BRIDGE HOUSE
PRE-PRIMARY · PREPARATORY · COLLEGE
P R E P
Issue 11
N E W S
www.bridgehouse.org.za
10 April 2015
Gary Clack, in his Chairman’s report in the 2014 Bridge House
magazine, asked the following: “What is the value of a brick?”
“The intention was to create a sense of history and recognition
of a coming together to contribute to a positive influence in our
society.”
“The paved path of names is the start of an historic document
to show that people came together and managed to achieve
the seemingly impossible.”
“The vision is for people to be returning in future years filled
with nostalgia to reminisce about a positive experience.”
Only collectively will we be able to build the path to the future.
Come on Bridge House we can do this!
Grass seeds have been sown and green shoots are appearing on
our lower fields!
Our sport fundraising has to date raised R860 000.00. See this
on our new fundraising thermometer!
Astroturf, cricket pitches, grandstands, etc: there is lots more to
come!
Help us make these dreams come true by emailing Cheryl today
on [email protected] to buy your own personalised
brick/s.











Grade 2 H Crocodile Fact File
Store their food in their tails – Michael Potgieter
Can live one week without water – Jack Vorster
Have 72 teeth – Ariane Borel-Saladin
Grow new teeth every 2 years – Justin Mills
Can smell water from 3km away – Drew Kent
Move and swim using their tails – Lukas Winter
Drinks dirty water – James Amstrong
Don’t need to eat in winter – Kate Adshade
Can go without food for up to 8 months – Kai Goliath
Ears are slits behind the eyes – Robin Cork
Open their mouths to cool down – Alessandro Tasso
-2-
-3-
-4-
The Sacred Ceremony of Mummification
The Grade Fives expanded their insight into the Ancient Egyptian Civilisation by enacting
the process of mummification. After doing research and understanding the sequential steps
of how this ceremony was performed, the children divided into groups with numerous rolls of
extra soft toilet rolls, canopic jars with relevant symbols and bowls of natron, and enacted
this. Embalmers, their assistants and priests enjoyed mummifying the chosen one in each
group. Lenka Brönn had also brought along her creation - a life-sized mummy in a
sarcophagus with a golden mask. It was a special experience for everyone, and a creative
way to close our study of the mysteries of an Ancient Civilisation.
-5-
-6-
tanYa = Mathematical eXcellence + Commitment
Huge congratulations to Tanya Brits who has
been chosen as a non-travelling reserve for the
International Maths Competition to be held in
Hong Kong in July. Tanya has the wonderful
opportunity of attending intensive Mathematics
training every week at Elkanah House.
Tanya says…
“Whether it be learning problem solving strategies,
divisibility rules or factorials it is always an enjoyable
experience. It has also given me the privilege of
meeting new friends and getting to know them.”
It is often when walking through the campus during the holidays that one realises that it is PEOPLE
that make Bridge House come alive. It is difficult to capture the spirit of a school when one only has
the buildings and landscape to reflect the energy of the place. So, I want to say, “Welcome Back!”
It is you, the Bridge House community, who make this school such a dynamic, human place.
Term 2 has got off to a flying start! From day 1, our pupils and staff were motivated and engaged in
all aspects of school life. We have an exciting term planned, with a number of wider classroom
activities taking place: there are camps and special outings planned; the Science EXPO takes
place in the third week; the winter sports programme gets into full swing; it’s the Literary Festival
this term; and there are a number of other cultural activities ahead of us. Please take the time to
look through your Term Planner and diarise accordingly.
Returning on the first day, I was greeted by this huge shark staring down at an empty chair and I
wondered if there was … something that I had missed? It quickly came back to me that Mr Dave
Fuller, our College Art teacher, had arranged with Sam Allerton, the renowned South African
sculptor (and a parent at the school), to showcase some of his works from the past 10 years. It has
not been set up to represent an exhibition or show, but rather as an opportunity for the Bridge
House community to interact with art in and around the Bridge House campus. Please take the
time to walk down the concourse and engage with Sam’s work. I would also like to extend my deep
gratitude to Sam and Dave for providing us with this creative opportunity! (We have included a
short overview in this newsletter.)
