prep newsletter no 7 2010
TRANSCRIPT
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23rd September 2010
St Johns Preparatory SchoolSt Johns Preparatory SchoolHoughtonTel: 011 645 3100/ 087 550473 Newsletter Number 7
23/09 Cultural Day
UIII Social
24/09 Heritage Day - No School
27/09 Hockey Matches Vs St Stithians
27/09 Assessments in Afrikaans LII - UIII
29/09 Hockey Matches Vs St Davids
Public Speaking Finalists Chosen
30/09 St Johns Water-Polo Festival Vs
St Benedicts
01/10 National Schools Climbing
Competition
04/10 Assessments in English LII - UIII
05/10 Parents Information Evening: Sport -
Please note: This Information
evening has been postponed.ABRSM Music Theory Examination
07/10 2nd XI Cricket Tour Departs to Cape
Town
SACS U13 Water-Polo Tournament
08/10 Swimming Gala
1st XI T20 Cricket Festival
11/10 Assessments in Maths LII - UIII
Let the Children Sing
FI in Schools
Let the Children Sing
13/10 Public speaking Finals
Reminders from theDiary From the HeadmasterFirstly, I would like to wish all our Muslim familiesa belated but happy Eid al-Fitr and all our Jewish
families a belated but happy Jewish New Year.
"And so from the hills, we return refreshed in body,mind and spirit, to grapple anew with life's
problems. For a while we have lived simply, wiselyand happily; we have made good friends; we haveadventured well. The hills have taught us to becontent in our faith and in the love of God who
created them." Anon
In his book, Last Child in the Woods, RichardLouv highlights the importance of nature in theemotional and intellectual development of youngpeople. He identifies the problems which arise when people are alienated from nature. One othese conditions is known as Nature Deficit
Disorder.
Nature-deficit disorder describes the humancosts of alienation from nature, among them:diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties,
and higher rates of physical and emotionalillnesses. The disorder can be detected inindividuals, families, and communities.Nature-deficit can even change human behavior incities, which could ultimately affect their design,since longstanding studies show a relationshipbetween the absence, or inaccessibility, of parksand open space with high crime rates, depression,and other urban maladies. These factors includeincreasing rates of depression in successive agegroups, a growing awareness of and screening for
depression by pediatricians and assumptions thatthe effectiveness experienced by adults usingantidepressant medications will translate to
children and adolescents. Although countless children who suffer from mental illness andattention disorders do benefit from medication, the use of nature as an alternative,additional, or preventive therapy is being overlooked. In fact, new evidence suggests that
the need for such medications is intensified by children's disconnection from nature.
Cont...
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Although exposure to nature may have no impact on the most severe depressions, we doknow that nature experiences can relieve some of the everyday pressures that may lead tochildhood depression. In Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the United States, studies ofchildren in schoolyards with both green areas and manufactured play areas found thatchildren engaged in more creative forms of play in the green areas. One of these studiesfound that a more natural schoolyard encouraged more fantasy and make-believe play inparticular, which provided ways for boys and girls to play together in egalitarian ways;another reported that children showed a greater sense of wonder. Researchers have alsoobserved that when children played in an environment dominated by play structuresrather than natural elements, they established their social hierarchy through physicalcompetence rather than through caring relationships. Studies recognize that whileknowledge about nature is vital, passion is the long-distance fuel for the struggle to save what is left of our natural heritage and, through an emerging green urbanism, toreconstitute lost land and water. Passion does not arrive on videotape or on a CD; passionis personal. Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; ittravels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalismand the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in
nature.
I find this extract quite fascinating, especially considering that we are currently planningseveral changes to our own curriculum and the fact that we have recently made a decision
to strive to make St Johns a Green Flag School.
Going Green
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now!
Chinese Proverb
Thank you to all the UIII boys and parents who may be leaving the Prep at the end of thisyear but leave behind them six glorious wild olive trees which now stand proudly in theClarke Quad for the benefit of all of us and also for generations of boys and parents to
come. It truly is a wonderful gift and I thank all those involved.
