Class photo from Felicity

Hi all,

I hope everyone is well and getting excited with how quickly the reunion is coming. I am trying to work out if, for those who can't attend, we can do a Skype conference video, so we can all be there in some form.

Felicity went searching and found a class photo. She had written all the names on the photo which has made it much easier to figure out who everyone is. I love that she's included the back as well. It's so funny to read what we wrote so many years ago.

Update on Terri's daughter

Hi all,

I know Terri would want you guys to know that her daughter is doing incredibly well and has done some once unexpected things. The most recent is that McAyla laughed this weekend, and it was caught on video. She has started doing some normal characteristic things like tucking her hair behind her ears and she chose a toy the other day. They are over the moon that McAyla is starting to prove some of the doctors wrong with her recovery. She certainly is a strong little girl who is fighting her way back.

We did start a blog for Terri to be able to keep friends and family updated on her progress and I'm sure Terri won't mind me sharing that with you. Don't forget to leave a message for her.
http://mcayla.blogspot.com

Update on Yvonne's babies

Babies are doing ok, Olivia doing really well and getting heavy now over 14lbs so really heavy to carry around now! Ella 10.6lbs so still slow in the weight gain and we have to be careful with her feeding and her in general still, she is a delicate little thing but at the same time one tough little cookie!

Email addresses - updated 2 October 08

EMAIL EVERYONE

Alison Wright erinruth@polka.co.za SA
Angela (Bant) angela@vestacor.co.za SA
Anne Zuvela (Darroch) anne.Zuvela@stanlib.com SA
Barbara Chochola barbara.chochola@arup.com SA
Bolinka Goldridge bolinka@smdgroup.co.za SA
Carla Da Silva punch@oasysexhibitions.co.za SA
Catterina Bebington (Haselhorst) cattsbebs@eject.co.za SA
Christina Iliakis ina_iliaki@hotmail.com
Coleen Corlett Corlettc@saquantum.co.za SA
Colette Greenway colette.greenway@cobbglobal.com
Dale Berning dale.berning@multichoice.co.za SA
Dora Murphy (Kovacs) DM111@ntrs.com UK
Felicity Wintle felicity.wintle@mylan.com SA
Fleur fleurr@mweb.co.za SA
Gina (Rodrigues) Do Nascimento gina.donascimento@peugeot.com SA
Grace da Gama (Vieira) grace.dagama@sita.co.za SA
Grace Momas grace@lunarcc.co.za SA
Hayley Muir hmuir@hotmail.com
Ingrid ingrid001@iburst.co.za SA
Jeanine Grass Jeanine.Graas@dhl.com Holland
Karen Sandes (Little) ksandes@bigpond.net.au OZ
Karin Lehmann (Calmeyer) servicecentre@mbango.org.za SA
Kate Miller kate@nealysart.com UK
Kirsty Davidson kirstyd@discovery.co.za SA
Laura Nel (McMillan) laura.nell@btinternet.com
Maria Garcia nela.duke@clix.pt
Mariza Osorio mariza@lpgas.co.za SA
Mary Papadakis maryamp@mailbox.co.za SA
Maja Virissimo majav@telkomsa.net SA
Melina Economou melina@ninpo.co.za SA
Nicole Anderson nicole.anderson@netpartnering.co.za SA
Pascale Schroenn 0832977016@mtnloaded.co.za SA
Poppy Poretti poppyp@primesteelkzn.co.za SA
Rachel Visser (Trimm) rachel.Visser@bank.rennies.co.za SA
Rene renema@absa.co.za SA
Roxanne roxanne.mcgimpsey@dhl.com UK
Sadia Deane (Jane Knudsen) sadia@rockconstruction.co.za SA
Sandra Castro (Ferreira) Sandra.Castro@abam.co.za
Sandra sandra@busbyhouse.com SA
Sarah Kruger (Bailey) sarah.kruger@comcast.net USA
Sharon Trombas SharonTr@incredible.co.za SA
Sue Eber address changed - will update when we have it OZ
Tanja Viera (Stevanovic) tanja@pfm.co.za SA
Terri Johnston (van der Merwe) terri.johnston@craegmoor.co.uk UK
Yvonne Bassey (Anderson) david@bassey.fsworld.co.uk UK
Vania vania.queiros@btinternet.com

