La Rochelle 2021

J A A R V E R S L A G

Beste ouers, La Rochelle-dogters en vriende van die skool Dit is vir oulaas my voorreg om namens die personeel verslag te lewer van die eerste sewe maande se gebeure. Teen die einde van 2020 het ons besef dat die Covid- 19-pandemie nog nie uitgewoed is nie en het ons versigtig optimisties uitgesien na veranderinge in 2021. Ongelukkig was ’n terugkeer na ’normaal’ nie vir ons beskore nie, maar ons het as personeel wel twee beloftes aan mekaar gemaak: Ons gaan bly planne maak EN ons gaan met sagte oë na onsself en almal rondom ons kyk. Dít was dan ook ons fokus vir 2021: Emosionele ondersteuning vir ons leerders, ouers en personeel in hierdie uitdagende omstandighede. Die professionele verbintenis met Talking Point na die traumatiese selfdood van twee gr. 11-leerders is uitgebrei na die werksaamhede van GLT ( Gesprekke/Let’s Talk ). Onder die toesig van ’n paneel onderwysers word gespreksgeleenthede vir die dogters aangebied. Soos genoem, het die pandemie steeds ’n invloed op ons gehad. Nie net het die beplande opening van die skool op 25 Januarie 2021 nie plaasgevind nie, gesinne en uitgebreide families in die La Rochelle-kring is ernstig deur Covid-19 geraak – deur die siekte self, maar ook finansieel. Ons harte gaan uit na almal wat hulle eie uitdagings bestuur en met deursettingsvermoë hul oog op geloof, hoop en liefde gevestig hou. Die woorde vanMaya Angelou was nog nooit so waar soos nou nie en herinner ons om nie die waarde van liefde en omgee te onderskat nie. “ Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope .” Op eie front is ons geruk deur die skielike dood van mev. Corné Coetzee. As graad 11-graadhoof en RTT-onderwyser (sedert 2001) het sy diep spore getrap en ’n verskil in baie leerders se lewens gemaak. Ons is dankbaar dat ons die dienste van mev. Christien Marais kon bekom om die RTT-klasse oor te neem. Mev. Christa Vos het die pligte as graadhoof oorgeneem en saam met die gr.11-leerders ’n stylvolle matriekafskeid gekoördineer. Two new members of staff joined our ranks: Mrs Shanje Maree (Afrikaans and Life Orientation) andMiss Kirsty Nel (Dramatic Arts). Mrs Lise de Beer resigned as counsellor during the course of the year. Mrs M’lani Basson has filled her post. Mrs Karen Swarts left the school at the end of August and has relocated to the Netherlands. Mrs Christa Bothma, who joined us in 2012, retired as Secretary at the end of March. However, her association with the school stretched over many years as a parent, as a member of the PTA, as well as a member of the SGB over the past number of years. Mrs Bothma’s daughters, Madeleen (Matric 2006) and Susan (Matric 2009), are proud past pupils of the school. Mrs Nita Volschenk has filled the vacancy and has established herself in Room 19. Mrs Christel Hall has been appointed at the Hostel since 1 May 2021.

Despite our positive outlook for 2021 and its prospects, the staff still had to face many external challenges. After many uncertainties, the School Management Team, Administrative Staff and Terrain Personnel reported for duty on 25 January, with the rest of the staff arriving on 1 February. We were confronted, yet again, with the task of adapting our year planning for both academics and extra-murals. We had to think creatively and the Grade 8’s welcome was changed to a single Orientation Day, which was wrapped up with the traditional Parent/Sot/ Milady Picnic – with all COVID protocols intact! We continued with the longer periods which were implemented in 2020 after the first lockdown. The first group of learners – Grades 12, 11 and 8 – reported on 15 February and the Grades 12, 10 and 9 on 22 February 2021. After consultation and in order to utilise teaching time optimally, ALL the grades returned on 1 March. In the mornings screening took place in the JJ Meyer School Hall, while strict measures were applied for the learners to maintain social distancing in the school and the hostel. The closing date of the first term was postponed to 23 April, with 3 May scheduled to see the start of term 2. This year also saw the national elections of school governing bodies for the next three-year term. Our first online election took place on 23 March 2021 and the following parents were elected: Chairperson – Mr Nico Koch; Deputy Chairperson – Mrs Michelle Horn; Treasurer – Mr Villie de Kock. The other members include: Mesdames Mimi Briers-Louw, Lizanne Pelham, Leslee Durr, Mr Riel Malan, Mr Adriano Bertoncello, Mr Eduan Hayman and Mr Francois Pieters. Elected members of staff: Miss Nadene van Aswegen, Mesdames Sonnet Vorster and Karin Leibbrandt (Secretary); Learners: Bianca Leighton and Méla Botha (both Student Council) and Fränzel Basson (RCL). Die skoolbeheerliggaam speel ’n sleutelrol in die strategie van die skool en ons sien uit na die voltooiing van die projekte wat ná die afhandeling van die astro hokkiebaan en tartan atletiekstrook geïdentifiseer is – vestiging van die netbal- en tennisbane in Du Toistraat en die aanbou van ekstra klaskamers. Despite the restrictions associated with lockdown, the following activities could take place. Detailed accounts occur elsewhere in this edition. • Gr. 8 Athletic Trials • Olympiads: English, Maths (as well as UCT Maths Competition, where we received 15 Merit Awards and Annamarie Mans was the recipient of the Oxford Prize ) • The creative activities of the Green Committee • The Outdoor Club hikes • Valentine’s Day celebrations • Science Club activities • First Aid Course: Levels 1 and 2 • Parent Evenings: Gr. 8 (15 February); Gr. 12 (9 March); Gr. 9-11 (online presentation) • Academic Prestige Evening (after the publication of the Matric results) • Open Day for prospective learners of 2022 • Interhouse swimming with limited items • Afrikaans Literêre Seminaar (gr. 12’s)

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