On Thursday, Mrs Sandie Parker hosted a Grade 6&7 Study Skills Workshop for parents in the
hall. The presentation was to give parents a better understanding of the study processes for the
upcoming exams and to share tips and past experiences. I would like to thank Mrs Parker for
taking the time to put this presentation together and those parents who attended. By all accounts, it
was a worthwhile session and gave parents a better insight into how a young adolescent learns.
-7-
There is a scientific buzz permeating through the Prep School as pupils have started to finalise
projects for the upcoming Science Week. Over the next two weeks, pupils will be conducting
experiments and recording results that they will then present in various forms for the display week
that takes place in the third week.
You will also have noticed the new Pre-Primary buildings are ‘getting there’ and that the new sports
fields have already started to develop a healthy green tinge. The thermometer that can be seen at
the front gate has been set up to monitor the progress of the fundraising committee for the
proposed Astro Turf hockey field, which will be a much needed addition to the sports offer. A huge
thanks must go to the committee that is putting in many hours behind the scenes to raise funds to
see these projects become a reality. If you have any contacts or are able to contribute or help,
please contact Cheryl Wittles ([email protected]).
In Barrow’s Barrow, I would like to keep the focus on respect and manners. While browsing the
web, I found this helpful collection of phrases that I thought highlighted some thoughtful actions
that link to good manners.
If you are looking for a lovely evening out, diarise 16 April, as the Bridge House Music Staff
Concert is taking place in the Dutch Reformed Church in Franschhoek. The concert starts at 19h00
and tickets will be on sale at the door for R30, 00. I hope to see you there!
Marc Barrow
Head of Prep
-8-
Holiday News!
Laela Masson took part in the National Biathlon Championships in Stellenbosch as part of the
Boland team. She did exceptionally to finish 10th out of the 56 participants. Coach Keith Jansen
took part in the senior section of the competition and did well to finish 5 th overall. Well done,
Laela and Keith!
Chloe Morrie and Jeanne Blaisse took part in the South African Regional
Level 2 Swimming Championships that were held in East London. Chloe
Morrie swam well in all her events and managed to improve some of her
times and showed great character and sportsmanship throughout the
competition, making it a great learning experience for her. This is sure to
benefit her swimming in the future.
Jeanne achieved exceptional results, bringing home a total of 10 medals in
the events below. She swam personal best times and reached the finals in
all of her races. Well done, Jeanne, on such excellent results!
200m Freestyle
50m Backstroke
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
100m Freestyle
100m Backstroke
4 x 50m Freestyle relay
4 x 50m Freestyle
50m Freestyle
200m Backstroke
4 x 50m Medley Relay
Girls 18 years & under
Girls 18 years & under
Girls 13 years & under
Girls 18 years & under
Girls 18 years & under
Girls 13 years & under
Mixed 13 years & under
Girls 18 years & under
Girls 18 years & under
Girls 13 years & under
3rd
1st
3rd
1st
1st
2nd
1st
1st
2nd
3rd
Jacques du Plessis travelled to Germiston to take part in the SASA National Track and Field
Championships. He jumped a height of 1.44m and achieved a 14 th place in the country. It is a
fantastic achievement. Congratulations, Jacques!
Viktor Linell took part in two interprovincial tennis tournaments during the holidays as part of
the Boland tennis team. Boland played against Western Province in Worcester on 20 March
and Viktor won all his matches. The following weekend he travelled to Kimberley to take part in
the Synergy Cup where Boland played against Western Province, South Western Districts,
Northern Cape and North West Province. Boland came 2 nd in this tournament. Well done,
Victor!