1989 GIRLS

EMAIL EVERYONE '89

Andy Fleischmann andyf@everitt.co.za
Cristine Velloza cristinevelloza@gmail.com
Claudia Maldonado cmaldonado@sigmasleep.com
Connie Joel connie@new-moon.co.za
Emese Barocsi emeseb@osmondlange.co.za
Liz Damiao (Lourenco) lizdamiao@gmail.com
Penny Dow pennyd@voxtelecom.co.za
Sonja Caisutti scaisut@makro.co.za
Svetlana Kozul Svetlana@hollard.co.za
Tania de Aguiar sacta@telkomsa.net
Wendy Rinaldi Wendy.Rinaldi@cicenergy.com

Jeanine Graas

I have been living in Amsterdam since 1994 after a couple of years in PE, finally got married on the 7th of June this year, so still a newlywed !! Have two great kids Caitlin who is 10 (and just like me HELP) and Alessandro who will be 2 on the 1st of December. I have had great fun reading all the updates from everyone and will make some time to scan in all those great pics I have from school. Speak to you all soon. If anyone is interested loads of pics to be found on http://www.flickr.com/photos/fellifamily/.

Our own little reunion

As some of you know, Kate has just married her long time love, Neal, and they spent their honeymoon in the States doing a road trip of the South East. Obviously we have spoken many times over the last 2 weeks, and we had planned that her final night here, while she was in the city I live in, we would spent the evening together. We had such a great night. We went to an incredible restaurant which is 74 stories up and rotates around the city, so we got to see the sunset and the view of the city. Kate and I spent such an incredible time just talking and catching up. We haven't seen each other in 7 years, so it was a long awaited catch up. It was very strange because it felt like we were still girls, but here we are, me 2 days away from my 39th birthday, and our friendship is still very much in tact, which is the way it should be. It was so funny talking about how our opinions have changed since we "matured" :-) I miss her terribly already, but they have spoken about coming back for another trip soon-ish and then we'll get to spend more than one evening together.

Let me know of your own mini-reunion stories, or people you've reconnected with and don't forget to send any photos you might have.

Terri's daughter McAyla

As many of you now know, Terri's 11 year old daughter, McAyla, had a terrible accident on 7th of September and is severely injured and will be spending a lot of the next 12 months being rehabilitated back to as normal as possible considering her injuries. I thought I would include a photo of McAyla which I think was taken not too long ago. She's such a beautiful girl and by the looks of some of the other photos on Terri's Facebook, she's a very lively girl. I know you're all praying for Terri & her family for a fast recovery for McAyla.

Tracy Sevenoaks contact details

Here are Tracy's contact details. We all know she would love a phone call, or even better, and visit if you're in the area.

Here is her address :
Avalon
10th Avenue,
De Wets Hoff,
Kensington,
Johannesburg

Cell: 0844588694

Gina (Rodrigues) Do Nascimento

I met Joao when I was in std 9, we dated for 7 years and at the age of 24 married. Today we still married after 14 years. We have 2 beautiful boys, one is now 12 and the smaller one was born on
valentines day 2007, today being 18 months. A big gap but all the delays made it worth all the while. I did have miscarriages (a few) and trusting that I would not go through another one I entrusted a fertility doctor to help me make a good and dominant egg. I also did IVF, made 12 healthy eggs, froze a few (hopefully to be used next year) and used 3 of which only 1 grabbed, thus the little bambino in the pics. I have no regrets with the age gap and even less my age ... Sadia, if its in your affordability, try IVF, but do it with faith, you will be blessed again.

Yvonne, how are the girls? They are so precious ... keep us posted.

Can anyone tell me where is Tracy? Which home.

