WATERKLOOF PRIMARY SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER 10 – 2014
9 June 2014
From the Headmaster’s Desk The Elections and its Effect on Education The elections have come and gone and the results given. Our elected president has been inaugurated and portfolios in the cabinet allocated. Minister Angie Motshekga remains the National Minister of Education and the Governing Body Foundation, to which Waterkloof Primary School subscribes, indicates that she can refer to a number of positive factors emanating from her previous term of office - the ending of OBE, the introduction of ANA’s (Annual National Assessments), together with the measure of academic accountability and the improved matric results. Although the outcomes of these successes are open for interpretation by members of the public, it is generally seen as a positive step in the right direction. Her retention in her portfolio is seen as having a positive spin-off, in that it provides useful continuity in a time and environment where it is direly needed. There is a definite hope of success for her in her second term of office, and we wish her well.
Traffic It has been brought to my attention that a number of parents are once again transgressing traffic rules, in that they drive into, and park against the flow of traffic in Milner Street (bus parking area) at the main gate. This causes frustration to law abiding road users, and jeopardises the safety of our children. The Traffic Department has requested me to warn parents that they will be introducing hefty fines to transgressors in future. Please be patient during peak hour traffic around the school. Your support in this matter is appreciated.
Lost Property
Mrs J. Shee
Please remember all lost property is no longer kept in the lost property hut but is hung in the passage outside Mr Snyman’s office and outside Mrs Shee’s classroom. We have found a lot more lost property is being collected by children using this system. Please remember all lost property that has not been collected by 08:00 on the last day of each term is sent to charity.
Cell Phones, TVs and Computers
Mrs J. Shee
Parents, this is a urgent appeal. Please remove television set and computers from your children’s bedrooms and place them in a communal family area. It is not advisable for children to have these appliances in their rooms for a wide variety of obvious reasons. They need to be in their rooms to read, relax and sleep! Cell phones should be given to parents by 20:00 and returned to the child in the morning. Many children spend hours chatting on social networks and to friends when their parents think they are soundly asleep. Please help your child by providing rules and boundaries.
Parent Meetings and Communication
Mrs J. Shee
Term 1 - we host a general information session in the school hall to impart a broad overview of the functioning of our school and the assistance staff require from parents and children during the course of the academic year. After the general meeting we break away into separate grade venues where each teacher speaks about the specific requirements for his/her subject. Term 2 - we host a second general grade meeting to provide feedback to parents regarding issues identified during the course of Term 1. This format is used to assist parents who find coming to school during the day difficult due to work commitments.
Term 3 - specific parents are invited to meetings to discuss concerns regarding their children’s academic progress. These meetings are repeated in Term 4 if the problems persist. All Grade 4 to 7 educators are available once a week all year for ‘appointment meetings’. The consultation times are printed in the newsletter each term. Staff may request meetings with parents or parents may request meeting with the staff. These meetings are one on one for approximately 15 minutes. The parents of children who experience academic difficulties are called to meetings throughout the year where they are required to sign the GDE forms regarding support. Four official school reports are sent home during the course of the year in order to communicate the child’s academic progress to the parents. These include work related comments per subject. We also have a newsletter that can be received in hard copy or via the school’s communicator. The Communicator is a computer programme that is updated daily with relevant information, particularly regarding extra-mural activities. At Waterkloof we have strived to meet the needs of all parents. To give quick, mass, feedback twice a year, but to also be available weekly during consultation hours for individual appointments.
From the Sportsdesk
Mrs J. de Beer
Soccer - Congratulations to Rea Shaba on his selection to the FAPPS first team squad and Mooketsi Molai on his selection to the FAPPS third team squad to represent Gauteng at the Bill Stewart Invitational U/13 Football Tournament. The U/13B boys beat Robert Hicks 4 - 3 in the Challenge Cup Plate semi-finals and will now play in the Plate finals. Well done and good luck to this team of boys. The finals will be played at CBC on Tuesday 17 June 2014.
Netball - The U/12A team made it through to the District
playoffs held at Midstream College on Monday 2 June 2014. They faced many tough opponents but played very well and ended 7th. Well done to Alessia Coetzee, Kelci Cronje, Habibah Fakey, Cayla Hartzenberg, Nicole Housdon, Tshowa Katumba, Angelique Texeira and Amie Wilson.
Pretoria Eisteddfod - Aveshni Govender achieved the
following results in the Pretoria Eisteddfod: A+ for Junior Piano - Impressionistic/Modern Grade 3 A for Junior Piano - Pre Classical Grade 3 B for Junior Piano - Classical Grade 3 Well done and congratulations to Aveshni.
Charity
Mrs J. Shee
Thank you to all our parents and children who so generously donated blankets for our ‘Winter Blanket’ drive. We are still collecting blankets and any contributions will be deeply appreciated. The need for assistance is almost overwhelming in the communities we are trying to help!
Choir Outing to the Sound of Music
Mrs J. Shee Thank you to Mrs de Beer and Mrs Lubbe for arranging the choir outing to see the Sound of Music at Monte Casino on Sunday evening. The show was magnificent and our children looked so smart in their winter uniforms, and behaved impeccably.
Thank you to all the supportive choir parents. A special word of thanks to all those who were waiting to fetch their children on time, and took the trouble to get out of their cars to thank the members of staff who had spent 5½ hours of their Sunday with the children. You are valued and appreciated. A word from some of our children:
On Sunday night we went to the ‘Sound of Music’ and it was awesome. We got Maynards, the best memory ever.
Dylan Bosch Grade 4 Prinsloo
On Sunday night we went on a trip to Montecasino and watched the ‘Sound of Music’ and it was magical. We came back late - we were tired!
Lihle Sgudla Grade 4 Prinsloo
On Sunday night we went to Montecasino. It was the best night of my life. We went to watch the ‘Sound of Music’. It was a great experience. The theater was great and I will never forget that day.
Singi Dlamini Grade 4 Prinsloo
Choir Parents
Please note that if a performance is running more than 15 minutes late an SMS will be sent by the choir teachers to the school’s security guard. If you arrive and the buses are not there please ask the guard on duty for an update. Please remember the guard is just the messenger and if he is abused this form of communication will be stopped. We understand parents worry about their children and if we are late we would like to be able to put your minds at rest.