Newsletter & Calendar

ST DOMINIC’S COLLEGE,  WELKOM
www.dominic.fs.school.za

Telephone (057) 352-3905

Fax (057) 353-4631

dominic@marques.co.za

Box 574

Welkom

9460

St Dominic’s College welcomes new Deputy Head

St Dominic’s College, High School, welcomes to their School Executive team and academic staff, Mr Christo de Wit.  Christo and his family moved from Grahamstown at the end of last year, where he was Head of Department and Housemaster at Kingswood College.  Prior to his teaching post at Kingswood College, Christo taught at Hoërskool Richardsbaai and Felixton College in Empangeni.  Christo’s field of expertise lies in the Arts.  Not only has he a superb track record of outstanding matric (IEB) results for Art but he also brings with him experience in the design and technology field.  Being a Housemaster at Kingswood College has also given Christo enormous experience in dealing with adolescents in all spheres of their schooling.

Welcoming our new deputy head to the high school meant saying good-bye to Gail Walker.  Gail joined the Convent of St Agnes in 1987, was Deputy Head at the Convent and became Deputy of St Dominic’s in 1995.  During her time at St Dominic’s she was Acting Head on numerous occasions.  Gail has retired to Bathurst in the Eastern Cape along with her husband, Lindsay. 

MUSIC AT ST DOMINIC’S

Research has shown that music nurtures a child’s cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development. At St Dominic’s we strive to give every child the opportunity to experience the joy of music.

Kindermusik is part of the Pre-School curriculum. This is an International Music Therapy Program presented by Bonita Brand. The Grade R learners develop instrument playing skills with the introduction of the recorder and this is presented by Mrs Le Riche van Jaarsveld.

At the Primary School, all classes have singing periods with Mrs Betty Mostert. On Wednesdays, the pupils meet for Liturgical singing with Mrs Sandra Hall and Mrs Betty Mostert. There is also an opportunity for the learners to participate in the choir and Orff-Ensemble.

St Dominic’s High School has incorporated guitar and keyboard as part of the Grade 8 and 9 curricula. All the Grade 8 pupils learn the basics of keyboard technique while the Grade 9’s learn the basics of guitar as well as the rudiments of music during their Arts and Culture. Music as a subject for The National Senior Certificate is ALSO offered at St Dominic’s.

We encourage as many learners as possible to learn to play an instrument and music is therefore offered as an extra-curricular activity at the school. Pupils taking lessons at school will have the opportunity to perform at Music Evenings.

PREFECTS FOR 2006

PREFECTS

Megan Crook

Alisje Steyn

Menzi Mthembu

Ashley Churchyard

Sebabatso Manoeli

Xoliswa Majombozi

Neziswa Ndamase

Pearl Baloyi

Nteboheng Mahlala

Nozipho Soka

MONITORS

Siphokazi Soka

Neo Moloi

Keorapetse Seatlanyane

Mark Dimmick

Mosele Mokete

Karel Bodenstein

Lebohang Mthethwa

Ryan Gilbert

Khumo Tsoai

ACADEMIC

Matric Results

100% PASS RATE for our 2005 Matrics!

43 candidates wrote the IEB examination and 27 candidates received exemptions.

South African Maths Team

Nicky van der Mey was chosen as one of 14 for the South African Maths Team to compete in the Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad. 

National Natural Science and Biology Olympiad

Kirsten Peacey and Nicky van der Mey achieved third place in the National Natural Science and Biology Olympiad.

SPORT

NFS REPRESENTATION

Athletics

Heathcliff Nyambiya, Angelika Fischer and Jessica Stevens.

Swimming

Jason Grimwood, Elizabeth Adams, J-Lee Ramsay, Meagan Smith.

Biathlon

Michael Welbourne, Meagan Smith and Gary Wilson.

Squash

Pamela Bothma, Megan Crook, Samantha de Beer, Nicole da Silva, Andrea Boone, Tiffany Shawe, Melissa de Gouveia, Kyle Hatton-Jones, Mark Dimmick, Michael Welbourne, Johan de Kock, Steven Wessels, Mike Coetzee, David Acton and Kevin Monaghan.

FS REPRESENTATION

Athletics

Heathcliff Nyambiya

Swimming

Jason Grimwood, Elizabeth Adams, J-Lee Ramsay and Meagan Smith.

Lifesaving

J-Lee Ramsay, Hloni Matlala, Mark Dimmick and Jason Grimwood

Squash

Pamela Bothma, Megan Crook, Samantha de Beer, Nicole da Silva, Kevin Monaghan and David Acton

CULTURAL

Debating

Miguel de Freitas, Sebabatso Manoeli, Terri-Lee Adendorff and Nezi Ndamase won the Free State Invitational Debating Competition held in Bloemfontein recently.  Terri-Lee Adendorff, the captain of the Free State debating team, was selected for the National Debating Squad. At the 2005 National Championships Terri was placed 9th in South Africa and was the highest ranked Grade 10 debater in the country

Photography

Ryan Gilbert was awarded Cultural Honours for the acceptance of a photograph to an international exhibition in Sweden.

Music

Nicole da Silva achieved 85% in her Grade 4 Solo Piano Examination.
Sarah-Jane Ziegler achieved 83% in her Grade 5 Solo Piano Examination.

Stephanie van der Mey achieved Grade 4 Violin with Merit, 6 Recorders with Distinction and Grade 5 Theory of Music with Distinction.

Nicolaas (Nicky) van der Mey achieved Grade 6 Violoncello with Merit, Grade 6 Solo Piano with Merit and Grade 5 Theory of Music with Distinction. 

SA REPRESENTATION

Terry-Lee Adendorff was selected for the SA Debating Squad in December 2005

Menzi Mthembu represented South Africa in the Tri Nations Tennis Tournament held in Australia in December 2005.

Nicolaas (Nicky) van der Mey was selected as a member of the South African Maths Team in April 2006.

CHARITY MONEY RAISED IN 2005

The following charities received substantial donations from the pupils:  Eden Village, Bishop Brenninkneijer/ Relief Centre, Equip for Life, Hospice and Gideon’s Bible Foundation.

JUNIOR CITY COUNCIL (JCC) NEWS

One of the main aims of the JCC is for the youth to interact with one another.  Last year, the JCC delivered Valentine’s letters to high schools in Matjhabeng and this year repeated this service with no costs being incurred by pupils.  Many letters and cards were distributed on Valentine’s Day.