mission in Pretoria. She has also worked briefly in Botswana before moving to Windhoek and Swakopmund in Namibia, then  Belfast and Portadown in Northern Ireland, before her final posting in Ayr in Scotland.  

Welcome Kimberley Klette, matric class of 2018

We were delighted to reconnect with Kimberley this week. Kimberley matriculated in 2018 and has just completed her degree in linguistics at Rhodes University. She plans to study for her Honours next year. She is an accomplished tennis player and captained our 1st team. It is nice to see that Kimberley continues to play competitive tennis and also coaches pupils at DSG in Makhanda, (formally Grahamstown). 

 More exciting news about our Alumni

Stephanie King - Hello from Japan! - Matric class of 1995

Greetings from Stephanie Takahashi, neé King, (matric of 1995), her husband, Nobuo and daughter Marina. The Takashi’s  live in rural Northern Japan. Stephanie is an English teacher. She has very happy memories of her time at Assumption with her sister Bernadette. 

Good News from Down Under!

Nicole van Wyk, matric class of 2013

Our congratulations to Nicole, neé Van Wyk, matric class of 2013, and Kyle on the arrival of their beautiful daughter, Ella Schoonbee, born 02h20 Adelaide (Australia) time on Sunday 26 November.   

MESSAGE FROM THE PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

As we come to the end of the year I would like to say how grateful I am to be part of the Assumption Convent community. I am so proud of all the achievements and accomplishments of our girls this year. One only has to scroll through all the past newsletters to see all the certificates, awards and medals won.  These would not be possible without the support and dedication of our teachers and parents.

Reflecting on the past year we have so many memorable events to look back on. It has been a year of first for many of our Foundation Phase girls. Their first in-person assembly, school mass, netball tournament, concert, school outing and the list goes on. Our senior primary school enjoyed the opportunity to play in sport matches, join the choir, participate in eisteddfods and many more activities. Our year will end with wonderful award ceremonies filled with pride and celebration of all our girls accomplishments. We are very proud of all our pupils and what they have achieved in the classroom, on stage and on the sport field.

Looking ahead to next year we have exciting new and past initiatives coming up. We will be incorporating Coding as part of our curriculum and we are starting up a Coding club as an extra-mural for our girls. We will also be introducing camps for Gr 4 to 7 in September next year. This year we had a very successful junior primary concert and next year we will present a senior primary concert for our Gr 4 to 7 girls.

A special thanks to you, the parents, who have contributed in ways small and large. Thank you for the support that you give your daughters. We appreciate all that you do for our school and our children.

Through the year we have shared many experiences and the passion and strength within our school community makes our school a truly special place for our children, parents and staff. 

Have a safe and fun-filled December break. May you have a blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with love and adventure.


Warm wishes

Mrs. Chantal van Wyk

Farewell

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Mrs. Dayle Lloyd at the end of the year.

Mrs Lloyd started at Assumption Convent in 2011 as Gr 4 teacher. In her eleven years at Assumption Mrs Lloyd has nurtured the Gr 3s and 4s that walked through her doors. She incorporated many of the 21st century skills that are so vital for the future into her lessons. There were challenges along the way, but she faced them head on with grace and dignity. The time and effort she spent ensuring that, not only her girls received a world class education, but that the environment they work in supports this vision is commendable. Mrs Lloyd encouraged the girls to think out of the box and that has given the girls the skills to face any problem in the future. Not only did Mrs Lloyd make a difference in the classroom, but she also made a difference in culture and sport. Over the years Mrs Lloyd has successfully coached various netball teams, choreographed many of our school concerts, and conducted our JP Choir. She is a woman of many talents!
I am really pleased to say that Mrs Lloyd has agreed to help out with the JP and SP choirs and school concert next year and we are grateful for her continued support of our school.
 We thank her sincerely for all that she has done at Assumption and send our best wishes as she embarks on this new chapter in her career. 

Wedding Bells

Congratulations to Miss Tennant who will be getting married on the 17th of December 2022. She will return to school next year as Mrs. Kelly!

Primary School Celebration of Achievement

All parents are invited to attend our end of year Celebration of Achievement. Once a year we celebrate the progress that our girls have made throughout the year.

