News 03

Ahead in their History

After the recent Young Historians' competition, the College's History Department organised an internal version of the competition for those who participated in the external rounds. This gave our six young historians an opportunity to further develop their papers and gain more experience in delivering presentations of this nature. Dr Akal and Professor Mandy Goedhals (Head of the School of Anthropology, Gender and Historical Studies, UKZN) adjudicated the competition and gave the students involved valuable input and advice.

Back row: Matthew Kimble, Dr Akal, Professor Goedhals, Mr Leech and Shrivaan Raju
Front row: Taliya Naidoo, Katrina du Toit, Bianca Phillips and Kelly Breeds

A Way with Strings

Grade 5 pupil at St Henry's Marist Brothers' College, Michael Ross, has been awarded a 'Pass with merit'in his Grade 3 Royal Schools of Music Violin exam. He achieved 83% in an exam consisting of three pieces, scales, sight-reading and an aural test.

Hands on the Keys to Success

Stephen Horn, a Grade 10 pupil at St. Henry’s Marist Brothers’ College Durban, recently passed his Associated Board of Royal Schools piano music exam with a distinction. Stephen says that he owes the achievement mostly to his parents for putting up with many scales and arpeggios being practised late into the night and his excellent music teacher, Mrs Susan Carey, without whom he’d never have come close to his distinction.

Sporting Achievement

Jean-Luc Tostee (right) was presented with the Crusaders Medal for the Under 11 Rugby Player of the Year.

Over and Over Again

At the end of the 3rd term, St Henry's hosted, for the third time, its annual U11 Cricket Festival. There were two days of competition and cameraderie in which eight primary schools from the Durban area fielded teams.

The St Henry's Festival team with Guest of Honour, Mr Pat Trimborn, an Old Boy of the College and a former Springbok Cricketer.

All eight teams assembled before the opening overs of the Festival were bowled.

Save This One For Me!

Jean-Luc Tostee added to his collection of medals for life-saving when he came second in the Body Board Race. He finds the activity keeps him in good physical condition.

Keeping the Wheels Turning

Calum Murphy started mountain biking to keep his dad company. He began racing himself and won a medal in a race at Mooi River. He relishes the challenge of riding over rough terrain.

Great Poise

Julia Clancy took part in the Durban Dance Foundation Bursary Awards at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and was awarded runner up in the Nan Girdlestone Bursary.

Seeing Red

Garreth Thomas, a budding martial arts expert in Grade 4, has received his red belt in “Baby Tiger”, the junior version of Kung Fu. Garreth finds that his training helps him with discipline and concentration as well as benefiting him physically.

Taking Steps

St Henry’s Marist Brothers’ College Grade 4 pupil, Amy van der Merwe, has been awarded a trophy for being judged the top ballet dancer in the A.P.N. Gymnastics Academy.

Belt Up!

When he was in Grade 2, Liam Ward started karate. Now in Grade 5, Liam has passed various gradings and, most recently, earned his Junior Black Belt. Liam also participates in “Kumite” a form of free fighting in the martial arts.

Something Fishy

Keghan Ormshaw in Grade 5, was chosen to represent the KZN Light Tackle Boat Angling Association Juniors (Freshwater) to fish in the Nationals at Gariep Dam in the Free State.

A Novel Approach

Emerging wordsmith, Juhi Madaree, in Grade 9, is penning her way into a future career with her first novel, “The Believer”, having been published. It is a story about teenagers in the modern world. Juhi has been writing for several years and has had poems and stories published in various anthologies.

Opening Moves

The Grade 3 Chess Team, whose members started playing the game this year, has played in two tournaments recently (at Glenwood Prep and Clifton Prep)and are showing great promise.

Winning Ways With Words

The Grade 10 Debating team (Shriuvaan Rjau, Bianca Phillips and Aman Baboolal) are the KZN Debating Campions for 2007. Bianca was adjudged Best Speaker of the competion.For more, go to the Oratory Section under "Cultural".

In A Lighter Vein

Rev. Mike O'Neill, H.O.D. Religious Education, recently donated his 625th litre of blood. This was a KZN record and his achievement was recognised with the presentation of a certificate.

