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Welcome newbies

Jamé-Lee Benade and Izaan van Rooyen

The event is annually held in the school hall and is a tradition performed in the beginning of every year to induct the learners. About 300 grade 8 learners who were divided into their class groups and participated in different categories like singing, dancing and acting. The night was for the learners to have fun and showcase their talents on stage. Making the audience laugh and embarrassing themselves was just a bonus. The event was led by the two Liaison Officers (Deputy Head boy and Head girl), David-John Murphy and Salome Gaoses. The LRCs had an introduction dance displaying the theme "Welcome to High School", which was based on the movie, High School Musical. The event was a definite success and the learners displayed their best moves leaving the crowd asking for more. Back in the tuckshop they sold a variety of refreshments during the fifteen-minute break which everybody enjoyed. This event is also to raise funds for the school and it is very delightful that everything went accordingly. To organise such an event is not an easy task yet it teaches us how to work together as a team. You know what they say “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success, and this event was unquestionably beyond successful. I have to acknowledge the guardian teachers; Mrs Koning, Mr Links and the LRCs for their great work because alone people can do so little but together they did so much.

Furthermore, the Inauguration of the Grade 8s was held the following Monday to officially welcome the Grade 8sMr Van Wyk gave a motivational speech to the Grade 8s. "De Duine, this school, is a bus, and this bus has a destination. The wheels are discipline. Take note that on this journey many people will get off, for a variety of reasons. Keep yourself on the bus." Timothy, the head boy and Raina the head girl also contributed with their speeches. Timothy delivered a very inspiring speech saying "A new step in the school journey is to work hard, strive to be the best and do not limit yourselves, because the mind-set is what separates the best from the rest." Raina further continued keeping it sweet and short "If you are not disciplined, you certainly won't progress and you will most definitely not be able to learn." I think those wise words of our leaders can also have a great impact on the rest of us as learners of SS De Duine and inspire us to work harder!

In addition, one of the traditions at De Duine Secondary School is officially welcoming our grade 8’s after two weeks of initiation with a day well spent at Dolphin Park. The traditions stems from the fact that the school feels the newbies need at least one day where they can enjoy themselves. The grade 8’s were clearly excited as you could hear them say ‘I can’t wait to get in the water’. The teachers had the day planned out for the learners. These activities included swimming races, where you had to complete obstacle courses in the water. The teachers organized a braai for the kids, and after lunch it was back to more fun. Later the day, to end off all festivities, they had a bonfire, bonding over marshmallows roasting on the fire. We sure hope the grade 8’s now officially feel welcome to our school and enjoys the journey with us.