After matric I studied in the accounting field, did a Cost and Management diploma at the Technikon Witwatersrand, and later I completed the CIS degree. After graduation emigrated to Portugal and after a year I just could not seem to adapt to a nation I was not tuned to. I know they are my culture and my people but being bought up in South Africa is very and completely different to trying to live abroad, so I came back to South Africa and straight away started working at Johnson & Johnson in the costing field. From there Bayer offered me more and better and after 7 years with them I found a good and stimulating ground with Peugeot Motor SA
headoffice as the Budget Controller. I travel to France a lot, learnt their language ( so madams french classes in std 7 were not wasted). Love my work, but and I say but again, the hair loss is also part of the package.

Being an accountant was not my passion, I wanted to persue in the air hostessing field but my dad convinced me that my head was up in the clouds already, I need'nt go there. My second choice was art but that too was not good enough .... In my free time I write stories and poetry and have published just a few of my writings (nothing major) ... and that is when I do have free time.

My husband is in the IT field. A few years ago he got the itch many of us get and tried his own venture. Bought into a franchise which went terribly wrong. We lost a lot but grew in faith and trust for God. The good thing is that he was able to rekindle into the IT industry again.

Wow ... that's us.

From here I bid farewell, I hope for just a small while, till I hear from you again.

Gina (Rodrigues) Do Nascimento

Maja update

Wow, its so great to see that some of us are in contact again … there are a lot of you who have made an impact in my life and am so glad to be in contact with some of you again.

I’m sad that some friends are not out of the woodwork yet, like Melpo Theodorou, Barbara Cason (now married and with twins), Genevieve Laubscher, and many more.

Mary, I’m still to hear from you … c’mon girl (I’ve emailed you) … and Sadia, lol, just recognised you and was floored at the update on your life … often wondered about you and Connie.

Although I enjoy sharing about myself, I honestly don’t know how to sum-up the last 30 years.

Prep School was amazing, I think it was the innocence of those years that makes me so nostalgic (yip, I suffer from nostalgia often which is why I think I love finding old friends and acquaintances).

Unfortunately for me and regrettably, I found discipline and the system too boring and a waste of time, so it wasn’t long before I was school hopping high school’s to outrun my arrogant reputation … (however, we also moved to Rivonia when I was in Std 4) which is why I lost contact with a lot of you. Then there’s the time factor, the jorl factor, and not to mention life itself, boyfriends, kids….

So I eventually went to Damelin in Bree St, and that was liberating, but still ended up leaving in the first term of my matric year (how crazy is that?). I ended up completing my matric at night-school over three years!!! Sucker!!! I’m still in the ripples of that decision today, having to do an extra year with Unisa for a degree!

So some of you will remember my wild ways in high school, and my craziness in prep - some of you were lucky to escape that, he he, but for those who did not, please accept my sincerest apologies should I have mistreated you in any way ☺

Whew, now that that’s off my chest …

I now live in KZN, near the 1000 hills and Hillcrest/Pinetown – that’s about 30kms from the beach. I’ve been here for about 12 years and since lost my brother and my dad (still have another bro who is in jhb and mom is with me). I’m relieved we left Jhb, and can’t see us returning to such a rat race.

We ended up in the Bible belt of SA, and I have since become a born-again Christian – basically saved my marriage from the, then, impending doom! Those of you on face-book, I’m sure have pretty much written me off as a radical/extremist; hey I’ve always been one, its just a safer journey now ☺ (eg. getting high and drunk in the Spirit, instead of narcotics). Its quite amazing to see how we’ve all matured and the diversity amongst us. The religious, spiritual, humanist… what a quilt, huh!

I am happily married to John who is Cecilia’s oldest brother (some of you will remember little celia with long plaits) and we have two seriously gorgeous kids! John and I met in ’88 and married 6 years later (this year makes 20 years relationship).

I do have an income, but basically my husband runs a business that affords us a comfortable life-style. Kids go to a government school (is that what they call them these days?) and we are hoping for the best, most of us made it through, huh?

Demi is near 14 and Marco is 11.


And thought the blog should definitely have a pic of the old bats that shaped some of us into who we are today ☺

Keep in touch y’all.

