During August, Parel Valleiers celebrated Parel Vallei (PV) High School’s 34th anniversary in an original way with a variety of activities, which included bringing balloons to school, wearing funky ties, creating birthday cards and a dressed Smart in Blue day for the Grade 12s. This year, instead of ordering a birthday cake for the school, the school’s management team decided to ask Darryan Kallis and Ciska Kennis, both Grade 12 consumer studies pupils, to bake cakes for the school that would resemble PV’s unique feel and spirit. Ciska made a bulldog, almost just as real as the school’s mascot, Winston TUNGU (Turn Up and Never Give Up). It had a yarn spool (with blue thread) on the side, representing PV’s blue thread that runs through each Parel Valleier, binding them together as one. Darryan made a cake in blue with a detailed bulldog from plastic icing and a 34 chocolate piece on top. As part of the school’s anniversary, pupils usually receive something sweet to celebrate the day but this year PV pupils made a difference by giving back to the community. For two weeks clothing items and non-perishable food products were collected for the Night Shelter in Somerset West.