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End 2011 Report:
It dawned on me recently that I was within a year of matriculating from high school. It has been yet another great learning experience this year. Camps Bay remains vibrant and enthusiastic. With summer now here, I have been reminded just how privileged I truly am to belong to a high school such as Camps Bay.
This has been a term in which all grade 11s went on their three-day work experience. I chose work for a medium sized accounting firm, which is called Nolands. Nolands Auditors are located in Mowbray. On my first day there I was in slight shock that the person charged with organizing my work experience had entirely forgotten I was due to be there.
Fortunately I was allowed to go on an audit with two auditors. We audited Auric Auto in Claremont. As we worked through different sections of the financial process, I was run through exactly why various things were checked. It is not the most interesting job in the world and a major downside is the fact that the hours are long. But what makes this job so highly valued is that you constantly learn more and gain experience and recognition. By being allowed to view how each business runs and see their mistakes and their strong points. Ultimately if you are willing to put in the focus and dedication, it can only benefit you in the end. I enjoyed my three days on the audit and my invigilators felt that I was well suited to the work, which was great to hear.
Each year the boys on the 1st cricket team go an annual tour to East London. We left the day immediately after my work experience. We were welcomed by scorching heat and relentless wind. Although it is impossible to play cricket in the rain, I would much rather not play at all in wind. We started off the first day by playing a round of golf. We were divided into groups by our playing abilities. I graciously accepted my placement into the bottom group and I proved my worth there by losing three balls.
The greatest difference between Cape Town and East London is just how open and diverse the latter is. Over the course of the Friday it was hard to see any form of racism. There were teams from all over that also joined in the tournament. After smashing the first team we played against in our first cricket match, we celebrated by eating and strolling around the city. The night time in East London is dead and this was concerning due to the fact that the nighttime is the only time of day that the wind doesn’t blow.
The tour was memorable and I managed to claim the second highest number of wickets on tour. We were recently informed that there is a possibly of two tours next year. This means well have to put some extra work into our cricket off-season.
Upon returning to school in the 4th term, we were hit with the celebration that this term was the selection of prefects. The prefects were announced on the evening of our annual celebration. The evening was filled with brilliant performances, apart from some dance routines that raised eyebrows. The evening renewed a sense of pride in our school, as it does every year. The guest speaker was short and sweet and was the most memorable one of the past four years. The announcement of the prefects happened late into the evening. The end result produced 20 strong prefects who I feel can take our school forward in a positive manner.
The last two terms have been extreme with the amount of schoolwork. We have been bombarded with work, especially in economics. Thankfully I managed to grasp all my economics work and take it in my stride. My success in the subject I believe is due to the fact that I enjoy the subject and of course my understanding of it. Science has been the least enjoyable of my subjects. It is not the standard of work that is the problem, I am simply unhappy with the manner in which it is being taught. I don’t feel the appropriate level of interaction is taking place and science has been dreary throughout the year. I plan to ask for a change of teacher for next year.
English remains a strong point of mine and my standard of Afrikaans has improved dramatically of late. Thankfully I did not have to watch 7De Laan to achieve this. I look forward to the upcoming exams, as it is a great opportunity for me to improve my marks.
Grade 11 has been a memorable year and as of the start of next year I will officially be a senior of the school. I wish to thank the foundation for yet another memorable year and I hope to repay them as best I can.
Mid-2011 Report:
This year marks my fourth year as a pupil at Camps Bay High School. It is also my fours year at being with Kay Mason Foundation both of which brings me great pride. Only of late have I realized how little time I have left before I reach matric, this time becomes more valuable with each passing moment. When I think about what has made these last four years most enjoyable for me, I would put it down to the great school events that I have been privileged enough to attend, or even the numerous triumphs and victories that I have eighter been a part of or watched unfold before my ayes. It is those smaller moments in which we discover more about ourselves and those around us, that I feel ultimately have the greatest effect on us.
