WESTERN PROVINCE PREPARATORY

SCHOOL Newsletter 1 June 2018

“Love and Joy”

celebrating life and learning

Infrastructure

This is a very exciting time in the life of our school as we are probably doing the biggest review of the school’s land and buildings in its history. We are looking into every possibility for our school’s buildings and grounds – academic, creative arts and sporting facilities, and we are planning ahead to shape it for the future generations to come.

What have we done over the last 18 months?

The first major step was forming the Building Committee (Buildcom) - a sub-committee of the Board. Buildcom is comprises members from the Wetpups community, and includes specialists in all areas relevant to building and planning, who are all giving their time and advice free. There is a wealth of knowledge here, and they are doing excellent work behind the scenes.

Buildcom was tasked to appoint an architectural firm, and CCNI Architects were chosen. They are a well-respected firm and have excellent experience in designing and redeveloping similar schools.

CCNIA have had numerous discussions with all the different groups of staff, all Grades 4 to 6 boys and the Grade 7 Infrastructure Portfolio Committee.

CCNIA have been tasked to come up with a new masterplan, which is due to be completed in the second half of this year.

The school’s land and buildings have been fully surveyed to give the architects a basic blueprint from which to work.

We have looked into what our infrastructure needs are, and are planning around these.

Maintenance and upkeep of buildings and grounds is a priority, and Chris Porter has been doing excellent work in this regard. Various projects have been tackled recently, including the swimming pool; much work has gone into this project. It has been a huge success and it came in under budget. Filtration has been improved in both the pools, and pipes have been laid for a possible heating system. Surrounding paving has been improved and a storage hut has been acquired. The automatic dosing system has been installed.

The Mount Royal building’s roofing and gutters were repaired.

Many of the Newlands Road classrooms have be redecorated and new desks have been bought for most.

Various staff accommodation has been improved.

A borehole was sunk on the Eden Road Campus and has been plumbed to water the gardens.

Remedial work has been done on The Getty Learning Centre and the Centenary Pavilion on settling cracks and damp.

All play areas across both campuses have been improved and upgraded.

Grades 4 - 6 House meetings with the CCNI Architects

What are we still developing?

Traffic calming proposals have been taken to the City Council to improve the flow and safety around the school. We are hoping to add speed bumps and implement one way traffic at certain times. Grade specific drop off areas have already improved the traffic.

Douglas Murray Field - we are looking at ways that we can develop this land. We will improve the cricket nets, install a new cricket pitch, replant the grass as some has died during the drought, and sink a borehole to water the field in future drought years and improve irrigation.

Burying the electrical cable in Linda Road, which is the first step in adding more parking on the school’s boundaries.

We are currently investigating the heating of our swimming pools.

Where to in the future?

Fun Night funds spent on: Swimming pool paving and lane rope holders and steps Kitchen extractor fan to be replaced Upgrading the Boarding House

We are looking at long-term solutions for more land and field space.

A long term sustainable solution to address the inherent weakness of the Douglas Murray Field.

Once the masterplan has been approved, we will start implementing in it in strategic phases.

We are committed to making the school the best possible innova-tive learning environment for the boys that will give them the right space to learn and grow. We want to build a space that will inspire the boys, and a place that they can be happy in and proud of.

PHILIP PRINGLE

celebrating life and learning

In This Issue

Infrastructure

Weekly Sports Wrap

Tuckshop Order - Term 3

Support the WPPS Scholarship Fund

Grade R Upside Down Inside Out Day

Grade 3 Music Concert

WPPS Annual Magazine

Eden Road Notes

Grade 1 Pirates Day

Grade 1 Activities

Grade 1 Library Morning

Grade 2 Library Morning

Grade 2 Medieval Day Warm-Up

Thought for the Week

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

“Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban” by J.K. Rowling (1999)

Luca Currie (Grade 1) bought in seven completed EcoBricks

Grade 7 Infrastructure Portfolio Committee meeting with CCNI architects

Boys likes, dislikes and ideas being placed on the school model

Mount Royal building model

Weekly Sports Wrap

WET WEATHER PROGRAMME Please note that when it is raining, a decision relating to the continuation of Grades 3 - 7 sport will only be made at 13:00. Grades 1 and 2, however, will be notified earlier at 11:30. If we have to cancel, a message will be posted via the app and the boys will be looked after until the scheduled finishing time if they are not able to be fetched earlier.

