HIGH SCHOOL – Mrs Pat Fitzsimons

Welcome back to all parents and boys whether new or old. To all of you I hope that 2008 and the years to follow at Christian Brothers’ College will be happy and fulfilling.

I would also like to welcome new staff members to the High School—Mr C. Testa, Mr J. Stoop and Mr N. Harvey.

We have started the year on a high note once again with the matrics of 2007 performing very well in their final examination. As you have seen from the flier, which went out last week, we have once again attained a 100% pass rate. The matric exemption rate was 75% and nine of our students attained overall A aggregates in their examinations.

We continue to be extremely proud of the young men at our College not just because of the academic results they obtain but because of the many ways in which they enrich our school through their character, their commitment and their loyalty. To their teachers I say thank you for all that you do to develop these young men and get them to a point that when leaving school they can enter the next exciting phase of their life with such sound values, such confidence and so well prepared.

Parents, thank you for allowing your son the privilege of attending this great College and for your support of us and him.

ACADEMICS

As another year begins a new round of assessments also begins. The boys have been given an assessment time table for the 1^st term. It is important that they use this timetable to plan their work as much as possible. Their lives are full of activities, school and family, and it is part of their learning experience and character building to manage these demands on their time. To do this they need to plan. Do not leave assignments to the last minute, do homework and read over class work daily. [As a guide Year 11 and 12 should be doing 2.5hrs to 3hrs of homework\consolidation work each day. Year 10, 2hrs to 2.5hrs and Year 8 and 9, 2hrs.] 

A reminder to all that if a boy is absent on the day of a test or the day an assignment is due, he will be expected, on the day of return, to hand in that assignment or write that test.

Academic support will start on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from next week. Boys will be given a timetable of the teachers available on which days by Monday.

Congratulations to the following boys who have obtained an Academic Tie or an Academic Quill based on their promotion mark at the end of 2007—

Academic Ties

Academic Quills

.

SPORT

The new programme for sports practices began this week and seems to be working well.  It does require a degree of maturity and responsibility on the part of the boys and requires quite a lot of organization on the part of the school.  Although there is some choice involved , once registers are made up from these choices, boys and parents must understand that boys must be at their designated choice or it will be treated as absent without leave and will be dealt with through the discipline policy.

I wish all boys and their coaches a good season and every success in their chosen sport.

CULTURAL

The cultural activities have also started. The first group of Year 10 attended their first session of speaker’s course with the Toastmasters on Tuesday evening. Thank you to Ms Dolman for her organization of this.

Pipe Band practice started on Monday under the guidance of Mr Askham the pipe band has been improving in leaps and bounds over the past few years and we know this will continue because of the time and effort put in by the members and tutors. Debating will now be on a Thursday afternoon starting next week and is organized by Mrs Caldeira.

SCHOOL BAND

This group started practicing on Tuesday afternoon with Mr Askham and Mr. Flood.  We look forward to hearing them at assembly. [Note this change of practice time from Thursday to Tuesday.]

HOUSE REPORTS

Aquinas  (Mr Rindfleisch)

Welcome back to all Aquinas boys at the start of a new year.  This time of year is perfect for assessing your performance over the last year.  This specially applies to academics, but also includes what you achieved on the sports field or in cultural activities.  When carrying out this assessment, it’s only natural to set goals for the new year.  Please don’t forget to write your academic goals down in the front of your diary.  Make your goals challenging, yet achievable.  Finally, make certain that you put in the required effort to achieve your goals.

Well done to all Aquinas boys who participated in, or supported, the inter-house events last week.  Unfortunately the weather didn’t play along, so many of the events haven’t been finalized yet.  I am sure that they will be completed in the next few weeks.  Good luck to all those involved.

Edmund  (Mr Barnett)

The Tutors would like to welcome all boys—both new and returning—to Edmund House 2008.  Also a warm word of welcome to Mr Testa, our new Tutor.  Congratulations to Shaun (House Head) and Greg (Deputy Head) and the matrics for a positive and enthusiastic beginning to the year.

Even though the weather prevented the conclusion of our House events last week, the boys have already shown their spirit and I am sure that we can look forward to an exciting year.