During these past four years I have also come to realize the importance of friedships I have overlooked. In no way do I wish for this sound like a cliché. Often when we find ourselves excelling in individual success we feel that we can cope easily by oureselves. I personally would would find that when I had others telling me that I can and should continue to keep on doing whatever I was, I would get slightly annoyed by this and distance myself from them. This would come about because I found no reason for them telling me to continue, when I myself had no intention of stopping, but that is the key characteristic of failure, it never is something we intend to happen. That is when I realized that when you are being told what to do there is an underlying message of beeing conscious of how you do it. When you hit rock button it is only then that you appreciate the friend who stayed with you. It is that truly makes the few close friends I have seem like so much more.
Our Grade 11 Leadership Camp took place not long after we ended our examination. There were only around 70 of us who went on the camp which took place in Wolseley. Upon arrival it was first come first serve for dorm spots. I bunked with two of my close friends and another friend. Since we had already arrived late, placements into tribes beganearly on. I was entered into the Blue Kites. Other group placements were done according to height; this of course made me realize that I was undoubtedly far from being considered tall in consideration to other boys wighin my grade. Each of the activities that made up amazing race was metaphors for everyday life. In that respect the camp was as much of learning as anything else. The main focus of the camp was to help us utilize our capabilities as leaders.
This I belive is best done by building on the strong points each of us already possess.
One of the major 1st times for me on camp was playing human foosball. Basically each person strapped themselves onto a large horizontal pole in order for one person to move anywhere the entire line were forced to shift along with them. The game itself focuses souly on temworke and communication. The biggest surprise however came wehn it was announced that we would be performing plays on the final night of camp. It was then that my team gave the lead role in which I was to impersonate a teacher of the school. As fate would have it, my tribe was the last to perform and we had to watch how well all the others did. Then right before we went on, my fellow tribe member ordered to be funny.
Then the nerves really kicked in and I basically improvised my way throuh it all. Luckily I pulled it off and we were awarded with 3rd place for our play, amongst thenine other tribes. Overall it was arguably the best camp I have been on since I have come to school.
Due to the good grace of the KMF, I along with 11 other pupils attendet the Equal Education Summit at the University of Cape Town. The summit ran from Saturday 25 June to Monday 27 June. It was centered on problems that our schools in South Africa face and how we can make it equal for all. The first day was composed on many speeches each focusing on the various issues. Then we were off to Khayalitsha for the official opening of the summit. It was packed venue and one could sence the seriousness of the situation. After the Minister of Education, Angie Motshekga spoke, the crowd hit her with a volley of questions. It really was quite unreal to hear how many problems the Department of Education are facing. The crowd was truly venting all of their hurt and anger. I was disappointed however that the crowd overreacted at the Minister Of Education, with a number of questions directed at her personal life. I felt the Minister responded as best she could to the questions posed to her. The best thing I felt the Minister did was to explain to the crowd that she had to follow orders and could not do as she pleased. After the MInister left things quieted down and there were two further speeches that followed.
It was an eye opening evening that followed into Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday there were more key issues raised. There were also long question and answer sessions in which the audience voiced their opinions or asked questions. I enjoyed the smaller group sessions more because I was not as conscious about my views. The summit was wrapped up on Monday afternoon. For me the summit as a whole was a real eye opener. As far as the character is concered, I belive that if it is simple, managed and operated properly it has the potential to be a huge success. I am extremely grateful to the foundation for giving me the opportunity.
I have done poorly academically thus far in the year in comparison to where I wish to be in terms of progressing academically. I have nowhere close. Maths an Sciense are two subjects in which I have left my self down. Although I have no intentions of dropping Maths, I am infuriated with myself for not being able to grasp the subject. As for Sience, I am not enjoying the subject in the least. I do however realize the value of the subject and I will push to better my marks. On a positive note both my Math and Science teachers have full confidence in my capabilities and believe I will improve.
