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Merrifield’s Very Own Newspaper www.merrifieldschool.co.za 20 August 2018

From the Executive Head, Dr Guy Hartley

Sport at Merrifield has flourished of late, especially over the recent long weekend. Our huge congratulations to Zoe Steyn

who, at just 14 years of age, emerged as the Women’s SA Surfing Champion at the recent National event held at Nahoon

Reef. Zoe has also been selected to the South African team and will be participating in a world event in Japan later this

year. Our boys also did themselves proud with Thomas Lindhorst making the final of the Men’s SA Surfing Championship

and coming fourth overall; along with Daniel Emslie placing thirteenth against grown men twice his age and height! Really

tremendous achievements from our surfers!

Our College girls equestrian team acquitted themselves well in the recent SANEF interschools’ horse-riding competition. A

big thank you to Mrs Hofart for her dedicated support and supervision. The boys and girls U16A hockey teams travelled to

Knysna over the long weekend to participate in the Oakhill tournament for the first time, where they were very

competitive, coming away with a number of solid victories against schools in the Western Cape. It was clearly a very

memorable and enjoyable trip.

Hockey teams continue to grow in stature at Merrifield. After two recent wins against Stirling (3-0) and Dale (4-0), the

U14A boys team has had an eight match winning streak and remain unbeaten in the Border League this season – a brilliant

achievement. Well done also to Peter Townes who won the African Junior Open Squash tournament in Cape Town last

weekend. The Astroturf is taking shape across from the academic campus and we certainly look forward to next season

when we will be hosting our own derby days at our new sports precinct. Keep up the fine sporting accomplishments,

everyone, and continue to reach for the stars!

CHESS CHAMPS: Congratulations to the Merrifield Chess Team who were the winners at the Interschools Chess

Championships over the weekend. They are, from left to right, Rishen Govender, Ethan Epstein-Kay, Luke

Klinkradt, Nathan Sparg, Louis Basin and Mikael Isaacs.

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Over the weekend of the 4th and 5th August Merrifield hosted the World Scholar’s Cup. This Competition saw 150

learners competing in four unique events namely: debating, collaborative writing, general knowledge and the

Scholar’s Bowl. The competition encouraged collaboration amongst team members and stretched the skill set of

all the students.

The main attraction, or distraction, is a toy multi-coloured Alpaca. Each child who entered received their new

friend with much joy. Though the competition has been going for 11 years globally, Merrifield hosted the first of

its kind in the Eastern Cape.

Though this is a team event and the Merrifield teams did exceptionally well, winning 20 of the possible 30 team

trophies.

We also had tremendous results at an individual level too namely:

In the junior division: Dylan Kurten was ranked 5th overall and Malo Zwane ranked 3rd overall

In the senior division: Luke Hanner was ranked 3rd overall; Heather Sandison ranked 2nd overall and Khian

Denison ranked 1st overall.

All ten of Merrifield teams were invited to participate in the next round, which will be in Durban over the October

holidays. Teams that qualify here are invited to attend the Tournament of Champions at Yale. – Ms Ronwyn

Pearce

Merrifield hosts World Scholar’s Cup

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Merrifield College Grade 11 student Luke Hanner recently completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 150 at the

East London airport. Luke has a Student Pilot License and is currently doing his Private Pilot’s License with the

Border Aviation Club. Congratulations!

The Grade 3s enjoyed dressing up as Roald Dahl’s BFG (Big Friendly Giant) and enjoyed a delicious feast on Friday.

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Important Notice about 2019 term dates.

Please take note that

Merrifield’s start date for 2019 will differ from the Department of Education schools.

Merrifield opens for staff on 14 January 2019,

and students return to school on Tuesday

15 January.

Please visit the school’s website www.merrifieldschool.co.za for the detailed notice.

Marimba tour At the 2018 International Marimba and

Steelpan Festival our marimba bands did

us proud. They were crowd favourites

with their polished and entertaining per-

formances. The primary marimba band

achieved a second placing for King of Time

in the Proudly South African category and

were also awarded the category award for

"THE SPIRIT OF AFRICA".