Love Maja (Marijana Ignjatovic)
PS. I’m on face-book and skype and msn – search by my email majav@telkomsa.net

Sadia photo

Pascale Update

Hi everyone

It has been a looong silence from my side because we had a burglary at home 3 weeks ago and my laptop and handbag were stolen while my 2 jack russels merrily ate the biscuits that were chucked to them! I only got up and running with a new laptop and email on monday. So Dora I am very grateful for your mail as I now have everyone's email address in my inbox again. I can't remember the blogsite address so Sarah please would you mail that to me.

It is amazing how we become so dependent on things like a laptop and even a simple diary!

Dora I didn't realise you were moving - still in the UK I presume? Thanks for the update on Yvonne - not great news at all. Shame - what a predicament to leave your one little one and only see her weekends. I wonder if having her mom physically there isn't better for her recovery? But then again - it is so taxing for the rest of the family and for Yvonne herself. Sjoe- that is really awful. please send her all my love and best wishes. Shame. And Dora how is Tracey doing? Last time you mailed you said she was not well - is she in a better space?

The reunion has taken a backseat for a while, but I'm getting together with Catterina (and Melina who I haven't told yet) who has our class photos and some others, to see if we can rack our brains on names etc and see what we can do further to contact some others. If anyone has anymore ideas - please shout.

Roxanne - Vania's email address as I said has changed but I am not sure if I wrote it down correctly as I still have not heard from her - please can I be a pain and ask you to call her again for me and check that it is correct. Thank you thank you!

Other than that - all is well - just busy - I am amazed at the pace of daily life and there are days where I feel I am just running (or as a friend of mine has said - she feels like she is just walking in a blizzard and stuff is just coming her way)

Well I am so glad to be in touch with all of you again. I hope you are all well and I will keep you posted on our progress.

Take care
Love Pascale

Sadia's story

My story in a nutshell is as follows.....

I went on to study marketing and aales for lack of knowing what else to do ... completed the 3 year course part time as I decided to do fashion designing for a year and then moved on to doing aromatherapy for a year while working for Hallmark Greeting Cards in marketing ... I then back packed Europe for a month only to come back for my beloved sister Feroza's funeral, and then most vulnerable entered into my first marriage in 1995, (months after my sister's death) ... which was a horrific experience and lasted only 10 months and many years of recovery. During this time I worked for SA Phillips. I then moved to Cape Town for 6 months for my own healing and then back to JHB , entering into a sales position for furniture manufacturer Hartmann & Keppler (divine interiors and very beautiful things). I then travelled some more in the USA, working on a summer camp for underpriviliged kids from Los Angeles for 4 months and travelled another 2 months before going back to JHB in 1999 to meet my wonderful husband Tariq, and back to Hartmann & Keppler as manager. We have a daughter Iman (means Faith), who is almost 7yrs old. I have had 4 miscarriages since her , quite far into my pregnancy so I am a bit afraid to try again, although that is not in my control at all ... I just need to submit and have faith (I knew in naming Iman, with her she would bring tests of immense faith for us as a family...) I would love to have another two kids. God willing.

We have been living in Cape Town since 2007 and I love it, the ocean the mountains and all it's many faces really keep me going. I knew I would be back here ... JHB has never felt like my home. I am currently in a half day position at my brothers company doing accounting - which I certainly cannot believe, as I do prefer the more creative aspect of work, but it helps and I can still see to Iman in the afternoons etc.

I plan on getting back into massage therapy, yoga for kids (qualified to teach, but all talk and no action), mosaic, crafts, and all else that I love. I really want to create a space where women in particular can feel uplifted and empowered in every aspect both superficial and spiritual ... offering services and products, love and compassion and true intention for wellness. God willing.

Sadia means Happiness , which is what I would love to bring to you all ...

