News March/April 2010: SAASTA sky observation and competition, Bafana Bafana Friday

SAASTA

On Friday, 5th March, 47 Dinoto learners followed the invitation by SAASTA to stay overnight in Observatory, Johannesburg to observe the sky with the world's 10th largest telescope. After the arrival and welcome we had time to experience the exhibits and walk up the hill to enjoy a great view over Joburg.
After a nice dinner it was planned to use the telescope, but the weather upset our plans, as it was too cloudy.
Thus, an interesting science show was presented which left a lot of room for wondering and discussion and soon it was bedtime, although nobody got much sleep ;-)
After a nice breakfast in the morning it was time to make our way back to Dinoto.

On Wednesday, 31th March, 5 of our learners sacrificed one day of their holidays to compete against five other schools at SAASTA Observatory, Johannesburg. The competition was about space stations and due to their good preparation and presentation the Dinoto group performed really well. In the end they came out first place!
And they did not only win telescopes for themselves, but also a microscope for the school. Thank you for your commitment, Nomvula Dlamini, Emily Nowathi, Tumisang Selala, Tebogo Mabuoa and Mbali Sibyia.

And a big thanks to SAASTA!

Bafana Bafana Fridays

Yes, Dinoto is a supporter of Bafana Bafana, South Africa's National Soccer Team!
On Fridays Teachers and Students are encouraged to wear their Bafana Bafana shirts. The uniforms can stay at home... take a look:

Ntando

News Jan/Febr 2010: Dinoto best township school; Dinoto wins debating contest; Valentine's Bash and lots more...

Dinoto best township school

Thanks to the incredible pass rate of 75.5% in the 2009 matric examinations, Dinoto was awarded a prize as best township school in the district!
The principal gratefully accepted the cup which was awarded to the school! Well done matrics of 2009.
The school also received awards for the best teachers in their subject. Awards were going to:
- Mr Bareki (EGD)
- Mr Pankhurst (Mechanic)
- Mam Sibeko (LO)
- Mam Kwana (Electrical)
- Mr Shongwe (Mathematics)

Top: Deputy principal Mr. Naicker holding the "Best Township School" award. Down: Mr. Bareki with his awards for EGD.

Dinoto wins debating club contest!

A team of Dinoto Technical School was taking part in the debating contest "Sibangaki kuwe? 2 is 2 many". The team had to debate against the others schools from Daveyton about the topic "Teenage Pregnancy". And they did it very well! In the end Dinoto won the contest thanks to Elisa from grade 12 who hold a perfect speech! Congratulations!

Former Dinoto learners at DENEL AVIATION

Thanks to DENEL AVIATION five former learners from Dinoto who made matric in 2009 were getting full scholarships for the DENEL college.
Dinoto is very thankful for this and wishes its former learners all the best.

The picture is showing Nosipho Manzini and Sibusiso Mambane who are both at the DENEL college in their DENEL working clothes. Congratulation and keep it up!

SCRUTINIZE - from H.I.V. to H.I.Victory

The Scrutinize Campaigne was visiting Dinoto and was speaking for one week to all learners (ca. 1.000 learners) about HIV and Aids.
The programme was run by three former soccer players. Thanks to SCRUTINIZE to teach our children about this important topic!

Valentine's Bash

This year on Valentine's Day the Dinoto learners were organizing a huge Valentine's Bash with a model contest. It was a great day with a lot of fun. The learners who organized this event were fundraising money for the school.

New Assistant teacher in March

Dinoto is very lucky to get a new assistant teacher in March. Vitus Lohmann will arrive at Daveyton in the middle of March.
Dinoto is looking forward to this new expierence. Welcome Vitus!


Last but not least: Thanks to all Dinoto supporters!

Best greetings Sibusiso and Nthando

A new teacher assistant at Dinoto from the middle of March

Hi Dinoto,

I am going to be the next volunteer at Dinoto Technical School. I´ll start my work as teacher assistant in the middle of March.

In the following I would like to introduce myself shortly. I would like to show you my hobbies, interests and my motivation to work at Dinoto as teacher assistant. I am from Germany and a very active and sportive guy. In my spare time I love to play badminton, but I also have fun doing other sports like basketball or football. I am looking forward to be in charge of the basketball team from Sibusiso. My second important hobby is music. I have been playing the guitar for two years. Of course I love hearing music, too.

