prep newsletter no 7 2010

8/8/2019 Prep Newsletter No 7 2010

1/25

23rd September 2010

St Johns Preparatory SchoolSt Johns Preparatory SchoolHoughtonTel: 011 645 3100/ 087 550473 Newsletter Number 7

23/09 Cultural Day

UIII Social

24/09 Heritage Day - No School

27/09 Hockey Matches Vs St Stithians

27/09 Assessments in Afrikaans LII - UIII

29/09 Hockey Matches Vs St Davids

Public Speaking Finalists Chosen

30/09 St Johns Water-Polo Festival Vs

St Benedicts

01/10 National Schools Climbing

Competition

04/10 Assessments in English LII - UIII

05/10 Parents Information Evening: Sport -

Please note: This Information

evening has been postponed.ABRSM Music Theory Examination

07/10 2nd XI Cricket Tour Departs to Cape

Town

SACS U13 Water-Polo Tournament

08/10 Swimming Gala

1st XI T20 Cricket Festival

11/10 Assessments in Maths LII - UIII

Let the Children Sing

FI in Schools

Let the Children Sing

13/10 Public speaking Finals

Reminders from theDiary From the HeadmasterFirstly, I would like to wish all our Muslim familiesa belated but happy Eid al-Fitr and all our Jewish

families a belated but happy Jewish New Year.

"And so from the hills, we return refreshed in body,mind and spirit, to grapple anew with life's

problems. For a while we have lived simply, wiselyand happily; we have made good friends; we haveadventured well. The hills have taught us to becontent in our faith and in the love of God who

created them." Anon

In his book, Last Child in the Woods, RichardLouv highlights the importance of nature in theemotional and intellectual development of youngpeople. He identifies the problems which arise when people are alienated from nature. One othese conditions is known as Nature Deficit

Disorder.

Nature-deficit disorder describes the humancosts of alienation from nature, among them:diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties,

and higher rates of physical and emotionalillnesses. The disorder can be detected inindividuals, families, and communities.Nature-deficit can even change human behavior incities, which could ultimately affect their design,since longstanding studies show a relationshipbetween the absence, or inaccessibility, of parksand open space with high crime rates, depression,and other urban maladies. These factors includeincreasing rates of depression in successive agegroups, a growing awareness of and screening for

depression by pediatricians and assumptions thatthe effectiveness experienced by adults usingantidepressant medications will translate to

children and adolescents. Although countless children who suffer from mental illness andattention disorders do benefit from medication, the use of nature as an alternative,additional, or preventive therapy is being overlooked. In fact, new evidence suggests that

the need for such medications is intensified by children's disconnection from nature.

Cont...


2/25

Page 2 St Johns Preparatory School

Although exposure to nature may have no impact on the most severe depressions, we doknow that nature experiences can relieve some of the everyday pressures that may lead tochildhood depression. In Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the United States, studies ofchildren in schoolyards with both green areas and manufactured play areas found thatchildren engaged in more creative forms of play in the green areas. One of these studiesfound that a more natural schoolyard encouraged more fantasy and make-believe play inparticular, which provided ways for boys and girls to play together in egalitarian ways;another reported that children showed a greater sense of wonder. Researchers have alsoobserved that when children played in an environment dominated by play structuresrather than natural elements, they established their social hierarchy through physicalcompetence rather than through caring relationships. Studies recognize that whileknowledge about nature is vital, passion is the long-distance fuel for the struggle to save what is left of our natural heritage and, through an emerging green urbanism, toreconstitute lost land and water. Passion does not arrive on videotape or on a CD; passionis personal. Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; ittravels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalismand the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in

nature.

I find this extract quite fascinating, especially considering that we are currently planningseveral changes to our own curriculum and the fact that we have recently made a decision

to strive to make St Johns a Green Flag School.

Going Green

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now!

Chinese Proverb

Thank you to all the UIII boys and parents who may be leaving the Prep at the end of thisyear but leave behind them six glorious wild olive trees which now stand proudly in theClarke Quad for the benefit of all of us and also for generations of boys and parents to

come. It truly is a wonderful gift and I thank all those involved.

