Kearsney College and Big Blue Bug: Difference between pages

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[[Image:Big_Blue_Bug_Congradulates_Graduates.jpg|right|thumb|220px|''The Big Blue Bug, lit up for the holiday season'']]
[[image:kearsney.jpg|thumb|300px|Kearsney College]]
The '''Big Blue Bug''', also known as ''Nibbles Woodaway'', is the giant [[termite]] mascot of [[New England Pest Control]], located along [[I-95]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[Rhode Island]]. The Bug is exactly 928 times the size of an actual termite, and stands at 9 [[foot (unit of length|feet]] (2.7 [[metre|m]]) tall and 58 feet (17 m) long, and weighs 4,000 [[pound (weight)|pound]]s (1800 [[kilogram|kg]]). The Bug was originally painted purple (the color of a real termite when observed under a microscope), but the paint soon faded to blue and it became so well known in that condition that it was never repainted. The Bug has made numerous media appearances, including the film ''[[Dumb and Dumber]]'', the television programs ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'', ''[[The Daily Show]]'', and ''[[Family Guy]]'', the comic strips ''[[Zippy the Pinhead]]'' and ''Bosquet'', and the books ''[[Roadside America]]'' and ''Providence'' by [[Geoffrey Wolff]].


[[Image:Nepc_001_holidays.jpg|right|thumb|220px|''The Big Blue Bug, lit up for the holiday season'']]
'''Kearsney College''' is a private [[university-preparatory school]] located in [[Botha's Hill]], near [[Durban]] in [[South Africa]]. It is an all-boys school with a [[Methodist]] foundation, and is one of the most distinguished schools in the country.


The Bug was erected in 1980 but was known only as the "Big Blue Bug" until it received the name Nibbles Woodaway in a contest in 1990. Geraldine Perry of [[Tiverton, Rhode Island]] submitted the winning name.
==History==


The Big Blue Bug has also been featured on scratch-off [[lottery ticket]]s, and was officially pardoned by Mayor [[Vincent Cianci, Jr]]. for drinking [[Del's Lemonade]] (competitors of Del's claimed that the cup of [[lemonade]] was an impermissible billboard).
The college was founded in [[Stanger]], north of Durban, in [[1921]] by Sir Liege Hulett, a South African sugar magnate. In [[1939]], it moved to its present location at [[Botha's Hill]], near [[Hillcrest]].


{| border="1" class="wikitable"
It experienced a revival period under Owen Roberts, the headmaster from [[1990]]-[[2000]], who is credited with much of the school's recent status and excellence, turning it into a high-achieving school. He was succeeded by Elwyn van den Aardweg in 2001.
|+'''''Big Blue Bug'' Statistics'''

|-
It takes its name from the village of [[Kearsney]], on the London Road a few miles outside of [[Dover]], England.
! Species

| Subterranean [[Termite]] <br> ([[Reticulitermes flavipes]])
==The College Today==
|-

! Height
Kearsney retains its original [[English public school]] atmosphere, and accordingly the students are grouped into five boarding houses: Gillingham, Finningley, Pembroke, Sheffield and Hayley. In addition, the school operates to a system of privilege, whereby the older students get greater privileges and freedom than the younger pupils, resulting in the sixth form (12th grade) students having more freedom and privileges than any of the other pupils, and so on. The school still places great emphasis on its Methodist character, and regular services in the school chapel are compulsory for all boys to attend.
| 9 feet

|-
[[image:kearsney_hall.jpg|thumb|300px|Henderson Hall]]
! Length

| 58 feet
In the academic sphere, the college achieves consistently high results, an example of which is the results summary of the [[2003]] matric class, which achieved a 100% pass rate, 94% university exemption and 21 A-aggregates in the [[Independent Examinations Board]] exams. In [[2004]], Kearsney had the highest number of school leaving candidates in the [[Independent Examinations Board]] exams top 50 than any school in its province and any boys school in the country.
|-

! Diameter
The academic system is rather different to most in that from 7:30 to midday the college's academic responsibility lies with the staff and teachers. From midday till the next day, this is transferred to the various school houses. There is also a respected [[A-level]] course for post-Matric students.
| 6 feet

|-
The student population is relatively small, consisting of only around 500 boarders and day scholars, who are taught by approximately 30 teaching staff. The fees are also comparatively high, at a price of approximately R80,000 ([[South African Rand]]) per annum in [[2005]].
! Body Length

| 32 feet
Kearsney is a member of the [[Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa]] and the [[Round Square]] association.
|-

