We celebrated Micklefield’s 95th Birthday over a week in May. This very special milestone saw an outpouring of love to the community in the way of hand-made cards, collections, music and singing. Happy 95th Birthday, Micklefield!
The Grade 1 girls visited Avondrust Retirement Home. We gave them some flowers and cards and sang some of our favourite songs from class singing. It was lovely when they joined in with old favourites such as “Twinkle, twinkle little star” Thank you to everyone who made this outing possible.
Grade 1 birthday messages:
The Grade 2s donated box loads of pre-loved clothing, books, toys, stationery, and games to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust. Most of the children at the Red Cross Children’s School & Hospital Trust spend 90% of their day in bed. The items that we donated create much joy. We are so happy we could make a difference in their lives. The girls also wrote and decorated beautiful cards to be shared with the children at the hospital.
The Grade 2s also created teapots for the elderly at Huis Nuweland, a small, intimate retirement home. They made ‘tea-riffic’ teapots with an individually packaged breakfast tea bag.
The Grade 3s donated vegetables which they washed, peeled, chopped and packaged. These were delivered to the Haven Night Shelter in Wynberg where they were used to make nourishing soup for the residents, perfect for cold winter nights.
The Grade 4s celebrated Micklefield Birthday week with collecting items for Lawrence House. It is located in Woodstock and has 26 children. 12 boys (ages 10-12) and 13 girls (ages 13 – 17) and one 10-year-old girl. They collected stationery, toiletries and cool socks! The bags of pamper goods were delivered to the girls and boys. They were especially glad to have interesting socks in time for winter.
Ladles of Love started off as a small soup kitchen giving out soup once a week until it became a well established NPO that looks after communities within the Western Cape and Gauteng. The Grade 5s made a loaf of bread each worth of peanut butter sandwiches, packaged and delivered to Ladles of Love to distribute to an orphanage in need.
Charity does indeed begin at home. For Micklefield’s birthday outreach, the Grade 6s collected and packaged stationery for the children of Camp Sonshine Africa, an NGO founded by our own Alison Smith. The commitment to assisting the children in her care inspired us to do our part. Camp Sonshine Africa hosts a Saturday programme where children from the Garden Village Community are able to come and enjoy doing arts and crafts and let their creative juices flow. Each Micklefield girl enclosed a letter in a pencil case; words of encouragement and love which were handed out to the children.
Excerpt from the letter of thanks received from Camp Sonshine:
Many of the children said that they had never owned their own stationery case before, so this is something very special to them. As they are also about to write exams this is something that will help them out a lot at this time. Thank you all so much for your kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness, you have made a big difference to these children.
Grade 4s were very excited to go on their first camp to High Africa. They travelled in the pouring rain, seeing many waterfalls on the way. The sun was shining when they arrived. They enjoyed the climbing wall, Leap of Faith and Long Walk to Freedom. The Potjie Competition was the best! They worked together, encouraged their friends and loved listening to stories around the campfire before bedtime. They are already looking forward to going back to High Africa again in Grade 7.
The Grade 5s absolutely loved their camp experience this year. The facilitators, food and activities were well received by our girls. They participated wholeheartedly and worked together to solve problems that arose. Some of the activities included archery, Gaga ball, scavenger hunts, human pyramids, jacuzzi time, hut making and so much more. The girls returned with a can-do attitude and strengthened friendship ties.
The Grade 6s visited Bonamanzi Adventures on the Breede River. From the moment we arrived, the programme was jam-packed. Team building tasks; the gutter and blind-folded ball games were just some some of the activities our girls engaged in. The nightwalk tested our ability to be guided by the stars and spot as many glow-in-the-dark scorpions along the way. Delicious food, a definite priority, left us all satisfied at meal times. There is no doubt that fun was had, relationships were strengthened, and skills were developed. Definitely an epic camp!
During the Grade 0s theme on Eggs, they had a visit from some reptiles. They learnt how reptiles are different from mammals. With hands-on experience, they now know that snakes are cold to the touch, have very smooth scales, very strong muscles, they shed their skin and they grow as long as the classroom carpet.
The Secret Adventures of Anonymouse, is a book about a mouse who discovers the magic of doing kind deeds anonymously and the value of spreading kindness without personal gain. In Grade 0 the girls made their own Anonymouse masks and started a kindness garden. Whenever someone is kind the RECEIVER shares the deed with the class and a kindness seed is planted. Our kindness garden is growing!
The Grade 0s have been learning about the 12 o’clock letters this term. Handwriting starts with pattern work, fine motor activities and learning about different kinds of lines. Letter /i/ is for itchy iguana. For letter /i/ they made pinprick pictures to put against the windows, allowing the light to shine through; they experimented with ink and quills – like writing in the olden days; and they made insects out of ink finger-prints.
The Grade 0s explored the colourful season of autumn by using our senses in an apple tasting, raking up autumn leaves and using them their own artwork, designing their own leaves and decorating them using vibrant autumn colours, counting and Maths with acorns, twisting paper to create tree branches and discovering that leaves have veins, too.