World Cup Rugby

The Parents' Association has arranged for a big screen in the Marist Association Hall on Friday 14th September so that we can watch the World Cup Rugby clash between South Africa and England in France.The evening will start with supper at 7.00pm followed by kick-off at 9.00pm. Tickets cost R60 which includes a hot meal, dessert and coffee and can be bought at the GearShop between 7.30 and 8.15 every weekday morning. A cash bar will be available.

A Lifting Experience

Three engineering aspirants in Grade 10, Wayne Savy, Matthew Doherty and Shrivaan Raju, entered their tower crane in this year's Technology Olympiad. They designed, built and tested a mechanism capable of lifing and accurately positioning 160 gram wooden blocks.

Serving an Ace

Mikhail Modie went to the Durban Central Zone Tennis trials at the beginning of the 2nd term. He was then chosen for the Central Zone B team to play in the Inter District Tournament in Pietermaritzburg in July. At this tournament he qualified for the South African Schools Team as a non-travelling reserve in the team which is to travel to Egypt in December. He has subsequently been invited to travel with this team as someone has not accepted the invitation to go to Egypt.

Stepping up to the Crease

The cricketing prowess of Grade 7 pupils, Mikhail Modi and Bantu Futshane,has been recognised in their selection for the Durban Primary Schools Invitation and Durban Central Cricket teams respectively.

Motor Power

Mr Rod Schafer, long-serving teacher at St Henry’s, logged a personal landmark third place in the Class C race of the Lotus Challenge at the recent Spring Regional Circuit Racing, which took place at the Wesbank Raceway in Germiston. Mr Schafer was driving the Lotus 7 which he has, over several years, painstakingly built from scratch.

DEATH OF FORMER DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: MR GLEN HOGG

It is with a sense of great loss and sadness that I write to inform you of the death of Mr Glen Hogg, former Deputy Principal at St Henry’s, late on Friday afternoon 3rd August 2007 after a long illness battling cancer.

Mr Hogg first underwent treatment for cancer some two years ago and, in his customarily stoic manner, struggled valiantly against the disease. He was still conscious when he received the final sacraments of the sick on Thursday morning, surrounded by his family. He passed away peacefully mid-afternoon on Friday 3rd August.

Mr Hogg began his teaching career at St Henry’s in 1968 and retired from teaching at the end of 2002 completing 35 years of yeomen service to the College. In 1982 he was appointed Head of Department in the Primary School – a position he held until his appointment as Deputy Principal in 1993. He held the position of the College’s Deputy Principal for ten years and on two occasions acted as Principal when I was on sabbatical leave.

Moving tributes from alumni of the College, Mr Hogg’s former colleagues, church-workers and friends have flooded into the school. It is no exaggeration to say that Mr Hogg was one of the most highly respected and most loved teachers at St Henry’s over the past three decades. His ability to relate to the very young children with his impish pranks, as well as to the more mature students, endeared him to all who came in contact with him. His casual demeanour and down-to-earth manner belied a most perceptive mind and an ability to think profoundly about life and to express these thoughts in a highly articulate manner. It is little wonder that, in the course of his work with the ‘Retrovaille’ marriage programme, he developed the nickname ‘sage’. It was, however, always a wisdom tinged with the greatest humility.

Mr Hogg’s funeral will take place on Monday 13th August at 16h00 (4.00 pm) at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 159 Northway, Durban North. To enable the many teachers, parents and students to attend, school will close at noon on Monday (11h30 for Pre-School and Foundation Phase to ease traffic). This will enable parents to collect siblings in the various phases of the College at the same time. We appeal to all our pupils who will be attending the funeral to do so in their school uniforms. This would be a fitting tribute to Mr Hogg who was always so proud of St Henry’s.

Dr A V G Akal
College Principal.

In Tip-Top Tip-Toe Form!

Emma Spencer, a Grade 3 pupil at St Henry’s Marist Brothers’ College, has been awarded an Honours certificate in her Cecchetti Ballet Exam. In June, she represented the South Zone Challenge in the Provincial Gymnastics Competition in Bloemfontein and was placed fifth in Floor Work.