RUGBY Last week we played against Rondebosch in a challenging round of fixtures. Special mention must be made of the U11B and U10B teams for their superb effort and commitment. Tomorrow’s fixtures are against Busy Bees. Busy Bees is a club consisting of boys from various schools in Langa. This fixture is the highlight of the week for most of them, and we hope to have a competitive morning on the rugby field. These games will all be barefoot. Please take a moment to have a look at their website www.vusarugbyacademy.com for further information.

HOCKEY With a full round of fixtures against Rondebosch last week, it was certainly a busy and challenging week. While we had a good set of results, the U13A team led the way with a fantastic 2-1 win, the U13Ds probably had the standout performance of the week, achieving a 5-0 win. The week was rounded off with the U12As playing in a festival at Reddam where they, too, capped off a very successful week.

SQUASH All teams played their last round of fixtures for the term last Fri-day against SACS and Rondebosch. We were very impressed by the level of squash played by the boys despite the tough opposi-tion. It is pleasing to see how well the boys have developed over the course of the term, and we look forward to next season.

CROSS COUNTRY The cross country run at Heathfield was cancelled, but WPPS invited boys from other schools to run along the Rondebosch Common. What a great run it was, with the runners each receiving a well-deserved chocolate. The forest runs on a Tuesday remain a highlight of the week.

Penny Haw reading her story Nicko to the Grade 5s

Support the WPPS Scholarship Fund

Did you know that if you have a MySchool card and it is linked to WPPS, every time you buy at one of the MySchool retailers, a per-centage of that purchase goes towards the WPPS Scholarship Fund.

Please help us raise funds in a simple and painless way for this important cause. Contact MySchool for a new card if you don't have one at https://www.myschool.co.za/supporter/apply/

Tuckshop Order - Term 3

The tuckshop form for Term 3, 2018 is now online. If you would like to order, please complete the online form and send it through by SUNDAY 17 JUNE 2018. The link is: .http://bit.ly/tuck32018 In light of the more eco-conscious stance we are striving to take at Wetpups, we will no longer be offering juice or water in plastic bottles on our tuck menu. Boys are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle from home. We hope that this measure will not only encourage boys to be more aware of their choices, but also help to alleviate some of the pressure placed on our landfills. If your son does not yet have a reusable water bottle, now is the time to purchase one.

The June edition of National Geographic might inspire you to join us on our quest to reduce all single use plastic; please visit this link for an overview: http://www.beautyofplanet.com/everyone-is-applauding-this-national-geographic-cover-but-the-real-shock-lies-inside-the-pages/

celebrating life and learning

celebrating life and learning

Francois Pretorius - Grade 4

Grade 3 Music Concert

Most of the Grade 3 music boys will be performing in a Music Concert on Tuesday, 5 June. The concert will take place in the Frances Crowson Recital Room starting at 13:15. Parents are encouraged to attend. The programme is available on the school's website to see who is taking part.

There will be a rehearsal for the boys on Monday during school. Boys must bring their instruments and music to school on both days.

WPPS Annual Magazine

The WPPS annual magazine was distributed last week via the boys. Each family should have received a copy via the eldest child in your family. Please let us know if you have not received your family copy.

We hope you enjoy reading it.

WPPS chickens, K, F and C have been with us for one month and have already produced 50 eggs. They have brought much

joy and gentleness to the Grade 3 playground. Eden Road Notes

AFTERCARE Parents are reminded please to call the aftercare directly after 12:30, on 081 497 6347.

Boys are to stick to the pedestrian path upon entering or exiting the school grounds.

SPORT & EXTRAMURALS: NO CAP, NO PLAY! Please remember to apply sunscreen regardless of the weather.

Grade 2 Music Concert

Old Boys Gaudy Dinner

Grade R Upside Down Inside Out Grade 2 Medieval

Day Warm-Up

celebrating life and learning

celebrating life and learning

Grade 1 Pirates’ Day

celebrating life and learning

Grade 1 Activities

celebrating life and learning

Grade 1 Library Morning

celebrating life and learning

Grade 2 Library Morning