Valentine's Day 2014

Valentine's day was so romantic.  We had a lovely dance.  The boys looked remarkably handsome and the girls were elegantly beautiful.  The dance was thoroughly enjoyed by all the well-matched couples.  

Bravo!!

High School Premises

The Rock Academy High School has  officially moved to the new premises. We have settled in well.  Parents and friends of the school are welcome to visit us!

Grade 8 Science Experiment

Test for the presence of carbon dioxide in exhaled air.

Our topic is photosynthesis and respiration.  Carbon Dioxide plays a very important role in both these processes.  We conducted a simple experiment to test for the presence of carbon dioxide in exhaled air.

• Prepare clear lime water by mixing a solution of calcium hydroxide and water.  
• Let the solution rest until it is clear and filter all the excess lime.  
• Place a straw in the lime water and exhale (breathe out) through the straw.  
• The clear lime water turns milky when carbon dioxide is dissolved in it.

Power Point

Colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries, better known as 'The Scramble for Africa', may seem like 'history' to you, but we made it a bit more modern.  

The learners showed off their computer skills and made Power Point presentations. We zoomed in and focused on the Ashanti kingdom of the Gold Coast. 

Research criteria included:

• A map of Africa in the 1800's
• The coast of West Africa before the arrival of Europeans
• The Ashanti and their early contact with European traders and explorers
• The British and the colonisation of the Gold Coast
• Results of colonisation for Ashanti kingdom and Britain

Transport Outing!

Our Geography topic this term was transport, in particular public transport.  The learners did a survey in which they each interviewed 10 people. 

Questions included:

• what mode of transport they use; 
• how much time they spend travelling to work every day; 
• how much it costs them to travel by this means; 
• problems they experience with their transport method;
• suggestions to improve their method of transport.  

The information was summarised and neatly presented in a folder.  Learners could share their findings in a class discussion.

The topic was concluded with a transport outing.  In preparation the learners had to go online to find schedules for every form of transport in order to plan the day.  We managed to catch a taxi from school to the Fish Hoek train station.  We enjoyed an hour train ride to Cape Town station, walked across to the Civic Center and bought tickets for the MyCiti Bus to the Waterfront.  A ferry took us to Robben Island.  Our tour included a bus trip around the island.  We returned in the same way and parents collected their well-travelled children from the Fish Hoek station.    

Pinhole Camera's!

In Natural Sciences we are just starting on the topic of light.  We made Pringles pinhole cameras to get everyone excited.  

'The hole isolates a small part of the light, sorting a single image from the jumble. Only a few of the light rays reflecting off each point on the object are traveling in a direction that will let them pass through the hole. On the other side of the hole, these light rays reveal an image of the object.'

To make your own camera, visit this site:  http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/pringles_pinhole.html

The Grade 8's with their Pinhole Camera's.

 

Electrical Display Boards

The Grade 8's had an interesting Technology assignment.  They had to design and make an electric display board.

The specifications were as follows:

The display board must:

• be big enough to display a number of items
• be eye-catching
• be attractive and colourful
• have some electrical components, eg. a light
• have an anti-theft device. 

Have a look at the photos to see their  marvellous designs!

A German Visitor!

The Grade 8's were very fortunate to have a visitor from Germany.

Christian Palchen is a friend of the school and took some time out from his SA holiday to address the class.

Our History topic for Term 4 is World War I.  Germany played a major part in this event and  Christian gave the learners the unique opportunity to discover Germany as a country, by sharing personally, as well as showing a beautifully produced DVD.

Experimenting with Lemon Cells!

In Natural Sciences this term the Grade 8's discussed different components that make up an electric circuit.  One component is the input device. At school we look at cells and batteries.  It was interesting for us to find out that a fruit, for example a lemon, holds potential energy, just like a battery, although a very small amount.  

The experiment is very basic:

• Squeeze the lemon to make it juicy.  
• Insert two different conducting materials, for example zinc and copper (nails or coins will do the job).  
• Connect a voltmeter to measure the voltage produced.

Going for Green!

"Let's Go Green".... this is an initiative started yesterday to give our playground a "green facelift!"

It is our aim to have artificial grass laid during the September holidays BUT we still need to fill 120m2 at a cost of R100/m2.   Together with King of Kings and our fundraising drives of Market Day & Spellathon we are already well on our way!

How can you help?  By pledging R100.00 per m2. For every R100 we fill a square on our wall so that we can see how far we are.

There will be lots of prizes for the children who bring in the funds:

• 10 great spot prizes in a lucky draw when the squares are filled
• Fun prizes every time you bring in a pledge
• A yummy prize as well if you raise more than R500!

What do you need to do?
All you need to do is to bring in your R100 (or more) to buy a piece/s of grass which will then be stuck onto the 120 block chart and receive your prize.

Our children are already very keen and we congratulate Hannah G (R1000), Amy B (R300) and Michaela G (R200) for their contributions already.