Regarding the work as teacher assistant I can say that I am interested in subjects like mathematics as well as in sciences like physics and chemistry. In addition to that my finished apprenticeship as industrial clerk helps me with doing administrative tasks and working with the computer.
I am glad to be a part of Dinoto. I am very excited about what expects me at Dinoto. I hope that we will have a wonderful year together with many new impressions and experiences.

Best regards

Vitus

Dinoto Technical School congratulates its matriculants, Well done! Dinoto's pass rate: 75,5%!

Matric Results

On 7 January 2010 the matric results were given to the learners. Dinoto learners were coming to school to get their statements which were fetched in the morning from the District by the chief invigilator Mr. Mogowe.

Dinoto congratulates all the matriculants and says thank you to the hard working teachers. Dinoto got a good pass rate of 75.7%!



Chief Invigilator Mr Mogowe with the Dinoto-results


Paul Nkosi, who has a level 7 in mathematics!



Kagiso Dhlamini, who passed Mathematic Literacy with a level six. On this picture with his Mathematic Literacy teacher.

School opening

On 11 January 2010 the school reopens and the educators came to school to prepare the school for the learners when they will come on Wednesday 13 January.

Like always we welcomed each other with hugs!



Dinoto is looking forward to 2010 and will work hard for its learners.

Sibusiso

News December 2009: Parents meeting and award ceremony, a science camp, end of year basketball play and term closure

Parents Meeting and Award Ceremony

On Sunday 6th December Dinoto invited all the parents to to discuss 2010's budget in the meeting.

Afterwards the best learners in each subject and grade as well as the overall best learners in each grade received certificates to honour their hard work during the last school year.

Our best learners in 2009 are
Grade 8: Mahlangu Busisiwe
Grade 9: Dlamini Nomvula
Grade 10: Masuku Sibongile
Grade 11: Ncongwane Nonhlanhla


To celebrate this event condingly a snack and some cold drinks were served afterwards.


Science Camp At Saasta Observatory Johannesburg

With 25 learners from grade 8 and 9 Dinoto was invited by Saasta (South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement) for a three days science camp from 7th to 9th of December to Johannesburg Observatory. The three days were filled with interesting activities for our learners, thus they first built models of different appliances with the help of instructions and afterwards invented and completed an own design (e.g. a phone box ATM, a ramp for wheelchairs, a South African soccer stadium and a car ventilator) with cardboard.

On the second day they were also entertained by a science show and stunned by the moebius rings and by making telescopes. But after all one thing is clear: maths, science and technology is no witchcraft and is ubiquitous!

Thanks to Saasta for the wonderful three days, we really enjoyed it!

End Of Year B-balling

To celebrate the existence of the 2009 Dinoto Basketball team the team met for a end of the year playing on the Dinoto court. Nice music, cold drinks, incredible weather and a basketball - we were in paradise.



Term Closure

On Friday 11th December the learners will receive their reports. With this the school will close officially.
We wish all our readers and followers a wonderful Christmas time and a happy new year.
See you in 2010!

News December 2009: Last Examination Day For The Dinoto Matriculants

On Monday 30th November the matriculants wrote their last exam... finally done! Enjoy the impressions on Dinoto TV:

Steve Biko Foundation supplied Dinoto learners with Comic books!

Thanks to the Steve Biko Foundation all grade 9 learners from Dinoto got yesterday a Steve Biko comic book.



This year the grade 9 learners had the topic "apartheid" in their curriculum. After visiting the arpartheid museum (see blog from 22/10/09) and other sites in Johannesburg the comic is just another important and good additional educational material.

The learners and teacher (in the picture Mr. Mohlamme) studied the comic immediately.

Dinoto Technical School says a big thank to the Steve Biko Foundation for their help and support. Thank you SBF!

