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End 2011 Report:
The year 2011 has come and gone in a flash. I often think back to all the wonderful things that have happened.
When the 3rd term started I wasn’t as excited as I usually am when I start a school term. This could have been because I knew that the term holds no fun activities, except for the Eskom Science Expo, at all. I was determined to practice playing saxophone a lot after school. I learnt a lot at the Grahamstown Jazz Festival and I was planning on putting that into practice as I would love to make the National Youth Jazz Band next year when I participate in the jazz festival again next year.
I was asked by at least 5 children to be apart of their ensemble for their practical music mark. I hate to refuse because I love helping people. In each ensemble I had to play a different instrument! Haha! It was hectic but fun. It’s what keeps me going good.
My friend, Andrew, and I did an experiment on the effect that music has on plant growth. We built mini greenhouses and put plants in there. We then played various kinds of music to each to see which had the better effect, etc. It was for our science project. We received excellent marks. With this we were chosen, with many other children, by our school’s science teachers to represent our school at the Eskom Science Expo for Young Scientists. We were praised for our good efforts and for our ingenuity. We went to the following round and unfortunately did not make it to the provincials. But it was fun participating. Next year is another opportunity to make our way to provincials with our project.
The end of 3rd term results was quite sad. I disappointed myself. I set myself a goal to make it into the A class for 2012. My chances of getting there are pretty great. Just a tad bit of hard work should pull it off. I’m putting in so much more effort than I ever have. I do not like to let myself down. This is it. The perfect time to prove myself would be now.
I have a slight problem. I really love music but I would love to study science. I don’t exactly know which science I want to study but I am doing some research on what I want to do. Our school has allowed people to come speak to the grade 11s. I have learnt quite a lot on what to do and how to go about it. I am working towards becoming an amazing scientist. I want to study to be a professor in science. The only problem is figuring out which science I want to go into as there are numerous amounts of different sciences to study and most of them are very similar. It’s very tricky.
I need a holiday job. I need money to buy myself things that I want. It’s pretty sad to not be able to go out with your friends because you never have money.
One of my greatest accomplishments was that I composed a lovely song written for saxophone, trumpet, piano and guitars. It was a music project. It is called Ponny. I wrote it in memory of my grandpa ‘Thomas Paulse’ who was better known as ‘Ponny Paulse’. My music teacher congratulated me on the amazing composition. I want to eventually record it.
I thank God everyday for everything he has given, for what he is giving me and for he is about to give me. And I know that God has sent the Kay Mason Foundation along my way. I cannot say how grateful I am to be apart of such a wonderful program that cares for the education of our youth who will in turn be leaders of our country. Thank you very much!! I appreciate all the effort and money you have put into my education at times when my mother was not able to.
Mid- 2011 Report:
Hi, my name is Duncan Johnson and I would love to interest you in what has happened in first two terms of Grade 11, 2011.
The year started off perfectly, as usual, with the excitement of everyone who hasn’t seen their classmates over the entire festive season. They could not stop talking about the events that they have attended, the things they have done and the places they have been to. It feels good to be back after a few weeks of rest.
The first term is my favorite as it welcomes the inter-house and inter-school athletics meet. I am in Kendal, the blue house. I trained hard but also kept a steady hand on my academics. The hurdles were introduced for the first time to South Peninsula so that we can shorten the gap between our school and Steenberg and Mondale. Each athlete is only allowed to do three sporting events. Relay did not count as one and neither did hurdles. Therefore I gave it a try. It was a lot of fun. This meant that I now did five events. I did high-jump, shot put, discuss, hurdles and relay. I amazingly achieved first place in all five of these events. I attained 28 points for Kendal. Relay didn’t add to this total because it is a team effort. At the end, our house received 2nd place. In the final house gathering our house master chose me as the man of the house. I felt proud to be apart of Kendal.
The inter-school athletics meet was good. I came 2nd in high-jump but I did not go to the next round which took place the following week as I did not have proper gear to use.
My academic results for March were ok but could be improved. I achieved a C pass with 69, 73%. I needed two more marks to get a B pass. I scanned through my exam papers to see if the teacher did not make any mistakes and marked something wrong that was actually right. I tried my best to convince a few teachers that my answer was correct, even though I knew that it is not completely correct - shame, no luck.
This term I worked even harder in the subjects that I thought I could improve.
I joined a band outside of school, The Little Giants, on the advice of my music teacher. The skill level is extremely high and therefore I need to sacrifice a few hours a day after school, if the teacher is present, to practice because I do not have my own saxophone yet. I received my unofficial June report and saw that I achieved a B pass with 70, 71%. I was extremely happy. But that does not mean that I will relax and be happy with my June result. I am going to work harder and harder because I know that I can do much better.
Eminence, the band in which I take the roll as leader, has been invited to play at many events such as the Community Chest Carnival, a staff party for the Cape Town Ajax managers, a Battle Of The Bands challenge, etc. We entered our schools very first Unseen Stars Talent Competition. We made it into the finals which were held on the 24th of June. We put hard hours of practice into preparing for the final showdown. We definitely blew the audience and judges away with our performance. They were shouting as if they were attacked by some huge beast. It was fun to experience such a lively crowd who loves our music. We took first place and received R1000. We are planning on taking this money to arrange a fundraiser so that we can have enough money to purchase equipment, tracksuits and other things that we may need. You may add us on Facebook, Eminence Za.
I’m leaving for Grahamstown this Tuesday, June 28, as a saxophonist to play in the Grahamstown Youth Jazz Festival. It’s going to be an amazing experience.
We often take what we have for granted. We just expect to have food on the table everyday and we just expect to sleep in a warm and comfortable bed. Yet there are people out there that would sacrifice a lot to have what we have. They walk for hours to collect a small bucket of water where, in our case, we just open a tap and collect clean water with no effort at all. I will always give a word of thanks to the Kay Mason Foundation for helping, not only me, but all the other children and adults whose lives have changed positively. I thank you very much for reaching out a helping hand to help those in need.
P.s. I haven’t told anyone yet, but my house master told me that he will choose me as House Captain next year! I can’t wait to lead my house to victory.
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