The Grade 00 girls had an amazing morning exploring various professions at Rosen Castle. They role played working in a supermarket, a vet clinic, a TV Studio and a bank. The highlight was icing and decorating a biscuit in the kitchen. The conversations and interactions with the tutors were so rewarding to listen to and observe. The girls are very knowledgeable when it comes to shopping and working.
The Grade 0s had a jam-packed morning at Rosen Castle. They shopped and worked at Checkers, drew loads of money out of the CAPITEC ATM; became the weather teller on TV with a real green screen, gave pets vaccinations at the vet, and decorated biscuits and cleaned up in the kitchen, all in a day’s work.
One of the Grade 2’s themes this term was Animals. The girls enjoyed an outing to Giraffe House on the 30th of May. Giraffe House is a wildlife awareness centre that allows those of all ages to see some of Africa’s wonderful wildlife and bird species. Despite the cold and rainy conditions, the Grade 2s had a wonderful time! They saw giraffes, warthogs, crocodiles, lemurs, meerkats, tarantulas and so much more. A highlight of the day was being able to touch a Burmese Python.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is certainly a place one does not grow tired of, but this time the girls had a twist to their excursion. The Grade 5 girls visited Kirstenbosch under the guise of an advertising agency who are creating an advert. The brief was to highlight the importance of the Botanical Gardens, what makes it a heritage site, the importance of the floral kingdom and so much more.
The Grade 3s enjoyed exploring fossils with Dr Matthews, a visiting palaeontologist. They learnt the difference between ‘trace fossils’ and ‘body fossils’. They also enjoyed making their own trace fossils with playdough.
Our Grade 6s have continued in earnest to raise funds for their chosen organisations. They have gained insight and understanding of how to communicate professionally and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Most importantly they are learning how to work with vulnerable people in challenging situations and the profound effect that giving back to those in need has on each of us.
Over the course of the last two terms, the Grade 3s have dedicated their time to exploring their personal heritage and culture. They conducted extensive research into the countries from which their families originated, delving into the cultural tapestries that have helped shape their identities. Armed with the information that they garnered, they assembled this into a metaphorical suitcase, symbolising the preservation and packaging of their heritage.
To conclude their investigations, the girls educated their peers about their distinctive cultures and traditions through oral presentations. This experience not only served to strengthen their own sense of identity but also promoted cultural exchange and harmony within their classroom community.
The Grade 4-7 Sustainability Science Expo was a hit! As this was Micklefield’s first Science Expo, parents and teachers were really amazed by the diverse ideas, research and investigation generated by us young scientists. There were some incredible ideas involving new and more sustainable methods to water plants, testing how different foods age, coming up with natural supplements and so much more. As parents flocked through the hall they were clearly impressed by the outcome and definitely took the opportunity to dive in and learn something new by asking loads of questions. The night ran swimmingly with a beautiful buzz and energy in our school hall. Well done, to all the Grade 4-7s!
Written by Carrie Killops and Amber Smith
Term 2 Executive Leadership Committee
It was another fun-packed and busy term for the Grade 7 Leadership Portfolios. Here are some of their fundraising activities organised by the girls themselves, with more to follow in Term 3.
KINGFISHERS REPORT : Captain [Carrie Killops]
Knowing how much Micklefield girls love books, the Kingfishers house captains came up with the idea of an Outrageous Book Character Day which took place on 12 June, the same day that HOOKED ON BOOKS visited the school. The house captains decided to take it further by making it a competition, whereby by the best dressed up character was chosen to win a sweets and stationery hamper. We really were impressed with all the outrageousness around the school.
OUTREACH REPORT: Captain [Rania Parker]
On Wednesday 14 June, the Outreach Committee hosted a movie afternoon for the Grade 4-7s. It was a busy afternoon as the movie was screened shortly after the Interhouse Netball Tournament. The movie we selected to show was Mario Brothers. The girls arrived in their pyjamas with a blanket and pillow to keep them cosy. It was a fun and enjoyable afternoon and they were treated to popcorn, pizza, sweet treats and juice.
Our Lit Quiz teams did so well at the Term 2 Lit Quiz held at WPPS. We are very proud of our bookworms, as our Grade 7 team came 5th and our Grade 6s were also placed in the top 10. Keep reading girls you never know what the librarians will ask next.
The highlight of the term was the Drama Evening held at the end of the term. Both extra mural groups performed plays, seven grade 7 girls took part in a formal debate and short videos were played of the drama girls’ own attempts at creating their own movies of ET (the extra terrestrial).
The younger drama group performed an adaptation of the Legend of Elinea, the guardian of the ocean. Despite her efforts, the poachers over fish and kill many beautiful ocean creatures and capture her. It is up to the tiny fish and a young girl to save her. Our girls loved the acting of the story as well as the strong message of saving our oceans. Watch their play here: Legend of Elinea
The older group performed the incredible script called Are you a Robot? by Tim Crouch from Wonder Fools, a theatre organisation with whom we are collaborating. Our performance was filmed and will be shared at their festival at the Traverse Theatre in Scotland called Positive Stories in Negative Times Season three. The play is about the important issues of the effects of social media on young people and what it means to be human, as opposed to a social media profile. Watch the play here: Are you a Robot?