! Four Wings <br> (folded over in pairs)
==Sports==
| 40 feet

|-
[[image:kearsney_hockey.jpg|thumb|300px|Field hockey against Eton College]]
! Antennae

| 7 feet
Like many South African private schools, Kearsney has a proud sporting history, and it works hard to maintain a high standard. In this regard, the school's sporting facilities include: several rugby pitches (one includes a grand stand), several cricket ovals, an artificial turf for field hockey, 2 Olympic-standard and heated swimming pools, an indoor gym with a high performance training centre and a nature reserve. Notably, Kearsney's 1st XV Rugby side are rated as being amongst the top 5 in South Africa. Many of the sports sides regulary tour overseas to compete with other schools. In 2005, the 1st [[field hockey]] team toured [[England]] whilst the 1st XV [[rugby union]] team toured [[Chile]] and [[Argentina]].
|-

! Legs
The following sports are offered:
| 11 feet

|-
*[[Athletics]]
! Weight
*[[Basketball]]
| 4000 lbs
*[[Canoeing]]
|-
*[[Cricket]]
! Stands
*[[Cross-country running]]
| 30 feet above ground
*[[Golf]]
|}
*[[Field hockey]]
*[[Rugby union]]
*[[Sailing]]
*[[Soccer]]
*[[Squash]]
*[[Swimming]]
*[[Tennis]]
*[[Waterpolo]]

==Clubs and Cultural Activities==

[[image:kearsney_rugby_stand.jpg|thumb|300px|Spectators in the Medworth Rugby Stand]]

*12 Club
*Bird Watching Club
*Bonsai Club
*Chess Club
*Choir and Chamber Choir
*Conservancy Club
*Debating Society
*Angling Club
*International Exchange Club
*Orchestra
*Photography Club
*Students Christian Association

==Notable Old Boys==

[[image:kearsney_finningley.jpg|thumb|300px|Finningley House]]

*Etienne Fynn, national rugby union player
*Trevor Halstead, national rugby union player
*[[Andrew Hudson]], national cricketer
*[[Tony Leon]], leader of [[Democratic Alliance]]
*Douglas Livingstone, leading contempory poet
*Steven Meyer, [[Sharks (rugby club)]] player
*[[Matt Stevens (rugby player)|Matthew Stevens]], England and [[British and Irish Lions]] rugby union player
*[[Shlobosenkosi Zulu]], prince of [[Zulu]] royal family


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.kearsney.com/ Kearsney College official site]
*[http://www.newenglandpestcontrol.com <i>New England Pest Control</i> home page]
*[http://www.kcobc.com/ Kearsney College Old Boys' Club]
*[http://www.quahog.org/attractions/index.php?id=58 ''Quahog.org'' description of Nibbles]
*[http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ri.html ''Roadside America'' - description of Nibbles]


[[Category:Private schools in KwaZulu-Natal]]
[[Category:Providence, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:University-preparatory schools in South Africa]]
[[Category:Rhode Island landmarks]]

Revision as of 22:08, 15 December 2005

File:Big Blue Bug Congradulates Graduates.jpg
The Big Blue Bug, lit up for the holiday season

The Big Blue Bug, also known as Nibbles Woodaway, is the giant termite mascot of New England Pest Control, located along I-95 in Providence, Rhode Island. The Bug is exactly 928 times the size of an actual termite, and stands at 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and 58 feet (17 m) long, and weighs 4,000 pounds (1800 kg). The Bug was originally painted purple (the color of a real termite when observed under a microscope), but the paint soon faded to blue and it became so well known in that condition that it was never repainted. The Bug has made numerous media appearances, including the film Dumb and Dumber, the television programs The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Daily Show, and Family Guy, the comic strips Zippy the Pinhead and Bosquet, and the books Roadside America and Providence by Geoffrey Wolff.

File:Nepc 001 holidays.jpg
The Big Blue Bug, lit up for the holiday season

The Bug was erected in 1980 but was known only as the "Big Blue Bug" until it received the name Nibbles Woodaway in a contest in 1990. Geraldine Perry of Tiverton, Rhode Island submitted the winning name.

The Big Blue Bug has also been featured on scratch-off lottery tickets, and was officially pardoned by Mayor Vincent Cianci, Jr. for drinking Del's Lemonade (competitors of Del's claimed that the cup of lemonade was an impermissible billboard).

Big Blue Bug Statistics
Species Subterranean Termite
(Reticulitermes flavipes)
Height 9 feet
Length 58 feet
Diameter 6 feet
Body Length 32 feet
Four Wings
(folded over in pairs) 		40 feet
Antennae 7 feet
Legs 11 feet
Weight 4000 lbs
Stands 30 feet above ground
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kearsney_College&oldid=31526500"