As you are aware, we held a Green Day yesterday, run by our Upper III Leadership Team.With the funds raised by your sons R10 donation, we continue with the tree theme andhope to buy 75 indigenous trees for each of our Upper Is to plant around the school. Wehave also appointed Paul Rowney, our own Prep Intern, to be the driving force behind the

Green project that will be implemented across the whole campus. An energy audit willbe taking place shortly, run by an external professional consultancy. Whilst weacknowledge St Johns perhaps lags behind in this area, we are committed to ensuring

that in the near future St Johns will be able to call itself a Green Flag School.


3/25


Curriculum

The Government is proposing to reduce the number of subjects taught in the intermediate phase(Grades 4 6) from eight to six, by combining Design and Technology with Science and teachingEMS from a Grade 7 level only. We are considering and discussing the implications of thesesuggestions at weekly curriculum development meetings. We are also considering increasing thelesson times to 45 minute periods in order to give more time to core subjects English andMathematics. In line with what Richard Louv says above, we will also be looking at implementing

a short time every day (5-10 minutes) where boys will be able to sit quietly on their own,preferably outside, and reflect on their day. We hope to introduce a similar practice to what the

Jesuits do of an Examen which is a type of Prayer of Conscience. We feel that boys are so busyrushing around all the time that they never have a chance to just sit still (and indeed dont knowhow to) and reflect, and we believe that all boys of all religions and faiths and ages will benefitfrom the introduction of such a practice.

How Good is St Johns Prep? Survey

Our How good is St Johns Prep? survey has been well supported with almost 100% of boys andstaff and over 70% of parents completing it. The results are currently being analysed and focusgroups will shortly be set up to correlate and formulate appropriate action plans. It has proved tobe an invaluable exercise and I thank all those who participated for taking the time to give ustheir feedback and insight. It has shown clear areas where improvements need to be made, butalso affirmed areas in which we are excelling. In addition, if you would like to be part of a focus

group and can spare the time in this regard, please send me an email.

The Adventures of Mr Toad

I am certain that everyone who watched our school play will agree that it was an amazing show.Thank you to all the boys for their hard work and commitment, but especially to Mrs Trolese theDirector, Mrs Rossouw the Music Director and Ms Maitland and Mrs Clarence for all the behind-the-scenes work.

Staff Appointments

We have appointed three new staff members for next year. Craig Verdal-Austin has beenappointed as the new Second Master Extra-Curricular. Heather Baker has been appointed asan Upper II teacher and Caroline Rimmer has been appointed as the new Learning Supportteacher.

We are extremely pleased with these appointments and wish all three the very best for a long andprosperous time at St Johns Prep.

Conclusion

We have an unbelievably busy term ahead and its hard to believe that December is just aroundthe corner. I would like to wish you all a happy and fruitful term and if you have any queries orproblems, please come in and have a chat with me.

Patrick LeesHeadmaster


4/25


World Congress of Action Research and Action Learning

From the 6th to the 9th of September, I was fortunate enough toattend the World Congress of Action Research and ActionLearning, in Melbourne. An invitation to present a paper atthis conference came as a result of the ongoing global actionresearch programme which I co-ordinate together withAustralian colleague, Di Laycock, for the International Boys

Schools Coalition.

Keynote speakers at the conference included Dr AlanRayner, Prof Budd Hall (University of Victoria in BritishColumbia), Prof Linda Smith (Professor of Education at the

University of Waikato) and Prof Yoland Wadsworth (RMITUniversity and University of Melbourne). Action Researchgurus Prof Robin McTaggart and Dr Ernie Stringer (whose textis prescribed reading for the IBSC project) also presentedinteresting and worthwhile observations on current changes

and projects.

My paper outlined the structure of the IBSC Global Action Research Programme,highlighting the challenges and significant benefits of maintaining an online communityfor teachers in boys schools across the world. My thanks go to Brad Adams, ExecutiveDirector of the IBSC, and to Roger Cameron and Patrick Lees for the opportunity to attend

this worthwhile conference.

************************************************************************

D.A.R.E. Parent Information Evening

An extremely worthwhile presentation by D.A.R.E. was given at a parent informationevening last week. D.A.R.E. is a training organization as well as an outpatient treatmentcentre for substance abuse. The speaker, Ms Wanting, outlined the dangers of alcohol anddrug abuse and gave parents valuable advice: The most important reason that you need tohave a conversation with your child about drugs and alcohol is that they need to hear from

you, their parents, that drug and alcohol use is not condoned in your family.