Function for the SAREX project participants

On Thursday, 5 November a little function for the SAREX project participants was organized. After a short introduction and the opening prayer by Mr Mhlongu, Mr White welcomed all the guests, as there were the learners, the staff, SGB members, beneficiaries of the Daveyton Association of the Physically Disabled and even representatives of ATNS (Aeronautical and Navigation Service)Three short films were shown as well as a slideshow with impressions of the experiences during the SAR exercise. Then all the participants were honoured with certificates for their work and their commitment. Moreover, as the learners got the task to write a short article about their eventful adventure during the stay in uKhahlamba/Drakensberge, the best article (see below) was awarded and recited by the author himself, Thato Monametsi. After a closing prayer everybody was ready for the refreshments provided in the staff room. Nthando

DINOTO TV #2 and #3

Dear Reader,

today you will see some sequals of DINOTO TV about the SAREX projects. Enjoy the little films.

Sibusiso

The SAREX trip from the view of a Dinoto learner:

The following article was written by Thato Monametsi (picture) during the SAREX project and was nominated best article on the school function on November 5.


"Being involved in the SAREX project has built me further in terms of character and well being, painting and assembling the plane was the best part, even though we had a few disagreements with the design. This was the biggest project and the most rewarding where I've ever been involved in. Working with a huge number of learners like myself was incredible, because we learned from one another. The trip was amazing from the start (that's after we got off the bus, it was one very long drive) to the end (before we got on , I didn't want to leave, I wasn't ready to!)
Sani Pass is a beautiful place, we were able to bond and feel like kids again! The bus ride was very long, but we entertained ourselves by playing music, dancing, cracking jokes, playing and getting tired. And after that we did it all over again. We fell in love with Drakensberg region from the moment we saw the landscape. The air was fresh, clear and addictive compared to the township we come from in Daveyton. The hills had the most distinctive features, which was really amazing.
The Sani-Pass Hotel was very welcoming and beautiful, we were treated like ministers. the room ,well god, the beds were nice and the food was INCREDIBLE. I've never eaten that much, and seeing Sandile, Banele and Crosby eating until they watched their plates was amusing. All in all the trip was amazing, if only they gave me a bigger page than I could have told you more about our beautiful journey!"
Thato Monametsi

SAREX DIARY: Friday, 30th October

Today the real rescue started. Being prepared by a make-up artist with scars, bruises and burns the actors were ready to "crash" with the Dinoto plane. From the air, from the land, from all around help was arriving to save the brave Dinoto crew. The main part of the project finally ended with a braai in the local community.

SAREX DIARY: Thursday, 29th October

Thursday- departure day for the students who were quite sad to leave. For the other ones a short briefing took place to explain the further happenings.

But the bad, rainy, cold, cloudy weather thwarted the plans. No air craft could take off and search for the wrecks of the Dinoto plane. Also some parts of the plane needed to be transported to the mountains which was finally done by off-road vehicles in heavy rain. All the "frozen" helpers were sleeping like healthy babies that night!

SAREX DIARY: Wednesday, 28th October

6 o'clock a.m.: morning exercises in the lovely Drakensberg mountains. Not only running with brutal Sibusiso and Laurentia, also sporty Shongwe was joining the marathon training. All together we hit at least 30 km... and afterwards thoughen the body up in the ICY swimming pool.





7:30: Breakfast

9:00: Adventure trip...



11:00: official opening conference and handshaking with the deputy minister of transport as well as a music item from the Dinoto learners.



13:45: Meeting a former Generations star


14:00: Lunch for the hungry learners

15:00: - movie by local directors
- placing of the first plane parts in the mountains



19:00: dinner

Again a wonderful day, but too exhausted to give further information today... the pictures are describing it better than words do.

Sibusiso and Nthando

SAREX DIARY: Tuesday, 27th October

At 6 o' clock 22 learners from Dinoto (grade 9 to 11) and beneficiaries from the association of the disabled persons Daveyton left the Dinoto premises to drive through a varying landscape towards their final destination in KwaZulu Natal, the uKhahlamba/southern Drakensberg region...


10 hours later the group arrived exhausted but excited at the Sani Pass Hotel near Underberg.
To energize the learners some games were played



and a special Candlelightdinner was arranged.



By singing a welcome song thanks was expressed to the officials arriving at the hotel. "Sanibonani, Dumelang, ..., Hello!"



Then it was time to rest in order to face the important duties of tomorrow.

SAREX: The plane is ready to take off!

