Maris Stella School

✨ The Season of Creation is upon us!
From September 1 to October 4, Maris Stella joins in a global celebration to pray, reflect, and take action for our planet. As part of the ecumenical family, let’s unite through listening to and caring for our common home.

This month, let’s be inspired to cherish the beauty of God’s creation and actively work towards its preservation. May we be the first fruits of hope, making a positive impact on the Earth and its creatures. How will you respond to the cry of Creation?

Share your thoughts and actions with us! 🌿💬

🐴 Equestrian Excellence!
We. Are. Proud. Can you tell.
Well done to incredible equestrian athletes and their recent successes:

🏆 Katelyn Allorto - Grade 9 - dazzled at the KZN Vaulting Champs with:
• 1st Place for Horse with the Highest Overall D Grade Score
• 1st Place in C Grade Canter Pairs
• 2nd Place in Barrel
Katelyn has earned a spot to represent KwaZulu-Natal in the D Grade Individual and C Grade Pairs teams at the SA Vaulting Championships in Gauteng this September.

🏆 Georgina Manzie - Grade 8 - excelled at the Pony Club Interbranch 2024 in Pietermaritzburg with the following results:
• Show Jumping – Placed
• Equitation – 3rd Individual
• Equitation – 1st for the Team
• Show Jumping – 1st for the Team

🏆 Ana Mae McDermid - Grade 11 - represented KZN in the Showjumping team from June 1 to July 4, securing placements in 2 of her rounds and helping the team clinch 1st Place overall!

Congratulations to Katelyn, Georgina, and Ana Mae for their phenomenal achievements 🐎👏

📚 The results for the English Olympiad are in… and we’re super proud of these girls for doing so well. Special mention is given to Allegra Jones, our Grade 12 pupil who has placed in the top 50 nationally and has earned herself a scholarship to Rhodes University. Such a fabulous achievement!!!!

Our other superstars include:

🥈 Silver Award:
• Catherine Ndlovu (Grade 12)
• Trisha Govender (Grade 11)
• Hannah Swale (Grade 11)

🥉 Bronze Award:
• Yanga Ndlovu (Grade 12)
• Thasmeera Govender (Grade 12)
• Jessica Groom (Grade 11)
• Silhom Aragie (Grade 11)
• Caitlin Wylie (Grade 11)

Congratulations to all the winners — you can be very proud! 🌟📖

❄️ A LESSON IN THE MOUNTAINS ❄️
Our overnight excursion to Underberg was packed with hands-on learning and real-world applications. From delving into the intricacies of valley formations to comparing drought and desertification, our pupils truly immersed themselves in understanding the lay of the land. 🌱💧

They explored fluvial concepts with data collection at two key wet points and sharpened their mapwork skills through some pretty engaging exercises. The experience was not just about textbooks, but about experiencing geography in (freezing cold) action!

Happy Spring Day! 🌸🌱

With this new season, we have a wonderful chance for fresh starts and new beginnings. Let’s embrace this moment and take a leaf out of God’s plan by renewing our spirit and focusing on growth. Here’s to new opportunities and a season full of hope and inspiration! 💫

🌸✨ What a fantastic Spring Day we had! Our Junior Primary girls dazzled in their Flower Crown Fashion Show, showcasing their brilliant colouring, painting, sticking, and pasting skills. Judged by our teaching staff, the competition was fierce, and the crowns were truly magical!

It was incredibly hard to choose winners because they were all just too awesome!
Congratulations to all our girls and here's to a blooming great rest of the term! 🌷👑

🏑 How cool are our coaches?! 🏑

We love any chance to shout out about our amazing coaches...and today is no different! Super proud of our team who are taking their talents to the Senior Hockey IPTs in Johannesburg from September 9-14! 🌟

You guys rock, and we are all so inspired by your hard work and passion! Thank you for being such amazing role models to your Maris Stella girls.

Cindy Bothma – KZN Mynahs Ladies
Ethan Biggar – KZN Raiders Men’s
Shae Kavanagh – KZN Mynahs Ladies

❤️ Making the world a little softer,
💛 a little calmer,
🤍 a little warmer...

Our grandparents make our world go round and we loved sharing our morning with them here in the Junior Primary. Special singing and fun foot-stomping, poems and picnic play dates, bingo and bonding - we did it all this morning!

Thank you to our special Maris Stella Grandparents for coming to spend the morning with us! We Love You!!!

😍 Group hugs are the best kind of hugs... 😍

We just love watching the Stella Sisterhood bloom into everlasting friendships. Like when this group of Grade 6 pupils said goodbye and good luck to their Grade 12 mentor who headed off to write her Trial Exams. School is where the special bonds are made!