Their performance of this song along with

the gumboot intro won the hearts of

many. They also achieved a 2nd place for

the Strictly Classical section in which they

performed a clever arrangement of Hay-

dn's symphony combined with the more

modern "Symphony," by Clean Bandit.

This was one of the bands favourite songs

and to receive a placing for it was a de-

light. We are very proud of the prep band

as well as the college band who participat-

ed in a very difficult pool of top notch

schools. Their performances were incredi-

ble and had crowds cheering.

Many people commented to the teachers

on their outstanding numbers and Mrs

McLaren referred to this year’s band

performances and the level that they have

achieved as "one of the highlights of her

teaching career" and "the best bands she

had had the pleasure of training thus far".

Ice skating and Gold Reef City were part of

the entertainment while not at the festival

and the marimba family of 57 Grade 6 to

11 marimba players made magical

memories and had an enjoyable

experience.

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Thank you SO much to everyone

who is Eco-Bricking. Merrifield

handed over 246 bricks to Jikani

on Thursday. Good job!

The SRC and POP collaborated for a Women's Day Assembly on

Wednesday, 8 August.

A big thank you to our two special guests, Taralyn McLean and Sanele

Mswi, who came to pay tribute to a phenomenal woman.

Sanele is the daughter of Nozie Mswi, the founder of the Rising Sun

Daycare Centre where our love sandwiches go each week. Nozie

Mswi showed us what a strong woman can do to transform a community.

Thank you to the students who prepared videos, information and shared so much wisdom and love at the assembly.

Love sandwiches and fruit are

dropped off at Rising Sun Daycare

in Duncan Village every Thursday.

Drop off point is in Mrs Bachar’s

class. Thank you everyone for your

support.

The Grade 2s spent some time in the science laboratories recently, learning all about science under the guidance

of Mrs Cathy Schwartz and Mr Gareth van Harmelen.

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Well done to all the Merrifield Prep School students who

took part in the Interhouse Cross Country event held at the

Beacon Bay Country Club on Friday, 3 August. Well run!

RESULTS:

Foundation Phase Trophy

Boys: Adam Brown

Girls: Onesimo Fodo

Middle-Intermediate 10 & 11 Trophy

Boys: Blake Snyman

Girls: Madison Goliath

Senior – Intermediate 12, 13 & 14 Trophy

Boys: Daniel Van Rensburg

Girls: Georgina Waechter

Boys 7

1. Vince Bessler, 2. Cameron Scott, 3. Amila Mxenge

Girls 7

1. Gabriella Stephen; 2. Imbalentle Matiso; 3. Alexa Talbot

Boys 8

1. Reece Snyman; 2. Athenkosi Tungata; 3. Mayibongwe

Pasiya

Girls 8

1. Jessica Davies; 2. Vela Mntonintshi; 3. ZhiQhi Chen

Boys 9

1. Adam Brown; 2. Joshua Talbot; 3. Daniel Trow

Girls 9

1. Onesimo Fodo; 2. Hlonela Mrwetama; 3. Emily Evers

Boys 10

1. Tyler Giese-Scott; 2. Damien Pillay; 3. Zazi Bikitsha

Girls 10

1. Daniella Webb; 2. Sammy-Skye Birkhead-Uys; 3. Cora Tarr

Boys 11

1. Blake Snyman; 2. Blake Brown; 3. Igor Karbowy

Girls 11

1. Madison Goliath; 2. Alison Wheatley; 3. Tessa Waterson

Boys 12

1. Mtha Mboniswa; 2. Inathi Mtyobele; 3. Gerhard Kotze

Girls 12

1. Rachel Webb; 2. Zenande Shenxane; 3. Rachel Mangold

Boys 13

1. Daniel van Rensburg; 2. Thomas Braun; 3. Azuzile

Mbandazayo

Girls 13

1. Georgina Waechter; 2. Jenna Wheatley; 3. Jane Baezner

Boys 14

1. Mumbi Kayula

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SURFING

Over the long weekend, 9-12 August, Surfing South Africa presented The Mercedes – Benz SA Senior and Masters

Surfing Championships, hosted by the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and supported by the Department of

Sport and Recreation. Surfers representing eight districts drawn competed in the 53rd edition of the SA Surfing

Championships.

