BERGVLIET PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDRENS WAY BERGVLIET 7945 TEL: (021) 715 1103 FAX: (021) 715 24 86
NEWSLETTER 22 JUNE 2009
Dear Parents
Staff News
At the end of this term we will be bidding farewell to Miss Zazie Kahn (Grade Three) who has been an educator at BPS for some years. Energised, enthusiastic and resourceful, Miss Kahn has been of great value on the sporting front, particularly involved with Athletics and Hockey. Her passion for recycling and helping to educate the learners in the way of sustainable living as well as her keen and invaluable assistance at our school Fashion Shows, will long be remembered. We wish her all happiness and success as she embarks on the next stage of her teaching career at Rustenburg Girls’ School. In Miss Kahn’s place we welcome Mrs Michelle Potterton.
Mr Paul Baerecke has decided to end his teaching activities, as he continues to receive medical treatment in his struggle with the ill-health which has beset him. We send him all our love and support. Mr George Watkins, who has assisted us in Mr Baerecke’s absence, will continue to teach the Technology classes until the year’s end.
At the end of term Mrs Mandy Mozley leaves us for six months to await the arrival of her second child. We wish her joy and not too many sleepless nights, as the newest member of the Mozley clan settles in. In Mrs Mozley’s place we are pleased to have Mrs Sharon Alexander for the second half of the year.
We have still not been successful in our search for an isi-Xhosa teacher. Advertisements have been placed and recruitment agencies consulted, but unfortunately we have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this position. We will continue in our attempts to fill this post as we regard the teaching of this additional language as most important.
We are happy to announce the appointment of Mr William Wilson to our team of maintenance and security staff. Mr Wilson will have a very visible presence at BPS as he will be on duty at our entrance gates from 10.00 until 18.00, keeping a watchful eye on all comings and goings.
Congratulations and Commendations
Bergvliet Primary School’s Poetry Club performed at the recent Cape Town Eisteddfod, presenting two poems entitled ‘Strict’ and ‘The Ups and Downs of the Elevator Car’. They received much positive comment from the adjudicator and were awarded High Honours. We are most proud of their well-deserved success.
Aishah Ebrahim (Grade 7H) participated in zonal hockey trials in May and was selected for the Zonal B Squad. She will participate in the Regional Inter-zonal Tournament in Oudtshoorn from 7 – 10 August 2009. We are indeed proud of her selection and wish her well for the upcoming tournament.
Our choirs have worked with dedication and enthusiasm this term. Two Saturdays were given over to rehearsals for the Eisteddfod competitions and the upcoming Choir Festival at Wynberg Boys’ High School on 23 July. This hard work paid off on Saturday, 06 June at the Cape Town Eisteddfod which we hosted here at BPS. The adjudicator’s reports were fulsome in their praise of our choice of songs as well as the standard of the singing of both choirs. We were awarded Diploma for our KG Choir (Grades 1 – 3) and Mixed Junior School Choir entries. This upholds our reputation of success and achievement.
Eight members of our Senior Choir will shortly be auditioning for places in the prestigious Tygerberg Children’s Choir and we wish them all the very best in their efforts.
Gabriella Schwimmbacher (Gr 7H) took part in the 8th Combat Jin-Jitsu Competition in Durbanville on Saturday, 06 June. She beat all her opponents and was declared overall winner in her age group. Two days earlier, on Thursday, 04 June,
Creating opportunities to enrich, challenge and develop each unique child 2 Gabi and fellow classmate Claire Olivier, who both belong to the Spotlight Drama Studio, participated at the Cape Town Eisteddfod in a group drama entry which was awarded diploma. We are proud of these successes.
Progression and Promotion Requirements
We are sure that you will have seen in the press the concerns raised over Circular 0018/2009, received by schools late this term. This circular refers to the mid-year implementation of the revised promotion and progression requirements. Attached please find a copy of the official circular from the Department of Education for your information.