SANESA (Schools’ League) Equestrian results:
Congratulations to Cameryn Luis, Nicky Hurst and Keraliloe Nyabonda for participating in the
SANESA Boland Core League Qualifier 3 during the school holidays. Keratiloe earned a first
place in Dressage and Camryn a fifth place. Nicky had an excellent show and won third and
fifth places in Prix Caprilli, second in Working Hunter and second and third in Show Jumping.
Well done to our equestrians!
-9-
Miss Danette Smith took part in the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and finished 12 th overall with
a time of 4hrs 10 minutes, and was the first Western Province athlete over the finish line. Well
done, Danette!
Upcoming Events:
Tues 14 April
U12 & U13 Zonal Netball Trials
Stellenbosch
Fri
17 April
Sat
18 April
Somerset House Walton’s Tournament
Somerset House
U9A & U10A Girls & Boys Hockey (6-a-side)
U11A Girls & Boys Hockey (8-a-side)
U12A Boys Mini Astro Hockey tournament (6-a-side)
U12A & U13A Netball
Somerset House Walton’s Tournament
Somerset House
U13A Boys & Girls Hockey (full field)
U9A, U10A & U11A Netball
Have you liked the Bridge House Facebook page?
You can click on this link and do so right now
https://www.facebook.com/BridgeHouseSchool
- 10 -
Art Club
There have been several requests from parents that we start an Afternoon Art Club. Dave
Fuller (College Art) is prepared to ‘host’ such a club for pupils from Grades 6 -9. The
intention would be to limit the numbers to +/-10 students and to hold it on one afternoon a
week between 15h00 and 16h30. There would be about 8 lessons per term and during the
course of that term Mr Fuller would endeavour to teach a new skill and practise it (e.g.
linoprints).
There would be a cost of R150 to cover materials. Should there be any funds left over, they
would be put into the Bursary fund.
Attendance at this club would be on the proviso that sports obligations would be a
priority. Once pupils have signed up for the club, they would be expected to attend for the
whole term.
To help us assess whether such a club would be viable, could interested parents (as there
is a cost involved we need parental permission) contact Dave Fuller
[email protected] He would need to know the names and grade of each student
as well as their sports commitments.
2015 Bridge House Sculpture Initiative: SAM ALLERTON
Samuel Allerton's works deal predominantly with the complex balance between man and
nature with an emphasis on the intrinsic value and resonance of sculpture. He aims to highlight
environmental causes through his works and through the personal touch on the universal.
http://youngblood-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SamAllertonCAT.pdf
- 11 -
Anybody driving onto our campus at the start of this term could not have missed the huge
sculpture of a shark and a chair on our front lawn. On closer inspection, this proves to be just
the start of an exhibition of twenty sculptures (or groups of sculptures) which is a combination
of works from the last ten years and works in progress from Sam Allerton’s studio.
Sam is exhibiting this work at Bridge House with the aim of bringing artworks (in this case
sculptural) into the environment of the Bridge House students and encourage debate,
discussion and questions – ultimately sparking creativity and a more lively interaction with the
arts on a daily basis. It is Sam's hope that this will be the beginning of a continuous platform for
artists to bring their work to the students at Bridge House and be a catalyst for an everevolving creative growth in the art departments of both the College and Prep school.Most of
them are still in their rough stage before being cast in bronze but completely alter the spaces
that they occupy. It has been heartening to hear the interpretations of children for the Prep
school and College who are prepared to put aside preconceived ideas and look into the
symbolism of each work.
Sam and his artist wife Heike, who are Bridge House parents, have done a great deal to help
raise the profile of Art at Bridge House and this Pop-Up Exhibition is an uncommon
phenomenon for a school and it is hoped that it will not only inspire discourse and discussion
but also a greater understanding of the nature of sculpture. Sam intends to leave the
exhibition here for a month or two and it is hoped that other sculptors will follow his example.
The present work has changed the functional walkway through the school into an inspirational
place of contemplation and discussion.
