Wynberg Girls' Junior School News

News letter 5

10th Mar

Dear WGJS Family

This has to have been the hottest March in years. Yesterday we were close to melt down! You will have noted that apart from swimming, all extra-murals took place indoors yesterday with the minimum amount of physical activity and thus any further generation of heat! May I remind you to ensure that the girls have sunblock at their disposal in this very hot weather.

STAFF MATTERS

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs Vanessa Randelhoff who has been appointed as a Senior Educational Specialist at the Metropole South Education District. This appointment is with effect from 1 April. She was filling in, in Grade 1 for the first term after an absence from WGJS while she served temporarily at the MSED. As our Head of the Foundation Department and as a wonderful personality and character, we will miss her greatly.

 

Mrs Michelle Laughton was due to have returned to Grade 1 at the beginning of next term following her maternity leave. However, she has chosen to be a stay-at-home mum for the foreseeable future. As an experienced, enthusiastic Foundation Phase teacher we will miss her greatly but wish her well.

 

We are most fortunate to have obtained the services of Miss Tracy Donson. We met Miss Donson more than a year ago. She has joined Mrs Randelhoff in the classroom this week and will stay on with us to ensure a comfortable transition for our Grade 1’s from one teacher to the next. This sort of arrangement is fairly unique to us but I truly believe that this is the best way to proceed when it is at all possible. We wish Miss Donson a long and happy stay with us. I trust that she will receive the support of our Wynberg families.

 

Amanda Steel, our clinical social worker, will be away for approximately 8 weeks. She is to undergo spinal surgery next week. We wish her a full and speedy recovery.

 

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY – 12 MARCH 2010

 

As part of our EQ programme we will be celebrating this special day by collecting various items in support of chosen charities. Each Grade has selected a specific charity and a letter has been sent home indicating what items are required. (Items are also listed on the School Communicator). The collection takes place for this week only (8 – 12 March). Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

CLOTHING SHOP – MRS LAW

 

The Clothing Shop will be open on Saturday 20th March from 09h00 to 12h00. All your winter uniform requirements will be on the shelves from Monday 15th March. The shop will also be open on the first Saturday of next term, i.e. 17th April from 09h00 – 12h00.

 

Please note that the shop does not have the facility for debit or credit cards.

 

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

 

A further reminder - Soiree:

 

The Soiree takes place on the 18th of March at 19h00. Tickets for the Soiree are now available via the class teachers until Tuesday 16 March. Please send the money as soon as possible to secure your tickets. The programme includes performances by the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Clarinet Choir, String Ensemble and the music staff.

 

PA/FUNDRAISERS AND EVENTS CO-ORDINATORS – Lyn Makinson

 

Our Soccer Fun Day takes place on Friday 12 March, be sure to get your vouchers at R2-00 each to play the various games on the day. There will also be a Jumping Castle for our Grade R - 3 girls and boys as well as 2 Water Slides, if you wish to ride the Water Slide, we ask that you please wear your school swimming costume and apply lots of sunblock. Your class teacher will allow you 5 minutes at the end of the day on Friday to change into your costume. Each grade will have a designated classroom where all school bags will be kept, please note - do not bring any valuables to school on this day as we cannot be held responsible for any loss thereof. Any lost property found on the day will be sent to the Ticket Sales table and thereafter to the school’s lost property. Remember that a donation of R5-00 will allow you to enjoy a "Civvies Day" on Friday – the theme "Soccer Dress up". We look forward to seeing you on Friday and hope that you will enjoy a FUN DAY with us.

 

RECEPTION – Mrs Harrison

 

We would like to thank all those parents who gave so generously of their time on Saturday 6 March to help in the Reception garden and a big ‘thank you’ for all the seedlings and compost that was donated. The girls will definitely benefit from your efforts.

 

WYNBERG SAILORS

 

On Sat 6th and Sun 7th March Imperial Yacht Club at Sandvlei hosted the Annual Inter School Sailing Regatta. This is one opportunity in the Sailing Calendar for the sailors to represent their schools in their chosen sport. The trophies are hotly contested and the enthusiasm with which even the less experienced sailors tackled the different weather conditions in order to try for glory for their schools was wonderful to see.