Karin Calmeyer

After leaving school I wasn’t sure what to do so I started working for a dental laboratory. Not really my thing so I moved to a corporate environment and studied public relations and photography. I wasn’t involved with anyone and continued to hang out with my brother and the boys and the youth. I met Craig when organizing my 21st. around the same time my father was kidnapped. He was eventually released battered and bruised but my family lost everything to get him back. The police where useless and the perpetrator skipped the country with the money etc. there was no extradition treaty to get them back or anything. My father hated South Africa for a long time and decided to move to England. The time he left I caught my then fiancée with his boss. (a double loss) I was devastated. I ran away joined a band and went on tour. I sang all over the country and really enjoyed the life. I have met and performed with many great and talented people. During this time I fell for my manager and we had a whirlwind relationship, he never wanted to get married and certainly never wanted children so we parted on good terms. Chris was stable, I needed a rock in my life when everything else seemed to be crazy. During our relationship I met Deon and we became firm friends. I travelled to the Congo, England (looking for my father) Texas and Louisiana. I went back to corporate on my return, wiser, cheekier, and certainly more stable. Deon and I got together and have never been apart since. He is my passion and my great love. I can see his destiny and I know it is my place to help him achieve it because he has such a love and compassion for people. He is a fabulous teacher. (Biblically speaking) In life he is a personal trainer. But once again teaching people to live healthy and encouraging them to do so. I speak to large groups of people and I enjoy one on one. We moved to the coast 11 years ago and have mostly been happy here. I am still weary of people. I work at a retirement village where I arrange all the social activities of the members as well as tours and outings. I have been blessed to be able to travel to the Namaqualand flowers, Knysna, Cape Town, the Kruger park, various game parks, enjoyed the Cherry festival in Free State and so much more through my work. I think people are very eager to travel abroad when we have a wonderful interesting country with so much to see and enjoy. Married life certainly has its ups and downs. Thankfully the ups are fabulous. My experiences have made me very strong, I don’t allow many in, but connecting with my past has been very calming for me. Thank you all for all the stories. I love it.

God bless you all the I am so looking forward to seeing you in November.

Mariza Osorio

Awesome to see the faces, brings back so many memories - and for the life of you - not remember the names...lol.

I'm now back in Johannesburg, after spending a few years in KwaZulu Natal, have two gorgeous, beautiful sons. Richard is ten and an artist of note (if I say so myself...lol). Ross is seven and a soccer player of note (if I say so myself...lol).

I work for a non-profit organisation and have my own small entrepreneurial business, doing email branding, web development (www.osorioandassociates.co.za), business solutions etc. Plus have a little "home kitchen" making awesome treats (jams, marmalades, rusks - all things sinfully nice).

I recently heard that "Mrs Binda" - Maths Teacher is still alive and kicking! Wow! Did she pick on me - "Osorio" where's your homework..lol

Barbara's photos

Hi all,

Well, it's gone quite quiet, but I think that's to be expected. I don't think we could all have kept up with the rate of emails which were first flying around.

Barbara has been going through her boxes and has come up with some classic photos. Thanks Barbara, I love seeing the photos and remembering all the times everyone had.

Don't forget, if you have any photos lying around which you want to share, send me an email and I'll get them on the blog just as soon as I can.

Sarah

Duran Duran - FINALLY!!!! :-)

Anyone who remembers me from school, will probably remember most my rather large obsession with a certain band called Duran Duran (in particular John Taylor :-) ) and it was always my biggest wish to go and see them in concert if they ever came to town. Well, when they did come to SA, I didn't have the money to go :-( So, when I heard they were coming to Atlanta during their USA tour, I hooked with up some friends who were going, and last night we had the most amazing time. I actually got chills when they were playing their old stuff - new stuff, not so much. Honestly, they were brilliant and I'm so glad I finally got to see them. It only took 20 years!!!

Sarah

Update from Yvonne

Hi guys

Just a quick hello before I go off to the hospital. Have attached some more photos, although they say April they are from end April and beginning May so very recent.

Unfortunately on Saturday Olivia went blue again and they had to resuscitate her so she is back in an incubator and nil by mouth, her oxygen levels were very low so needs 28% oxygen in her incubator, she also had another blood transfusion as her haemoglobin level was low which was also causing the low oxygen levels as your red blood cells carry your oxygen round your body. She is slowly getting better just going to take time, she has gone blue four times now and I was there for it three times and it’s a horrible thing to see as they are not allowed to resus them too many times and give them oxygen as the oxygen can cause problems to their eyes…..things fix things and damage others so it’s a case of them getting the balance right.