Thousands of waves were caught by over a hundred contestants over 6 days in 4-5 ft waves at both Nahoon Reef

and Corner. Buffalo City Surf Riders dominated the week with some outstanding performances.

Merrifield had 4 of the youngest surfers in the contest with Daniel Emslie, Zoe Steyn, Lhea Johnston and Tom Lind-

horst all surfing in the open men and women’s divisions respectively. Competition was tough and standards excel-

lent.

Daniel and Lhea surfed with heart to get through to the

quarter finals. Tom dominated his semi final to make it

through to the open men’s final and came 4th overall in

South Africa. Zoe was the star of the contest, she scored the

only 10 point ride of the contest and beat last year's SA

champion in a solid final. Zoe is the youngest woman to win

the Senior SA Championships Open division at 14 years of

age. Merrifield coach Greg Emslie showed the team how it's

done and surfed a cracker final on Sunday to keep his SA

champion title in the over 40's division.

Buffalo City Surfriders took home all three team trophies

with 15 surfers in the finals and 5 SA Champions crowned,

they dominated the contest.

The South African Championships are presented by Surfing

South Africa, the recognised governing body for the sport,

and hosted by the Buffalo City Surfriders. Surfing South

Africa is a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic committee (SASCOC), the African Surfing

Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).

– Article by Lisa van Wyk

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TENNIS

15 August: Merrifield college tennis players Dylan Smith and Devina Pillay won the tennis tournament held at

Selborne Park against the No 1 And No 2 boys and girls from Selborne and Clarendon.

SQUASH

12 August: Peter Townes won the African Junior Open Squash tournament in Cape Town.

GOLF

11/12 August: Merrifield staff members Ziyanda Ngcebetsha and Debbie Lacey were part of the Border Ladies Golf

team that played Eastern Province at the Border vs EP Stroke Play and Match Play Tournament at the Royal Port

Alfred Golf Club. All Border teams won over their EP counterparts. Ziyanda was part of the B team and Debbie part

of the A team. Well done!

HOCKEY

7 August: U 11 boys 1-0 win over Dale B.

8 August: U13 girls beat St John's 6-0; 1st Hockey Boys vs Stirling 1st, Merrifield won 1-0.

9-12 August: Merrifield College hockey teams took part in the Knysna Oakhill Hockey Festival over the long week-

end. Results: U16 Boys: Merrifield vs Bridge House, won 3 – 0; vs Westerford, won 4 – 0; vs Stellenberg, won 3 – 0;

vs Woodridge, lost 5 – 2; and vs Oakhill, lost 4-1. U16 Girls: vs Bridgehouse, won 3-1; vs Westerford, lost 4-1; vs

Glenwood House, won 1-0; vs Stellenburg, lost 4-0; and vs Oakhill, drew 0-0.

SOCCER

7 August: Merrifield U9 vs St John's, Merrifield lost 0-2.

NETBALL

7 August: U11 netball vs Aspiranza, Merrifield won 5–2.

Hockey photos: Karli de Ridder, Grade 11

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Happy birthday to the following Merrifield staff and students,

from 28 July to 17 August:

Students: Mvelo Sibam, Alizwa Nyamza, Ngqwala Pasiya,

Hannah Richardson, Jade Underwood, Daniel Burger, Paige

Collins, Daniel Trow, Paige Wardle, Jake Webb, Levi Baezner,

Bukhobenkosi Dlamini, Calvin Richardson, Deniran Naidoo, Lethu

Ngcwabe, Siobhan Barry, Lucia Beltrame, Jonathan Corbett,

Bristin Liebold, Joshua Weldon, Liam Coetzee, Lilitha Madasa,

Michael Raats, Kayla Heiberg, Elam Tebe, Dietmar-Edumisa Welz,

Tayla Pachonick, Nathan Glasby, Stephanie Jeacocks, Muhammad

Limbada, Keaton Ott, Lirushan Pillay, Michael du Preez, Liyabona

Fuku, Liam Hart, Laila Johnson, Soyama Plaatjie, Kathryn Connock,

Isabella da Silva, Connor Olivier, Gabriella Theron, Zack Thesen,

Leah Schewitz and Heath Vallance.

Staff: Maria Sergel and Judy Lawson.