I urge the Edmundians to contribute position to the House through their behaviour, school work, and especially on the sports field.  Remember your homework, be polite and punctual, and our leprechaun will soon be dancing a “jig”.

Founders   (Mr Muller)

Welcome back to all the parents and boys in 2008.  I wish everyone a prosperous 2008 and may all your best wishes come true.

It already feels as if we have been back for a whole term.  This is because we have been so busy in these first couple of days.  Thank you very much to all boys who participated in the cricket, tennis and squash.  It is heartening to see that the boys are taking the house competition seriously.  Thank you to the parents who reminded the boys to pack their sports kit on the first day.  I want to give special thanks to the leaders who supported the house so well on Friday.  Guys, it is really appreciated!  Unfortunately Saturday’s games had to be cancelled because of the weather, but they will be made up.  All new arrangements will be given to parents and boys.

And now it is also back to the academics.  Greta Waitz once said, “For every finish-line tape a runner breaks—complete with the cheers of the crowd and the clicking of hundreds of cameras—there are the hours of hard and often lonely work that rarely get talked about”.   I would like to motivate the boys to put shoulder to the wheel, right from the beginning.  Try your best and spend your time revising things done on each day.  If you already start falling behind, catching up will waste time.

Revill   (Mr Phiri)

Happy New Year to all of you.  I trust you had a wonderful festive period and a restful holiday.  Thanks to all the boys who came back well groomed and smartly dressed, ready to kick off the term.

I welcome all Year 8 boys and all new boys to Revill House which is going to be their home away from home for the next five years.  Special mention must go to the matric leaders, under the leadership of Wesley Agrela and Darryl Prinsloo, for their enthusiastic start to the year. 

Well done to our cricketers for their two victories against Founders and Edmund.  The final match against Aquinas will most likely be played on a day to be advised.  ON that same note, well done to all the boys who played in the tennis and squash, as well as those who supported our teams.  This Thursday sees us doing swimming trials—thanks to those taking part.

On the academic front, congratulations to last year’s matric students on their achievements.  To all boys, I wish you a wonderful year—remember to start working hard now!

I would like to share a quote from Mark Twain with you—”Twenty years form now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbour.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore, Dream, Discover.”

Have a terrific year.

MATRIC LEADERSHIP

I have been very impressed by the way in which the new leadership class has started the year. They were well organized in their Houses for the 20\20 cricket over the first few days and were very disappointed at the postponement of the finals because of rainy weather. [N.B. the Finals will now take place on 14^th Feb the day we break up for Mid-Term.] Well done to all the boys who took part in the sports Squash ,Tennis and Cricket it ill be interesting to see who the winning House will be in these our first competitions of the year.

Inter house swimming is on Friday 1^st Feb and I am sure the House Leaders will make sure their House also shows great spirit in support of their swimmers.

I received a letter from one of our grandparents thanking a group of Year12 boys for rushing to her aid when her car stalled in the large body of water which forms on the road between our fields and Boksburg High’s fields. It is such a pleasure to hear that our young men without thought for their own discomfort went to this lady’s aid and I thank her for letting us know about it. [The offer to replace the beige trousers is very kind but is apparently not necessary.] To these boys, well done, you showed the true spirit and character of a C.B.C. boy. 

EDMUND RICE SOCIETY

Our Liturgy leaders for 2008 are Jerome Farah, Jean-Claude Correia, Michael Capitano, Cameron MacKay, Nadio Vieira, Conrad Trollip, Jacob Mokwena, Marcelo Paixao, Ricardo de Lira, Richard Collins, Massimo House, Liam Westgate and Tyrone Kanagan.

Our Liturgy leaders serve our school through their promotion of public worship, homage and service to God, religious acts, rites and ceremonies, adoration and devotions. 

The Sin of the World

No matter what the world offers us now, God is offering us much more with the gift of eternal life.  The call of Saint John the Baptist is to repent, to develop a new sense of what is important and to let go of all that is self-centered in order to receive the good news of God’s everlasting and merciful love.  When we let Jesus take away our sin, we know we are destined for eternal life, and even now we can fee the love of God in our lives.  May God bless us all.

 (Please also refer to the attached separate sheet for ERS news.)

