HIGH SCHOOL – Mrs Pat Fitzsimons

Welcome back to all our College families and some new families who have joined us this term. This is another term full of activity in all the areas of College life, over the past two weeks the inter house indoor cricket has occurred, there have been parents evenings and of course much work has already been covered in the classrooms and I am sure the boys would agree that the holidays are already  a distant memory.

ACADEMICS

This term is a crucial one in this area, it is the make or break time when it comes to the promotion mark on the final report.  As mentioned, parents’ evenings have occurred during this week. At this time these meetings focus on the areas of possible failures in a subject, as stated in my letter to you.   However, if you whished to see a teacher about your sons marks, then you were also able to make an appointment.  My experience of these meetings is that they have been very positive and I thank the boys, teachers and parents involved for their time and efforts.  The Academic Support Programme begins next week Tuesday and the timetable is the same as last term. I hope to see more boys make use of this facility this term and encourage them to start now and not to leave it to the two weeks before final exams. This of course means that revision of the years work must also start now.   “Don’t think about failure or defeat. Think only of the springboards to new achievements and to the next level of accomplishments” Unknown.

SPORT

The cricket season has begun and our indoor facility is really coming into its own.  The boys have thoroughly enjoyed their inter-house competition and are making great use of the facility during practice.  I remind all boys that the sports period is part of the school day and therefore missing it is classified as bunking.  At this time the only boys excused from sport are the matrics as they prepare for Prelims and Final Exams.  A number of our sports sides were involved in tournaments during the holidays.  The 1^st Team squash was involved in a tournament in Pietermaritzburg, rugby in the Coke Series and our 1^st team tennis in a tournament at Sun City.  Special mention must be made of the 1^st team tennis as they have been very successful thus far this season and are in fact undefeated. They were also complimented on their sportsmanship and being excellent ambassadors for the College at the Sun City Tournament. So, very well done to Jason Gilbertson (Captain), Clayton Gilbertson Theo van Niekerk and Dean Harris.  Congratulations also to the following boys who have been awarded their 1^st Team ties and scrolls for the winter sports.   

Rugby Ties and Scrolls—

Darryl Prinsloo, Ryan Vos, Jacob Mokwena, Gregory Freitas dos Santos, Gregory  Ferreira, Justin Fitches, Brett Dangers, Chris Steenkamp, Grant Rose-Weir, Wesley Agrela, Bjorn Bischoff-Tulleken, Dylan Alho, Jonathan Hudson, Shaun Sutherland, Jade de Jonge and Justin Turck.

Hockey Ties

Liam Westgate, Reece van der Poel, Kyle Marks, Clinton van der Merwe, Bennati Kapowo, Simon Summers, Ryan Kichenbrand, Douglas Morton, Calvin Raley, Simon van Heerden, Conrad Trollip, Blaine Richards, Deryck May and  Dillon Brennon.

Hockey Scroll

Darren Thysse.

Tennis Tie

Jason Gilbertson.

CULTURAL

Debating is beginning next week under the guidance of Mrs Caldeira. The Year 10 Toastmasters’ Course for the 2^nd group of Year 10 boys also starts on Tuesday of next week and I thank Ms Dolman for her organization of this.

EDMUND RICE SOCIETY

These boys continue to collect for the less fortunate and even during the holidays were represented by Dean Fernandes at the St Dominic’s soup kitchen. Thank you for all your hard work and I hope that the new members who will be replacing the matrics very shortly will continue to build and support this Society.

COLOURS AND HONOURS BLAZER AWARDS

Congratulations to the following boys who have achieved College Colours in the various areas and special congratulations to those who have been awarded the Honours Blazer.

Colours Award—Leadership

Conrad Trollip, Tyrone Kanagan, Jason Gilbertson, Raymond Coetzer, Kyle Marks, Cameron Mackay, Calvin Raley, Ryan van Niekerk and Donovan Beytell.

Colours Award—Service

Conrad Trollip.

Colours Award—Sport

Kyle Marks and Dillon Brennon.

Honours Blazer

Dean FernanDes and Kyle Marks.

