Wynberg Girls' Junior School News
News letter 2
28th Jan
Newsletter 2/2010
26 January 2010 Dear WGJS Family The children have all settled in well and the term is progressing smoothly if not somewhat speedily! It was wonderful to see so many of you on the two evenings we made available for the parents to meet the teachers. Sadly, the Grade 7 parents were conspicuous by their absence. Grade 7 is a very important year so please make sure that you are familiar with the expectations. Your daughters still have a long road ahead of them as far as their school careers are concerned and parental interest and involvement is crucial to their well being and success. ADULT BEHAVIOUR It’s not often that I have to write about how our parents should be behaving in and around school, but I must remind you that children are extremely impressionable! We have had two complaints about the parking issue outside the school grounds. Both of the incidents involved “parking rage”. Please be considerate towards our neighbours. You may not park across the entrance to the block of flats. The second situation involved one parent being extremely rude to another parent using less than acceptable language, certainly by WGJS standards. Children were present. We go to great lengths to eliminate the use of unsavoury language at school only to have parents use it in front of their precious children! The parking situation around school presents a number of problems and is the cause of much frustration. With this is mind, arrive in time, be patient, and be courteous and certainly contain your anger. “WE ARE A READING SCHOOL”. GOVERNING BODY BY- ELECTION This is a reminder about the By Election which takes place on Tuesday 16 February at 18h30. We need to replace one member of the SGB whose daughter has now left the school. Currently, we have one co-opted member who is prepared to stand for office but obviously, this is an open election and should you wish to nominate someone whom you feel has the expertise we may require, please follow the legal procedures. It is a legal requirement that we have a quorum of 15% of the total number of children present at the school, represented by the parents, at the By-Election before we may proceed. Therefore I appeal to you to make every effort to attend and avoid us having to wait another 30 days for a second attempt! The elections are swiftly conducted and the meeting is usually concluded without any delays. FINANCE OFFICE – Mrs Yardin Please be reminded that the 26th of February is the last day for annual payers to benefit from the discount. All exemption applications must be in by the 19th February to be considered for 2010. FROM THE LIBRARY – Mrs Baerecke On Monday 8 February a team of girls will be participating in the exciting annual “KIDS’ LIT QUIZ”, hosted by New Zealander, Wayne Mills. It will be held at Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School at 17h30. All Grade 4 to 7 learners should be busy preparing a half a page of English reading for their next library lesson. It might be good idea for you to listen to your daughter, as she practises at home. During the month of February, those Grade 7 girls still interested in becoming a Librarian this year, will carry out their last session of training, The Librarians for 2010 will be announced, and badges handed out, at the end of next month. I really encourage all our girls to READ and “grow their minds”! All classes from Grade R to 7 visit the library once a week. In addition, the library is open for the girls at second break and after school till 15h30 (Monday to Thursday). Two book sales are held annually, one in July and another one in November. I also suggest that your daughter join her closest public library. REMINDER: E-LEARNER REGISTRATION FOR GRADE’S 4 AND 7 - COMPUTER DEPARTMENT WGJS is a registered e-Learner Centre and our computer lessons are aimed at allowing our learners to have the opportunity to achieve an international certificate in computers. Last year all our Grade 4 and 7 learners were successful in showing that they had the knowledge required to achieve this certificate. We are hoping that this year ALL our Grade 4 and 7 learners for 2010 will register to allow them to achieve the basics before moving onto the ICDL international certificate in high school. Additional information about this course can be collected from Miss Adams. All we require from our parents is a once off course fee of R50 which is sent to the ICDL Foundation and can be paid at the school’s finance office as soon as possible. This fee is essential to your daughter’s ICT education as they are required to complete online tests and will then be prepared for the next step in the ICDL. Your daughter can only start these tests once this fee has been paid. PA/FUNDRAISERS AND EVENTS CO-ORDINATORS Welcome to 2010!! We look forward to your company at our FUNdraising events this year, which promise to be brimming with fun for the family. We start the year with our "Annual Camp-out" which takes place this Friday, a great way for our new families to meet each other and for those who have being before, to renew old acquaintances. FUNDRAISING EVENTS - 2010 Camp-Out - 29th January 2010 PJ's & Games Evening (Foundation Phase) - 12th February 2010 Soccer Fun Day - 12th March Fun Run/Walk - 17th April Two Thousand and Ten Global Cup of Soccer - 29th May Bingo/Quiz Evening - 27th August Car Boot Sale - 30th October Be sure to diairse ALL of these Fundraising events for the year as we look forward to entertaining YOU as a family. DATES TO REMEMBER: January 29 Camp Out February 3 Grade 1 Homework Talk 4 Class photos 5 Grade 7 Cake Sale 10-12 Grade 7 camp 15 Valentine’s day at school 16 Individual photos 17 Individual photos 18 Summer Sports Day 19 SU Day 26 Music Movie March 2 Summer Sports photos 5 Grade 1 Cake Sale 5/6 Choir Camp 9 Inter-schools swimming gala 10 Inter-schools Tennis 12 Extra-murals end 13 Under 13 Hockey tournament 15 Reports to be handed out 15/16 Parent interviews 16 Inter-schools diving 17 Grand piano inauguration 21/22 Human Rights Day and Public Holiday 26 School Closes IN CONCLUSION FAMILY VALUES - HONESTY To be honest means to speak the truth, even if it's difficult or gets you into trouble. Honest people communicate in an open, upfront way; they do not lie, cheat, steal, or manipulate information to conceal it from others. The exception is occasionally telling a "white lie" to protect someone's feelings. In recent days we have seen how dishonesty harms other people, even causing financial and political ruin. Today more than ever, children need to learn the importance of keeping their word, telling the truth, and being trustworthy. Honesty isn't just the best policy—it's the only way society can function. DON’T OVERREACT TO MISTAKES When parents are very punitive, children may engage in blatant lying to escape punishment, even if what they’ve done is an accident. Children don’t want to think of themselves as bad, so they deny having done a bad thing. Explain that you will love them even if they do something bad, but that you expect them to be honest. SEPERATE THE BEHAVIOUR FROM THE CHILD Instead of saying "YOU are a liar!" when your child was dishonest, always try to separate your child's behaviour from your child. So rather say: "What you are telling me is a lie and telling lies are not acceptable in our house. We do not want that behaviour from you." MODEL HONESTY Model honesty by admitting when you make mistakes or returning incorrect change if you’ve been given too much. Hold yourself to a high standard of honesty. Children are highly attuned to parental hypocrisy. Demonstrate the honest behaviour you want to see in your children by owning up to errors, for example, "I forgot to make the doctor's appointment" or "I made a mistake at work today." This teaches your child that even though honesty is difficult sometimes, it is not something to be afraid of. Point out the downside of dishonesty. Explain that if a friend has got away with cheating there will be consequences to the dishonesty later. Highlight how destructive dishonesty can be. For example remind a child that cheating in a test means betraying the teacher’s trust defrauding the other test takers as well as failing herself. EXPECT TRUTHFULNESS Set up an "honour code" at home. Choose certain tasks, such as completing homework or making the bed, which you trust your child to do. Explain that when you ask, "Did you make your bed?" you will forgive your child if he or she says "no," but that there will be negative consequences for not telling the truth. Thank your child when he or she tells the truth about something that was difficult to tell you, like, "I broke a dish," or "I failed my maths test." Remember, children learn what they live. Never underestimate the power of a parent. Extract from “Proud2Parent Best wishes W M CONDIE (MRS) PRINCIPAL