Ella is much the same but being very feisty, she is definitely a madam. Does very well at having a bottle and guzzles it in 5 minutes we have to slow her down a bit, but she cries now before her feed is due and lies there with her mouth open wide, all the nurses say she is like a little bird in a nest! The nurses say they are both so cute and love looking after them, nice thing to say J

Their gestation is 36 weeks yesterday now, should still not have been born and they are now 8 weeks old…amazing.

I’m ok, roller coaster ride and cry every day, they have actually arranged for me to see the counsellor at the hospital which they arranged after Olivia went blue again. It will help to speak to someone who is a trained professional counsellor at the hospital who deals with mothers of premature babies. Everyone says I’m really strong but I think a little help from the counsellor will help me see things a bit better, its day 60 today – I keep a diary of what happens every day which is also a record of what the nurses say and what medication they are on etc so we can look back and make sure everything is right.

Hope you are all well and have a great week.
Lots of love
Yvonne xxxx

Catterina

I matriculated at Joburg Girls in 1988 and then went to Wits to do a B. Nursing degree. After I qualified in 1992 I decided to specialize in Paediatric Nursing. I finished my specialization in 1994 after which I traveled overseas. When I returned I went back to work at the Jhb Hospital. I had a fantastic job working in a Paediatric surgical and trauma unit which I loved ( I nursed lots of babies with NEC with superb results….so please hang in there Yvonne!!!) . I had a disastrous relationship with a chef / Mr Know it all for 6 years too long. I met my husband to be in 1994. He was doing a surgical rotation through the unit I worked in. At that stage he was engaged to someone to be married and I was still hanckering after the chef ( silly me!). Any way to cut a long story short he returned to work with me in April 1995 and at that stage neither of us was attached any longer and we started dating. We got married in March 1997. I carried on at the Gen until February 1999 when my eldest daughter, Micaela was born. As much as I thought I would be able to go back to work the idea of leaving my new baby was not appealing. At that stage I was lecturing at the Nursing College. It also happened to coincide with my husband going into private practice. I then took the decision to resign and I started managing my husbands practice. It was the best decision I ever made as I am able to work and spend time with my daughters. My second daughter, Chiara was born in 2002. I now manage 2 doctors practices and I do locums at a Pharmacy running their well baby and general clinic to keep my hand in. It is awesome to be reconnecting with everyone from school again. It is very sad but I had lost contact with absolutely everyone. I am really looking forward to the reunion.

Barbara

my new baby - Katja is now 18 months old!

I left JGHS end of 1986 to do Std 9 and Matric at Mondeor High School. It was quite something to go from an all girls school to now have boys in the class. Needless to say the skirts got shorter (although I never got slimmer) and the school disco’s were a lot more fun! Sad to say I forgot about all the old girl friends and life went on.

I moved out of home (to Hillbrow) quite early in my life (the stubborn teenager who knows it all!) and found out that life is not all so easy on your own! But I survived – with lots of hard work and having up to three jobs at once (Secretary by day/waitress or baby sitter by night!

I travelled Europe for a year (with the dream boyfriend at the time) and came back to find he was just not the one!. He left me heart broken but I recovered and eventually met my hubby – Gary. He is too good for me I know – but I definitely won’t tell him that! My step son – put me off kids for life – but I have 4 dogs & a cat to make up for it!

Two years ago we decided to move to the coast to enjoy our lives! We live in Scottburgh but found the nice house by the sea costs loads of money and is high maintenance – so we still work all day and find ourselves too tired to joll at night (not that there is any exciting place to go in Scottburgh and Durbs is 45 minutes away!). But when you sit on the patio and watch the ocean and wonder “what if” - it somehow makes it all worthwhile!

Looking forward to catching up with old friends!

Anyone is welcome to contact me on 072 242 1635 / 039 978 1077.

Barbara's Brats :-)