As you are aware, we held a Green Day yesterday, run by our Upper III Leadership Team.With the funds raised by your sons R10 donation, we continue with the tree theme andhope to buy 75 indigenous trees for each of our Upper Is to plant around the school. Wehave also appointed Paul Rowney, our own Prep Intern, to be the driving force behind the
Green project that will be implemented across the whole campus. An energy audit willbe taking place shortly, run by an external professional consultancy. Whilst weacknowledge St Johns perhaps lags behind in this area, we are committed to ensuring
that in the near future St Johns will be able to call itself a Green Flag School.
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Curriculum
The Government is proposing to reduce the number of subjects taught in the intermediate phase(Grades 4 6) from eight to six, by combining Design and Technology with Science and teachingEMS from a Grade 7 level only. We are considering and discussing the implications of thesesuggestions at weekly curriculum development meetings. We are also considering increasing thelesson times to 45 minute periods in order to give more time to core subjects English andMathematics. In line with what Richard Louv says above, we will also be looking at implementing
a short time every day (5-10 minutes) where boys will be able to sit quietly on their own,preferably outside, and reflect on their day. We hope to introduce a similar practice to what the
Jesuits do of an Examen which is a type of Prayer of Conscience. We feel that boys are so busyrushing around all the time that they never have a chance to just sit still (and indeed dont knowhow to) and reflect, and we believe that all boys of all religions and faiths and ages will benefitfrom the introduction of such a practice.
How Good is St Johns Prep? Survey
Our How good is St Johns Prep? survey has been well supported with almost 100% of boys andstaff and over 70% of parents completing it. The results are currently being analysed and focusgroups will shortly be set up to correlate and formulate appropriate action plans. It has proved tobe an invaluable exercise and I thank all those who participated for taking the time to give ustheir feedback and insight. It has shown clear areas where improvements need to be made, butalso affirmed areas in which we are excelling. In addition, if you would like to be part of a focus
group and can spare the time in this regard, please send me an email.
The Adventures of Mr Toad
I am certain that everyone who watched our school play will agree that it was an amazing show.Thank you to all the boys for their hard work and commitment, but especially to Mrs Trolese theDirector, Mrs Rossouw the Music Director and Ms Maitland and Mrs Clarence for all the behind-the-scenes work.
Staff Appointments
We have appointed three new staff members for next year. Craig Verdal-Austin has beenappointed as the new Second Master Extra-Curricular. Heather Baker has been appointed asan Upper II teacher and Caroline Rimmer has been appointed as the new Learning Supportteacher.
We are extremely pleased with these appointments and wish all three the very best for a long andprosperous time at St Johns Prep.
Conclusion
We have an unbelievably busy term ahead and its hard to believe that December is just aroundthe corner. I would like to wish you all a happy and fruitful term and if you have any queries orproblems, please come in and have a chat with me.
Patrick LeesHeadmaster
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World Congress of Action Research and Action Learning
From the 6th to the 9th of September, I was fortunate enough toattend the World Congress of Action Research and ActionLearning, in Melbourne. An invitation to present a paper atthis conference came as a result of the ongoing global actionresearch programme which I co-ordinate together withAustralian colleague, Di Laycock, for the International Boys
Schools Coalition.
Keynote speakers at the conference included Dr AlanRayner, Prof Budd Hall (University of Victoria in BritishColumbia), Prof Linda Smith (Professor of Education at the
University of Waikato) and Prof Yoland Wadsworth (RMITUniversity and University of Melbourne). Action Researchgurus Prof Robin McTaggart and Dr Ernie Stringer (whose textis prescribed reading for the IBSC project) also presentedinteresting and worthwhile observations on current changes
and projects.
My paper outlined the structure of the IBSC Global Action Research Programme,highlighting the challenges and significant benefits of maintaining an online communityfor teachers in boys schools across the world. My thanks go to Brad Adams, ExecutiveDirector of the IBSC, and to Roger Cameron and Patrick Lees for the opportunity to attend
this worthwhile conference.