📚 It’s not every day you hear students shout their love for maths, but we’ve got a whole team of girls who do! From our enthusiastic Grade 4 mathematicians racing through maths relays, to our Grade 2 stars impressing the high school girls with their skills, and our Grade 11 experts crunching numbers at Market Day— our maths stars are shining bright! 🌟

Keep up the amazing work girls! 📐🔢

🚀Check out our Grade 5 girls and their incredible time machine creations!
These young innovators have put their imagination to the test, building their very own time machines and sharing where they’d love to travel. Here are some of their amazing destinations:

🏉 The Rugby World Cup in 1995
🎤 An Elvis concert in 1977 (Rock on!)
🌕 The landing of Neil Armstrong on the moon
☕ A tea date with my granny when she was little 🩷
🎩 The Roaring 20s to see the fabulous fashion
🇿🇦 1994 to witness our country’s move to democracy and meet Nelson Mandela
👗 A day with Coco Chanel for some fashion inspiration

These time machines might not actually work, but their creativity sure does!🚀
Which era would you visit if you had a time machine? Share in the comments! 👇

💛 HOLIDAY CLUB 💛
Don't let your little ones sit at home this holiday...
Let them dive into a world of fun and creativity at our Little Anchors Holiday Club!
Spaces are filling up quickly, so be sure to sign up soon.

🟧 R200 per day
🔷 Email Lisa Today
🔴 [email protected]

In Loving Memory...

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Miss Fennessy, who served as our School Principal from 1988 to 1994. Miss Fennessy was a dedicated leader whose commitment to education and unwavering support left a lasting impact on our community.

During her time at Maris Stella, she worked tirelessly to foster an environment where pupils and staff could thrive, and her legacy continues to inspire us today.

Please join us in celebrating her life and contributions. We invite you to share your memories and tributes in the comments below. May her soul rest in the Peace of Christ and may the Love of God give her family and friends strength and courage during this time of mourning.

The memorial for Maureen Fennessy will be on Wednesday 4 September at 2pm. It will be held in the Bill Buchanan Hall. Morningside. All welcome! 🌿

🎉📚 A big Maris Stella shoutout to our amazing Grade 3 girls for reaching 125 successful school days this year!

Your big smiles, dedication, and fun-loving attitudes have made this journey a super special one to witness. Keep shining and making every day count! 🌟

🐄 What a super cool day at the animal farm! 🐎
From milking cows (yes, we got a little hands-on with the farm life) to taking a fun ride on the beautiful horses, it was a day to remember for our Grade One girls. We even braved the snake cages — at a rather lengthy distance, of course! 🐍

Exploring the farm was a perfect mix of fun and learning, and we left with huge smiles and a new appreciation for life on the farm. 🌾❤️

Swipe through to check out some of our favorite moments! 📸🐑

🏅 What a fantastic few days for our incredible sports stars! 🌟 From mini-hockey dribbling and cross-country sprints to soccer goals and hockey tournament triumphs, our athletes have truly shone on every field. 🏒⚽🏃‍♂️✨

We're proud of each and every one of you... keep playing girls!

🏆 Kearsney Hockey Fives, powered by Belgotex Sport...

To celebrate the end of the 2024 season, our 1st team girls took part in this annual event and had an absolute blast as they brought thrilling action and vibrant energy to the tournament.

We’re excited to share that we secured 3rd place overall with all wins on Day Two! And not one, not two, but three of our girls got Woman of the Match on 3 separate occasions! Super Proud of Rachel McDonald, Emily Simpkins and Emily Frates!!! 🥉

A big Maris Steall Well Done to Danville Park Girls and Hilton College for being crowned CHAMPIONS of the tournament! 🎉🏆👏

Danville Park Girls' High School

🥋 Our very own Karate Kid!

We are so proud of our Grade 11 pupil, Nyska Jagasur, who recently represented South Africa at the UFAK Region South (Zone 6) Karate Championships! Competing against top athletes from across the continent, Nyska showcased exceptional skill and determination.

Results:
🏅 Gold Medal in Kumite
🥈 Silver Medal in Kata

But it doesn't end there... Nyska is off to represent South Africa at the UFAK All Africa Continental Championships in Tunisia this September! 🇿🇦🇹🇳

Congratulations and well done, Nyska!

🙌 Our water polo girls are making waves this polo season! 🌊
We are super proud of the following girls who have been selected for the various KZN Water Polo teams:

U15 Squad:
💧 Layla Dinsdale - Grade 9
💧 Amy Aaron - Grade 9

U19 Squad:
💧 Skyla Klompas - Grade 11
💧 Rachel Rabie - Grade 12
💧 Brogan Reid - Grade 11

The water can be cold, the hours can be long, and the training can be tough... but we know you can do it! Of course you can! Here’s to a fantastic season ahead for all of you!

🌟Run, Cycle, Paddle... Our Girls Can Do It All!

We’re bursting with pride for our incredible athletes who continue to shine in every arena:

🏆 Shayla Harvey (Grade 10) competed in the SA Duathlon Championships, earning a Silver medal in her age group and placing 5th overall among all ladies. 🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️

🏆 Jodi Naidu (Grade 10) showcased her running prowess with impressive finishes in several 10km races: 6th in the Junior Women category at the Durban ABSA Run Your City, 5th at the Savages 10km Challenge 2024, and 8th at the Totalsports 10km Women’s Race. 🏃‍♀️🏅

🏆 Julia McAlister (Grade 12) excelled at the SA Surfski Championships, capturing Gold in the U23 doubles with a challenging 15km paddle, and finishing 4th in the U18 singles downwind race, navigating 23km in fierce winds. 🌊🥇

Keep shining girls!