D.A.R.E. offer a variety of educational training programmes. We have invited them tocome and address our Lower III and Upper III boys this term about these dangers. Dates

to be advised.

Margot Long


5/25


Raising confident boys

Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer

Tip 5: Spend time with himI know my dad loves me, but I barely know him. I know he works hard to

support us, but we hardly ever talk. It makes me feel as if I am incomplete.

Survey after survey shows that children like to have their parentsaround, even if theyre not actively doing anything with them. They liketo see their fathers as much as their mothers, and boys need theirparents time as much as girls do. Even teenage boys want to see more

of their parents.

Men and women work longer hours than ever before. This means thatthey spend less time at home with their families. Boys cannot feel loved

and lovable, believed in and believable, respected and respectable, if thepeople on whom they depend seem not to care. Only if the importantadults in a boys life give him time and attention can he feel validated anddevelop any kind of self-worth. Meeting his need for stress-free time with you, when you focus solely on

him, will help him feel confident and successful.

Tips for parents

Presents are no substitute for presence: Dont try to buy your way out of being with your son.

When youre with him, put the answering machine on and spend time finding out what he thinks.

Talk about what he has been doing and playing.

Play with him. Join in or watch him doing his favourite activity, or say, Come and talk to me while I

wash the car.

If you dont live with your son, keep every promise you make to visit and stay in regular touch.

Quiet time together can be as valuable as action-packed time.

Try not to any work you need to do outside the office at home, so youre not cut off from your

family.


6/25


St Johns A Vs Grayston A

Seniors won 24 - 8 Juniors lost 21 - 3

Overall lost 45 - 11

Well done to the following boys who won both their games:

S Modi, R Giannoccaro, M Berger, C Burke, S McKernan, O Kieser, B Thomas, E Baleni,

W Kerr-Phillips, K Govind

Sporting ResultsSporting Results

CHESS

HOCKEY

Wednesday 15th September

St Johns vs St Dunstans

U9 won 5 drew 3

St Johns vs CBC Boksburg

U10 won 4 drew 5 lost 3

U11A drew

U13A won

U13B wonFriday 17 September

St Johns vs Pridwin

U12A won

U12B drew

U13B won

U11B won

U11A won

KEPS FestivalSaturday 18 September

St Johns 1st X1

vs Pridwin won

vs St Davids won

vs KEPS drew

vs The Ridge drew


7/25

St Johns Preparatory School Page 7

Individual Achievements

Dale Hallendorff, Keagan Da Silva and Jordan King were part of the Edenvale soccerteam that entered the Sportsworx Under 11 Soccer Tournament held in Vanderbijlpark.

Eight teams from all over Gauteng participated.

Their team won the tournament, scoring 19 goals and having just 3 scored against them.

This was quite an achievement as the teams present were some of the strongest in theirrespective districts. Well done, boys!

Brogan Sanders, Upper IIIT, took part in the Volkswagen

World Junior Masters Soccer Tournament in Spain.

This tournament, that was held from the 5 11 May is onlyheld once every four years in conjunction with the WorldCup. The Volkswagen Junior World Masters is the biggestyouth football tournament initiated by a company anywherein the world. Brogans South African side made it through to

the quarter finals. Well done, Brogan!


8/25


Individual Achievements

Joshua Harrison participated in the Gerald Fox Memorial 5 km Fun Run held at the Zoo

on Sunday 12 September and finished in 10th place. Well done, Joshua!

Cricket

The following boys have been selected for Johannesburg Central Cricket:

U13

Lorenzo Masselli UIIIG

Morgan Fairbairn UIIIT

Thomas Montgomery UIIIL

Farhaan Sayanvala UIIIG

U12

Lodewijk Volkersz LIIIC

Well done, boys!

Rowing

Results of the indoor regatta held at St Andrews:

James Mitchell came 2nd in the U14 individual ergo. Well done, James!

The following boys won gold in the U14 team event:

James Mitchell, Stephen Hunt, Cameron Matheson and Robert Fyall. Well done, boys!