Prizes will be handed out every morning during line-up.  If anyone is able to donate prizes for the lucky draw, please contact the School directly or via our website.

If you, (dear reader), whether you are a parent, grandparent, godparent, aunt, uncle or just someone wanting to donate, that you do just that!  You can donate via our website or hand it in at school.

Well done and let's see how quickly we can

"Get it Green!"

Debating Begins

Our Grade 8 & 9's began a new adventure in the Debating arena this term.

Their teacher organised a "mock" debate initially and it was mandatory for all learners to participate. She chose the groups and off they went.

Their first topic of debate was: "Respect is a matter of choice, therefore I am free to respect only those who respect me." An outside judge/adjudicator was brought in for the debate and both teams did admirably, especially considering that it was their first time.

From the outcome of this debate 5 learners were chosen to represent our School at a debate at a Girls School in Town. The topic given to them to prepare for that debate was "We should lower the legal working age to 12" - we had to argue for this.

We lost the debate, but it was a wonderful opportunity, we learnt a lot and look forward to the next one.

Well done to those Grade 8 & 9 learners who took part.

Let the Debate begin.

Moments of the Debate

Mystery Skype

Our Grade 8's have been doing map work this term and we have finished up the term with a Mystery Skype chat.

A "Mystery Skype" is an appointment between the class and a guest from an unknown location, who meet at a designated time, and the class, using 20 strategic "yes/no" questions, have to find the city that the guest is from. They work in groups using Google, Atlas's, Globes, whatever they need.

Yesterday they had a practice round with a guest who was from the Western Cape and they managed well, but they were warned that the "real thing" today would be more of a challenge - and it was.

Our guest was from Bucharest in Romania. The first 5 questions they asked him, he answered "no."  This had them on the back foot since they had bargained on at least one or two being a "yes" to continue their questioning.  After the initial shock wore off, they recovered well - and a coupleof great thinkers rose to the fore in searching and questioning initiative.

All-in-all, it was a great experience, we are thrilled to have the technology to be able to do these activities and to be able to speak to teachers and classes around the world.

Our Mystery Guest watching us as we try to locate him!

It was a challenge - but we did it!

Well done Grade 8's!

Grade 8 Dinner 2012

The Grade 8 class of 2012 was special in many ways.  Certainly their most outstanding achievement is the fact that they were the very first Grade 8 class of The Rock Academy. They have paved the way for many to come after them. It will be their legacy.

But their journey has not ended. As we speak, they are the very first Grade 9 class of The Rock Academy.  The learners and their parents have chosen to walk this walk with us, and we look forward to the day when they matriculate as the very first Grade 12 class in 2016.

We ended off 2012 with a Grade 8 dinner and an academic award ceremony.  It was a wonderful evening where we could honour our learners and their parents for the hard work and support to the school. Also among the guests were individuals who contributed to the successful completion of this very exciting year.

We commend Mrs Oelofse and the Board for the faith and trust that they have displayed in the Lord whilst embarking on the mission of establishing a high school for those families who want to train their teenagers up in the ways of the Lord.  May you be showered with His grace in 2013. 

Submitted by: Mrs Nass (Grade 8)

Magical Mystery Men

Last night we had an absolutely wonderful time at our Intermediate Phase Production of The Magical Mystery Men.

Mrs Brink and the Grade 4-8's put on an enthusiastic production of two children who were dissatisfied with life as they knew it and who thought that it would have been better to be around at another time.  The Magical Mystery Men and their team grant their wishes to live in different times and countries, until one day, they realise that "Home is Best!'.

The audience participated in getting Reeve and Melanie (the two children) to their next destinations by standing up and doing various actions, while the younger Grades lent their voices to the choir.

It really was a MAGICAL time enjoyed by everyone who was there!  Below are a couple of the photo's but please see our Facebook Page for lots more!

Grade 1 & 8 UK Peace Pod Arrives

The Grade 1 and Grade 8's embarked on an exciting journey in early September. 

The two grades joined forces to put together a PEACE POD to send to a school in the UK, and they put a Pod together to send to us.  This was done for Peace Day 2012 and the contents had to be typically South African. We had lots of fun bringing in all sorts of things and ended up with a lovely parcel which was beautiful wrapped in some REALLY typical SA paper!

We sent our Pod off on the last day of the last term, and are waiting to hear if they have received it. Their parcel arrived on Tuesday last week and the Gr.1&8's got together to unpack.  Amidst plenty of "wow's", "ooh's" and "aahs", Mrs Holgate and Mrs Nass unpacked the box.

Once they have received our parcel, we will have a Skype Video chat between the two classes and talk about the contents of our boxes and ask questions of one another.

Below are a couple of photo's of our Peace Pod before it was sent, and a video clip of our classes opening their Peace Pod from the UK.  We are looking forward to the Skype Chat now!

Getting into the excitement of sending!

The Grade 8's making sure that Mrs Holgate does a good job! 

What would an SA Pod be without Mrs Balls

Our Pod... 

All sealed up and ready to go!

Opening our UK Pod!