🌟 Celebrating Mary’s Assumption 🌟

Today, we’re reflecting on the Feast of the Assumption and what it means for us.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is celebrated for embracing her path with grace and dedication.

Her Assumption into Heaven reminds us of a beautiful truth: that we are all invited to something greater. It’s a chance to think about our own journeys and the positive impact we can make in our lives and the lives of those around us. Here's to living with purpose, practicing kindness, and sharing our light with the world.

⭐ Our Durban Central Soccer Team Members!
We’re so proud of the following girls for being selected into the respective Durban Central Soccer teams! Hard work, dedication, and fancy footwork… you girls have it all! Well done!

U14 Team
⚽ Bohlale Mokubung Grade 8

U15 Team
⚽ Layla Dinsdale Grade 9
⚽ Ayla Kelso Grade 9

U16 Team
⚽ Thando Ciliza Grade 10
⚽ Alulutho Sikhosana Grade 10
⚽ Zezethu Kunene Grade 10

U19 Team
⚽ Kaylee Mackley Grade 11
⚽ Arabella King Grade 11
⚽ Nyska Jagasur Grade 11; Non-Travelling Reserve

⭐ Grade 11s, Time to Shine! ⭐

The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived, and no one is more excited than our Grade 11 pupils! Today, we proudly announced the newly appointed portfolio heads and their respective team members, who will guide our school into 2025.

With leadership qualities that already embody the core values of Maris Stella, we’re confident that great things are on the horizon.

Get ready to lead and inspire, Grade 11s. Shine brightly and make us proud! ✨

👏 Captains and Vices!
We’re giving a BIG Maris Stella Shout Out to our fantastic sporting stars this term:

SENIOR PRIMARY
🏑 Hockey
• Captain: Keona Naicker
• Vice-Captain: Hlelowenkosi Mthembu

🏃‍♂️ Cross Country
• Captain: Peyton Gannon

HIGH SCHOOL
⚽ Soccer
• Captain: Arabella King
• Vice-Captain: Nyska Jagasur

You girls are rock stars in our eyes! Keep doing what you’re doing, and inspiring your fellow teammates along the way! Lead with pride! 🌟💪

Last week, our Centenary Hall transformed into a vibrant playhouse for the 2024 Interhouse One-Act Play Festival.

Patrician, Marian, and Ambrose captivated the audience with original plays written and directed by our talented Grade 11 students.

We were honored to welcome industry professionals Daniella Jali (Curro Heritage House) and Menzi Mbuli (Menzi M Creations) as adjudicators, who praised the teams for their courage and artistic vision.

Thank you to everyone—parents, pupils, staff, and adjudicators—for your support!

🎭 Special Adjudicator Commendations/Awards 🎭
- Best Ensemble - "The Good, The Bad and the Oily" (Marian)
- Best Moment - Marian (Umbrella introduction with Pearl and Cecil)
- Best AI Character - Naledi Madende (Marian)
- Honourable mention for Outstanding Comic Duos: Mzuzu Mhlongo and Owethu Kunene (Ambrose) and Mieke Maritz and Riddhi Maharaj (Patrician)

🎭 Formal House Play Awards 🎭
- Best Cameo Performance - Jemma Yunnie (Marian)
- Best Design - "Dun Dun Dunnn aka Scaryville" Ambrose
- Best Supporting Actress - Mandisa Nzama (Patrician)
- Best Actress - Camryn Linderboom (Patrician)
- Best Script - "Dun Dun Dunnn aka Scaryville" (Ambrose)
- Best Directors - Ambrose
- Best Play - "Watch of Fate" (Patrician)

🌟 Art in Action!

How beautiful is this stunning garden-themed mural completed by our talented Grade 10 and 11 girls from the Visual Art department! 🌸 🌺 🌼

After many hours and some rather challenging weather conditions, these young artists brought their vision to life with freehand drawings and vibrant paint. The result? A magical garden scene that will delight the children and make every visit to Little Anchors a bit more special.

Huge thanks to our amazing pupils for their enthusiasm and commitment to this wonderful project! 🌿👩‍🎨✨

💦 GRADE 2 WATER DAY
Our Grade 2 girls had a blast learning all about water last week! They kicked off with cool experiments, dressed up to the theme, made their own mini water cycles in a bag, and finished with delicious water cycle mocktails.

It’s so important to make learning fun, and this was a perfect example of that. The girls just loved it. Thank you to our special teachers for always going the extra mile! 🥰

👏 Congratulations to Riddhi Maharaj (9H) and the entire Maris Stella team for their remarkable performance at the Clifton Centenary Declamation Competition!

This prestigious event, the first of its kind in South Africa, saw our pupils shine brightly. While many of our talented girls competed in the preliminary rounds, Riddhi advanced to the finals. Competing against the top 6 speakers, she delivered an inspiring rendition of “The Fringe Benefits of Failure” by JK Rowling and earned a Commendation, securing 3rd place overall! 🏅

We are so proud of our pupils’ hard work and dedication. Well done, Riddhi! 🎉