Stay Alert!

The Primary School recently hosted "Stranger Danger", a strong presentation alerting pupils to the threat of being accosted and lured by sweet-talking strangers. Several learners took part in role-playing to reinforce the message.

Hiking in The Berg

During the July holidays, a group of students and staff spent time hiking in the Wonder Valley area of the Berg. To read more, please go to "Cultural" and click on "Environmental Society".

Serpentine Showing

Glamorous and exotic Charmaine Baker held her audience of Grade 6 pupils at St Henry’s spell-bound with her dazzling display of fire-eating, her handling of her pet python. She regaled the boys and girls with her vivid tales of her life as a circus performer and her background as a member of the Romany or Gypsy nation.

Back from the Antipodes

Antony Limbouris has returned from a term at St Joseph's College, Sydney as part of the exchange programme which operates between St Henry's and the Australian Marist school.

From Rome To Champagnat Country

The Marist Brothers’ schools in South Africa have a wonderful way of educating staff about the life and works of Champagnat and about what it means to work in a Marist School. The staff get to see this at first hand through a pilgrimage.

The College Chaplain, Fr Des, the Finance and Esrtate Manager, Mr Mark Davey and Mr Peter Robinson joined staff from four other Marist schools in a pilgrimage to Rome and France during the mid-year holidays. Brothers Jude and Joe led the pilgrimage and, from the first day from the Marist General House in Rome, set a frantic pace.Visits to important and significant sites in the history of the Catholic Church, together with some sight-seeing made an impact on everyone. Some of the highlights included going up in the dome of St Peter’s, and then two floors below to the Scavi. Mass was celebrated every day on the pilgrimage, with a very meaningful one being said in the Catacombs.

France was a quieter time with more opportunities for reflection. Here meaningful sights relating to St Champagnat and the Marist order were visited.

The pilgrimage was a fantastic opportunity for personal growth and for a chance to gain greater insight into what it is that makes St Henry’s and Marist schools so special.

Stars in His Eyes

Eminent astrophysicist, Professor Bradley Hansen, has been visiting his hometown, Durban. Professor Hansen, an alumnus of St Henry's, is Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California in Los Angeles. Having been awarded a post doctoral Hubble Research Fellowship, he worked at Princeton where he did research into areas specifically related to the Hubble Space Telescope project.He has done research on extrasolar planets, with most of his his recent work focussing on the giant planets which orbit close to their star. Professor Hansen has investigated White Dwarfs (the end product of the evolution of most stars) and one of his findings was that our galaxy is approximately 11 billion years old.

Please remember always to use your ‘My School’ Card when shopping at the designated outlets. Every Rand you spend there benefits our school.We are grateful to all parents and friends of St Henry's who already use the card. By doing so, you are helping improve the facilities for the students.

Chess Champ

Aman Baboolal participated in the KZN chess trials, which were held during the July holidays. He won 4 out of 7 games and was selected as part of the U/16 KZN team to represent this province at the Provincial tournament to be held in Bloemfontein in December of this year. In September, Aman takes part in the KZN Closed Tournament where the KZN teams will play among themselves to decide on the board order for the provincial tournament.

Grade 9 EMS Simulation Day – “Banango” Traders

Through an entrepreneurial simulation developed by the Johannesburg School of Finance, Grade 9 EMS students learn various skills running their own businesses. In teams of six, they are tasked with selling “banangos”, a combination of a mango, banana and orange, on Clifton beach in Cape Town. Learners are required to factor in the following variables: market demand, the quantity supplied, selling price and weather in order to make a profit. The teams, each representing a small business, compete against each other and Tuck Shop vouchers were handed out as session prizes. The overall winning team (Steven Yun; Alexander Mare; Juhi Madaree; Candice Rommers; Rucita Severaj) made a profit of about R52 000 over six rounds and is now the current record holders in the game and broke the record previously set by Michaelhouse. A general comment made was “I wish all learning could be this much fun”.

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