Mandela Rhodes Scholarship
It has been announced that Bronwyn Tarr, a final year BSc. student at UCT who matriculated from the Diocesan School for Girls in 2003 is one of 25 African students to be selected for the prestigious 2008 Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.
The Mandela Rhodes Foundation combines the legacy of leadership and reconciliation embodied by Nelson Mandela, and the 19th century legacy of education and entrepreneurship of Cecil John Rhodes. Scholarships are awarded to talented African students with scholastic, intellectual and leadership potential, to complete post-graduate studies at suitable tertiary institutions in South Africa.
This scholarship, combined with the Foundation's leadership skill training for scholars, aims to create a network of principled future leaders, with the capacity and will to advance themselves and their countries. Bronwyn will be using her scholarship to complete an Honours degree in Molecular Ecology at UCT.
Colours at the Diocesan School for Girls were awarded to Cingashe Tabata (Outreach), Micah Steytler (hockey), Jemimah Kibirige (hockey) Chantal Botha (squash) and Edwardine van Wyk (Outreach).
AFRIKAANSE AAND 2007 – 25TH AND 26TH September
6 Grahamstown schools proved that there is still a lot of fun to be had in Afrikaans. DSG and St Andrew’s contribution to the evening was yet again of a very high standard. Frances Van Hasselt and Cara Roberts had the audience rolling with laughter and Edwardine van Wyk and Natalie Robbie entertained the audience with a beautiful interpretation of a Breyten Breytenbach poem.
JUNIOR ORCHESTRA
Six young musicians in the DSG Junior School were awarded their badges for participation in the Junior Orchestra at the school. Seated are Alyssa Bowker, Megan Kirby, Gemma Scholtz and Samantha van Heerden and standing in the back row are Ama Minney and Emily Robertson.
TREE PLANTING AT THE AQUATIC CENTRE - MONDAY OCTOBER 8TH
Gavin Harvey, OA, DSG parent and Member of Council has very kindly donated an olive tree to every matric girl.
Our intention was for the girls to plant their own trees along the Aquatic Centre frontage, however, construction is still under way and the trees would not survive. So we had a symbolic planting of the trees.
Hopefully, in years to come, as Old Girls, they will revisit "their" tree.
CHORAL MUSIC PAR EXCELLANCE
The choirs of Grahamstown’s St Andrews/DSG and of Rhodes University had a packed St Paul’s Church in Port Alfred entranced with their outstanding singing, at a musical Soireé. Musical Directors were Dorothy Holder and Phillip Burnett respectively.
A Bahamian Spiritual with a lovely solo by Olivia Bishoff started the school choir’s presentation, and was followed by Benediction, Kyrie Eleison and Pia Jesu, with impressive harmony and the deep voices of the boys offsetting the girls’ lovely soprano ones. Soloists were Jemimah Kibirige and Janet Ssebatindira.
The Rhodes choir began with a Xhosa song with all the traditional movements, and also offered a Zulu song with much fervour. Two 20th century English songs, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree and Hymn to the Virgin by Benjamin Britten (sung in English and Latin), were followed by an American spiritual Everytime I feel the Spirit, during which it was obvious that the choristers were indeed feeling the spirit, smiles of enjoyment much in evidence. Penual Mlotshwa and Fiona Kwizera were delightful soloists.
Cesar Franck’s well-known Panis Angelicus was performed by the combined choirs, with an impressive solo by Leigh Crymble.
The second half of the programme consisted of secular numbers, with the schools choir performing first, with a love song, then Yesterday, Slow Motion Time and Bridge over troubled water, with solo by the head of the Chamber Choir Craig Howes. They completed their presentation with Cotton Fields, where Swing Low Sweet Chariot slipped into the tune as well.
The Rhodes Choir opened with a Xhosa number, Spirits are Coming. Then a 16th century song, My Bonnie Lass she Smiles. Torrents of Summer by Edward Elgar paid tribute to the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Daar kom die Alabama was arranged by the founder of the choir, which is one of the oldest university choirs in the country. At its inception the founder arranged The Tale of the Sweet Nightingale, and when this item is performed, tradition dictates that are any former choristers in the audience are invited to join in the singing. Port Alfred resident Julie Davidson therefore joined the choir for the number. Then it was ‘pure fun’ as Cole Porter’s Let’s do it – let’s fall in love rang out.
The combined choir completed the afternoon of wonderful music and sent everyone home with a song in their hearts.
DSG PREFECTS 2008
The Diocesan School for Girls prefects for 2008 have already taken over prefects’ duties from the 2007 group. They are (front): Tammy Nott, Zoe Palmer (Head Daygirl), , Head of School Ewardine van Wyk, Anthea Gilfillan (Deputy Headgirl) and Nicole Millar. In the back row are Jemimah Kibirige, Isla McQuaid, Michelle Smith, Joanne Watson, Natasha Finch, Natalie Robbie, Miriel Iputo, Adele Street and Cingashe Tabata.
DSG DEBATING
Girl talk taken to new heights. Lwamba Chisaka of the DSG (left) has been chosen to compete in the National Schools Debating Championships to be held in Stellenbosch in December. It has also been announced that Lwamba is 11th in the Top 20 speakers in the Eastern Cape and Muriel Iputo, next to her, is at number 19.
