BUG NEWS

13 February 2025

In classrooms across the school are little seeds in various stages of growth. Each Rustybug was given the task to nurture their seeds, symbolising our theme "Growing Together". Along the way, they are learning about growth mindset and the significant role it plays in our lives.

Each of us is like that little seed. We have the potential to grow into something beautiful and amazing. This term we are focusing on the potential that lies within each one of us, identifying what we cannot do yet as a goal to be achieved.

Potential is our unrealised ability that can be developed into something in the future. This is the power of yet.

I can't wait to see what our Rustybugs achieve this year as they unlock their potential!

Belinda Petersen

Principal

ELSIE GROENEWALD'S RETIREMENT LUNCH

Colleagues, family, and past colleagues who are now dear friends, all joined together on Friday 31st January to celebrate Elsie's retirement.

Thank you to our staff for making this a very joyous occasion for our dear Elsie♥️

OUR STAFF

This week, meet our Library and Grade 2 & 3 Teaching Staff.

JENNY WATES

LIBRARIAN

Mrs Jenny Wates - Librarian

I’ve had a long association with RGJS and worn the hats of the librarian as well as learning support teacher. Creating a secure and happy space in the library has been one of my teaching pleasures and watching the girls' excitement when they encounter new media adds to the joy.

Escaping to quiet natural environments with a good biography, mountain pools, uninterrupted views and the company of family and friends is my preferred relaxation.

LEE -ANNE PRINSLOO

GRADE 2A

I'm Lee-Anne Prinsloo! I'm a wife, a proud first-time mom to a sweet little boy who is turning one this Saturday, and an enthusiastic educator. Family time means the world to me, and I've recently added padel to my list of fun activities. This is my sixth year at Rustenburg, and I've absolutely loved nurturing my Rustybugs. I can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds as we continue to learn, grow and make wonderful memories together!

KHALIPHA MGOBOZI

GRADE 2C

Hello! I am Khalipha Mgobozi, the proud teacher of Grade 2C. This is my fifth year in teaching and my third year in Cape Town and at RGJS. I have a deep passion for education, and watching the girls grow holistically brings me so much joy.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy studying, shopping, playing video games, exploring new restaurants, and indulging in my newfound love for reading. I’m excited for another wonderful year of learning and discovery with my girls!

ROXANNE GREEF

GRADE 2B

I absolutely love engaging with our Rustybugs and watching their eyes light up as they dive into Project-Based Learning—because let’s be honest, learning should feel like an adventure!

Speaking of adventures, my busy 3-year-old little girl keeps me on my toes after school, and we love making memories as a family. She’s also a big fan of Mommy’s school and takes every chance she can to explore the magic of Rustenburg!

And while most people reach for chocolate when they need a pick-me-up, I’m the rare breed who doesn’t (shocking, I know!). But what truly lifts my spirits? Seeing our little learners discover, grow, and embrace the wonder of learning every single day!

SHONELL FREDERICKS

GR 2 STUDENT TEACHER

My name is Miss Shonell Fredericks....I am a 2nd year Foundation Phase student.

I love kids and helping them develop as well as reaching their full potential.

KIM INGPEN

GRADE 3A

My name is Kim Ingpen, a mom, wife, and daughter with 21 years of teaching experience. I’m married to a wonderful Grade 5 teacher who teaches at Kirstenhof Primary School. Together, we’re raising a super sporty son who’s currently busy applying to high schools for next year. We live in the beautiful Tokai, where I love taking my energetic dog on daily walks through the Tokai Forest. Outside of teaching, I thoroughly enjoy walking, Pilates, going to church, and swimming at the stunning Dalebrooke Pool ( with a yummy coffee) If I’m not enjoying the water or cheering my son on the sports field, you’ll find me spending quality time with my amazing friends and family, whilst enjoying a good South African braai.

ABIGAIL MALLOWS

GRADE 3B

As an ex-Rustybug, it is wonderful to be part of the Rustenburg community again as a teacher.

I am enjoying my fifth year here. Outside of school, I enjoy playing board games with my friends and creating things from scratch. I love wearing or using something I’ve made myself or eating something delicious and homemade.

My favourite board game at the moment is called “Wingspan”. I’m also an aspiring yogi and have been proud of my growth and strength in yoga over the past year.

I’m looking forward to a wonderful, fulfilling year ahead.