 

The Wynberg Campus of schools was represented by 5 sailors. The Boys’ High fielded 3 sailors, the Girls’ High and Junior each had one. At the Junior School level the competitors all sail Optimist boats and should sail in teams of 3. If a team is short of sailors then they sail with “Ghosts” who score zero for the team!

 

Despite a howling South Easter most boats were rigged and launched and the first race started. More than half the fleet decided to abandon the race before it ended. Boats were capsizing and their skippers were struggling to right them to continue racing. After the first race the wind hadn’t dropped and the organisers decided to call it a day and hold race 2 on Sunday morning. The weather was perfect. At 10 am the boats all launched into good breezes that made for exciting racing without the fear factor of Saturday! Six races were sailed in all.

 

At Prize Giving all the competitors were acknowledged with a certificate of participation and then the winning schools were announced. There were 14 Junior Schools teams and Wynberg came 8th. Sonja Stock from WGJS sailed alone in her team so gained no points from her “Ghosts”! She came 7th out of 26 sailors. Well done Sonja! We have some other up and coming sailors so watch this space!

 

PARENTING CONFERENCE

 

CBC St John’s is hosting its first Parenting Conference and would like to cordially invite you to join us for the day. The conference is aimed at parents, teachers, psychologists, remedial therapists, occupational therapists and counsellors.

 

Keynote Speaker: Dr John Buswell - Forensic Psychologist and co-founder of Rape-Wise Date: 13 March 2010

 

Time: 08h30 – 13h30

 

Venue: CBC St John's Parklands, Corner Parklands Main Road and Dorchester Drive Parklands Cost: R120 per person (Includes a conference pack and refreshments)

 

 

FREE child care facilities available (Snack-pack available @ R20)

 

A limited number of tables are available to businesses and/or individuals to exhibit educational resources. Please email Natalie at jsimons@cbcstjohns.co.za with details of your product.

 

ADVERTISING

 

We are regularly approached by companies or individuals requesting space in our Newsletters to advertise or for us to distribute leaflets. The expectation was that this would be done for nothing. Now we all know that advertising costs! Thus we decided some time ago that we would charge a fee for advertising unless there was some direct benefit to the school. Therefore, if you do receive any flyers through the school (and this will not be on a regular basis), please know that this has been paid for or the school has benefited in some way. I would like you to know however, that we will never compromise who we are or what we stand for.

 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

 

March

 

9 Inter-schools swimming gala

 

10 Inter-schools Tennis

 

12 Extra-murals end

 

Soccer Fun Day

 

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

 

23 Last Newsletter of the First Term

 

26 School Closes

 

 

IN CONCLUSION

 

Some family news

 

I was recently asked at an Open Evening for prospective 2011 parents what our staff turnover was like. The question did not surprise me entirely as I had been on the receiving end of some gossip a while ago about our staff turnover (it never ceases to amaze me how people thrive on negative gossip). Indeed, we have lost a number of good, experienced teachers over the past two years. At the risk of sounding defensive, I must inform you that of them all, not one has left us for reasons of unhappiness or discontent at WGJS. In the space of 18 months, our WGJS staff produced 5 babies! Four of the new mothers have chosen to stay at home or in one case, change career. Some of our more senior staff have taken retirement or early retirement and one chose to teach in China. There have been promotions and we always celebrate people’s success.

 

I am particularly proud of our new staff, carefully selected individuals. WGJS provides a wonderful teaching environment which attracts good, well qualified professionals. Without exception, our new staff come with excellent credentials, wonderful interpersonal skills and great enthusiasm. They work long hours and show great dedication to your children. All they need is your belief in them, your encouragement and support. Please get to know them.

 

Our gracious society and rich, emotionally intelligent environment is paying dividends. Our girls are polite and considerate. Naturally, as children they are still learning about social etiquette and themselves, and will make mistakes, but what is so encouraging is to see the outcome of our efforts in applying graciousness and EQ in our daily functioning. It is working. Thank you for supporting us in this. We love our girls!

 

Best wishes

 

W M CONDIE (MRS)

 

PRINCIPAL