9/25


Upper I

The Upper Is showing off crocodiles which were eagerly made in the D & T lesson.


10/25


Upper I Play

The theme for the Upper I play was Spaced Out!


11/25


Upper I Play cont...


12/25


Lower II

Lower IIT were given a multiples activity in Maths. Ms McNeil, the student teacher

ensured the lesson was a great success. Here are the results!


13/25


Lower II Play

The Lower II play was an adaptation of Rudyard Kiplings The Elephants Child. The

boys had lots of fun telling the story of the elephant who was full of satiable curtiosity!


14/25


Lower II Play cont...


15/25


Lower IIV History

Fun examples of secondary evidence

By Thomas Deppe By Travin Bouwer By Ibrahim Talia

By Bradley Hartland By Travis Arlow By Michael Smith


16/25


By Christopher Williams By Stefano Cavalieri By Bradley Dunbar

Lower IIZ History

By Hraklis Papageorgiou By Daniel Cockram By Luke Whitehouse


17/25


Red Eye and The Black Dragon

Awoken from a peaceful sleep I open my eyes to find the sun has risen. The world has notended because my clever mechanic, Nick, steered us away from destruction after a cannonball knocked me out. There was a freezing breeze outside and the world marched one and

we could see we were going to win

We have just climbed aboard the enemy ship, The Black Dragon. Their captain, Red Eye,had no chance against us. We are way more powerful with our nuclear weapons and our

fast hovercrafts. We blew it up. You could see it from two miles away!

But they cleared the ship before it exploded and they wanted to get revenge in their newship, The Black Eyed Pirate. Not knowing that we had dummies in place they stabbed Bobin the shoulder with their balloon sword. Then Bob shot a cannonball right at them. He

sank their new ship. Bob said he was trying to hit a fly!

Then we climbed back onto the ship and started chillaxing. But then we heard somevoices. I saw a dead version of captain Red Eye! He cursed us, promising revenge. Nick,our mechanic, blew up the nuclear laser gun. Soon he disappeared, but I knew he would

be back soon.

Lower II

LIIV Group Activity with Mr Martins

The LIIs worked in groups to construct an imaginary story on pirates of the

future. Here is the result!


18/25


Lower III

Last term the Lower III boys completed their clocks in D&T. They had to design and then

make their own clock for their room at home. Here are the results.

By Lodewijk Volkersz By Oliver Kieser By Darshan Pillay

By Adilson De Oliveira By Ramaano Ramokgopa


19/25


Hooked On Books

Our annual visit from the Hooked on Booksteam prompted a flood of requests from theboys for the books previewed in the show. The books are always presented in such anoriginal and exciting way that the boys cant help being hooked on the titles. This year

the most popular title by far was Boom by Mark Haddon, author of The curiousincident of the dog in the night time. Nikki Sulter


20/25


Interact Day

An exciting day for the Pre-prep when they came to visit the Prep and meet their buddy.


21/25


Notices

On Thursday 14 October

at 8:45

in Big School

we are very fortunate to have author, Chris van Wyk at the Prepto launch the paperback of the childrens version of

Long Walk to Freedom

Chris will be here to sign this exquisitely told and beautifully

illustrated book, priced at R115.

In addition Chriss very entertaining adult bookEggs to Lay and Chickens to Hatch will be on sale @ R200.

Pre-launch copies of Mandelas latest book Conversations withMyself, a collection of diaries, journals and other personal

documents, will also be available at R290.

If you would like a copy of any of the above books, please couldyou email me at [email protected] by Friday 1 Oct,

giving details of titles and quantities you would like.

Books can be collected on the morning of the launch.

Cash or cheques only.


22/25


Notices

Soles for Souls

SECOND HAND TACKIES andSCHOOL SHOES

Were collecting second hand shoes for Isaac Moore Primary SchoolinAtteridgeville.

Our aim is to collect a pair of shoes for each child in the school during the year. There are

about 376 pupils.

Where: Please put shoes in the bin outside Brigitte's office.

How: Please wash the shoes and put them in a plastic packet tied with a knot so thatwe can keep the pairs together.