RESURAGUM RHODE

GRADE 3C

I am Resuragum Rhode, and I’ve been part of RGJS for four years. Teaching Grade 3, the "grannies" of the phase, is my passion, as I love watching the girls grow and develop.

Outside the classroom, my not-so-little boy, Connor, keeps me on my toes! You’ll often find me at the stadium for rugby games (Stormers), enjoying sunset walks, or spending quality time with my family.

CHELSEA PETERSEN

GRADE 3 STUDENT TEACHER

My name is Chelsea Petersen and I am a student teacher at Rustenburg Girls' Junior School. I enjoy playing soccer and engaging with close family and friends.

I am very passionate about teaching. I believe that every child is teachable and that each lesson is an opportunity to inspire, empower, and make a lasting impact on the future.

SCHOOL NEWS

RGJS IMPORTANT DATES TERM 1 2025

ALL SCHOOL INFORMATION INCLUDING THE FULL CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE ON THE RGJS SITE

Disabled Access - Don't hesitate to contact admin@rgjs.org.za should you require wheelchair access or assisted access to our school campus.

HAPPY 131ST BIRTHDAY RGJS

On Friday 31st January we celebrated 131 years of our wonderful school. We started our birthday celebrations with an assembly where Mrs Petersen revealed our theme for 2025, GROWING TOGETHER.

Thank you to past pupil, Sara Wepener, for being our guest speaker. Sara shared with our Rustybugs the many opportunities she experienced during her years at RGJS.

Amongst our special guests were many 2025 matrics who all attended Rustenburg Girls' Junior and two alumnae who attended our school in the 1940s and 1950s! It was extra special having them join us to sing our new school song during our birthday assembly.

A birthday celebration wouldn't be complete without cake and ice cream which our Rustybugs thoroughly enjoyed!

All learners and staff received a small pot and seeds which we are growing at school.

Thank you to all our staff for a wonderful birthday celebration.

PHOTO ALBUM

GRADE 4 PARENT TALK

On Wednesday 5th February, many of the parents of our Grade 4 learners attended the Parent Talk, “Growing into Grade 4”. This is a year of significant growth and change as they transition into the Intermediate Phase. Our keynote speaker, Kate Stamper, shared many ideas on how to support our children on the next exciting stage of their journey.

SMILE FM @ RGJS

At 4 am on Friday 7th February, the SMILE FM team arrived at RGJS for their Breakfast Show Broadcast from 06:00 - 09:00.

Thank you to our Rustybugs and Staff for sending in the sound clips, partaking in the interviews, games and challenges.

Thank you to all our Rustybugs and Staff for bringing the GEES and making us all so proud of our wonderful school.

Thank you SMILE FM, we loved having you broadcast from our magnificent school!

PHOTO ALBUM

GRADE R SWIMMING

Friday 7th February was a day full of excitement for our Grade Rs as it was their first day of SWIMMING!

Squeals of delight and excitement could be heard all around the swimming pool as our Grade R Rustybugs entered the water for the first time. Part of the excitement is also walking to and from school to the Grotto Swimming Pool complex.

We are so proud of you all Grade Rs, well done!

PHOTO ALBUM

GR 7 LEADERSHIP & SERVICE

CONGRATULATIONS to our Music Leaders and Sports Captains for 2025, who were announced in assembly on Monday.

GRADE 6 ASSEMBLY MESSAGE

This week in assembly the Grade 6s spoke about potential and how it was linked to Valentine's Day.

“Potential means all the things you could do, even if you haven’t done them yet. It’s like a seed that can grow into something amazing!”

Every one of us has the potential to explore our talents and do so much more than we think we can.

The school then listened to how JK Rowling explored her potential.

What does potential have to do with Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is an annual festival to celebrate romantic love, friendship and admiration. Every year on the 14th February, people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to loved ones, family and friends.

Everyone has a different potential, and Valentine’s Day is about recognising the potential for love, kindness and helping others grow.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love but about showing kindness and appreciation. “We can unlock our potential by being kind to others, being generous and taking the time to truly be present. We can also develop the potential to help our friends, and show we care.”

Learners were encouraged to write a note or message to a friend, parent, grandparent, teacher or anyone they choose to tell them what they admired most about them.

The message was - If you have a dream or passion but feel like you are being rejected, don’t give up. Work hard to unlock your true potential.

If you work on something that you truly believe in, then your successes will come. And who knows, you might end up breaking records!

"No matter where you start, your potential can grow if you keep trying!"

