La Rochelle Yearbook 2025

ANNUAL REPORT

betower het. Met pragtige kostuums, indrukwekkende verhoogstelle en ’n talentvolle rolverdeling, het die produksie weer hierdie geliefde sprokie op die planke gebring. Die Larries het met oorgawe gesing, gedans en gespeel, en die samewerking tussen die verhoogspan, musiekregisseurs en danskoördineerders het duidelik in elke toneel deurgeskemer. Dit was ’n ware viering van kreatiwiteit, harde werk en samewerking – en ’n hoogtepunt op die skoolkalender wat nog lank onthou sal word. Debating: The debaters had an excellent year, with 2 Junior and 2 Senior Teams competing in the Boland League. Our Junior A Team progressed to the League Final and finished 2 nd overall. Our Senior A Team competed at the National All Girls’ Festival, and our Junior A and Senior A Teams represented Boland at the Western Cape Schools’ Provincial Debating Championships. The Junior A side progressed to the quarter finals, finishing 6 th overall. A special word of congratulations to Leah Johnson who was selected for and attended Senior trials, and to Zarah van Zyl who was selected as a Junior triallist and placed 3 rd in the province in the individual Top Ten Junior ranking. Ons neem deel aan die ATKV se Uitklopspel Spel kompetisie, waar Janienike Olivier ’n 4 de plek behaal en Livia Lategan die Junior Idiome-afdeling wen. Maggie Kritzinger (graad 10), het hierdie jaar die La Rochelle-vlag hoog gehou toe sy aan die nasionale finaal van die ATKV-Uitklopspel Spelkompetisie deelgeneem het. Die finaal is by Grey Kollege in Bloemfontein aangebied. Maggie het meer as 1 250 uitdagende spelwoorde bemeester en haar met groot vasberadenheid en grasie teen van die land se beste spellers gemeet. Sy het uitstekend presteer en ’n indrukwekkende 12 de plek behaal. Die kamerkonsert het nie net die skool se musikale uitnemendheid bevestig nie, maar ook die Larries se passie vir hul kuns gevier. Ons is trots op elke deelnemer wat hierdie besondere musiekaand moontlik gemaak het. Die koor het ’n luisterryke optrede by die Applous kompetisie gelewer. Hulle het ook vanjaar saam met die Tygerberg Kinderkoor aan die Tapestry of Sound -kompetisie deelgeneem. Hierdie optredes het hul uitsonderlike talent, samewerking en passie vir musiek ten toon gestel en weer eens die skool se sterk musikale reputasie bevestig. Con Spirito, onder die bekwame leiding van mevv. Madri Muller en Elsabé Richter, het geskiedenis in die Endlersaal in Stellenbosch gemaak. Die ensemble is nie net as wenners van hul kategorie aangewys nie, maar ook as die algehele wenners van hierdie jaar se Stellenbosch Universiteit se Nasionale Ensemble-Kompetisie. Hierdie besondere prestasie getuig van hul toewyding, talent en samewerking. La Rochelle is uiters trots op Con Spirito se merkwaardige sukses. Die Dink-of-Sink-Debatskompetisie vind op 23 Mei 2025 plaas. Ons Junior debatspan wen twee van hul drie debatte en Timia Williams (graad 9), word twee keer as Beste Spreker aangewys en Anya van Jaarsveld word ook as Beste Spreker by ’n senior debat aangewys. Dans: Ons dansgroep behaal ’n Goud plus by die Paarl Vallei Eisteddfod en ontvang ook die beker vir die Beste Hip Hop-groep.

Ons Marimbas was deel van die grootste Marimba Guinness Wêreldrekordpoging by die Grand West Casino in Augustus. At La Rochelle, we make a point of enrolling our learners in local (Paarl Valley), provincial (Western Cape Virtual) and national (The National Eisteddfod of South Africa) Eisteddfods to broaden their creative experience and support the idea of a growth mindset. Our learners perform superbly in a myriad of categories, and we are proud to have trophy winners, category winners and exceptional results in all three of these tiers. The year commenced with the Grade 8 Daisy Camp, with all of the new Larries sleeping over in the hostel in order to get to know one another better. They attended lectures, danced, participated in athletics and swimming, forging strong bonds in the process. The camp concluded with the Daisy-Milady Picnic, along with the new Grade 8 parents. The Ignite learners enjoyed their annual seminar at Karmel, Franschhoek, from 20-22 January 2025. Thank you to Mrs Shanje Maree and Sarah and Dewald Scholtz for their leadership and inspiration. Die graad 11’s se kamp, met “Survivor” as tema, vind by Kleinmond plaas. Verskeie spanbou-sessies vind oor twee dae plaas om die groep vir hulle 2026-matriekjaar voor te berei. The Grade 9 Camp was held in the picturesque mountains at Mispah Camp Site. The learners participated in teambuilding activities, went for a hike and got to know one another better. THANK YOU We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every member of staff, learner, parent, alumnus and friend of La Rochelle for your unwavering support, loyalty and passion for our school. Your belief in our mission continues to inspire us to strive for excellence every day. A sincere thank you to former principals, Ms Amanda Lochner and Mrs Johanna Heydenrych (née Longland), for their continued encouragement and involvement in our school community. We are grateful to the Jack Meyer Art Centre and the Frank Petersen Music Centre for their valued partnerships which enrich the artistic and cultural life of our learners. Our appreciation also goes to the WCED officials, Mr Denver Cupido and Mr Noel Petersen, along with their dedicated teams, for their steadfast support throughout the year. To the Governing Body of La Rochelle Girls’ High School: We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the time, expertise and commitment that you, as parents and educators, selflessly offer in service of our school. Executive Committee: Sarel Rossouw (Chairperson); Elsabé Conradie (Principal); Andrew Rielly (Treasurer, Finance Committee); Marli Saunders (Vice-Chairperson, WELLNESS, CAMPS, SEMINARS AND TRAINING SESSIONS

14 | Hoër Meisieskool La Rochelle | Girls’ High School