Parel Vallei High School

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Toastmasters & Debate

Toastmasters

History:
Toastmasters International (TI) is a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.

Through its thousands of member clubs, Toastmasters International offers a program of communication and leadership projects designed to help people learn the arts of speaking, listening, and thinking.

Toastmasters at Parel Vallei is aimed at developing youth leadership and public speaking skills.

Activities throughout the year:
Toastmasters is a short course of approximately 8 weeks that runs either in the first or second terms.

Ideals:
Toastmasters at Parel Vallei is aimed at developing youth leadership and public speaking skills.

How to sign up:
Only Grade 10-12 learners may sign up for Toastmasters, and learners may sign up by coming to see Ms. Pienaar in room 412 directly.

Attendance policy:
There are 5-9 sessions, including the showcase evening, so attendance is compulsory.

Contact details:
Ms. M. Botha
mbotha@pvallei.co.za

Debate

History:
The World Schools’ Debating League is run by the University of Stellenbosch students. Parel Vallei was affiliated to the league in 2006.

Who takes part?
Learners from grade 8 – 12. Teams consist of 3 – 5 members each.

What do we do in World Schools’ Debating:
We discuss topical issues and attend league debates against other schools.

Activities throughout the year:
Fridays (13:30 – 14:30) before a league debate which takes place, on average, twice a term.

Ideals:
We strive to produce informed, enlightened citizens who are encouraged to see an argument from many angles, think on their feet, come up with convincing arguments to support their team, and equally convincing counter-arguments to demolish their opponents’ arguments.

How do I sign up?
Give your name and contact details to Mrs Pistorius.

Attendance policy:
Debating takes place on Friday, during first breaks and directly after school on a Monday until 15:45.

Contact details:
Ms. J. Yoko and D. Matshayana
jyoko@pvallei.co.za / dmatshayana@pvallei.co.za

In 1997 we had a very important strategic session during which the staff, management and Governing Body plotted the future of our school.

After very meaningful discussions and deliberation, we came to the conclusion that we were entering a time of huge change. We were on the threshold of introducing OBE (Outcome Based Education) and realised that the one constant going into the future would be change!

We were very proud of our academic excellence and were working hard at bringing sport and culture up to the same level as the academics. Around the table we penned our Vision for the future: "EXCELLENCE IN A CHANGING WORLD"

Since those very important discussions we are very proud to be able to say that we really do achieve excellence in our ever changing environment.

Some 10 years ago my wife and I attended a stage production of the musical ‘Evita’ which depicted the life of Evita Peron, wife of the Past President of Argentina.
During the show, Evita says, in a very defiant moment: "I’m proud to be and Argentinian."

At school at the time, I was thinking about ways in which I could spark off some pride in the school. Although many of our pupils had tremendous talent, they were often lacking in confidence and were almost scared to show pride in themselves or their school. I took Evita’s words and entered our own name and got: "Proud to be a Parel Valleier". I motivated and encouraged pupils to buy into the concept of having pride in themselves and in what they do but without being arrogant.

We also started to use this slogan on the foot of all our outgoing mail and on our letterheads. Interestingly, some of the grade 8’s, when they answer the question in their little test about the motto of the school, say that, “Proud to be a Parel Valleier” is the school’s motto instead of the real motto "Sapientia et intellegentia."

Long may this slogan live in the hearts and minds of our learners and may they always be "Proud to be a Parel Valleier".

Ettienne Gouws
2013