Two Grade 7 debating teams showcased the process of debating, by arguing the topic ‘Computers should replace Teachers’. Both sides put forward some valid, persuasive arguments, but unfortunately time did not allow for in depth, rigorous discussion.
Debating has been introduced in English lessons in the Intermediate Phase, and the girls are enjoying using their critical thinking skills in the process.
Our Grade 7 marimba girls participated in the annual Cape Town Marimba Festival held at the Baxter Theatre. Micklefield performed alongside 17 other participating primary and high schools. The evening culminated in a mass item on the Baxter stage which ended the highly energetic and enjoyable event on a high note. Thank you to WoodWorx Marimba led by Grant Adams and assisted by Toni-Rae Adams for sharing the joy of these lovely instruments with us!
Here is an excerpt of a video taken at the rehearsal: CT Marimba Festival Rehearsal
We are so proud of our Junior Choir’s first performance at our special birthday assembly. We sang two songs: “A Very Merry Un-birthday to You” and “When I’m 95!” Here is a video clip of their performance on the day: Junior Choir: A Very Merry Un-birthday
Congratulations to the following singers and their teacher, Babette Viljoen, on their very impressive performances at the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod.
Student’s name and surname | Results |
Ava Brotchie | Distinction |
Sophie Burchell | Distinction |
Leilah Joseph | Distinction |
Lise Muller | Distinction & Honours++ |
Yara Nathoo | Honours++ |
Elizabeth Steyn | Honours++ |
Madagascar, The Musical
The Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7 girls are buzzing with excitement as Daphne Jubber focusses on teaching them the choreography and movement to this delightfully energetic and humorous musical. As the girls gain confidence in their crack-a-lackin’ moves, we will continue to put them through their paces adding singing and acting. What a treat it is to combine the performing and creative arts in such a heart-warming and collaborative project. Prepare to be amazed!
On Saturday, 13 May, three Grade 7 girls participated in the Trinity Theory exam held in Rondebosch. We eagerly await their results.
Left to right: Asma Dawood, Mrs Warner-Smith, Rania Parker and Amber Smith
Our Sport Focus theme continued in Term 2, with a focus on winter sport. The girls took part in hockey, netball and cross country practices as well as match fixtures. Our fitness is gradually improving with the weekly timed cross country training from Grades 1-7. The girls have been excited to track their progress as their times have improved.
Our Sport Focus Week was challenging due to the stormy weather, but we managed to do all our activities in – Foundation Phase Fun Sport Day, Inter-House Netball as well as the family group scavenger hunt with a sports theme. The girls also enjoyed dressing up for the Sports Civvies Day and the school was treated to a very inspirational talk by Alison Smith who had just completed her 7th Comrades Marathon. Here is an extract from her talk:
About 12 years ago I decided to try running, I didn’t think that it would be easy, so I tried to be realistic. I decided to start by running around the small field outside my house. I put my takkies on and off I went. I got about a 1/4 of the way around and I felt exhausted. This was going to be harder than I had thought. However, I did not give up and after a few weeks of training, I could run all the way around that small field without stopping and I felt incredibly proud of myself.
The race goes through an area called “The Valley of A Thousand Hills”, so it’s not a flat race! There have been many times when my body just wanted to stop, but my mind told me that I could go further. I’ve had many meetings with myself along that road, your mind has to keep telling your body that it CAN go further. We are all physically capable of far more than we think we are. There are thousands of other runners, but each person is on their own journey. It does not matter how much money you have, where you live, what job you have or who your parents are, each person will discover just how brave and strong they are.
I have learnt that the more hard things I do, the more hard things I am able to do.
We’ve had an exciting term in Computer Class, with girls across the grades diving deep into various digital skills. Coding has been a focal point for all learners, as they honed their programming abilities using code.org. Additionally, Typing Club has been instrumental in improving their typing speed and accuracy.
Grade 2 and 3 classes delved into the Google Suite, crafting captivating presentations on dinosaurs and animals using Google Slides and Docs. The Grade 2s particularly enjoyed utilising the speech-to-text feature on the iPads.
In Grade 4, the girls embraced their creative side by creating informative infographics about South African provinces on Canva. Grade 5s turned into budding web developers, constructing websites showcasing South Africa’s UNESCO heritage sites.
Grade 6s took on the role of Eco-Warriors, utilizing Freeform to present their research on pollution-stricken areas worldwide. Their engaging presentations shed light on the pressing need for environmental action.
Lastly, the Grade 7s embarked on an inspiring journey of historical exploration. Through thorough research, they delved into the Transatlantic Slave Trade and employed Robotics to retrace Harriet Tubman’s courageous route for helping enslaved individuals escape to freedom.
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