Wynberg Girls' Junior School News

Newsletter 4

24th Feb

Dear WGJS Family

We have passed the halfway mark for the term and much has been achieved. We’re excited about the girls’ successes in a number of areas as well as what is generally taking place here at WGJS. The Communicator is proving to be a great method of communicating with parents and many of you have commented on its success. If you have not already loaded the CD onto you computers (at home or work if you are permitted), then I strongly urge you to do so. If for some reason you have not received a CD, please ask your daughter to collect one from the office.

PAPER AND CARTRIDGE RECYCLING 2010

The recycling competition has started for this year. Please encourage your daughter to bring as much paper for recycling as she can – it is for the good of our planet!

We also have a new recycling collection starting in March together with a company called Green Office. We would love you to bring all your used cartridges (from home and work) to school as they can be recycled! A newsletter will be sent out giving you more details on this wonderful initiative.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT – Miss Leonard

Soiree:

On Thursday, 18 March we are hosting our first music concert of the year. This event will take place as a Soiree – with tables set out and finger snacks served. Parents may choose to buy 10 tickets (a table) for friends together, or separate tickets that will be placed at tables. Tickets for the Soiree are R50 and available via the class teachers from 1 March – this includes the light finger dinner. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages. The Junior and Senior choirs will perform, as well as our music staff.

PAPER STORY

We have been inundated with requests for copies of reports, extra photostatting to be done for lost notes, printing of projects, faxed information for the girls (many pages arriving at a time through the fax machine) all at our expense. We go through large volumes of paper, provided by you, specifically for academic use. At this rate the paper you have provided will be exhausted by June and we will have to make up for the deficit for which there is no budget. We regret therefore that we will have to charge R5 with immediate effect for any copies made at school. May we remind you to keep your daughters reports in a safe place. This is especially relevant to the Grade 6’s who need copies of their reports for high school applications.

CLOTHING SHOP- Mrs Law

Due to the winter uniform only expected to be in the store by Monday 15th March, the clothing shop will NOT be open on Saturday 6th March.

The shop will, however, be open on Saturday 20th March and Saturday 17th April.

EXTREME POSSIBILITIES – Learner Academic Achievement Programme

I was recently approached by a representative from Extreme Possibilities with regards to a programme they are running for the older children, from Grade 6 up. There is a free seminar on Wednesday 3 March at 19h00 at the Wittebome Civic, Rosmead Avenue, Wynberg. Basically it is about “helping learners to reconstruct their self-image by identifying the self limiting belief they have about themselves and what they can accomplish”

Should you wish to attend please contact them on 021 762 1966. I am unable to endorse the programme, as I am not familiar with the contents nor the company. However, you are free to take up the offer of a free seminar and decide for yourself.

PTA/FUNDRAISERS AND EVENTS CO-ORDINATORS – Lyn Makinson

We are well into our 1st week of selling LEN'S FLOWER BULBS, and look forward to your participation in this exciting fundraising event. You would have received an order form at the end of last week, offering HADECO bulbs. This is the perfect time to plant these bulbs and await the glorious beauty that will be with us in Spring time. As there are prizes for the top 3 sellers in the school, be sure to get those orders in as soon as possible. Remember that the closing date for all orders is Friday 5 March. So, get selling to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbours and show your support for YOUR school.

GOVERNING BODY BY- ELECTION

Thank you for the best support we have every received at a Governing Body Election. Approximately 20% of the parent body was present which meant that we reached the required quorum at the correct time. I am pleased to inform you that Mr Alan Makinson has been elected onto the School Governing Body.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

March

2 Summer Sports photos

5 Grade 1 Cake Sale

5 Summer Sports’ Day at WBHS

9 Inter-schools swimming gala

11 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

18 Music Soiree

21/22 Human Rights Day and Public Holiday

26 School Closes

IN CONCLUSION

All children are born innocent, like an empty book which still has to be written in. Their parents, significant others, as well as their environment determine what their life story will be. If children live what they see, we need to ask what it is that they have seen and learnt that condones this kind of behaviour? Can a child feel so unloved, helpless and hopeless, that she will attack those around her? *Children need adults who are role models of positive behaviour. We need to consider our actions. Children copy what we do. Take a look in the mirror. Do you like what you see? What are your morals and values? Are you teaching them to your children? *Children need mentors. We all have a responsibility to guide and teach our youth, even if they aren't our children. If we don't, they will find other idols that may not always have their interests at heart; *Our youth need to feel connected to and loved by the adults in their life. We should take the time to talk with them. Since the breakdown of the extended family, children are spending less time with the people that love them. In many families, both parents are working long hours and are either too stressed, tired, or disinterested to bond with their children. Society and business have a responsibility to provide families with time and support, so that this fragile relationship can be nurtured. *All children are born with an instinctive desire to learn and explore their world, and it is our responsibility as adults to encourage this. By supporting our educators both financially and practically, we can help to address the lack of respect that has become acceptable behaviour in our schools. Imagine if every adult decided to take one small step towards improving education in this country, what a dynamic prosperous life we could enjoy in the future.

Adapted from an article in “Inspired Parenting”

My personal word to you sound like a chorus I am often singing. We may be in an environment where we are more fortunate and privileged, materially, but are our girls receiving the time, love and role modelling they deserve? In most instances, yes, but there is still room for us to spend more “quality” time with our children.

Best wishes

W M CONDIE (MRS)

PRINCIPAL