When: We will be collecting for the remainder of the year

About the school:Isaac Moore Primary School is in a poor community in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The schoolis led by an amazingly motivated headmistress who encourages an all-round approach to

education including sport, culture and education, despite having minimal funding andrelying mainly on charity.

Boys News

clickhereforthelinktotheBoysNews. www.stjohnsboysnews.webs.com.


23/25


Notices

Sandton Route School Bus Service

Non-profit bus service in association with St Marys School, St Johns College,St Davids Marist Inanda, Roedean School and King Edward VII School

Kyalami Rivonia Parkmore Sandhurst Waverley Houghton

Many thanksLinda Kleyn

SANDTON ROUTE SCHOOL BUS SERVICEin association with St Marys School, St Johns College,

St Davids Marist Inanda, Roedean School and King Edward VII School

2nd TERM 2010 APPLICATIONS

1 Morning and 3 Afternoon buses!

Morning bus route: Kyalami, Sunninghill, Rivonia, River Club,

Parkmore, Sandhurst, Illovo, Waverley, Houghton, St Johns College

Afternoon bus route: Reverse of the morning route

including Gallo Manor and Wendywood,

excluding Sunninghill and Kyalami for the two early buses

Afternoon Buses

St Johns 2:15pm, 3:45pm and 5:15pm

St Marys 2:35pm, 4:05pm and 5:35pm

St Davids 2:45pm, 4:15pm and 5:45pm

Costs per term

Return: R3000 per term (R25.00 per trip)

Single: R2000 per term (R33.33 per trip)

Casual tickets available from the bus driver: R60 per trip

For Bus Timetables and Application Forms

www.stmarysschool.co.za/senior/content/blogsection/27/54/

Contact: Linda Kleyn (011 803 3678 (H) / 083 484 3488)

OR Terry Wharton-Hood (011 293 600 (W) / 083 256 2711)


24/25

St Johns Preparatory SchoolPage 24

Notices

Art club and extra classes

From the beginning of next term, Mr Poco is starting an Art Club (for LIII and UIII boys) and extra art classes for juniorboys. Senior boys are encouraged to join the Art Club on Tuesdays from 14h00 -15h00 or Thursdays from 15h00-

16h00. Juniors may arrange extra art lessons with Mr Poco at alternative times and on alternative days.

We hope to see the senior boys joining the Art Club to create various exciting art works with mediums they do notnormally use in class, such as print making, photography, oil painting and many more. This will be a fantastic opportunity

for any boy who wishes to develop his art skills.

For further information e-mail Bruno Poco on [email protected]

UPPER III

EXTRA ENGLISHUpper III Extra English lessons with Mrs Long on Mondays from13h3014h00.

Lower III with Ms K. Maitland

Mondays from 13h30 - 14h00

No charge.

All welcome.

Italian

Language

LessonsSmall age appropriate classes and individual tuition of-

fered outside school hours at St Johns.

Experienced mother-tongue graduate teacher usingcommunicative method of conversation, maintaining

cultural ties for solid IEB foundation.

Contact Lisabetta on 082 682 2859 or

[email protected]

EXTRA ZULU

LESSONSLower III and Upper III boys.

Every Thursday 13h30 - 14h00

Upper III Mrs Mashele

All Welcome

Hair Dee-Lite 082 462 6813/

011 648 6367

Dee offers excellent work for the whole family,competitive prices and the added

convenience of being on campus.

Modern cuts, colours (from R300) and hi-lites.

Kids R50

7 Elm Street (Opposite Rice Field)

Open Tuesday to Friday

08h00 - 17h00

Saturday 08h00 - 13h00

EXTRA MATHS

LESSONSLower III & Upper III boys in Mrs Jean Clarences

classroom

Every Thursday 13h30 - 14h00


25/25

Page 25St Johns Preparatory School

CLASS DISCUSSION

In the class discussion, dear, you hardly said a word.

We all aired our opinions but from you we rarely heard.

You sat and stared in silence, surrounded by the chatter,

Now tell me, dear, and please be plain,

Is anything the matter ?

The child looked up and then he spoke,

His voice was clear and low:

There are many people in this world

Who are rather quiet, you know!

By Gervase Phinn

prep newsletter no 7 2010

Documents