The reason taht I am upset is the fact that I was determined to succeed on my own. With this failing however I find myself now attending extra classes for Mathematics and Science. I am aiming firstly to get to a point where I no longer require tuition and from there on simply go higher. As for English, Accounts and Aconomics, these subjects are ones I have a firm grip on. I have found the reason for my drop of form in Accounting and I have no doubt this will easily be solved. I should get back my standard that I had in the first term with enough work. A though I have a good understanding of my grade 11 Economics work, there are small glitches that need sorting out. I plan to have these done during the holidays and hopefully I will excel once more in Economics. My English is at a high standard and next term I shall reach for an 80% aggregate. As for Afrikaans, my main stumbling block is my vocabulary. With enough work I hope to overcome this. The third term will ultimately be my basis for the end of year examinations. I wish I build as strong a basis as possible.
I would like to congratulate Richard Mason on the success of his latest book release. I attendet the launch and it was very interesting. Perhaps in the near future I will be able to read the book. I do look forward to doing so. Ther 3rd tern will also be debuted by the 1st team cricked tour. The tour will take place in East London and the team will hope to shake off our dismal season performance. The next term will be challenge, one that I wish to conquer.
Thanking you
Michael Kroutz
WHO I AM:
My name is MICHAEL JON KROUTZ. I am 13 years old and I live with my mother in Cape Town. I was born on 10 October 1994. My father left us when I was three years old.
One of my interests is chess. It’s a thinking game that requires lots of concentration. With confidence I can say that I am one of the best chess players in my class since I have already beaten matric students at the game. Another of my interests is books. I’ve read Spud 1 and Spud 2. I also enjoy reading newspapers. I read not only for enjoyment, but also to enhance my literature skills.
Economics is another one of my interests. Every evening, once I have done my homework, I watch the News on T.V. to find out how much gold, oil and platinum cost. I also watch it to find out the value of the Rand against other currencies.
Sport plays a huge role in my life. I am always open to try different sport codes. However, cricket, soccer and rugby remain my favourite three sport codes. I’m the best cricket player in Grade 8 at my school. My best performance was 5 wickets for 13 runs. I only play soccer during school intervals. My favourite soccer team is Liverpool. In rugby I’ve been belted by older boys. However, I still play and love the game. My position is flank.
I plan to become a Chartered Accountant one day. The reason I want to become one is not just for money, but it is also a job that I have to work hard at. Once I have become a successful Accountant, I will save money in a bank for safe-keeping and for when I have grown much, much older. I will also donate money to various charities. It is something we should all do to help our country grow.
My role model is Mark Shuttleworth. I think it is great that he is an entrepreneur. He was also very brave to travel into space. He also shares his wealth with the less-privileged.
I attend Camps Bay High. The school is large and has great facilities such as a gym, pool, library and a large sportfield. I enjoy attending school and I plan to work very hard.
I would like to thank the KMF from the bottom of my heart for granting me this opportunity to get a very good education. Without them I would not have been able to attend a school that has good resources.
LATEST NEWS:
I am now half way through my first year of high school. My second term has had its ups and downs, but mostly ups. I have also for the first time in my life played rugby.
Many of my teachers were pleased with my results. In English, my mark went up by 7%; in Human and Social Science, my mark improved by 21% and then also in Arts and Culture, my mark went up by 15% and I achieved the second highest mark in Grade 8 for it. I was disappointed in my Maths mark as it took a dip. It’s frustrating that even though I tried so hard, I didn’t get the mark I wanted. My teacher said I should not worry, but I know that I can do better, and I will. I have still not been absent once this year, which is very good, and I have not failed one subject. I have begun reading the business section of newspapers. It is not very entertaining, but I want to be able to understand the business world. I play rugby for the school and I am a wing.
Overall, I am happy with the way things have turned out this term, and I am determined to do better next term as I am more focused and settled.
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