While we support the idea of raising the pass requirements, the timing and arbitrary nature in which this has been implemented, is of great concern and is unfair to children who, at this stage, will not have met these new requirements, as time for support intervention is now limited.
PLEASE NOTE : This directive arrived too late for implementation in the Second Term Report. The new pass requirements will be implemented at BPS from next term.
Parents are invited to discuss their children’s end of term report with the class educators at the Parent-Educator Meetings scheduled for Thursday, 25 June 2009. (See separate booking form.) WE REMIND PARENTS THAT SCHOOL WILL CLOSE FOR ALL LEARNERS (GRADES R – SEVEN) AT 13.00 ON THIS DAY.
Communication Lines
This is a reminder to parents that the very useful Phone Cards are available from the Secretary’s Office at a cost of R20,00 each. Of late there has been an upsurge in the number of children needing to make use of the school telephones. The children are reminded that calls cost R1,00 for landline numbers and R2,00 for cellphone numbers, although we do not ever follow up on this, and as a result less than 50% of the learners remember to pay for these calls. The reasons for the calls range from needing to inform parents of changed sports arrangements, forgotten items which should have been packed into their bags in the morning before leaving home, and requests for money for spending at cake sales or the tuck shop. We cannot accede to all such sundry requests – the situation in the office would be far too disruptive. Perhaps it would help to pin up reminders or have a memo-board to jot down the day’s events for all family members to refer to. Good communication skills are essential to a problem free day and an invaluable tool in every sphere of life.
School Shop Times
To facilitate the large numbers of parents needing to visit the School Clothing Shop at the beginning of new terms, it has been decided to open the shop on Saturday, 25 July 2009 and also on Saturday, 10 October 2009, from 10.00 until 12.00. In addition, the regular opening time on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings has been amended to 07.45 until 08.30. We trust that this additional quarter-hour will be of benefit to parents.
Governing Body Elections
The 2009 Governing Body elections were held on Wednesday, 3 June. Attendance figures of 126 parents assured a quorum, with Mr Adams, Principal at Zwaanswyk Primary School, officiating as Electoral Officer. All existing parent Governing Body members were willing to stand for re-election. The results are as follows: Chairperson : Mr Mike Baumgart Treasurer : Mr Ashley Francis Secretary : Mrs Fiona van der Linde Parent Members : Mr Ian Kellerman : Mr Winston Richards : Mr Grant Schenck Educator Members : Mrs L de Beer : Mrs C Meyer-Williams : Miss M Main
Creating opportunities to enrich, challenge, and develop each unique child 3
Bingo Evening – Friday, 5 June
Our latest Bingo Evening was a runaway success! Even though the rain and cold Wintery conditions persisted, our keen BPS Family supported this fund raiser with enthusiasm and filled the hall to capacity. The total monies raised were R11 360,00.
L S L de Beer Principal
BERG-ADS Please note that Bergvliet Primary School does not endorse the advertising material sent home to parents. We see this form of advertising purely as a source of revenue for the school. PRIVATE TUTORS: Comes to your home. Extra lessons: Grade 1 – 12 (all subjects) .For more information: Cheryl 082 788 5732 or www.aboveaverage.za.net. MOMS WHO CARE: The MOMS WHO CARE PRAYER GROUP meets once a week at 08:00 to pray for our school. If you would like to know more or are interested in joining them, please contact Lauren Moser on (021) 712 4803. ART CLASSES in Muizenberg, afternoons once a week. AGES: 10 – 8. General art classes which can include portfolio preparation and drawing skills. R250 p.m. Matric extra lessons- designed to suit requirements and can include history of Art. Individuals or groups sessions. Cost dependent on group size. Qualified Art Teacher and Practising Illustrator – Meg Jordi.- 021 788-5974 / 082 926 7666.
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RECEIVED CIRCULAR DATED 22 JUNE 2009.
CHILD’S NAME: ...... ………..………………... GRADE:………..
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE: ...... ……………...... … DATE:…......
Creating opportunities to enrich, challenge, and develop each unique child