Parents are encouraged to pay it a visit. If you call in at Reception, you can ask for a
handout that will guide you through the work.
The sculptures are all in impermanent fragile materials, as many of the works are in
progress, so we do ask viewers to please not touch or climb on the works.
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
In all of my work there is most often a direct reference to nature - I either openly pay homage
to nature or fight for its cause through social commentary by highlighting man's horrific abuse
and neglect.
I tend to approach my work from two very different formal perspectives resulting in two styles
which are each unique and powerful in their own right and express my creative energy in a
Jekyll and Hyde kind of dichotomy. On the one hand the result is minimal - spiritual and
contemplative pieces, often achieved by subtly altering nature to create a drastic shift in
perception or feeling.
Otherwise my works are direct, impulsive outbursts, either shouting at the world for help or
reprimanding man for his hypocrisies and blatant injustices towards his world and towards
each other. These pieces are more aggressive, overt and explicit.
www.everard-read-capetown.co.za/?redirect=other%20artists&idkey
- 12 -
Volunteers needed for the
4 annual FLF Book Week for Young Readers!
th
From Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May, Bridge House will be hosting participating authors for the 4th
annual Book Week for Young Learners. During this exciting week, authors will read their stories, and
discuss their books with more than 4,500 children at 10 schools in the Valley.
We are looking for volunteers to help as ‘hosts’ to the visiting authors. As a volunteer you would need to
collect your author from the Meeting Area at Bridge House, drive them to their events and back again. (All
events are held at schools within close proximity of Bridge House.) Each event lasts for 30- 45 minutes.
Most authors will do two morning sessions, ending by 12.30 pm.
The authors love engaging with the children, visiting the schools and very much appreciate the help and
friendliness of the volunteers. In past years, volunteers have really enjoyed meeting the authors.
If you can help on one or more of the mornings from- 13
Monday
11 to Thursday 14 May, please email Martine
Bauer at [email protected] or call her on 083 263 6997
PORCUPINE RIDGE MTB CHALLENGE
On behalf of Bridge House School I would like to thank the
Franschhoek Lions for hosting another successful MTB Challenge at
our school in 2015. This was the 13th Annual event, and as a school
we are more than privileged to be able to offer our facilities for this
wonderful event.
To Mike Buckley and his team, well done on a wonderful and a very
successful event. We hope that we all as TEAM can grow this event from strength to strength.
A big thank you goes to the Franschhoek Lions who donated R16 000 to the Bridge House
Sport Department Trust Fund and Round Square Committee.
Riaan van de Rheede
- 14 -
- 15 -
Appeal
My name is Odwa Bongo, a fine live African jazz singer/performer. I am from Mbekweni. I
matriculated at Bridge House School in 2013. I was the jazz vocalist in 2012 at the
Grahamstown Jazz Festival. I have also performed in a number of places around the
Western Cape including The Whale Festival in Hermanus and at The Crypt Restaurant. I
was also part of the CT Sounds Fringe World Peace event and many more. Currently I study
African Music at UCT and I am performing at Cafe Mojito in Long Street every Thursday
night. I am working on building my brand. I also took part at the Community Chest Carnival
in Maynardville Park in Wynberg. I enjoy contributing my energy to work that uplifts the
community while also trying to boost my career and the careers of others.
I would like to put on a concert for my community in November to help me raise funds for my
studies. I have a plan for a themed concert with local guest artists from the community. I
intend to have the concert at my home and sell a maximum of 50 tickets.
I have decided to ask for sponsors from Companies that I feel would represent my brand
and my work very well.
I understand that nothing is for free. So my pay-back for your help would be that I will come
and perform for you at one of your occasions.
Thank you so much for reading my proposal and I hope that you can assist me.
Last Year Event Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYgbH9toaaQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA7W1uQZgiQ
I hope you can help me and I hope to hear from you soon.
Odwa Bongo
[email protected]
- 16 -