22 February 2009
Dear Parents
We began 2009 with three classes of grade 8 and a number of new girls spread across the other grades. DSG is at its fullest ever and there is literally no room for even one more body. In fact, we are aware that there are areas, such as in the junior school, where we are bigger than we should be and we will need to reduce those numbers over time through natural attrition. There is no strategy in place at this stage to expand the school beyond its present size, and I doubt that such a decision would be taken in these economic times. Consequently, I sit with a situation where we are totally over-subscribed for 2010 and I am daily advising parents to ensure that their girls are on application lists elsewhere. While I am assured by colleagues in the profession that this is a happy position to be in, it is difficult to turn away so many young people. I urge you in the DSG community to advise family and friends to apply for a place here well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Meanwhile the school is in full swing with activities around-the-clock as usual. On the whole the new young people have found their niche and have quickly settled down to DSG life. We welcome them and their families into our community. I remind new parents and existing ones to contact us with concerns or news about girls that we should know. It goes without saying that the best recipe for success here is when the school and the parents are working as a team to create the right environment for each girl.
We began this year with a number of new staff in various areas of the school. I welcome warmly the following:
Dr Mellony Graven - Dr Graven is a shared appointment between SAC and DSG and heads up our new Maths Centre. She will explore innovative ways of elevating Maths results across the spectrum in both schools as well as extending Maths as an Outreach project.
Mrs Melissa Duiker – Mrs Duiker joins our staff primarily as a Netball and Athletics coach. She is also assisting in the administrative department as well as teaching some Afrikaans.
Mrs Lisa Micklewright – Mrs Micklewright has taken over the Grade Four class, having previously taught in the UK and in Cape Town.
Mr Tudor Lacey – Mr Lacey has taken on the role of professional swimming coach and administrator of the Aquatic Centre. He is an ex Olympic swimmer and a highly experienced coach. The Junior School Gala on Friday evening illustrated clearly the positive impact that he has already made on our swimmers.
Rev Sue Paton – Rev Sue has taken on the role of Community Engagement Officer and is also an assistant and colleague to Rev Linda.
Mr Mark Kamba – Mr Kamba is a new addition to our IT department.
Our Matric Results in 2008 were outstanding. Once again, all our girls attained a university pass. They achieved 112 subject distinctions and 157 B symbols for individual subjects. Special mention must be made of Samantha Copeman who obtained 7 distinctions (Accounting; Afrikaans; Dance; Design; English; Life Orientation and Mathematics); Belinda Huddy, and Leanne Mullins who each achieved 6 subject distinctions; and Bridgette Kew, Jemimah Kibirige, Patricia Maud and Nicole Millar for attaining 5 distinctions. These results validate and consolidate DSG’s position as a top academic institution and we congratulate all our Matrics of 2008. We are very proud of you! Well done also to their teachers. With 2008 being the first set of FET examinations, the pressure on the academic staff was considerable and they most certainly rose to the challenge!
After considerable debate, we have decided to rename the Academic Heads of each House Housemasters and/or Housemistresses and the women who assist them will be referred to as House Mothers. The system of Senior Tutors created too much confusion. The Housemistress or -master is responsible for the emotional, social, physical and academic well-being of the pupils in their care, and the House Mothers are in charge of the domestic operations in the House (laundry, maintenance, cleaning, medicine, etc) as well as being another adult for the girls to approach. Parental concerns should be addressed to the Housemistress or -master unless they are related to the domestic running of the House. As a reminder, the staff in each House is as follows:
| ESPIN | CREWE | MERRIMAN | |
| Housemistress / master | Mrs Anne Preston | Mr Bauke and Mrs Christa Snyman | Mrs Frith van der Merwe |
| House mother | Mrs Di Long | Mrs Linda McIntosh | Mrs Christel Coetzer |
I encourage you to approach these people with concerns about your daughters. Other people available to you include your child’s tutor for academic and other concerns, Rev Linda Schwartz for spiritual and emotional well-being, Mr David Wright for matters relating to sport, and Sister Mary Kruiskamp for Health issues. Ms Trish Middlebrook oversees Grade Eights as a whole, Mrs Shelly Roodt is Head of the Day Girls and Mrs Mel Webb is in charge of the academic programme. All of these people are available to you and are an email or phone call away.
While I do not wish to discourage parents from contacting me directly should they wish to do so, I am receiving in excess of 50 emails a day, and being away periodically on marketing trips, has led to a backlog developing. I am concerned that I am unable to give you the swift answers you often require, and other staff in the areas of responsibility above will often be able to help you more quickly.
I would like to pay tribute to our prefects. Under the leadership of Kate Amm and Cayley Tonkin they are doing an outstanding job. They have quickly embraced the portfolio system and are working hard to serve the DSG in their specific areas of responsibility. More importantly, they have shown a willingness to be accountable to their positions and their generosity and enthusiasm is obvious to all. Well done, girls!
I will not dwell too long on our sport programme as I have asked Mr Wright to attach a sports report to this letter. We have already participated in a busy programme locally and further afield with under fourteen Water Polo having played in a tournament in Cape Town, our Tennis girls having attended the top ten tournament in Natal and Rowing girls participating in the Southern Cape and soon off to Gauteng. Basketball, Swimming and Water Polo teams have had a full programme in Graaff Reinet, East London and Port Elizabeth and we have a number of Squash representatives in provincial teams. DSG has a proud sporting history playing against schools more than triple its size and usually ending somewhere at the top of the pile. I salute our sportswomen and their coaches for their commitment and achievements!
Our Choir participated in a mass choir event at the Settlers Monument at the start of February. It was a stunning evening and a superb experience for our girls to sing with pupils from eight local schools. I congratulate Mrs Mandy Carver and the Music staff on a most enjoyable and successful evening.
I apologise to parents who came to Grahamstown over half term and who noted my absence. I am presently on a marketing trip in Botswana and Kenya and while it is quite a wrench not to support our annual gala and to meet parents, I needed to take up the opportunity to visit one of our Kenyan feeder schools whose Open Day falls over our half term. It has been valuable meeting parents here and heart warming to note their passion and support for the DSG. Thank you to our over-border parents for their continued interest and support of us. Having spent a great deal of time delayed at airports this past week due to the strike, I am well aware of some of the difficulties you face in your choice to educate your girls so far away!
Lastly, on behalf of the entire DSG community I wish to welcome Mr Paul Edey and his wife Sue to Grahamstown and St Andrew’s College. Paul is highly regarded as a leader among South African heads and is an asset to the entire Grahamstown community. He has already proved to be a wonderful colleague and I feel privileged to be working with him.
I wish you and your daughters safe travel over half term and a happy time together.
Regards
Shelley Frayne
Kelly Long to represent South Africa 25th January 2012
Kelly Long will represent South Africa at the 5th International Sustainable World Project Olympiad in the USA