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D.A.R.E. Parent Information Evening
An extremely worthwhile presentation by D.A.R.E. was given at a parent informationevening last week. D.A.R.E. is a training organization as well as an outpatient treatmentcentre for substance abuse. The speaker, Ms Wanting, outlined the dangers of alcohol anddrug abuse and gave parents valuable advice: The most important reason that you need tohave a conversation with your child about drugs and alcohol is that they need to hear from
you, their parents, that drug and alcohol use is not condoned in your family.
D.A.R.E. offer a variety of educational training programmes. We have invited them tocome and address our Lower III and Upper III boys this term about these dangers. Dates
to be advised.
Margot Long
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Raising confident boys
Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer
Tip 5: Spend time with himI know my dad loves me, but I barely know him. I know he works hard to
support us, but we hardly ever talk. It makes me feel as if I am incomplete.
Survey after survey shows that children like to have their parentsaround, even if theyre not actively doing anything with them. They liketo see their fathers as much as their mothers, and boys need theirparents time as much as girls do. Even teenage boys want to see more
of their parents.
Men and women work longer hours than ever before. This means thatthey spend less time at home with their families. Boys cannot feel loved
and lovable, believed in and believable, respected and respectable, if thepeople on whom they depend seem not to care. Only if the importantadults in a boys life give him time and attention can he feel validated anddevelop any kind of self-worth. Meeting his need for stress-free time with you, when you focus solely on
him, will help him feel confident and successful.
Tips for parents
Presents are no substitute for presence: Dont try to buy your way out of being with your son.
When youre with him, put the answering machine on and spend time finding out what he thinks.
Talk about what he has been doing and playing.
Play with him. Join in or watch him doing his favourite activity, or say, Come and talk to me while I
wash the car.
If you dont live with your son, keep every promise you make to visit and stay in regular touch.
Quiet time together can be as valuable as action-packed time.
Try not to any work you need to do outside the office at home, so youre not cut off from your
family.
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St Johns A Vs Grayston A
Seniors won 24 - 8 Juniors lost 21 - 3
Overall lost 45 - 11
Well done to the following boys who won both their games:
S Modi, R Giannoccaro, M Berger, C Burke, S McKernan, O Kieser, B Thomas, E Baleni,
W Kerr-Phillips, K Govind
Sporting ResultsSporting Results
CHESS
HOCKEY
Wednesday 15th September
St Johns vs St Dunstans
U9 won 5 drew 3
St Johns vs CBC Boksburg
U10 won 4 drew 5 lost 3
U11A drew
U13A won
U13B wonFriday 17 September
St Johns vs Pridwin
U12A won
U12B drew
U13B won
U11B won
U11A won
KEPS FestivalSaturday 18 September
St Johns 1st X1
vs Pridwin won
vs St Davids won
vs KEPS drew
vs The Ridge drew
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Individual Achievements
Dale Hallendorff, Keagan Da Silva and Jordan King were part of the Edenvale soccerteam that entered the Sportsworx Under 11 Soccer Tournament held in Vanderbijlpark.
Eight teams from all over Gauteng participated.
Their team won the tournament, scoring 19 goals and having just 3 scored against them.
This was quite an achievement as the teams present were some of the strongest in theirrespective districts. Well done, boys!
Brogan Sanders, Upper IIIT, took part in the Volkswagen
World Junior Masters Soccer Tournament in Spain.
This tournament, that was held from the 5 11 May is onlyheld once every four years in conjunction with the WorldCup. The Volkswagen Junior World Masters is the biggestyouth football tournament initiated by a company anywherein the world. Brogans South African side made it through to
the quarter finals. Well done, Brogan!
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Individual Achievements
Joshua Harrison participated in the Gerald Fox Memorial 5 km Fun Run held at the Zoo
on Sunday 12 September and finished in 10th place. Well done, Joshua!
Cricket
The following boys have been selected for Johannesburg Central Cricket:
U13
Lorenzo Masselli UIIIG
Morgan Fairbairn UIIIT
Thomas Montgomery UIIIL
Farhaan Sayanvala UIIIG
U12
Lodewijk Volkersz LIIIC
Well done, boys!
Rowing
Results of the indoor regatta held at St Andrews:
James Mitchell came 2nd in the U14 individual ergo. Well done, James!