• The Junior Primary School (Grade 1 – 3) will have their celebration on 5 December at 08h00 in the Neville Workman Hall. 
• The Senior Primary School (Gr 4 – 7) will have their celebration on 6 December at 08h00 in the Neville Workman Hall.

Girls may go home with their parents after the proceedings. Teachers will be at school until 13h00 for all girls who remain at school. Waiting Class is from 13h00 to 15h00 and then girls will be signed into Aftercare.

School officially ends for all girls on 7 December at 11h00. 

Important dates in January 2023

January 2023

• 2 – 6 January :  Rowing Camp (Gr 7 only)
• 2 – 9 January:  Gr 3 – 7 Swimming camp
• 11 January:  School opens for pupils
• 12 January:  Individual School Photos
• 14 January:   U14 & U15 Junior regatta at Wemmer Pan
• 16 January:  17h30 Senior Phase Information Evening
• 17 January:  17h30 Foundation Phase Information Evening
• 21 January:   Wits Swimming Gala
• 27 January:  Primary School gala

Regards

Chantal Van Wyk
Primary School Principal

PRIMARY SCHOOL RELIGION

Goodbyes and New Beginnings

Goodbyes are never easy, many of us dread them. As we near the end of the school year, there are many goodbyes coming, some to our Assumption girls and families, some to our wonderful teachers (goodbye Mrs. Lloyd, you will be greatly missed!) and work colleagues, and then there is our goodbye to Mr. Workman, our extremely dedicated headmaster who has led our school for so many years with hard work, devotion, blood, sweat and tears. Being in a leadership position is never easy. Publilius Syrus, a Latin writer who was of Syrian origin, a slave in Roman times but a man who by his wit and talent won his master’s favour and was freed and educated, once wrote, “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” The helm is where the steering station of a ship is located. What Publilius Syrus was saying is that anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm, it is easy to have things under control when they are in order. This seldom happens for a headmaster of a school. I am sure there have been many ups and downs for Mr. Workman as he steered the Assumption ship through calm and stormy waters. The Covid 19 pandemic was one of those storms which we all had to weather together, but because of good leadership and team work, the majority of us came through it safely, some bruised and battered, but safe. 

 The one thing that really sticks out to me is what the girls say about Mr. Workman retiring after so many years of hard work. When I asked our Grade 1 and 2 girls what they thought about Mr. Workman leaving, their responses were delightful. “Mr. Workman is my superhero, just without a cape, “one little one piped up. “He always picks up litter because he is proud of our school,” said another. And my favourite, “I told Mr. Workman I would give him all my pocket money if he just stayed.” The older girls in the Primary school made farewell cards and some of their messages were meaningful and touching. “Thank-you Mr. Workman for welcoming me to Assumption and making me see that this is my new home.” Another young lady wrote, “Mr. Workman you were so kind and understanding to my mom, I will never forget that.” After chatting to some of the High school girls, I asked if I could use what they said, they were happy to oblige. “Mr. Workman saw hope in me when no one else did. He believed in me and made me see I have a future.” Those are powerful words. “Mr. Workman has always been fair; he always encourages us to keep trying. We are going to miss him.” 

 
Saying goodbye recognizes that something we value is coming to an end. It means a new chapter is about to begin.  It is always important to see the ‘good’ in goodbye. The word goodbye is a contraction of the phrase “God be with ye.” And so, to Mr. Workman who embarks on a new and exciting journey, Assumption will always be grateful to you and your family for the years of dedication, for steering the ship though calm and stormy waters. May God be with you always. Charles Dicken wrote in Nicholas Nickleby, “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” We look forward to you visiting us, continuing to give good advice, being a superhero to the little ones and pickling up litter!

To Mrs. Weinerlein on her new journey in 2023, may God bless you with wisdom, patience, and strength. 

 
May the Lord bless our Assumption Convent community as the year comes to a close. Travel safely, rest and recharge, enjoy time spent with loved ones. 
Prayer for holiday safety
Lord, we go with You, we are safe with You. Your hand is upon us, upon our families and friends. Your protection is divine and merciful. Encircle our lives. Thank-you for the blessing of these holidays. We prepare for the birth of our Lord Jesus and we give You thanks and praise. In Your Holy name, Amen.

Mrs Bondonno