GRADE 3 ASSEMBLY MESSAGE

Our Grade 3s gave the assembly message on Tuesday - Growing together in kindness.

We all planted our seeds on Founders Day, and we are watching them grow with sunlight and watering them.

This reminds us a bit about friendships. In order for our friendships to grow, we need to be kind and invest in teamwork, doing things together and supporting one another with happiness, gentleness, love, support and compassion. As Bruno Mars's song says, "You can count on me like 1,2,3 'cause we'll be there, cause that’s what friends are supposed to do!"

Grade 3 Assembly Feb 2025.mp4

BULLYING PARENT TALK

On Wednesday evening this week, Michelle Schoon, Child Counsellor and Founder of Kids Who Can Community, talked to parents about Bullying. The talk was interactive and it was clear that it is an emotive topic that affects the lives of many individuals and families. Bullying involves the roles of the Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander, and, as parents and a school community, education and guidance are key in addressing the issues involved when thinking about and managing bullying behaviour and its consequences.

CAMP OUT

On one of the warmest days of the week, many Rustybugs and their families braved the heat and pitched their tents for the annual RGJS Family Camp Out. Thank you to Rustenburg Girls' High School for the use of their facilities. A special thank you to Dan Shout for providing the lights, sound and smoke machine for our disco. In the videos and photographs, you can see just how much fun our Rustybugs and their siblings had at the Camp Out.

Thank you to our staff for their help from lighting fires and cleaning bathrooms to picking up litter - teamwork is dream work!

Thank you to all our families for their support and another successful

HAPPY CAMP OUT!

PHOTO ALBUM

WORLD READ ALOUD DAY

Thank you to our teachers for sharing the joy of reading with our Rustybugs on World Read Aloud Day, 5th February 2025

PHOTOS FROM TERM 1 2025

Thank you to all our families for signing the Policy Declaration Form. Here are albums from the first few weeks of school.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

BUG BUDDY READING

TUESDAY SANDWICHES

As one of our Outreach initiatives, RGJS delivers sandwiches and fruit to the girls at Molo Mhlaba Girls' School in Khayelitsha every Tuesday.

For those able, please bring an extra sandwich and/or a piece of fruit. The girls must place them in the box in Rustenburg House before 08:00 every Tuesday.

SCRIPTURE UNION @ RGJS

Scripture Union (Grade 3-7) will only commence in the first week of March.

If you wish to sign your daughter up for this private extramural, please email Celest Bossr celest@su.org.za

MUSIC

MARIMBA

We have a few spaces available in Marimba Band 2025! Click here to see Marimba Band 2024 in action.

Marimba Band is a private extramural provided by Marimba Jam. Lessons take place at 13:00 and 13:45 on Friday afternoons in the Orchestra Room.

Contact Mrs Cathy Gray, catgra@rgjs.org.za, for further details.

CELLO MASTER CLASS

On Saturday 1 February, Rustenburg Girls' Junior hosted a cello masterclass in partnership with the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. We were privileged to welcome Austrian cellist, Erich Oskar Huetter, who shared his expertise with a number of young cellists. Sadie Owen, 6c, was selected from RGJS to receive a 40-minute masterclass.

Well done to Sadie for participating. We are so proud of you.

SPORT

NETBALL ACADEMY

FRED’S NETBALL ACADEMY

Fred Damons, SA Male Netball Player and RGJS 1st team coach will be offering netball skills training for U8 to U13 players at our Grotto courts on Saturdays

between 08:00 and 12:00.

The girls will be taught a variety of skills and court craft. For more information

regarding costs, time slots available and signing your daughter up for these

sessions, please contact Coach Fred on fnanetball@gmail.com

EVENTS

VALENTINES CIVVIES DAY

VALENTINE CIVVIES DAY tomorrow - No jewellery or makeup allowed, hair to be neatly tied back. Rustybugs can wear white, red and pink❤️🐞🩷

PARENT CONNECT

Penny Biccard, RGJS Clinical Social Worker, will be running a Parent Connect Group.

Parents/Guardians are invited to join Penny for an informal coffee connection and information meeting at which one can share lived experiences and ideas for managing different situations and try to address questions you may have as parents/caregivers.

Please CLICK HERE if you like to join.

BUGS IN ACTION

We love sharing good news and achievements in our newsletter especially our Rustybugs "in action" outside of the school day. Please send your news and pics to Pam Heiberg - pamhei@rgjs.org.za