Dear Parents and Girls
Exam time has arrived! Some important advice.
This editorial is largely directed at our girls this week, as examinations
have begun for some and are imminent for others and unfortunately,
in many cases, this time of the year is accompanied by much anxiety
and stress. I do not direct this to our parents, because they have
written all their exams and, hopefully, passed them, some years ago!
Your teachers have all done an excellent job in preparing each of you
for these exams, but you also have to play your part.
Let me address the issue of pre-exam stress and anxiety. It is
important to realise that these are largely physical reactions to
perceived „dangerous‟, „frightening‟ or „scary‟ situations. If you can
alter these perceptions (which are formed in your brain), then you will
avoid the nasty physical symptoms of heart beating wildly, sweating
palms, stomach churning and even nausea. Medication is not
necessary to reduce these horrible feelings. However, you do need to
eat a nutritious, protein-based breakfast and have a good night‟s sleep
before each exam.
So, why are examinations perceived as „frightening‟ or „scary‟. Well,
let‟s face it, it is usually the fear of not performing well. Why should
this worry a student who has planned her studying carefully, studied
all her work thoroughly, written past papers and made notes and mind
maps? Well, ladies, the answer is that such a student may certainly
be somewhat anxious before an exam, but she will not suffer the mindnumbing stress that many students suffer, who have not prepared as
well.
Research has shown that a student who has crammed at the last
minute and who has not studied effectively and thoroughly, will suffer
from „exam nerves‟ and will therefore not do as well as she hopes in the
examination. Educational psychologists believe that the bulk of „exam
nerves‟ are caused by the student’s perception that she is not wellprepared for an examination.
So, the „moral of the story‟ is clear. Reduce the debilitating stress by
studying thoroughly, until you are happy with yourself! Plan, make
notes and mind maps, complete past papers, and I guarantee that your
anxiety will be reduced. Examinations are challenges that you will be
able to cope with well, if you are well-prepared.
If you are struggling with certain concepts in some subjects, consult
your teachers. They will be only too pleased to help you. But do not
leave this until five minutes before the exam!
I am not going to wish you all „good luck‟, because, let‟s face it, luck
has very little to do with it. Instead, I wish you productive studying
and that you achieve your potential in all your examinations.
God bless.
Parents are reminded of the following important notices regarding
examination procedures:
 Girls from Grade 8 to Grade 12 have been given a time-table
informing them of the date and time of each exam they are to write.
 We have a policy at the school that the girls need only come to
school for the specific exam they are writing. However, we need to
insist that they are at school at least 30 minutes before they are due
to write and that they can be collected 20 minutes after the end of
an exam.
 Should a girl need to be at school outside of these times, she needs
to attend the supervised Study Room set aside for this. The room
made available is Room 2. The girls will need to sign in and sign
out. If your daughter is not picked up straight after the exam
session ends, it is compulsory for her to wait in the allocated room.
 Should your daughter be absent for an exam, a doctor‟s note is
required, otherwise she will receive „zero‟ for the exam missed. If a
doctor‟s note is provided your daughter will be given an ‟absent‟ for
the examination and only the continuous assessment (CASS) mark
will be reflected on her report. Unless the illness is severe enough
for her to be booked off by a doctor, it is thus preferable for your
daughter to write the exam and then go home to bed.
Of course, it is important that you contact the school and speak to
Mrs Rodwell or Mrs Damhuis should your daughter not be at school
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so that we can inform the relevant teachers of her absence.
Situations beyond the control of parents and learners and other
special cases, will have to be reviewed and discussed with the Mrs
Rodwell and Mrs Lucas. Only when school-related events impact on
an examination, will the exam be rescheduled.
Mrs L. Rodwell
Deputy Principal : Academics
Dear Parents
Please join us for the
“End of Year Parents’ Mass and
Carols Service”
Date: Friday 28th November 2014
Time: 11:00am
Place: St Therese Catholic Church
We look forward to welcoming you on this very special day.
GENERAL
Prayers
Please remember the following members of the HRS family
who are in need of your supportive prayers:
 Mrs Coker (High School teacher) whose father is not well;
 Mrs Huisamen (Facilities Manager) whose husband is not well;
 those families and teachers in our primary and high schools who
have been victims of crime;
 those girls, families and HRS staff, who are going through a difficult
time at present;
 our matriculants and all the Holy Rosary girls who are writing their
end of year exams.
Please remember all those in our Holy Rosary family who are in need, or
who are suffering in any way.
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CULTURAL NEWS
Congratulations to three young ladies who have done exceptionally
well this term:
Abigail Park
In September, Abigail Park entered and played the Advanced
Performer‟s Certificate exam offered by Trinity College London. Her
results were outstanding – she was awarded a rare distinction with a
mark of 92%. We are very proud of Abigail‟s achievement and would
like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to her. She has set a lovely
example to musicians and we commend her for excellence in piano
performance.
Christine Thurgood and Olivia Hinckley
Both these girls achieved the top Trinity Drama marks in
Johannesburg for 2014. They both received Trinity medals for their
superb examination results. Congratulations ladies, we are very proud
of your achievements.
SPORTS NEWS
Rowing
Gauteng Championships
The HRS rowing team participated in the Gauteng Championships
regatta this past weekend and achieved outstanding results. The
overall positions were as follows:





1st – St Mary‟s
2nd – St Andrew‟s
3rd – Holy Rosary
4th – St Stithians
5th – Assumption Convent
The medals achieved at the regatta were:
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U14
U14
U14
U16
U16
4x
1x
2x
8x
4x
1x
–
–
–
–
–
–
Gold
Gold and Bronze
Bronze
Silver
Silver
Bronze
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U16 2x – Silver
U16 4+ - Bronze
Open 1st 2- - Gold and Bronze
Open 1st 4x - Gold
Well done to all the rowers who participated! Thank you to the Spirit
Committee for coming to support the rowers and thank you to the
coaches for preparing the girls so well.
One Direction Raffle
Boat Race
Selections for Boat Race are underway and the selection panel will be
meeting early next week to ratify the selection. The selection will be
announced shortly after the selection panel has met.
The Boat Race tour takes place from 2 – 7 December in Port Alfred.
January Rowing Camp
The dates for January Rowing Camp are 5 – 9 January 2015. Please
check your email early next week for camp letters.
We wish all our rowers all the best for their upcoming exams.
“Rowers can do it all and they can do it well.” – Amy Yan
Ms T. Zoghby
Head of Sport
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DRAKENSBERG BOYS CHOIR – NOEL CONCERT
27 November 2014 at Holy Family College, 40 Oxford Road, Parktown.
The tickets cost R100 for adults and R80 for children. Funds raised
will go towards the restoration of the school hall. Bookings can be
made through the school at 011-486-1104/5.
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