After days of hard work finally the plane is ready for its way to the Drakensberg region. Here are some impressions :

Dinoto News October: School trips and a basketball partnership

Hector Pieterson Museum, Nelson Mandela Family Museum, Apartheidmuseum

Due to the topic Alpartheid in social science for 9th grade a trip to
Joburg's Apartheidmuseum

and Soweto's Hector Pieterson museum


and Nelson Mandela Family Museum


was organized at 7th October.

Around 30 learners joined to visit the history-charged places.

Gold Reef City

A day the whole school was looking forward to months in advance - the trip to Gold Reef City at 16th October. Around 300 learners were placed in 5 buses and went on their journey to the fun park. Thanks to the RCL for the organization!

Basketball Partnership

The Dinoto Basketball team has a partnership with my German Basketball team Ebstorf. We are reporting to each other about games and tournaments. See the photos below.

Then last week the school was recieving a big packet from Germany! The Dinoto Basketball team was very happy! When they opened it, they found three new balls, a lot of basketball shirts and a ball pump!




So: thank you very much to TUS EBSTORF!

Dinoto says thank you!

A helicopter at Dinoto - the SAREX project

What does the strange word SAREX mean? What is all this about? Why does a helicopter land in our school premises?


To clarify those questions I want to give a short lesson in international aviation:
In 1944 the Convention on International Aviation (known as the Chicago Convention) was signed by 52 states (nowadays 190 states signed). The states obliged themselves to provide assistance to any aircraft in distress and to its occupants.

Therefore training is necessary and thus the Search And Rescue EXercise (SAREX) was introduced "to achieve and maintain maximum efficiency in search and rescue" (Annex 12, Chicago Convention)

Dinoto Technical Secondary School, the Daveyton Association of the Physically Disabled and AVM productions are members of the SAREX 2010 project. This is a search and rescue training in South Africa organized by the department of transport. For Dinoto the aim of the project is not to have any financial benefit from it but purely for exposure and community involvement. Our school's task in this project was to build a model of an aeroplane. Around 20 pupils helped to paint the construct of the plane to make it look as real as possible.



At Monday 26th October the plane will be transported to the uKhahlamba/Drakensberg region (declared a World Heritage site in 2000), where the SAR exercise will take place. The minister of transport will open the exercise on the 28th October.

For the preparation for this event the school got visitors arriving "from above" with a helicopter at 20th October. The school was nearly blown away, and turned upside down by their arrival. Learners as well as teachers were excited to get so near to a "real chopper". The pilot even gave some information about his job and the experience of flying to the learners. After some time the visitors left again dispersing the Dinoto dust.



See below the movie about the visit. The movie is at the same time the first part and launch of Dinoto TV. Enjoy it!

Best greetings
Nthando
and
Sibusiso

Dinoto News September 2009: A new assistant teacher at Dinoto; Spring Bash; Matric Dance

Gruess Gott to Dinoto!

My name is Ntando aka Ulrike and I'm the new teacher assistant from Germany. I've arrived 3 weeks before and will stay until August 2010. I want to thank my colleagues and learners for the warm welcome you gave me and I'm looking forward to great teamwork during the next 12 months.

Spring Bash

My first week in Dinoto ended a bit untypical with the Spring Bash. It was also the first time for me wearing a school uniform together with the other teachers. The learners organized a fashion contest as well as show dances and prepared delicious food. It was a nice and relaxing day for the whole school family.

Matric Dance

Moreover at Friday the 25th September the Matric Dance took place in Birchwood Conference Centre in Benoni. The learners were tarted up in their dresses and suits so that it was hard to recognise them. After the (late) bus brought them to the wonderful decorated place the program started and Mrs. Sibeko led through the evening. After the opening prayer by Mr. Mhlongo, Mr. Sikhosana delivered his speech naming the learners for one evening "ladies and gentlemen". After the guest speaker's speech Sithembiso replied for the twelfth grade thanking teachers and parents for not only teaching but preparing them for life. Subsequently the best learners of every subject and the three overall best learners were honoured with certificates by Mr. Bareki, Mr. Mogowe and Ntando. Then Mr. White concluded with his speech and the whole room was singing the national anthem.

After the "official" part of the evening it was time for delicious refreshments and dancing - a wonderful evening!