REGIONAL SCIENCE EXPO  (Mr Askham)

The Regional Eskom Expo for Young Scientists was held on Saturday, 6 September, at Denel Aviation – the usual venue for this exhibition.  This year, CBC Boksburg went out in full force as our largest contingency of exhibitors, to date, descended upon the exhibition hall.  We entered no less than twenty science projects this year!  I must confess to my profound sense of pride as I scanned the exhibition hall and saw all our striped blazers (some Yr. 11 boys in blue blazers now) displayed so prominently in that “hive of activity”.  After a very long day of salesmanship and judging, a lengthy prize giving ceremony was held.  I am delighted to announce that CBC, Boksburg received three bronze medal awards, one gold medal award and a special energy award sponsored by Eskom.  Considering the fact that the judging criteria for high school students is particularly stringent, this was a very good result indeed.  Deryck May, Claude Kershaw & Michael Forner, received GOLD MEDALS for their project entitled “Nuclear Energy & Hydro-Sustainability“.  These three boys also received one of the special energy awards made by Eskom.  In addition, they have been invited by Denel Aviation for a guided tour of their operation – which includes an opportunity to sit in the Rooivalk helicopter.  Who knows, maybe they’ll even be taken for a flip?  Marco Micic, Juan-Jacques Aupais and James Schultz were awarded BRONZE MEDALS for their “Pressure Box Boiler”.  Jarryd Wilson, Daniel Mieny and Brandon Stubbs also received BRONZE MEDALS, as did Steven Gerber and Rorke Millar for their Hoffmann’s Voltameter.

Congratulations to these boys on their wonderful achievements!

I firmly believe that this College is as great  as it is, not only because we have pupils who win medals, but because we have so many individuals who give of themselves in so many different ways to participate and promote our school.  Well done to all the boys who attended and participated on Saturday!  Your hard work in preparing those projects over the past months really paid off.  The quality of your work and your gentlemanly conduct did more for our school than any amount of marketing can do.  The staff in attendance received several complements on your manners and behaviour.  Well done to all of you!

MATRIC FAREWELL

Thank you to all the Year 11 boys and their parents who helped in creating this very successful night on the 1^st of August. The matrics had a wonderful time and you made the evening very special for them.  The Ballyhoo dinner and dance which we usually have this term will be held in the early part of the 1^st term next year. Those of you who have been asking about this will not be disappointed and will have a chance to support us then.

HOUSE REPORTS

Edmund (Mr Barnett)

We have had mixed fortunes in the sporting arena since returning to school.  The senior soccer side won its game (2-1) against Aquinas, but our junior cricketers only managed one win in the three games of action cricket.  The seniors are competing in the inter-house tournament this week  -  good luck!   I must thank the following boys for taking the initiative and arranging the teams—Shuaib, Frankie, Craig, Ndalama, Jason and William.

The tutors and I wish you all an exciting and fulfilled 3rd term.

Founders  (Mr Muller)

It’s the start of the last term of 2008 and I have told the boys that they do not have time to waste this term. They do not have time to gradually adjust to coming to school after a nice, restful break. They must be prepared to give it their all from the first day. It’s school cricket, inter-house cricket, triathlons, first assessments tests, portfolios, and, and …..

Most importantly, this term is the last term to attend to academic mistakes of the past year. The year 11’s must realize the importance of this year’s results for tertiary education. They cannot wait until they are in matric to start concentrating on getting good results, it must stem from 2008. And this applies to all the other grades as well—this term is the last to show that you are capable of improving the necessary marks.  Talking about time, much time is lost through small, but important, things in school, for example hair and dress, like letting the school know when a boy is absent. Please parents and boys, let’s pull together in this last term and give the boys the best change to prove their worth.

I am looking forward to this term for I know it is going to be a great one for Founders House. I wish everybody all the best for this hectic time of the year and may God’s grace keep us calm and safe in these days.

Aquinas  (Mr Rindfleisch)

Welcome back to a new school term after, hopefully, a relaxing August holiday.  Please remember that this term is the most important when it comes to the end of year mark, because the term 3 mark is weighted most heavily.  Good luck to the matrics who are about to start their prelims.  I hope the August holidays were a productive study break. 

Well done to our Under 15 indoor cricket team that narrowly finished second to Revill.  Good luck to the senior team that will be playing their fixtures this week.

Revill

We are up and running again, as if we were never on holiday.  Welcome back to all the boys, especially Kieran Garnie in Year 10 who joins the Revill family from my previous school, CBC Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe.  Thanks to all the parents who enabled their sons to come back well groomed for the term.

The boys are already in the thick of things, both sports wise and academically.  I commend both the junior and senior sides in the indoor cricket competition.  Our junior side came out victorious—well done to them.

Our matrics will soon be sitting for their preliminary exams, and I do hope that they are busily preparing for these exams.

Congratulations to the following boys on receiving their colours last term—Brandon Purves (Honours Blazer), Wesley Agrela (Leadership Colours), Darryl Prinsloo (Leadership and Service), Brandon Civin (Leadership) and Dean Fernandes (Leadership).

DATES TO REMEMBER

PREPARATORY SCHOOL – Mr Stephen Bryan

Welcome back to our exciting third and final term.  Thanks to all parents and boys for the neat and tidy appearance at the beginning of term last Tuesday.

The Year 7 Leadership Exchange Students presented an interesting and enjoyable report back at our Opening Assembly relating to their experiences in Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Cape Town.