The following boys won gold in the U14 team event:
James Mitchell, Stephen Hunt, Cameron Matheson and Robert Fyall. Well done, boys!
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Upper I
The Upper Is showing off crocodiles which were eagerly made in the D & T lesson.
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Upper I Play
The theme for the Upper I play was Spaced Out!
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Upper I Play cont...
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Lower II
Lower IIT were given a multiples activity in Maths. Ms McNeil, the student teacher
ensured the lesson was a great success. Here are the results!
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Lower II Play
The Lower II play was an adaptation of Rudyard Kiplings The Elephants Child. The
boys had lots of fun telling the story of the elephant who was full of satiable curtiosity!
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Lower II Play cont...
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Lower IIV History
Fun examples of secondary evidence
By Thomas Deppe By Travin Bouwer By Ibrahim Talia
By Bradley Hartland By Travis Arlow By Michael Smith
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By Christopher Williams By Stefano Cavalieri By Bradley Dunbar
Lower IIZ History
By Hraklis Papageorgiou By Daniel Cockram By Luke Whitehouse
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Red Eye and The Black Dragon
Awoken from a peaceful sleep I open my eyes to find the sun has risen. The world has notended because my clever mechanic, Nick, steered us away from destruction after a cannonball knocked me out. There was a freezing breeze outside and the world marched one and
we could see we were going to win
We have just climbed aboard the enemy ship, The Black Dragon. Their captain, Red Eye,had no chance against us. We are way more powerful with our nuclear weapons and our
fast hovercrafts. We blew it up. You could see it from two miles away!
But they cleared the ship before it exploded and they wanted to get revenge in their newship, The Black Eyed Pirate. Not knowing that we had dummies in place they stabbed Bobin the shoulder with their balloon sword. Then Bob shot a cannonball right at them. He
sank their new ship. Bob said he was trying to hit a fly!
Then we climbed back onto the ship and started chillaxing. But then we heard somevoices. I saw a dead version of captain Red Eye! He cursed us, promising revenge. Nick,our mechanic, blew up the nuclear laser gun. Soon he disappeared, but I knew he would
be back soon.
Lower II
LIIV Group Activity with Mr Martins
The LIIs worked in groups to construct an imaginary story on pirates of the
future. Here is the result!
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Lower III
Last term the Lower III boys completed their clocks in D&T. They had to design and then
make their own clock for their room at home. Here are the results.
By Lodewijk Volkersz By Oliver Kieser By Darshan Pillay
By Adilson De Oliveira By Ramaano Ramokgopa
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Hooked On Books
Our annual visit from the Hooked on Booksteam prompted a flood of requests from theboys for the books previewed in the show. The books are always presented in such anoriginal and exciting way that the boys cant help being hooked on the titles. This year
the most popular title by far was Boom by Mark Haddon, author of The curiousincident of the dog in the night time. Nikki Sulter
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Interact Day
An exciting day for the Pre-prep when they came to visit the Prep and meet their buddy.
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Notices
On Thursday 14 October
at 8:45
in Big School
we are very fortunate to have author, Chris van Wyk at the Prepto launch the paperback of the childrens version of
Long Walk to Freedom
Chris will be here to sign this exquisitely told and beautifully
illustrated book, priced at R115.
In addition Chriss very entertaining adult bookEggs to Lay and Chickens to Hatch will be on sale @ R200.
Pre-launch copies of Mandelas latest book Conversations withMyself, a collection of diaries, journals and other personal
documents, will also be available at R290.
If you would like a copy of any of the above books, please couldyou email me at [email protected] by Friday 1 Oct,
giving details of titles and quantities you would like.
Books can be collected on the morning of the launch.
Cash or cheques only.
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Notices
Soles for Souls
SECOND HAND TACKIES andSCHOOL SHOES
Were collecting second hand shoes for Isaac Moore Primary SchoolinAtteridgeville.
Our aim is to collect a pair of shoes for each child in the school during the year. There are
about 376 pupils.
Where: Please put shoes in the bin outside Brigitte's office.
How: Please wash the shoes and put them in a plastic packet tied with a knot so thatwe can keep the pairs together.