DATES TO REMEMBER

PREPARATORY SCHOOL – Mr Stephen Bryan

WELCOME

We welcome all our new pupils, Year 4 boys, Mrs Gail Kruger (Year 5K), Mrs Jonelle Enslin (Year 5E), Mr Joubert van Schalkwyk (Year 7V) and Mrs Charmaine van Sckalkwyk who is substituting for Mrs Domiter (on maternity leave) to the Prep. section.

CONDOLENCES

We express our heartfelt sympathy to Mrs O’Connor’s family on the passing away of her mother-in-law recently.

ACADEMICS

The boys have already settled into a good study routine.  Term 1 is a CUMULATIVE term—continuous assessment takes place as no formal exams are written.  The College diary is to be signed every day by parents, even if no homework is given for the day.

Congratulations to our 2007 matric class on their excellent results achieved.

PARENTS’ EVENING

Many thanks for the great support on Tuesday 22 January.  Parents have had the opportunity to meet their son’s teachers and be aware of the expectations for a successful 2008.

EXTRA-MURAL PROGRAMME

All boys received the programme last week.  It is compulsory to participate in both sport and cultural activities.  The programme is designed so that boys can first attend culturals from 13h30 and sporting events afterwards.  Homework supervision is available in the Media Centre from 13h30—15h00 from Mondays to Thursdays.  Parents are reminded that outside interests must not clash with school commitments.

SPORT

Well done to the many boys who tried out for the swimming trials last week.  The cricket practices have been supported very well despite the rain!  Boys may also participate in Squash, Tennis and Triathlon.

CULTURALS

Boys have a choice between Choir, Chatterbox, Brainiacs, Chess, Pipe Band and Bible Quiz (after mid-term).

Congratulations to Charldon Viljoen who won two Gold Medals at the South African Junior Chess Championships held in Bloemfontein in December last year.  We are very proud of Charldon’s achievement for CBC and Ekurhuleni!

TUTORIALS

These extra lessons in English, Math and Afrikaans are available to all boys who need academic support.

SCHOOLBOY OF THE WEEK AWARD

These awards are presented at assembly every Monday to those boys who have achieved very well according to their abilities.  Boys may keep the trophies for the duration of the week for which they have been awarded.

DATES TO REMEMBER

PRIMARY SCHOOL – Mr Henry Moolman

Our lads are into their second week of school and have settled comfortably into their new routines.  Starting the extra-mural programme has added a dimension to their programme which many, if not all, are looking forward to with eager expectation.  Weather permitting!

RAINY WEATHER

If it is raining before school the boys are to go straight to their classes and not to the quad.  Staff will be there to receive them.  If rain prevents sport from happening the boys will be taken care of in the teacher’s classroom, for the allocated time, i.e. until 14h30, from where they can be fetched.

REGULATIONS

It is always necessary to bring to everybody’s attention salient regulations at the beginning of each year.  Please note the following—

No boy may have his hair cut shorter than a number 3.

No gel or highlights are permitted.

In the Primary School, only white sport shoes may be worn.

Please remember to mark all items.

Always be punctual.  I appeal to parents in regard to this.  Good habits are formed at an early age and being

punctual is one of them.  We are understanding of those times when circumstances beyond your control prohibit

you from being on time.  These times should normally be the exception rather than the rule though.

I wish to congratulate our boys on their neat appearance.  Long may it last!

ISTEDDFOD 2008

CBC will once again host this year’s Eisteddfod.  Due to the amount of time in both organizing and preparing the boys for this event, no concert will be put on for the Primary Phase (Years 1—3).  The Pre-Primary Phase, however, will put on the customary concert.

SWIMMING

The Year 3 swimmers have a very busy schedule ahead of them.  The Sports Department will keep parents informed of arrangements.

CRICKET

Please see Mr Maree’s report on Page 7 for news and fixtures.

GENERAL

Our new boys need to know that participation in sport is compulsory throughout the College.  For this term they

may choose to play either cricket or tennis and one other activity.  The second activity may be a cultural or

sporting activity.

Thank you for joining us on Wednesday at our Parents’ Evening.  As always it is a pleasure to meet you and I

hope this occasion was beneficial to all.