WINTER FESTIVAL

Well done to the hockey and soccer boys who represented us so well in Pretoria last term.  The teams produced excellent results and were good representatives for CBC Boksburg.  Thanks to Mr Tsotsotso, Mr van Schalkwyk, Coach Tumelo and Coach Benji for accompanying the boys.

2009 SPORT SCHOLARSHIPS

Congratulations to Mischa Fernandes, Jared Lucas and Matthew Bryans on being awarded High School Sport Scholarships.  We know that you boys will achieve great heights in your High School careers.

ACADEMICS

Term 3 is a very important academic term as we wrap up the final assessment of the year.  Years 6 and 7 boys write external exams as well as the usual end of year exams.  The Year 6 boys write the Conquesta Olympiad, and the Year 7 boys will be writing the I.E.B. Shared Assessment Tasks in October / November.

As always, continuous assessment remains the main focus as every task counts towards the final Term 3 result.  The Term 3 mark will be combined with Terms 1 and 2 results to give the final Year Mark.  Final exams in November (Years 4, 5, 6 and 7) are combined with the Year Mark to complete the Promotion mark for 2008.  We need to have a good work routine in practice to achieve good results.

EXTRA-MURALS

All boys should have settled into their participation of hockey, cricket, swimming, tennis and squash (sports), and eisteddfod, chatterbox, brainiacs, chess, computers and pipe band (culturals).  The Extra-Mural Programme was handed out last week—please check the Academic Support section which provides English, Math and Afrikaans support.

RETURN OF 2007 TROPHIES

All boys who received trophies at prize-giving last year or at the swimming and athletics ceremonies need to have them engraved, cleaned and returned to Mrs Kruger by no later than Friday 24 October 2008.

SCHOOLBOYS OF THE WEEK

IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 3

PRIMARY SCHOOL – Mr Henry Moolman

The start of a new term, especially the last term of the year, never ceases to fill one with anticipation of what still lies ahead and needs to be accomplished.  But without fail, every year we always reach the safe shores of achieved objectives and plans fulfilled.  Granted, this journey is often accompanied by stress, a degree of anxiety mixed with much joy, gratefulness and many pleasant surprises.

With this in mind, welcome to every boy and family.  A special word of welcome to our new boys and families.  We hope you will soon feel completely at home in every respect.  May you all experience a most blessed and fruitful term.

On the staff front, Mrs Chaplin’s baby boy, Hayden, was born on Monday 1 September at 1:00 in the morning!  Both mum and baby are in good health and progressing well.

UNIFORMS

Thank you, parents, for making sure your boys came to school looking as smart as they did.  Please be reminded that the boys must be in full uniform, whether it be the Sports Skills or school uniform when in public.

NB—From Monday 15 September all boys must wear their summer school uniforms.

PUNCTUALITY

This is a subject that needs frequent reminders.  I am very understanding of the peculiar pressures and time constraints confronting moms and dads of young families.  I do, however, appeal that every effort be made to be punctual in the mornings.  This is an important opportunity to teach our boys the value we place on their education so they can grow up appreciative of the sacrifices made by all on their behalf.

EXTRA-MURALS

It has been brought to my attention that some boys did not participate in any sport last term.  It is compulsory for boys to participate in sport, no matter what their current level of competency is.  To persevere in the face of difficulty and discomfort prepares them well for the future.  The sooner they start on this journey the more comfortable and equipped they will be to face future challenges and disappointments.  We offer cricket and tennis this term, as well as squash for Year Three boys only.

TERM AND MONTHLY PLANNERS

By now every family should be in possession of the above.  Every effort goes into the compilation of these for you.  I must caution that there are times, thankfully not too frequent, due to circumstances beyond our control, that we may have to make changes to the programme.

Thank you to the parents who have given time to read their favourite stories to the classes.  The boys have enjoyed the moment with you.

Hooked on Books has been another great success and will hopefully encourage more boys to read for themselves.

“Read my T-shirt” tomorrow provides an additional opportunity for the lads to practise their reading, with the addition of some humour added.

SPORTS REPORT

Please read Mr Maree’s report below.

SPECIAL AWARDS

We salute the following boys on their achievements.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“The best thing about life is that it comes one day at a time.”

PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORT  -  Mr Piet Maree

It is really amazing that the year is almost at an end. 

In this 3rd term we switch over to cricket again, and hopefully the weather won’t intervene in as many cricket matches as it did in the 1st term.

Just a reminder to the Year 2 parents that your boys will be playing “big” cricket next year, and now might be the time to start asking Santa for bats, pads, gloves, helmets and other

protective gear.  If you have any questions on what gear to ask Santa for, please don’t hesitate to contact me.