When: We will be collecting for the remainder of the year
About the school:Isaac Moore Primary School is in a poor community in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The schoolis led by an amazingly motivated headmistress who encourages an all-round approach to
education including sport, culture and education, despite having minimal funding andrelying mainly on charity.
Boys News
clickhereforthelinktotheBoysNews. www.stjohnsboysnews.webs.com.
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Notices
Sandton Route School Bus Service
Non-profit bus service in association with St Marys School, St Johns College,St Davids Marist Inanda, Roedean School and King Edward VII School
Kyalami Rivonia Parkmore Sandhurst Waverley Houghton
Many thanksLinda Kleyn
SANDTON ROUTE SCHOOL BUS SERVICEin association with St Marys School, St Johns College,
St Davids Marist Inanda, Roedean School and King Edward VII School
2nd TERM 2010 APPLICATIONS
1 Morning and 3 Afternoon buses!
Morning bus route: Kyalami, Sunninghill, Rivonia, River Club,
Parkmore, Sandhurst, Illovo, Waverley, Houghton, St Johns College
Afternoon bus route: Reverse of the morning route
including Gallo Manor and Wendywood,
excluding Sunninghill and Kyalami for the two early buses
Afternoon Buses
St Johns 2:15pm, 3:45pm and 5:15pm
St Marys 2:35pm, 4:05pm and 5:35pm
St Davids 2:45pm, 4:15pm and 5:45pm
Costs per term
Return: R3000 per term (R25.00 per trip)
Single: R2000 per term (R33.33 per trip)
Casual tickets available from the bus driver: R60 per trip
For Bus Timetables and Application Forms
www.stmarysschool.co.za/senior/content/blogsection/27/54/
Contact: Linda Kleyn (011 803 3678 (H) / 083 484 3488)
OR Terry Wharton-Hood (011 293 600 (W) / 083 256 2711)
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Notices
Art club and extra classes
From the beginning of next term, Mr Poco is starting an Art Club (for LIII and UIII boys) and extra art classes for juniorboys. Senior boys are encouraged to join the Art Club on Tuesdays from 14h00 -15h00 or Thursdays from 15h00-
16h00. Juniors may arrange extra art lessons with Mr Poco at alternative times and on alternative days.
We hope to see the senior boys joining the Art Club to create various exciting art works with mediums they do notnormally use in class, such as print making, photography, oil painting and many more. This will be a fantastic opportunity
for any boy who wishes to develop his art skills.
For further information e-mail Bruno Poco on [email protected]
UPPER III
EXTRA ENGLISHUpper III Extra English lessons with Mrs Long on Mondays from13h3014h00.
Lower III with Ms K. Maitland
Mondays from 13h30 - 14h00
No charge.
All welcome.
Italian
Language
LessonsSmall age appropriate classes and individual tuition of-
fered outside school hours at St Johns.
Experienced mother-tongue graduate teacher usingcommunicative method of conversation, maintaining
cultural ties for solid IEB foundation.
Contact Lisabetta on 082 682 2859 or
EXTRA ZULU
LESSONSLower III and Upper III boys.
Every Thursday 13h30 - 14h00
Upper III Mrs Mashele
All Welcome
Hair Dee-Lite 082 462 6813/
011 648 6367
Dee offers excellent work for the whole family,competitive prices and the added
convenience of being on campus.
Modern cuts, colours (from R300) and hi-lites.
Kids R50
7 Elm Street (Opposite Rice Field)
Open Tuesday to Friday
08h00 - 17h00
Saturday 08h00 - 13h00
EXTRA MATHS
LESSONSLower III & Upper III boys in Mrs Jean Clarences
classroom
Every Thursday 13h30 - 14h00
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CLASS DISCUSSION
In the class discussion, dear, you hardly said a word.
We all aired our opinions but from you we rarely heard.
You sat and stared in silence, surrounded by the chatter,
Now tell me, dear, and please be plain,
Is anything the matter ?
The child looked up and then he spoke,
His voice was clear and low:
There are many people in this world
Who are rather quiet, you know!
By Gervase Phinn