SPECIAL AWARDS

PARENTS’ WORKSHOPS

The very popular and informative Parents’ Workshops start this Saturday at 08h00 in the Media Centre, for Year 3 parents.  Hope to see many of you there.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

He who has not served knows not how to command.

(Henry Longfellow)

SPORT – High School (Mr Mike Moriarty)

CRICKET

The start of the season has been somewhat disrupted with all the good rain we’ve been having. The Inter-House 20/20 saw us only able to complete the first two games, with the finals being postponed to Thurs 14 February.  More info will be passed on to the boys nearer the time.

Matches begin this week against Jeppe Boys,  and marks the start of a very busy term of quality fixtures. We look forward to concerted efforts from all the teams to achieve positive results.

Congratulations to Craig Parker, Nicholas Lockyer & Mark Kingham who represented Easterns U/15 at the P.G. Bison Week in Stellenbosch in December.

SWIMMING

The Inter-House Gala takes place at the Boksburg North pool on Friday 1 February at 08h30. Parents are invited to join us for what is a fantastic morning of school sport & spirit.

A very busy season began this past Sunday with boys swimming in an open water event. Thanks to Mr Douglas, & well done to those that made the effort so early on a Sunday morning.

Midmar arrangements & costs are finalized & boys will be given letters with all the details shortly.

Congratulations to Douglas Erasmus (Yr 11) who has achieved some incredible results recently at the Easterns Aquatics Champs. He earned 4 gold & 3 silver medals. In the 50 Free he broke a 16 year old record, posting an amazing 24.55 seconds. This places him 6^th in the country & has earned him a place in the Easterns squad that will take part in the SA Senior Champs at Kings Park in Durban which doubles up as Olympic Trials.   Good Luck Douglas !

TENNIS    

League tennis begins this Friday. Boys that want to try out for the teams must see Mr Rindfleisch.  The Inter-House comp should be completed this week after the rain interruptions. Well done to all the boys that took part. Thanks to Mr Rindfleisch & Mr Friedrichs for running the competition.

SQUASH

The Inter-House squash was a hotly contested affair with some very exciting games. Thanks to Mr Wermuth & Mr Harvey for running the competition.  League squash will begin soon & dates will be published as soon as they become available.

Over the weekend of 18—20 January a squash tournament was held at the Kempton Park Squash Courts.  There was an exceptionally large entry that included 7 CBC boys in varying age groups.  All the boys did the College proud and finished off in strong positions.  In most age groups there was a draw of 32,  with our boys finishing as follows—

Michael Forner No. 4 (Under 19), Calin Williams No. 6 (Under 19), Shaun Sutherland No. 21 (Under 19), Marco Marques No. 12 (Under 16), Marc Martinho No. 22 (Under 16), Gabriel Gordon No. 10 (Under 14) and Craig Reece No. 11 (Under 14).  Congratulations to you all for these achievements.

GOLF

Our golfers managed to play 9 holes of the Inter-House competition before being rained out. A date will be set aside to complete the second 9 holes. Thanks to Mr Douglas for looking after the boys at E.R.P.M.

League golf begins Friday.  Mr Stoop will be in charge of golf.  Boys need to speak to him if they are interested.

Well done to Byron Lindeque on winning the ‘B’ Div Club Champs at ERPM this past week-end.

RUNNING, TRIATHLON, CYCLING

Sunday sees the running of the Johnson Crane Marathon in Benoni. Our runners will be taking part in the 5km race. Cost is R10 & the race starts at 06h30. Boys need to meet Mr.Moriarty at school at 05h30 or at Old Bens Sports Club at 06h00. The address is cnr President Boshoff & President Brand in Rynfield A.H. in Benoni.

Every Friday afternoon at 14h30 a 3km time trial run will be held. This will be run as an Inter-House competition with every boy earning points that runs. Teachers & parents are invited to join in & will also earn points for their house (parents for their son’s house).

The triathlon boys were very busy over the December break. The Gauteng Champs took place on the 9^th of December. Some excellent results were achieved with the following boys being selected to represent their province at the SA Champs in East London in February. Douglas Erasmus (Yr 11), Shaun Dalton (Yr 11), Darren Thysse (Yr10) & Jason De Jager (Yr 9). Darren Morisse fared very well in his race & I’m sure we will see him as a regular member of the squad.